Background of Materiality Assessment, Past Initiatives, and KPIs
The impact of climate change on the health of society is a major issue for communities and businesses globally. Therefore the healthcare industry must take responsibility for addressing climate change, especially efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To contribute to this global priority, each company in PHC Group is working to reduce greenhouse gases (Scope 1 and 2), mainly CO2.
At each of our plant locations, we are switching to LED lighting to reduce electricity use and therefore CO2 emissions. The Biomedical Division of PHC Corporation has adopted LED lighting in the Gunma site. Starting in fiscal 2019, the IVD Division of PHC Corporation converted factory lighting to LED lights and was able to reduce power consumption by 334 MWh by fiscal 2022. To date, the division’s manufacturing site at Narita has converted approximately 96% of its lighting to LED.
We have also reduced power consumption by updating facilities and equipment to energy-efficient specifications. For example, the IVD Division of PHC Corporation has progressively updated its air conditioning equipment since fiscal 2018 and reduced electricity consumption by 80 MWh by fiscal 2022. The Narita Site of IVD Division, PHC Corporation reduced annual power consumption by 137 MWh by updating its air conditioning facilities to individual air conditioning units, enabling each room to control temperature, turn units off, and operate heating/cooling functions. PHC Indonesia’s plant is saving energy by updating its compressor to an inverter type, thereby reducing power consumption by 225 MWh in fiscal 2021 compared to the previous year, and by a further 169 MWh in fiscal 2022.
Inverter-compatible compressors
CFC-free ultra-low temperature freezer certified under the International ENERGY STAR program (a model for North America)
Epredia has also reduced CO2 emissions by replacing old equipment with new equipment which is more energy efficient.
We have also taken measures to reduce energy consumption by eliminating unnecessary use of lighting and equipment. For example, Epredia has installed timers on select equipment and lighting so unused equipment can be turned off when the facility is not in operation. LSI Medience has also introduced timer control for air supply and exhaust fans at Shimura Central Laboratory and the IVD Division of PHC Corporation shortened the operating time of blower pumps for wastewater treatment equipment at its Narita Manufacturing Site.
Furthermore, the Biomedical Division of PHC Corporation has expanded its product lineup by developing an ultra-low temperature freezer that contributes to reducing the burden on the global environment by using CFC-free refrigerants and by reducing power consumption. By leveraging natural refrigerants with higher energy efficiency and employing a new type of high-output compressor, the ULT freezer is designed to help laboratories minimize their power consumption and achieve their sustainability goals.
PHC Group will promote initiatives to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
(Integrated Report 2023)