The Mitsubishi Electric Group operates an ISO 14001:2015 compliant environmental management system that covers Mitsubishi Electric and its major associated companies.

The Mitsubishi Electric Group formulates an environmental plan comprised of targets and measures for realizing its Environmental Sustainability Vision 2050. To achieve the targets of this environmental plan, each organization* formulates and acts on a yearly environmental implementation plan.

Based on the environmental plan, objectives and action plans are determined for that fiscal year.

The Sustainability Planning Division, which oversees environmental management at the Mitsubishi Electric Group, compiles environmental performance data and other relevant information and reports them to the Vice President of the Sustainability Innovation Group, who is responsible for environmental management. The Vice President of the Sustainability Innovation Group then conducts a review and modifies the environmental plan as necessary (e.g., when any significant change occurs in the business environment related to the Group).

The Vice President of the Sustainability Innovation Group carries out the review of activity results and reconsiders environmental plans and/or the environmental plan for the next fiscal year if necessary.

Each organization works to enhance the activity level by checking on progress throughout the fiscal year and reconsidering the environmental plans as needed.

The Mitsubishi Electric Group has appointed environmental managers responsible for promoting environmental practices at each Mitsubishi Electric business site, as well as at associated companies in Japan and overseas. These managers work on providing information and raising awareness about priority themes and policies. In addition, these managers also share useful information such as best practices from each other's experiences and key points to consider on a regular basis to help improve overall management levels.

Mitsubishi Electric has obtained company-wide multi-site ISO 14001:2015 certification in order to strengthen compliance by the company as a whole and to further strengthen its contribution to the environment by ensuring that business operations are based on environmental plans.

Among all Group companies within the scope of this report, roughly 50% have acquired ISO 14001 certification.

The Mitsubishi Electric Group combines the multiple types of environmental auditing shown below in order to carry out checks from various perspectives. These audits are performed at each business site to confirm their compliance with laws and regulations, the operational status of the environmental management system, and the progress of environmental implementation plans.

Overview of the four types of environmental audits

The Mitsubishi Electric Group takes the following steps to prevent environmental incidents both in Japan and overseas, such as the leakage of substances that may result in water or soil pollution or have a negative impact upon the environment.

Mitsubishi Electric revises company rules to reflect updates in the relevant laws and regulations and ensures that its entire workforce is fully familiar with such updates through e-learning and other methods. In the case of a problem (e.g., minor oversight) occurring, Mitsubishi Electric shares the cause and countermeasures throughout the entire Group to prevent it from recurring. Aiming to increase the awareness of environmental risk management, e-learning programs are provided to Group companies in Japan, introducing examples of problems and the establishment and renewal of important laws. This serves to firmly instill awareness of environmental management issues across a wider range of occupational levels. In addition, periodic equipment inspections are carried out at all Group bases, the results of which are compiled into necessary measures from time to time and utilized.

Environmental audits are also conducted in an effort to uncover and prevent environmental risks.

Owing to its efforts, the Group received no administrative punishments or penalties for any environmental violation in fiscal 2024.

As stated in our internal rules, the Mitsubishi Electric Group’s business sites (works, R&D centers, etc.) conduct environmental assessments such as when there is a change in land characteristics. These assessments are based on a survey method that complies with relevant laws and regulations, and the necessary countermeasures or solutions are implemented in accordance with the state of pollution.

In fiscal 2024, we assessed survey results and countermeasures regarding the condition of soil and groundwater due to land utilization for a total of 17 cases and have confirmed that all cases were handled appropriately.

Regarding areas that were recognized as having groundwater or soil pollution problems in the past, we purify the land using methods compliant with laws and regulations, and continue to regularly report the results of our monitoring to relevant government organizations.

The Mitsubishi Electric Group conducts inspections at all bases in Japan that store PCB waste (waste containing polychlorinated biphenyl) and/or handle devices containing PCBs at least once a year to confirm the status of PCB storage and usage.

With respect to low-concentration PCB waste and devices containing PCBs, Mitsubishi Electric disposed of approximately 17 tons of devices and 260 tons of contaminated soil in fiscal 2024, while its associated companies collectively disposed of approximately 10 tons of devices.

Customers can confirm whether or not an electrical device manufactured by a Mitsubishi Electric Group company in Japan contains PCB by referring to a list available on the corporate website.

The Mitsubishi Electric Group recognizes “nurturing human capital” as one of its key activities in accordance with the action guideline to “challenge to develop business innovations for future generations,” as set forth in the environmental management vision, “Environmental Sustainability Vision 2050.”

We strive to foster a corporate culture in which each Mitsubishi Electric Group employee takes the initiative to create a new lifestyle in harmony with nature as an ordinary citizen. To this end, all employees participate in an annual e-learning program, “Mitsubishi Electric Group Environmental Management.” We also develop human resources who possess a high degree of expertise and who accept diverse values and proactively tackle environmental issues, on a continual basis. Furthermore, in order to provide effective training, we employ various educational curricula in accordance with each employee’s role and expertise.

Environmental education system

Environmental Plan 2023 (FY2022–2024) is the first environmental plan formulated based on Environmental Sustainability Vision 2050. In order to achieve “carbon neutrality” and a “circular economy,” we will promote innovation in development and accelerate the reduction of our products’ environmental impact through their entire lifecycles. Since implementing this plan, we have also started to track progress towards the target rate of effective use of plastic waste.

The targets of Environmental Plan 2023 and the results for fiscal 2024 are as shown in the chart below.

Although the usage rate of recycled plastics fell short of the target, we will continue to make improvements by internally sharing examples of products made with recycled plastic waste. All other targets were achieved.

Environmental Plan 2025, covering the fiscal 2025–2026 period, sets greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for the period ending March 31, 2026 to achieve the Group's net-zero target at factories and offices by March 31, 2031. In addition, it specifies simplified calculations for LC-CO2*1 emissions contributing to both carbon neutrality and the circular economy, which are social issues Mitsubishi Electric is focusing on, as well as nature-positive targets*3 contributing to the “30by30”*2 initiative.