Initiatives for the Formation of a Carbon-free Society

Policy and Basic Concept

As a global healthcare company, the Eisai Group has established the ENW (Eisai Network Companies) Environmental Protection Policy and conducts business activities with an emphasis on global environmental protection. It is stated in our Environmental Guidelines that we will “3.  Contribute to the mitigation of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy conservation” and as such, we are promoting initiatives to realize a carbon-free society on a global scale.

The Eisai Group has been working to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by setting the SBT2℃ target (Science Based Targets; a target for greenhouse gas emission reductions based on scientific evidence) in fiscal 2019, and we received approval for a new SBT 1.5℃ target in November 2023. Additionally, in December 2023, we received approval from the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) to participate in the JCI Race to Zero Circle, which commits to achieving Net-Zero by 2050. Through this activity, we aim to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2050.

We believe that our corporate concept of human health care (hhc) cannot be realized without sustaining the global environment. We will work closely with our business partners to achieve these medium- to long-term goals.

Targets, Issues and Actions

Targets (FY2023-)IssuesActionsResults(FY2023)

Contribution to climate change mitigation

  • SBT1.5℃ target
    • Reduce Scope1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 55% by FY2030 from base year FY2019
    • Reduce Scope3 (Category 1) GHG emissions by 27.5% within the same timeline
  • Net-Zero target
    • Achieve Net-Zero by 2050
  • Scope 1+2
    • Diffusing new technologies such as hydrogen, ammonia, etc.
    • Securing stable renewable energy-derived electricity
  • Scope 3
    • Identifying emissions from suppliers, setting appropriate targets, and ensuring promotion
  • Scope 1+2
    • Introducing hybrid/electric company vehicles
    • Using renewable energy certificates, non-fossil fuel certificates, etc., introducing 100% renewable electricity, introducing in-house photovoltaic power generation, and introducing PPA
    • Encouraging environmental investment using IPC
  • Scope 3
    • Strengthening engagement with suppliers
  • Scope 1+2
    • 50.0% decrease (compared with FY 2019)
    • Ratio of HV+BHV company vehicles: 100% (as of the end of fiscal year 2023)
    • Renewable energy introduction rate: 99.8%
  • Scope 3, category 1
    • 2.9% increase (compared with FY 2019)

*Eisai's head office buildings are working to achieve the company-wide target and are also independently working to reduce electricity consumption by 1% compared to the previous year (in fiscal 2023, it remained at 99.8% compared to the previous year). 

SBT (Science Based Targets: targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on scientific grounds)

The Eisai Group has set medium- to long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction targets shown below (SBT1.5℃ target) based on scientific grounds to help mitigate climate change and is working to reduce CO2 emissions derived from its business activities.

  1. Reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 55% by FY2030 from base year FY2019 
  2. Reduce Scope 3 (Category 1) GHG emissions by 27.5% by FY2030 from base year FY2019

Activities to achieve Net-Zero by 2050

In December 2023, we received approval from the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) to participate in the JCI Race to Zero Circle, which commits to achieving Net-Zero by 2050. Through this activity, we aim to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2050.

In addition, in September 2021, we joined RE100, an international initiative that aims to use 100% renewable energy-derived electricity (RE) for business activities. In accordance, we are accelerating introduction of RE.

Structures and Systems

Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, the Eisai Group has established the Company-wide Environment and Safety Committee chaired by the Corporate Officer responsible for Environment and the Corporate Officer responsible for Safety. The Committee deliberates and makes decisions on important agenda items related to environmental safety. In addition to promoting global activities such as reduction of GHG emissions and efficient use of resources, the Committee contributes to the strengthening of activities to identify environmental risks in Japan and overseas and establish countermeasures to address these risks. Important environmental issues related to the entire Eisai Group that are discussed by the Committee are reported to the Corporate Strategy Committee and the Growth & Operating Committee, the decision-making bodies of the business execution departments, for deliberation, resolution, and implementation. Resolutions of the Companywide Environment and Safety Committee are shared with the Eisai Group companies in Japan and overseas at meetings of the Domestic Eisai Network Environment and Safety Conference and Global Eisai Carbon Neutrality Information Sharing Meeting, and the Group work together in addressing these issues.

Each operational site has established its own environmental management system and promotes environmental activities. The main production sites in Japan as well as the Suzhou Plant in China and Vizag Site in India have all obtained ISO 14001 certification and are conducting activities in accordance with the ISO standards, while also striving to raise environmental awareness through activities such as facilitating environmental education and training to address environmental risks. In addition to complying with environmental laws, ordinances and agreements, we periodically conduct internal environmental audits by a department specializing in internal auditing to identify and resolve issues.

Structure to Promote Environmental Management

Operational Sites Certified under ISO 14001

  • Kawashima Plant and Kashima Plant, Eisai Co., Ltd.
  • Fukushima Plant, EA Pharma Co., Ltd.
  • Suzhou Plant, Eisai China Inc.
  • Vizag Site, Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd.

Initiatives

In fiscal 2023, we implemented measures to reduce CO2 emissions in our business activities both domestically and overseas, and reduced CO2 emissions across the entire group (compared to fiscal 2022). 

At the Kawashima Plant, we continue with the eco-operation of the air conditioning that we started in fiscal 2022 and prepare for its expansion to other buildings, while also starting operation of the cafeteria & management building, which has obtained ZEB certification. 

Additionally, we have begun installing a solar power generation system at our Vizag site in India, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 1,100 tons in fiscal year 2023. 

The introduction of this system is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 3,000 tons per year from fiscal 2024 onwards. 

Furthermore, at the Suzhou Plant (China), by reviewing how the boiler is used (reducing unnecessary operation and adding humidifiers), the company was able to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 100 tons in total. The Plant officially start operating the energy-saving management system in March 2024 and work to optimize the equipment's power consumption by collecting and analyzing energy consumption data associated with the operation of the equipment. 

Additionally, we have continued to promote the introduction of renewable energy at our plants and research laboratories both in Japan and overseas, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions. 

  

Our sales divisions provide healthcare professionals with information via remote interviews using digital devices. In addition, we actively promote the use of public transportation and the introduction of HV (hybrid vehicles) to commercial vehicles, achieving 100% of HV + BEV (battery electric vehicle) by the end of fiscal year 2023. 

With regard to investments, in fiscal 2022 we introduced and began applying Internal Carbon Pricing (ICP), which promotes effective investment in CO2 emission reductions by converting those reductions into monetary amounts and visualizing them, then incorporating the environmental value into an investment decision criterion. The Eisai Group set its ICP at 11,000 yen (80 euros as of this setting time) per ton of CO2, referring to the European carbon tax and emissions trading price, and proposed capital investment with this as the environmental value. 

Data

Scope 1 and 2 emissions in fiscal 2022 were 53,612 tons, a 28.0% decrease from fiscal 2021. This was a 60.2% decrease from fiscal 2016 (base year) and our SBT 2°C target (a 30% decrease from the base year) has been achieved for the third consecutive year. We received approval for a new SBT 1.5℃ target in November 2023, and plan to update the target and work on it from fiscal 2023 onwards.

The method for calculating Scope 3, Category 1 emissions based on purchased goods and services has been changed to improve its accuracy along with setting the SBT 1.5°C targets, resulting in a significant increase in emissions in fiscal 2022. Going forward, we will strengthen cooperation with suppliers and establish a calculation method that better reflects primary data provided by suppliers. We will strive to reduce Scope 3 emissions in partnership with suppliers.

The Eisai Group is actively promoting the introduction of RE. So far, the Vizag Site (India) has procured photovoltaic power, and the Exton Site (United States) and Kashima Plant have installed photovoltaic power generation equipment. In fiscal 2022, the Suzhou Plant (China) began operating a large-scale photovoltaic power generation equipment installed on-site. The European Knowledge Centre (EKC), Exton Site, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, and Kawashima Plant continue to use 100% RE.  

Our plants and offices in China, India, and Indonesia introduced RE through the purchase of I-RECs (green electricity certificates). Our US offices also continue to introduce RE through the purchase of RECs (green electricity certificates valid in the United States). The Eisai Group in Japan is also actively promoting the introduction of RE through the purchase of non-fossil fuel certificates.  

As a result of these initiatives, the percentage of electricity used in the Eisai Group’s business activities that is derived from renewable energy sources increased significantly to 99.8%. 

We have been gradually switching our business vehicles to hybrid vehicles (HVs), and in principle, we require our sales offices to switch to HVs when replacing their vehicles. In fiscal 2022, the switchover was accelerated and the introduction rate increased to 91.1% (annual average). Eisai Co., Ltd. has also begun to introduce electric vehicles (EVs), and when EVs and HVs are combined, 96.0% of our business vehicles will be eco-friendly vehicles. CO2 emissions from our business vehicles were 1,743 tons, a 7.1% decrease from the previous year. In addition to encouraging the use of ecofriendly vehicles, we introduced remote interviewing using digital devices when providing information to physicians and other healthcare professionals in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions from the use of vehicles.

CDP Climate Change Report 2023

CDP is an international NGO that evaluates the “efforts of companies related to environmental risks” (climate change, water security, forests) and discloses the information at the request of institutional investors around the world. Since 2015, the Eisai Group has responded to the CDP Climate Change Report. In the CDP Climate Change Report 2023, we received a score of A- (the second highest on an 8-rank scale from A, A-, etc., to D and D-).