August 9, 2023

• Press Release:
  Hitachi, Ltd. in the Green x Digital Consortium,
  Successful Demonstration of CO₂ Data Linkage in a Virtual Supply Chain

April 20, 2023

• Press Release:
  Commercialization of a Solution Developed as an Internal Initiative to Calculate and Visualize the Amount of CO₂ Emissions for Each Product

Until now, companies have been working to visualize the amount GHG emitted by each of their businesses in an effort to comply with the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures and the Act on Rationalizing Energy Use. Going forward, with the adoption of the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)^*1 followed by the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)^*2 in the EU, companies will need to quantitatively calculate the amount of emissions for each of their products.
EcoAssist-Pro/LCA provides a system for cumulatively calculating the amount of GHG emissions for each product based on the product's BOM and information on its materials, parts, and manufacturing processes.
To provide more detailed calculation results, it is important to replace theoretical values with actual measured values. (Regarding the calculation of theoretical values, based on BOM information, some parts with relatively high environmental impact are calculated by applying the basic unit of parts. For other materials, the processing process for each material is estimated and calculated.)
In addition to performing calculations based on theoretical values, EcoAssist-Pro/LCA links with other systems and services to replace theoretical values with measured values. It also implements APIs^*3 to link to suppliers' data on measured values.
In this way, through detailed calculations on and visualization of the environmentally hazardous substances of each product, the solution helps companies reduce their GHG emissions. For a stronger response to decarbonization needs, we plan on providing an enhanced version in March 2024.

*1

ESPR: A system for issuing digital product passports for products sold in the EU market (such as electronic devices, information and communications devices, batteries, vehicles, and food products). Each passport includes information on the product's carbon footprint.

*2

CBAM: One of the measures included in the “Fit for 55” policy package proposed by the European Commission in July 2021 to reduce GHG. This system requires importers to purchase CBAM certificates based on the amount of CO₂ emitted by each product with respect to goods imported to the EU (including iron, steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, and electricity).

*3

Hitachi participated in the proof-of-concept experiment conducted by the Green x Digital Consortium, for which the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) serves as secretariat. Using data formats and APIs (access methods) provided by the WBCSD Partnership for Carbon Transparency via the Pathfinder Network, the consortium technologically verified data linkage between different solutions with respect to data on the amount of CO₂ emissions.

*4

EMS: Energy Management System

*5

MES: Manufacturing Execution System

EcoAssist-Pro/LCA helps automate the calculation of GHG emissions throughout an entire supply chain by linking systems inside and outside the company.
Based on the results of this calculation, companies can formulate plans for continued improvements, visualize the results of such improvements, and make assessments in line with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)^*6 and other investor demands.

*6

CDP: Activities calling on companies to disclose information on their GHG emissions, efforts pertaining to climate change, and other matters, or the organization carrying out such activities.