Managing Director, Head of Corporate Planning Department
Mr. Yosuke Mizukoshi
CFP (Carbon Footprint of Products) is a system that displays the amount of greenhouse gases emitted throughout the life cycle of a product or Service in CO2 equivalent. In order to make it easier for consumers and businesses to understand the environmental impact of products, an increasing number of companies are working on CFP calculations and disclosing information. This time, we interviewed Toyo Gas Meter Co., Company , which is working to reduce CO2 emission amount by developing environmentally friendly small ultrasonic smart meters, about the reasons for introducing " Zeroboard," the effects it has had, and future initiatives.
Issue/Introduction background
Information gathering begins as the Japanese government declares it aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
I wanted to clarify what I needed to do and what my goals were for CFP calculation.
In particular, knowledge of Scope 3 was limited and support from a third party was sought.
The deciding factor for adoption
Support from highly specialized consultants with extensive experience in implementing systems in the Manufacturing industry
Scope 3 calculations andSupport that includes the reduction of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions
Great user interface and easy to use
Introduction from Iwatani Corporation, a company with which we have deep ties and which has been a pioneer in CFP calculations for gas cartridges
Effects after implementation
The CFP calculation system was introduced smoothly.
There were prompt and accurate responses to Issue or questions that arose during the calculation process, so the operation went smoothly.
Thanks to our extensive alliances, we were able to receive advice on selecting solutions that fit our reduction targets.
Iwatani Corporation introduced me to Zeroboard. I hope it will accompany me in my Scope 3 calculations and CO2 emission amount reduction efforts.
── Please tell us the background to the introduction of Zeroboard and the Issue it poses.
President Mizukoshi: Since our company was founded in 1958, we have been bringing modern gas meters to the world. As we are part of the Energy industry, we are developing our business while also taking into account the policies of the Japanese government and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and recently they announced a policy to aim for carbon neutrality by 2050.
As we began to gather information to respond to the situation, we realized that in Toyama Prefecture, it would be difficult to obtain the information we needed unless we took the initiative to seek it out.
So instead of just researching on the Internet and reading books, I also went to exhibitions.
Yasushi Mizukoshi, CEO
Managing Director Mizukoshi: When working on CFP calculations, what should we do first? What is the goal we should aim for? We were starting from zero, and felt it would be difficult to proceed on our own, when Iwatani Corporation introduced us to Zeroboard.
After listening to their story, we felt they were a partner that would not only assist us with CFP calculations, but also accompany us through to further CO2 reductions, so we started working with them.
--I understand that you have developed small, environmentally friendly ultrasonic smart meters and have brought them to market. Could you please tell us about the initiatives you are taking?
Managing Director Mizukoshi: The measurement method of gas meters has not changed for nearly 100 years. Our company began research and development of ultrasonic gas meters, known as smart meters, around 2000, and introduced them to the market in 2010.
The new meter has improved functionality, including improved measurement accuracy, enhanced security and standardization of next-generation communications interfaces, and is expected to help gas suppliers create new Service and improve operational efficiency through the use of IT.
We were also able to hypothesize that we could reduce the volume by 42% and the weight by 36%, thereby reducing the CO2 emission amount from the product materials.
Managing Director and Head of Corporate Planning Department, Yosuke Mizukoshi
Zeroboard's excellent user interface and expert support and advice are the deciding factors
── What made you choose Zeroboard?
President Mizukoshi: When I first received the proposal from Zeroboard, they said, "Let's find out your weight first," and that made sense to me. You can't set a goal unless you understand your current situation.
Zeroboard has a strong track record of implementation in the Manufacturing industry and has a wide range of alliances, so one of the deciding factors was that we could receive advice on selecting a solution that matches our reduction targets.
Looking at the CO2 emissions in the Manufacturing process of gas meters, electricity-derived emissions account for 95% of the total, so we thought that calculating the emissions would not be too difficult, but in light of Scope 3 initiatives, it is important to raise awareness among suppliers and have them participate in CFP calculations and CO2 emission amount reduction initiatives. This requires effort, and we believe that it is effective to have experts explain the process.
I look forward to your support in this regard.
Managing Director Mizukoshi: As a tool, Zeroboard has an excellent user interface and is easy to use. We saw it in person before implementing it and decided that there would be no problems with it, so we chose it.
In addition, Zeroboard's sales representatives are highly specialized and have a wide range of experience in the industry, so we felt reassured and confident that they would be able to answer any questions we had. Another deciding factor was that the explanations we gave were thorough and easy to understand.
I myself started out with almost no knowledge of the term CFP. When I started calculating, I was worried about judging the credibility of the numbers, even though they came up. However, I was able to continue without giving up because I was carefully explained about each item.
There are many things that cannot be understood just by reading the Ministry of the Environment's guidelines, so it was essential to have an environment where we could ask experts for help at any time.
I needed to fully understand the calculations myself, so I disassembled the ultrasonic E-type security gas meter and measured the weight of each part from scratch. I performed the calculations while receiving advice from employees in the procurement and quality departments, and once again confirmed the reasons for the material selection.
I learned a lot during this process and realized that it is important for a manufacturer to be environmentally conscious from the product design stage onwards.
President Mizukoshi: Understanding each and every part of the product through the calculation of CFP has also led to increased motivation among the employees involved in Manufacturing. For example, we hope that this will lead to various creative ideas for reducing CO2 emission amount, such as "Can we make the aluminum used in the body thinner?" or "Can we use materials with smaller CFP while maintaining the same quality?"
Long-term efforts to improve accuracy of CFP calculations and also consider Scope 3 calculations
--Please tell us about the effects of introducing Zeroboard and its future developments.
President Mizukoshi: Safety and security are absolute requirements when supplying gas. Gas meters have a 10 year shelf life, and once developed, they are products that last for 30 to 40 years. Therefore, we need to think from a long-term perspective together with our development and procurement staff.
We would like to proceed with this as an organizational initiative, such as creating a CFP calculation manual, and we are looking forward to Zeroboard's support in this regard.
Managing Director Mizukoshi: When we started calculating CFP, the material procurement portion was relatively easy to calculate. However, we had difficulty in figuring out the details of procurement logistics, such as how many tons a truck was.
With an eye on Scope 3, we will continue to activity the understanding and cooperation of our supplier managers and hope to improve the accuracy of our calculations.
Mizukoshi: In the future, we would like to work on hydrogen and LP gas mixtures and green LP gas, which Iwatani Corporation is currently demonstrating and developing, as well as on using ultrasonic meters to precisely measure hydrogen .
During recruitment activity, we are increasingly being asked about how to address environmental issues and our efforts toward the SDGs, and we feel that interest is growing.
We are also in discussions about procuring solar power generation and green electricity, and will continue to take a long-term perspective, balancing technological development with environmental considerations.
Yasushi Mizukoshi, CEO
Managing Director and Head of Corporate Planning Department, Yosuke Mizukoshi
