TCFD Initiatives
The Mitsubishi Shokuhin Group has defined its “Purpose” which it seems as the reason for its existence, as “Contributing to the realization of a sustainable society through the food business”. The company also established its “Vision”, the desired future state, as “Evolving into a next-generation food distributor (solving Key Sustainability Issues)”.
Recognizing climate change as one of our Key Sustainability Issues, our Group has expressed its support for the Financial Stability Board's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations. We will work to enhance our disclosures in line with TCFD guidelines and engage in dialogue with stakeholders in the future.
Governance
In March 2021, we established the Sustainability Committee to promote company-wide efforts towards addressing sustainability issues through our business activities.
The Sustainability Committee, serving as an advisory body to the executive decision-making body entity, the Management Conference, is responsible for overseeing sustainability issues, including climate change.
We collaborate with the "Enterprise Risk Management Committee" to identify, manage climate-related risks, and develop and implement specific response strategies.
In June 2021, we appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), who also serves as the President and Representative Director. The CSO, in consultation with the Sustainability Committee, reviews and deliberates on fundamental policies and important matters related to climate change, which are subsequently discussed and decided upon in the Management Conference. The discussions are also presented to the Board of Directors for consideration and are reported twice a year to ensure the board's monitoring and oversight.
Governance Structure for Climate Change Issues
2022 Discussions and Reports at Board of Directors Meetings / Sustainability Committee Meetings
| Content of Deliberation and Reporting | |
|---|---|
| First Meeting |
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| Second Meeting |
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- Scope1 : direct emissions from the reporting company's factories, offices, vehicles, etc.
- Scope2 : indirect energy-derived emissions from electric power and other energy consumed by the reporting company
- Scope3 : Indirect emissions other than Scope 1 and 2 (emissions by other companies related to the activities of the business)
- Internal Carbon Pricing: A mechanism to promote low-carbon investment measures by companies based on the price of carbon estimated internally by the company
- BCP : Business Continuity Plan
Strategy
(1) Identification of Risks and Opportunities
In our analysis for the fiscal year 2022, we identified climate-related risks and opportunities impacting our business by employing two scenarios, including the "1.5°C scenario." This scenario aims to limit the global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century, aligning with the objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. We extracted climate-related risks and opportunities within our operations and qualitatively assessed their financial impacts.
| Key Factors for Risks and Opportunities | Climate-Related Risks/Opportunities | Risk/Time Until pportunities Discovered | Financial Impact (Profit basis) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transition Risks | ||||
| Introducing/Increasing Carbon Pricing | Increase in operating costs due to introduction of carbon pricing | Medium-term | Medium | |
| Increase in purchase costs due to introduction of carbon pricing | Medium-term | Large | ||
| Increase in Fuel Prices | Increase in transportation and storage costs due to higher fuel prices | Medium-term | Large | |
| Increase in purchase costs due to higher fuel prices | Medium-term | Medium | ||
| Increase in Electricity Prices | Increase in transportation and storage costs due to changes in electricity prices | Medium-term | Medium | |
| Increase in purchase costs due to changes in electricity prices | Medium-term | Medium | ||
| Lower Demand for Fossil Fuels | Increase in refrigerant costs due to change in demand for fossil resources | Medium-term | Small | |
| Physical Risks | ||||
| Increased Risk of Infectious Diseases Due to Rising Temperatures | Fewer opportunities for consumers to use food services due to increased risk of infectious diseases from rising temperatures | Medium-term | Small | |
| Increasing Frequency and Severity of Wind/Flood-Related Disasters | Damage to business sites due to frequent and severe wind and flood disasters | Short-term | Small | |
| Decline in farm and field productivity due to frequent and severe wind and flood disasters | Short-term | Medium | ||
| Supply chain disruption due to frequent and severe wind and flood disasters | Short-term | Small | ||
| Opportunities | ||||
| Progress Made with Joint Delivery and Modal Shift Initiatives | Lower transportation and storage costs due to the progress made with joint delivery and modal shift initiatives | Short-term | Large | |
| Progress with Development of Recycled Materials and Biomass-Related Technologies | Increased sales of containers with low environmental impact/packaging products due to progress with development of recycled material and biomass-related technologies | Short-term | Small | |
[Risk/Time until opportunities discovered] Short-term: no more than 3 years; Medium-term: over 3 years and no more than 10 years; Long-term: over 10 years
[Financial Impact] Small: no more than ¥1 billion; Medium: over ¥1 billion and no more than ¥5 billion; Large: over ¥5 billion
(2) Theme of Scenario Analysis and Setting for Climate Change Scenarios
We conducted an analysis of the future impacts of the following three themes, which were assessed as "highly important" based on the extraction and organization of climate-related risks and opportunities, considering their financial impact and relevance to our business strategy, in two temperature scenarios.
Scope and Themes of Scenario Analysis
| Risk Classification | Scope | Analysis Themes |
|---|---|---|
| Transition Risks/Opportunities | Mitsubishi Shokuhin Domestic Group (excluding some subsidiaries) | (1)Impact on the Group's operating costs associated with the introduction of carbon pricing |
| Wholesale business of Mitsubishi Shokuhin | (2)Impact on purchase costs associated with the introduction of carbon pricing in the upstream companies of the supply chain | |
| Physical Risk | All domestic Mitsubishi Shokuhin Group bases | (3)Impact of an increase in weather-related disasters due to climate change on business locations |
Scenarios Setups
| 1.5℃ Scenarios | Current Scenarios | |
|---|---|---|
| Transition Risks | ||
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External scenarios established
Assumed business environment
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External scenarios established
Assumed business environment
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| Physical Risks | ||
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External scenarios established
Assumed business environment
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External scenarios established
Assumed business environment
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- NZE : Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario
- STEPS : Stated Policies Scenario
- RCP : Representative Concentration Pathways
- SSP : Shared Socioeconomic Pathways
Main External Information Referred to in the Scenario Analysis Information Provider Reference Information
| Information Provider | Reference Information |
|---|---|
| IEA（*5） | World Energy Outlook 2021 |
| National Institute for Environmental Studies | Embodied Energy and Emission Intensity Data for Japan Using Input-Output Tables (2015) |
| Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | Flood Hazard Map |
| WRI（*6） | Aqueduct Floods Hazard Maps, Inundation depth in meters for coastal and riverine floods |
| IPCC（*7） | AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis |
- IEA : International Energy Agency
- WRI : World Resources Institute
- IPCC : The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(3) Scenario Analysis Results and Response Strategies
In response to the scenario analysis, our company group is taking steps to develop and implement a reduction roadmap for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, aligning with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. We are also actively engaging with stakeholders at various levels to assess Scope 3 emissions and build a resilient supply chain. Furthermore, we are promoting initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of "safe, secure, and stable food supply." This includes evaluating investment policies to reduce the flood risks at our business facilities in response to climate change and working towards establishing a flexible logistics system to address all hazards. By implementing these measures, we aim to contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality, mitigate climate-related risks, and strengthen our overall sustainability and resilience in the face of climate challenges.
Impact of Introducing Carbon Pricing on the Group's Operating Costs
Analysis Assumptions
- To predict the future impact of carbon pricing on our company group's operating costs, we conducted an analysis of the financial effects based on the carbon pricing imposed on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
- As of 2020, the impact was considered negligible and assumed to be zero.
- For the analysis, we assumed that the activity levels of our company in terms of emissions (factors influencing emission levels based on business activities) would remain the same as in 2020 for both 2030 and 2050.
- To assess the resilience of our business strategy, we also examined the extent to which our financial impact could be mitigated by addressing Scope 2 emissions through the procurement of renewable energy in the 1.5°C scenario. Please note that this analysis does not evaluate the impact of reduction activities related to Scope 1 emissions.
Analysis Results
- By 2030, it was found that the financial impact of carbon pricing, compared to 2020, would increase by approximately 362 million yen in the current scenario without procuring renewable energy and approximately 479 million yen in the 1.5°C scenario, which includes the procurement of renewable energy.
- By 2050, it was found that the financial impact of carbon pricing, compared to 2020, would increase by approximately 280 million yen in the current scenario without procuring renewable energy and approximately 437 million yen in the 1.5°C scenario, which includes the procurement of renewable energy.
- By 2050, under the 1.5°C scenario, the emission coefficient of Japanese electricity is expected to turn negative due to the spread of CCUS*, etc. Therefore, there will be no difference in the impact of the carbon price derived from Scope 2 emissions whether the company procures its own renewable energy or not. In addition, since the impact of the carbon price derived from Scope 1 emissions is expected to be larger than in 2030, we recognized that it will be more important to reduce the use of fossil fuels in vehicles and equipment.
- CCUS: Carbon dioxide Capture, Utilization and Storage
Future Financial Impact of Carbon Price (change from 2020)
【Response Strategy】
Based on the quantitative analysis conducted, our company has developed a roadmap for GHG reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. In Scope 1, we have initiated efforts to reduce GHG emissions from fossil fuel sources, such as the introduction of introducing environmentally friendly vehicles (EV trucks) for testing purposes since 2022. As Scope 2 emissions constitute a significant portion of our company's GHG emissions, reduction measures related to electricity are crucial. Since the baseline year of 2016, we have been working on reducing GHG emissions by switching to environmentally friendly electricity with zero CO2 emission factors primarily at our own power-contracted facilities. Moving forward, we will uphold our commitment to environmentally friendly electricity contracts and expand our use of on-site solar power generation through on-site PPA*. For facilities with electricity contracts from other companies (tenant occupancy, etc.), we will pursue energy savings through the introduction of LED lighting with motion sensors and explore the integration environmentally friendly electricity through comprehensive electricity contracts. We are also taking steps to prevent refrigerant leakage by maintaining refrigeration and cooling facilities properly and introducing leak detection devices. furthermore, we are conducting a trial implementation of internal carbon pricing, considering its scope of application and operational framework. For these initiatives, we anticipate cumulative investments and additional expenses totaling approximately 4 billion yen from the fiscal year 2023 to 2030. In the future, we will promote energy-saving activities, contemplate investments in facility and equipment replacement, and work towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and building a decarbonized society through various other initiatives.
- on-site PPA : A contract in which the operator installs solar panels without initial invest-ment, and we pay the operator a fee based on the amount of electricity generated and used.
Reduction Roadmap to Achieve FY2030 Targets for GHG Emissions (Scope 1 and 2)
Impact on Procurement Costs Associated With the Introduction of Carbon Pricing in the Upstream Companies of the Supply Chain
Analysis Assumption
- To forecast the impact of future carbon pricing on our product procurement costs, we conducted an analysis of the potential financial effects based on the carbon pricing imposed on upstream GHG emissions in our supply chain for the years 2030 and 2050.
- The financial impact in the year 2020 was considered negligible and hence assumed to be zero.
- Based on these assumptions, we conducted an analysis to assess the potential changes in our future financial impact for the years 2030 and 2050. Please note that the specific results of this analysis, including the estimated financial impact, are not provided in the given text.
Response Strategy
- In the 1.5℃ Scenario, the impact equates to an increase of approximately 105.1 million yen by 2030 and approximately 202.0 billion yen by 2050, compared to the year 2020. In the Current Scenario, the impact equates to an increase of approximately 52.5 billion yen by 2030 and approximately 72.7 billion yen by 2050, compared to the year 2020.
- In the 1.5℃ Scenario, the impact on our procurement costs corresponds to approximately a 4% increase compared to the 2020 procurement costs by 2030, and approximately a 9% increase by 2050. It is important to note that if our procurement volume or upstream GHG emissions in the supply chain increase in the future, the impact on procurement costs may become even greater.
Future Financial Impact of Carbon Price (change from 2020)
Response Strategy
In this quantitative analysis, even though the calculations are based on GHG emissions from 2020, we confirmed that the measures our group is already taking to reduce GHG emissions in the supply chain will effectively curb future increases in purchase costs. Our specific current initiatives include relaxing delivery requirements to improve supplier’s delivery efficiency and introducing truck receipt and reservation system to reduce waiting times for trucks arriving at the warehouse. We have stated to conceptualize Scope3 with the aim of building a strong, sustainable supply chain and reducing GHG emissions, besides expanding our own initiatives, we are actively working to streamline the entire chain in collaboration with all levels of the company.
Impact of Increased Weather-Related Disasters Due to Climate Change on Business Locations
Analysis Assumption
- To forecast the impact of climate change-related weather disasters on our company's operations, we conducted a scenario analysis for our domestic facilities within the company group (as of October 2021).
- In the analysis, we assessed the flood risk for each of our domestic facilities under the climate change scenarios of RCP2.6 (partially RCP4.5) and RCP8.5. We evaluated both the baseline flood risk as well as the projected risks for the mid-21st century and end of the 21st century. Moreover, we calculated the overall financial impact on the company resulting from climate change.
Analysis Result
- From the baseline assessment, we identified 53 facilities with a high risk of flood inundation and 14 facilities with a high risk of coastal flooding. These evaluations considered the potential impacts of floods and tidal surges.
- Moreover, we discovered that the number of facilities with a high risk is predicted to increase to 69 facilities by the end of the 21st century under RCP8.5 scenario. Similarly, the number of facilities with a high risk of coastal flooding is projected to increase to 21 facilities by the end of the 21st century under RCP8.5 scenario. These evaluations indicate heightened concerns of flood-related risks due to climate change.
- Subsequently, we carried out a quantitative evaluation of the financial impact of climate change on several facilities identified as having a high risk of flooding. In additionally, we estimated the overall financial impact for the entire company.
- Below, we present the estimated results of the overall financial impact for the entire company due to the increased risk of flooding associated with climate change, expressed as the multiplier of loss increase compared to the baseline.
| Claymate change Scenario | Multiplier for Increased Losses due to Flood Inundation | (Reference) Flood frequency* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the mid-21st century | the end-21st century | |||
| RCP2.6 | approx. 1.4 times | approx. 1.4 times | at 2°C rise | approx. 2 times |
| RCP8.5 | approx. 1.8 times | approx. 3.6 times | at 4°C rise | approx. 4 times |
- Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, "Flood Control Planning in Light of Climate Change" Proposal (revised April 2021)
Response Strategy
As a corporate group that supports the food supply chain, we are committed to ensuring a "safe, secure, and stable food supply" even in the face of anticipated increases in climate-related disasters. To ensure this, we have been implementing Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and enhancing our preparedness for all-hazard disasters. Our measures include installing emergency power generators, ensuring a fuel supply for transportation in case of fuel shortages, and establishing alternative centers for prompt response to shipment demands during emergencies. We have increased the frequency of reviewing our BCPs and have conducted comprehensive assessments that include climate change risks.
Moving forward, we aim to continue strengthening the resilience of our entire supply chain and further enhance the effectiveness of ensuring a "safe, secure, and stable food supply." We are dedicated to developing a robust framework that can address all-hazard situations and respond effectively to any challenges that may arise.
Risk Management
Our group has identified claim-related risks in terms of their impact and likelihood through the Sustainability Committee, which scrutinizes and verifies initiatives related to sustainability management. For risks that significant impact our business or are highly relevant to our business strategy, we establish risk scenarios and conduct detailed analyses and assessments. Furthermore, we integrate significant climate change risks into our overall risk management process and evaluate and manage them alongside other business risks within the company's Risk Management Committee.
Indicators and Targets
Indicators and Targets Related to GHG Emissions
Our group has identified GHG emissions (Scope1 and Scope2) as key indicators for managing climate-related risks and opportunities. We have set a target to reduce our company's GHG emissions from our business operations by 60% by 2030, using 2016 as the baseline.
From the fiscal year 2021 to 2022, we made significant progress towards our 2030 target by transitioning all our electricity contract sites (125 sites) to environmentally friendly power contracts. This advancement has propelled us closer to achieving our goals for 2030.
| indicator | Y2016 | Y2021 | Y2022 | Y2030 (target) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GHG emissions [1000t - CO2e] |
90.2 | 68.0 | 42.8 | 36.1 |
| Scope1 | 15.5 | 14.7 | 14.8 | (60% reduction compared to FY2016) |
| Scope2 | 74.7 | 53.3 | 28.0 |
Changes in Scope1・2
We regularly monitor and manage the progress of these indicators and targets to ensure our contribution towards achieving a decarbonized society. By doing so, we aim to make our efforts towards a carbon-neutral society more robust and impactful.
