Mitigating Climate Change
A considerable amount of CO2 is emitted during the cement manufacturing process, of which 40% is energy derived and 60% is derived from the decarbonation of limestone, the main raw material. Therefore, while it is theoretically possible to reduce energy-derived CO2 emissions to zero by switching to clean energy, there is a major challenge in that CO2 emissions from raw materials cannot be reduced to zero as long as limestone is used.
To contribute to the prevention of global warming and achieve sustainable growth, we have set forth our "Carbon Neutral Strategy 2050," which includes 2030 interim targets, and are promoting CO2 emission reduction measures from a medium- to long-term perspective.
Based on our "Carbon Neutral Strategy 2050" we have established a project team (currently the Carbon Neutral Technology Development Department) to work on achieving carbon neutrality as a growth strategy and are promoting the development and practical application of innovative technologies that contribute to carbon neutrality.
This fiscal year, we established the GX Promotion Department, incorporating the Carbon Neutral Technology Development Department, which had previously been mainly responsible for developing innovative technologies. We also added new functions such as responding to GX-ETS, creating GX value, and formulating a comprehensive strategy, thereby strengthening our domestic GX promotion system.
In addition, we are promoting a CN model plant concept at our group company, DC Co., Ltd. To smoothly advance the establishment of CO2 recovery technology using the C2SP kiln and related construction work, which are part of this initiative, we have newly established the "C2SP Kiln Project Team."
In order to achieve our interim goals for 2030, which are "reducing specific CO2 emissions by 20% or more across the entire supply chain compared to 2000" and "reducing CO2 emissions in Japan by 40% or more," we have set goals for energy conservation, fossil fuel substitution and expansion of the use of supplementary cementitious material, development of low-CO2 cement, and completion of the development of CO2 recovery and utilization technologies.
Reducing CO2 Emissions during Transportation
We contract the delivery of our raw materials, fuels and products to transportation companies and are striving to reduce CO2 emissions as a specified consigner designated under the Act on Rationalizing Energy Use. As a major initiative, in the trucking division we are improving transportation efficiency through planned implementation of round-trip transport. In the shipping division, we are operating vessels equipped with the latest energy-saving technologies based on AI-powered vessel allocation plans to improve energy use efficiency. Additionally, for some existing vessels, we are continuing trial use of biofuels to reduce CO2 emissions.
Our FY2025 CO2 emissions were roughly 5% lower than in FY2024.
| Mode of Transportation | Transportation volume (thousand t) |
Average distance transported (km) |
Transported tonne-kilometers (thousand t/km) |
CO2 emissions (thousand t) |
| Ship | 14,728 | 507 | 7,461,479 | 103 |
| Truck | 11,704 | 62 | 721,133 | 40 |
| Railway | 4,530 | 25 | 114,698 | 3 |
| Total | 30,961 | 268 | 8,297,309 | 145 |
| KPIs, Targets | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | FY2025 |
| Achieving carbon neutrality (2030 Interim Targets) Reduce specific CO2 emissions*1 by at least 20% (compared with 2000) |
9.7% | 10.5% | 11.6% | 10.7% |
| Reduce domestic CO2 emissions*2 by 40% or more (compared with 2000) | 36.0% | 42.7% | 46.8% | 46.1% |
*1 Scope 1 (excluding fossil energy substitution) + Scope 2 + Scope 3 (Categories 1, 3)
*2 Scope 1 (excluding fossil energy substitution) + Scope 2
*3 For Scope 3, refer to the "Emissions Unit Values for Accounting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, etc., by Organizations Throughout the Supply Chain (Ver. 3.5), Ministry of the Environment" and the "LCI Database IDEA version 3.5 IDEA Lab, Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability, National Research and Development Agency IPCC 2021 without LULUCF AR6"
*4 Excluding Scope 3
We achieved a 10.7% reduction in FY2025 toward our 2030 goal of reducing CO2 specific emissions by 20% or more across the entire supply chain (compared to 2000).
The other 2030 interim target, to reduce total domestic CO2 emissions by 40% or more (compared to 2000), was exceeded.
It is known that concrete absorbs atmospheric CO2 during its life cycle, and we are collaborating with the GCCA to develop an international calculation protocol to quantify this effect.
Environmental accounting by project — Kamiiso Plant No. 6 kiln high-efficiency clinker cooler introduction
The clinker cooler is a device that uses air to cool the intermediate product, clinker, which has been fired in an ultra-high-temperature rotary kiln. The high-temperature air obtained from the heat exchange during cooling is effectively used as combustion air for the rotary kiln.
The high-efficiency clinker cooler introduced into the No. 6 kiln at the Kamiiso Plant in FY2025 is a new type of cooler that can cool clinker with a small amount of air while obtaining high-temperature recovered air, significantly improving heat recovery efficiency compared to conventional types. With this clinker cooler, the fourth we have introduced in Japan, we will reduce the amount of thermal energy required for clinker firing, aiming for further reduction of CO2 emissions and environmental impact.
Kamiiso Plant No. 6 Kiln
Investment amount: Approx.
1.33 billion yen
Reduction in CO2 emissions:
4,845 tonnes/year
