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Mitsui & Co. (Australia) Ltd.

Mitsui & Co.'s Materiality - Key Sustainability Goals

Create an Eco-friendly Society

Accelerate initiatives towards environmental issues, such as responding to climate change and water resource problems, and contributing to a circular economy.

As a company with business operations in countries and regions worldwide, Mitsui & Co. recognises that climate change and other impacts on the global environment could cause significant risks to the sustainable growth of society and Mitsui itself. We also recognise that the response to climate change will create new business opportunities due to the accelerating shift to energy conservation, renewable energy, and new technologies in mobility including electric vehicles. Other priorities include biodiversity, resource recycling, and adopting ‘circular thinking’ into the business. The circular economy works to ensure resources are kept in use as long as possible and the maximum value is extracted from them through good design and efficient practices.

Guiding Principles

In line with Mitsui & Co. Environmental Policy, Mitsui & Co. Australia believes that one of our most important responsibilities is to prevent, manage, and minimise environmental impacts associated with our operations and activities whilst conserving and enhancing the biodiversity and environmental quality and thereby cultivating community health and wellbeing now and for future generations.

Action Guidelines

  1. Compliance with relevant environmental laws and regulations
 Mitsui & Co. Australia will comply with various relevant environmental laws and regulations, as well as all agreements signed by the company for promoting business activities.
  1. Efficient utilisation of resources and energy
 Mitsui & Co. Australia will strive to reduce the burden on the environment in our business activities through the efficient utilization of resources, energy, and water, as well as the thorough reduction, reuse, and recycling of waste, including harmful substances, and its proper disposal.
  1. Environmental care for products and services offered, as well as existing and new businesses
 Mitsui & Co. Australia will give full consideration to the environment to the extent technologically and economically feasible by exercising an appropriate degree of influence in enlisting the understanding and support of involved business partners, as well as by evaluating the impact that we have on the environment, not only in the prevention of pollution, but also on such issues as climate change and the conservation of biological diversity.
  1. Contribution to providing industrial solutions to environmental issues
 Mitsui & Co. Australia will engage in business activities with the goal of providing rational and permanent industrial solutions, and contribute to the realization of sustainable development by exploiting our individual abilities and the collective strengths of our organization in cooperation with our global partners.

Incorporating the guiding principles and the action guidelines, Mitsui & Co. Australia will design, periodically evaluate, and continually improve a risk management system responding to climate change, nature conservation with consideration given to biological diversity, and the prevention of pollution.

Our Activities in Oceania to Contribute to SDGs

Our activities are covered under the relevant focus areas below, and are linked to the SDGs to demonstrate our efforts on tackling the SDGs’ 17 goals.

1. Environmental Management

Please scroll horizontally to look at table below.

Target SDGs (Target Numbers) Mitsui & Co. Activities in Oceania More Information
AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGYDECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTHRESPONSIBLE CONSUMPITION AND PRODUCTIONCLIMATE ACTIONLIFE BELOW WATERLIFE ON LAND
  • When we embark on new investment projects, we subject them to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact assessments, using our ESG Due Diligence Checklists that consider environmental and societal risks based on international standards. Aspects covered by these assessments include pollution prevention, climate change, eco-systems, water stress, and human rights. Projects that are found to have significant implications then undergo internal screening under the Specially Designated Business Management System managed by our parent company.
  • In relation to our forestry business in Australia, Mitsui has acquired Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) / Chain of Custody (CoC) certification - FSC-C104107 by Forest Resources Marketing Dept., Living & Environmental Business Div., Mitsui & Co., and FSC-107463 by Mitsui Bussan Woodchip Oceania(*1), as well as Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) / CoC certification. This allows us to promote the responsible management and handling of forest resources. Moreover, Mitsui Bussan Packaging holds FSC/CoC certification (FSC-C009939) which allows us to link certified paper supply chains and further promote responsible management of forest resources.
  • The waters and islands surrounding the Shark Bay Salt Group(*2) operations form a World Heritage Site, which is known for their outstanding biodiversity and richness of wildlife. In order to maintain our operational rights in this, we ensure that site environmental management systems are implemented, audited and reviewed each year.

2. Climate Change

Please scroll horizontally to look at table below.

Target SDGs (Target Numbers) Mitsui & Co. Activities in Oceania More Information
GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEINGAFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGYINDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURESUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIESCLIMATE ACTIONLIFE ON LAND
  • Mitsui has declared its support for the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) as part of our response to the growing importance of business sector action on climate change. Mitsui group companies in Oceania contribute to the annual survey on climate-related data conducted globally.
  • Mitsui has set out a goal of net-zero emissions as our Vision for 2050. Towards this Vision in Oceania, we are working on a number of initiatives in the pipeline to promote energy solutions as well as carbon management.
    • With an experience of having developed a wind farm in Victoria previously, Mitsui Australia continues to pursue opportunities to develop renewable energy projects to contribute to Mitsui’s global target – 30 per cent of our total power generation capacity to come from renewable sources by 2030.
    • Mitsui have formed a strategic alliance with Hiringa Energy(*1) to jointly pursue hydrogen related commercial projects in New Zealand. Building on this partnership, Mitsui is working towards creating a viable domestic hydrogen economy and export opportunities, which will play an integral role in achieving our goal of transitioning to a low-carbon future.
    • In Oceania, Mitsui group companies actively engage in discussions to address climate change risks – for example, leveraging our internal expertise in forestry development and management to maximise carbon management opportunities.
    • At Mitsui Australia, we have achieved 41% reduction in electricity consumption since 2006 at our four offices and three residential assets (hence the equivalent amount of carbon emissions). We then offset 100% of the remaining emissions through Green Fleet.

Renewable Energy Projects

  • Canunda Wind Farm through our investment in International Power (Australia) Holdings(*2). It consists of 23 wind turbines, which produce 46MW of electricity capable of supplying around 30,000 homes in South Australia.
  • Willogoleche Wind Farm also through our investment in International Power (Australia) Holdings. With 32 wind turbines, it produces 119MW of electricity capable of supplying around 80,000 homes in South Australia.
  • In 2021, our joint venture partner in International Power (Australia) Holdings, ENGIE announced a long-term partnership with Coles to supply Large-scale Generation Certificates generated by Willogoleche and Canunda wind farms as part of its commitment to be powered by 100% renewable electricity by 2025.

Environment-related Businesses and Projects

  • Demonstration project for oxyfuel and CCS technologies: Mitsui participated in the Callide Oxyfuel Project, a public-private initiative by Japan and Australia with the objective to realise zero-emission electricity generation at coal-fired power stations. The project uses carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology called oxyfuel technology for recovering CO2 from coal-fired power stations and storing it underground. This demonstration project was completed successfully, and we are now exploring the potential for commercial utilisation.
  • Secondary battery materials: At Mitsui Australia, we are engaged in development of a stable production and supply platform for secondary battery materials, especially for lithium-ion batteries.
  • Carbon credits: Mitsui has invested in New Forests(*3), which maximises the value of its sustainable forestry asset through a combination of timber harvest and carbon-offset sales, which as a result contributes to the prevention of global warming.
  • Energy wood pellets: As one of a range of new fuels with a low environmental impact, Mitsui Australia procures and supplies energy wood pellets to Japanese power utilities.
  • Micro-organism gas fermentation: Mitsui has invested in LanzaTech(*4) which is developing technology to produce fuels and chemicals through the microbial fermentation of CO, CO2 ad other gases. Through this investment, we are building global business that will contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions and the creation of a circular economy.
  • Carbon fibre wheels: Mitsui has formed a strategic partnership with Carbon Revolution, an innovator and supplier of carbon fibre wheels, which are 40 per cent lighter than normal wheels. The unique properties of carbon fibre – lightweight, high strength and stiff, provide a great performance improvement and in turn a greater energy efficiency.

Less Carbon-intensive Businesses

  • Shark Bay Salt Group(*5) owns and operates two salt fields at Shark Bay and Onslow in Western Australia. Over a period of 2-3 years, we produce solar marine salt from water taken from the nearby ocean, using the natural power of the sun and wind, with almost zero carbon emission.
  • Through Mitsui E&P Australia(*6) and Japan Australia LNG (MIMI)(*7), we participate in natural gas / LNG development projects to ensure stable supplies of gas-derived energy, which have a relatively low environmental load compared to other fossil fuels.

3. Circular Economy

Please scroll horizontally to look at table below.

Target SDGs (Target Numbers) Mitsui & Co. Activities in Oceania More Information
RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPITION AND PRODUCTION

At Mitsui Australia, we are also aiming to build a metal and steel scrap supply network in preparation for the global recycling society of the future. Mitsui has also invested in Sims Metal Management, a leading collector, processor and supplier of recycled metal in Australia.

 

Mitsui Australia has formed a strategic partnership with SRJ Technologies. SRJ offers a range of engineering services and weld-free containment management solutions help operators in the energy, chemicals and mining & meals sectors extend the life of existing assets rather than replacing them.

  

4. Environmental Pollution

Please scroll horizontally to look at table below.

Target SDGs (Target Numbers) Mitsui & Co. Activities in Oceania More Information
GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEINGCLEAN WATER AND SANITATIONRESPONSIBLE CONSUMPITION AND PRODUCTIONLIFE BELOW WATER

The Business Conduct Guidelines of Mitsui & Co. group companies prescribe and require the following.

  • All employees must comply with all laws and regulations concerning the protection of the environment and make every effort to be informed and aware of environmental issues concerning Mitsui and its business.
  • All business undertaken by Mitsui must be conducted in accordance with the laws and regulations concerning the protection of the environment and every effort must be made to try to ensure, so far as reasonably possible, that Mitsui’s business does not cause damage to the environment. All employees must always conduct an environmental assessment to ensure that this is the case.
  

In designing our new Sydney office, sustainability was a key focus. Large amount of furniture was reused from existing site, reducing waste. All local Australian furniture suppliers were selected to minimise carbon footprint by reducing travel distances and associated shipping. Supplier selection was also based on their environmental initiatives such as Biosafety Cabinet Certification, Good Environmental Choice Australia accreditation, cradle to cradle programs, and renewable energy and water stewardship programs. All new lighting is LED, consuming less power and reducing greenhouse emissions. Many of the newly introduced products were sustainably produced, reusable and/or with recycled content.

  

5. Biodiversity

Please scroll horizontally to look at table below.

Target SDGs (Target Numbers) Mitsui & Co. Activities in Oceania More Information
CLIMATE ACTIONLIFE ON LAND Along with business partners, Mitsui Bussan Woodchip Oceania(*1) manages our plantation business in Australia with the aim of ensuring the stable provision of wood chips, the raw material for paper production. These projects contribute to protecting valuable natural resources, absorbing and chemically immobilizing carbon dioxide, preserving biodiversity, and preventing soil erosion and salt salinity.