Murata and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) MLCC Products that Put Environmental Load Reduction into Practice Based on "Light, Thin, Short, and Small" Characteristics

MLCC Products that Put Environmental Load Reduction into Practice Based on "Light, Thin, Short, and Small" Characteristics

Image 1 of MLCC Products that Put Environmental Load Reduction into Practice Based on

Image 2 of MLCC Products that Put Environmental Load Reduction into Practice Based on

Based on key issues (materiality), Murata has aimed to address and resolve social issues within business processes. One such example is our pursuit of miniaturization to strive for convenience while supplying products to a wide range of markets.

Among those products, the transition of MLCC (multilayer ceramic capacitors) volumetric capacitance has satisfied the needs of society through the development of light, thin, short, and small technologies. This has had the effect of improving the convenience of people's lifestyles through customer products and contributing to sustainable resource usage.

Effect of Miniaturization on Power Consumption

Significant power reduction!!

Significant reduction in materials used!!

MLCCs and other electronic components must maintain a high-temperature state during the calcination process, which uses a lot of power. Due to space restrictions on the number of units that can be calcinated at one time, we are promoting initiatives to make MLCCs "lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller" to reduce the environmental load (power and raw materials used) during calcination.

Through high-efficiency resource use by means of "light, thin, short, and small" manufacturing, contributions to energy conservation by supplying compact products, and the provision of unique products to various markets, we are contributing to cultural development.

Environment Roadmap

		2021	2022
Environmental cycles	Waste plastic	Target value decision	In order to achieve "zero emissions" by 2025, we regularly exchange information with material manufacturers and are examining ways to recycle them into higher-quality raw materials than at present.
	Water	Waste liquid processing method decision	We are promoting the effective utilization of water resources used in business activities. Moreover we are implementing measures for water risks that impact corporate activities.
	Other recycled materials	Recycled material capability assessment	We are striving to assess the capabilities of recycled materials by developing technologies that remove materials from MLCCs and waste matter from processes.
Climate change	Greenhouse gases	Setting target values to achieve RE100	We conduct business management to realize our total target for greenhouse gas reduction across the entire group and proactively invest to promote energy conservation and the use of renewable energy at each office.
Environmental pollutants	VOC	Introduction of an environmental assessment system	To reduce the atmospheric emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC), we are promoting the introduction of a regenerative combustion type of waste gas treatment equipment. So far, we have produced significant results by introducing RT in Japan and overseas.
Safety	Radioactive substances, dust explosions, etc.	Radiation dosage assessment and measures	We regulate chemical substances with an environmental load included in products to assess and deal with radiation dosages. Going forward, we will check the laws and regulations of countries where new branches may be completed while also striving to ascertain gaps with the current situation.

Specific Activities

Murata has joined the "RE100" cooperative initiative, aiming to switch the power used by the company in business activities to 100% renewable energy, and is advocating a plan to achieve a renewable energy implementation ratio of 100% by FY 2050.
At Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc., we switched all of the power used at the plant to renewable energy from January 1, 2022.
We realized the utilization of power from renewable energy centered around on-site solar power generation and geothermal power generation.

Case study introduction

In May 2021, the Philippines plant installed solar power generating equipment with approximately 3 MW of generation capacity, making it the first overseas site to switch to 100% renewable energy. This change is expected to reduce CO2 by approximately 2,947 tons per year.
The Philippines has many volcanoes and is known as the world's second-largest producer of geothermal power. In addition to the electricity generated through solar power generation, we realized a plant that runs on 100% renewable energy centered on geothermal power generation.

Achieving Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets

Trend of total GHG emissions (Scope: Scope1+Scope2)

We have selected "Strengthening Climate Change Measures" as a key issue (materiality) and are advancing energy conservation measures together with the introduction of renewable energy aimed at the achievement of GHG (greenhouse gases) emission reduction targets.
With the increase in production due to the expanded demand for electronic components in recent years, M&A, and new business expansion, the volume of GHG emissions rapidly increased through FY 2018. At the same time, since the enactment of the Paris Agreement, companies have been required to reduce the total volume of GHG emissions regardless of corporate business expansion.

In response, Murata has been addressing reductions in the volume of GHG emissions by promoting climate change measures such as energy conservation and the expanded introduction of renewable energy centered on the Climate Change Committee chaired by an Executive Vice President.

Strengthening Climate Change Measures

As a manufacturing company, Murata recognizes that strengthening climate change measures is a key issue (materiality), and we are carrying out continuous energy conservation activities and proactively introducing renewable energy.
Moreover, we have established targets for the reduction of GHG emissions founded on a scientific basis and acquired SBT certification from SBTi in January 2022.
In conjunction with our current activities as part of the "RE100" international initiative, we are contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.

GHG emission reduction targets of the SBT-certified Murata Group