Global warming prevention activities

Activities of the Brother Group

CO2 emissions from the Brother Group are attributed to electricity consumption primarily at offices in Japan, and to the consumption of electricity and fuel at factories and offices in other parts of the world. The Brother Group has been committed to increasing the efficiency of air conditioning and lighting and ensuring efficient operation of production equipment at factories in an effort to reduce electricity consumption and thereby lower CO2 emissions.

In FY2008 (April 1, 2008-March 31, 2009), we conducted energy conservation activities in line with the Brother Group 2010 Midterm Environmental Action Plan devised at the end of FY2007 (April 1, 2007-March 31, 2008). Four manufacturing facilities outside Japan implemented energy conservation measures based on the results of energy audits made in FY2007, and successfully reduced energy consumption by about 6,000 MWh. Meanwhile, three overseas manufacturing facilities and one in Japan conducted energy audits for the first time. To reinforce the energy conservation activities in Japan, the Company-wide Energy Conservation Working Group was set up under the Environmental Committee. Efforts were launched to review and reinforce overall energy conservation activities for lighting/air conditioning equipment, clean rooms and compressors, and high power consumption equipment.

Activities at Brother Industries, Ltd. and the change in CO2 emissions

Total energy consumption (electricity/fuel) of Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) in FY2008 was 20,045 t in CO2 equivalent, down by 187 t (about 0.9%) from FY2007 ^*1.

Although CO2 emissions had been decreasing since FY1998 (April 1, 1998-March 31, 1999), they started to rise again in FY2002 (April 1, 2002-March 31, 2003). In particular, emissions grew substantially from FY2004 (April 1, 2004-March 31, 2005) through FY2005 (April 1, 2005-March 31, 2006) due to the construction of clean rooms for manufacturing precision parts and expansion of thermostatic ovens for testing products. Against this backdrop, we launched the Company-wide Energy Conservation Working Group, which comprises the Energy Conservation Team formed in FY2006 (April 1, 2006-March 31, 2007) by the Environmental Management Department, Public Relations & General Affairs Department, and Personnel Department (Safety, Disaster Prevention and Environment Control Group), involving staff in charge of energy conservation at respective manufacturing facilities. Together with equipment and energy managers from manufacturing facilities, we conducted on-site surveys on the operation and management status of clean rooms and compressors (which had not been fully identified) and launched efforts to improve efficiency.

In FY2008, we reviewed energy conservation management standards for lighting, air conditioning and daily equipment (e.g., tea servers) and worked to ensure these standards were applied. We also reviewed methods for managing office equipment (including PCs), and strengthened efforts to observe "No Overtime Work Day" once a week. In FY2009 (April 1, 2009-March 31, 2010), employees will be made fully aware of these measures to ensure fulfillment. We will apply management standards for equipment that consumes electricity beyond specified levels on a company-wide basis. (Conventionally, these standards were applied primarily at designated energy management factories.) The scope of management will be expanded as well.

Electricity consumption in FY2008 was 42.65 million kWh, down 1.1% from FY2007. Fuel (light oil, gasoline, LPG, city gas) consumption was 373 kl in crude oil equivalent, up 18 kl (about 5.2%) from FY2007 ^*2.

The four representative associations of the electric and electronic industries ^*3 drafted industry-specific voluntary action plans and set the goal of "improving CO2 emissions per unit of real production output ^*4 by 35% against FY1990 (April 1, 1990-March 31, 1991) levels by the year 2010" to help prevent global warming. In FY2008, BIL reduced emissions by 37.5% against 1990 levels, thus attaining the target, but various steps have been taken to achieve this figure for the five-year average from FY2008 through 2012 (April 1, 2012-March 31, 2013) set for the industry.

*1 Unlike the section of environmental accounting, in calculating CO2 emissions here, the coefficient of the averaged total end use electricity of the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan is used as the coefficient for converting electricity into CO2 emissions. (FY1990: 0.417, FY2000: 0.376, FY2001: 0.376, FY2002: 0.404, FY2003: 0.433, FY2004: 0.418, FY2005: 0.423, FY2006: 0.410, FY2007: 0.453. The coefficient for FY2008 was calculated using the value of FY2007 (0.453). The unit is t-CO2/MWh.

*2 As for city gas, the generated quantity of heat published by Toho Gas Co., Ltd., from whom Brother received its gas supply, was used in accordance with the Energy Conservation Law. Electricity derived from solar power generation is included in power consumption, but is not included in CO2 emissions because CO2 is not emitted in the solar power generation process. For FY2007, LPG consumed by subsidiaries located on the same premises was added. For this reason, fuel consumption in crude oil equivalent in FY2007 was changed from 341 kl to 355 kl, and calculations were made on a year-on-year basis.

*3 Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, Japan Electrical Manufacturers Association, Japan Business Machine and Information System Industries Association and Communications and Information Network Association of Japan.

*4 Production output corrected by the corporate goods price index (electrical/electronic machinery and equipment) published by the Bank of Japan. Real production output = Production output ÷ BOJ corporate goods price index (electrical/electronic machinery and equipment). The FY1990 levels are assumed to be 1, and FY2007 indices are used for FY2008.

Change in CO2 emissions

Note 1: For FY2006, we decided to include CO2 emissions from fuel consumption at subsidiaries located on the same premises. For this reason, the values are different from those indicated previously.

Note 2: For FY2006, the electricity conversion coefficient was changed for CO2 emissions. For this reason, the values are different from those indicated previously.

Note 3: Figures for all fiscal years are given for the following eight business sites and do not include welfare facilities such as training centers, employee dormitories, gymnasiums, etc. The eight business sites are: Headquarters, Research & Development Center (including the former development building), Mizuho Manufacturing Facility, Hoshizaki Manufacturing Facility, Minato Manufacturing Facility, Momozono Manufacturing Facility, Kariya Manufacturing Facility and Logistic Center. The Logistic Center is an entity of Brother Logitec Ltd., one of the Brother Group companies. Fuel consumption for transport is not included.

 Period subject to each FY