Environment

Environmental Policy

We consider global environmental problems to be an important challenge in management as a general trading company which provides products and services and invests in businesses in an extensive range of fields in Japan and overseas.

The ITOCHU Europe Bloc, in accordance with the ITOCHU Group Environmental Policy, is engaged in global corporate management and activities with a constant awareness of global environmental problems in order to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

ITOCHU Group Environmental Policy

Global environmental concerns such as climate change pose a critical threat to the sustainability of earth. Given the global nature of our operations, it is a top management priority for us to address these concerns and contribute to building a sustainable society. We will do so by committing to make continuous improvements to our environmental management system, reducing the environmental impacts of our businesses throughout their lifecycles, and engaging in business activities that make positive contributions to the environment.

1. Compliance with Laws and Regulations: We shall comply with international declarations, agreements, and treaties, as well as with the laws and regulations of the countries and regions in which we operate. We shall also comply with any other agreements that we have consented to.
2. Response to Climate Change: We shall reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the efficiency of energy use within our own operations, as well as externally provide products and services that contribute to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
3. Environmental Pollution Prevention: We shall prevent and reduce environmental pollution caused by chemical substances and oils, reduce emissions of air pollutants, and reduce and properly process hazardous waste and wastewater.
4. Promotion of Resource Circulation: We shall contribute to the formation of a circular society by promoting the sustainable use of resources (such as fossil fuels, minerals, food, animals and plants), a reduction in the amount of resources used, a reduction in the amount of waste discharged and recycling across our business investments and the supply chain of our products and services.
5. Conservation and Effective Use of Water Resources: We shall reduce water consumption through efficient water use and recycling, as well as take necessary measures to appropriately treat effluents.
6. Biodiversity Conservation: We shall recognize the value of the benefits that we receive from the natural ecosystem, minimize our impact on biodiversity, and contribute to its conservation.
7. Transparency: We shall proactively disclose environmental information and maintain a communicative relationship with our stakeholders.

April 2023
Shuichi Kato
Chief Executive for Europe & CIS Bloc
CEO, ITOCHU Europe PLC

ITOCHU Europe Green Finance Framework

As the regional headquarters of ITOCHU's operation in Europe, ITOCHU Europe Plc (ITOCHU Europe) established its Green Finance Framework in March 2019 (*1), and within the same month, raised its first green loan of EUR150Million mainly from Mizuho Bank through ITOCHU Treasury Centre Europe Plc, ITOCHU's group finance vehicle for Europe and the Middle East. This was the first green finance procured by any of the Japanese trading houses (so-called "Sogo shosha"). ITOCHU Europe’s Green Finance Framework was independently reviewed by Sustainalytics.

As a group, ITOCHU believes in the importance of fulfilling its social responsibilities. This is accomplished through the continuous enhancement of sustainable corporate values within its core business, in accordance with the group's mission, "Sampo-Yoshi" (good for the buyer, good for the seller, and good for society), the management philosophy of merchants in the province of Ohmi that has been embraced by the company since its founding in 1858.

In May 2021, in its Medium-Term Management Plan entitled "Brand-new Deal 2023", ITOCHU adopted a basic policy in its growth strategy to, Enhance its contribution to and engagement with SDGs through business activities, and Lead the industry in realizing a decarbonized society. By addressing GHG emissions reduction and offsetting targets through its primary business operations, ITOCHU are working towards sustainable growth through a reinvented "Sampo-Yoshi" approach. Sustainability initiatives of ITOCHU, which fulfil its responsibilities for the present and future society, also contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted at a UN Summit in 2015.

The ITOCHU Europe Green Finance Framework highlights how the activities of ITOCHU Europe are supporting two of the SDGs, namely affordable and clean energy and responsible consumption and production. These consist of material sustainability issues identified by ITOCHU at a group level.

Hiroshi Sato, the previous CEO of ITOCHU Europe, explained "Sustainability is a key driver of ITOCHU Europe's business activities, ranging from textiles, machinery, non-ferrous metals, foodstuffs, chemicals, general merchandise and some financial transactions. ITOCHU Europe, together with ITOCHU group companies in the region, would like to achieve growth by expanding our sustainable business in such ways as developing and introducing new technology for environmentally friendly materials, deploying sophisticated technology to save energy, and investing in energy efficient and/or renewable energy projects. Establishing the green finance framework is an important milestone for us, showing our clear commitment to sustainability to the public here in Europe".

"Mizuho is proactively contributing to the sustainable growth of our clients and the communities that we serve, and we believe it is vital to assist our clients with the provision of sustainability finance. As our clients' best financial solutions partner, offering a full range of innovative services including green loans, we will continue using our group's full capability to support our clients' ESG initiatives." said Hiroshi Nagamine, the previous Managing Executive Officer and Head of EMEA, Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

Use and Source of green finance

1. List of eligible projects (updated in May 2022)

Category	Project	Country	Type	Invest-ment Start	COD (*2)	Capacity (*3)	GHG reduction (ex-ante)
Renewable Energy	Aanekoski	Finland	Biomass	2015	2017	280MW	105 kilo t-CO2e /year
	Butendiek	Germany	Wind	2017	2015	288MW
	Solaben 2&3	Spain	Solar	2010	2012	100MW
Pollution Prevention and Control	ST&W	UK	EfW	2011	2014	260kt/year	15 kilo t-CO2e /year
	Cornwall			2013	2017	240kt/year
	Merseyside			2013	2017	460kt/year
	West London			2013	2016	350kt/year

(*2) COD=Commercial Operation Date
(*3) "Capacity" is generation capacity for Renewable Energy and capacity for waste treatment volume per year for EfW.

2. Use and source table as of March 2022

Use of Proceeds (€Mil)		Source of Proceed(€Mil)
Renewable Energy	206	Green Loan March 2022 from Mizuho	60
Pollution　Prevention and Control	53	Other Sources	199
Total	259	Total	259

ITOCHU Corporation issues SDGs Bond

ITOCHU Corporation, the parent company of ITOCHU Europe PLC, issued US$500Million Senior Unsecured Bonds due 2026 to raise funds for projects that contribute to SDGs in March 2021.

ITOCHU has set the basic policy "Enhancing our contribution to and engagement with the SDGs through business activities" in the "FY2022-2024 Medium-Term Management Plan," and the purpose of issuing the SDGs Bonds is to promote such efforts about SDGs.

For detail, please refer to;
Press Release
SDGs Bond Framework and Second Party Opinion

ITOCHU Europe's Business Initiatives for the Environment

We engage in environmental businesses that are projected have sustainable growth from a business perspective and are projected to contribute to society's shift toward decarbonization and circular economy. In doing so we employ a mid-to-long-term perspective in our business outlook and aim to leverage the latest technology available.

Energy-from-Waste Projects

Renewable Energy Projects in Europe