Environmentally Conscious Products
Sustainability Plus Products
SHI Group has been applying our proprietary assessment method for certifying environmentally conscious products. In FY2021, we changed the name from Environmentally Conscious Products to Sustainability Plus Products to enhance product competitiveness, better promote the SHI Group CSV* initiative, as well as market our sustainable products, including their social nature, along with achieving greater environmental performance (recycling resources, addressing global warming, and tackling environmental risks).
- *CSV: Creating Shared Value
Assessment Criteria and Processes
Products are assessed using 11 criteria to determine environmental and social performance with additional points given for outside awards. Products scoring 80 or higher points are certified as Sustainability Plus Products and those scoring 90 points or higher as Super Sustainability Plus Products.
Currently, we are considering adding an additional item: social value (reduction of rare elements, rare metals, and conflict minerals). It is our intention to provide sustainable products that will contribute to further resolving social issues.
| Environment | Resource recycling | 1. Resource conservation |
|---|---|---|
| 2. Improved recyclability at disposal (easier sorting and disposal) | ||
| 3. Extension of service life | ||
| 4. Packaging & wrapping | ||
| 5. Information provision | ||
| 6. Resource-saving measures during product use | ||
| Global Warming Countermeasures | 7. Energy-saving measures during use | |
| Environmental risk | 8. Environmental conservation | |
| Other | 9. Life cycle assessment (LCA) | |
| Society | - | 10. Safety |
| 11. Labor savings |
Product List
In FY2023, we surpassed our target of 25 certifications with the certification of 27 products as Sustainability Plus Products, of which four of these were awarded 90 or more points, earning the Super Sustainability Plus Product certification. The ratio of sales of Sustainability Plus Products to all products across the entire SHI Group is 31%.
With our Sustainability Plus Products, we have been working to enhance the safety of those performing work by equipping shovels, cranes and other construction equipment with field view monitors as well as preparing and providing customers with manuals on device disposal, which also helps reduce the environmental impact across the entire product lifecycle. In addition, we have also been providing systems and making other intangible efforts that contribute to enhancing the efficiency of our customers operations and reducing labor inputs.
CFB Biomass Boiler (Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler)
Our circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers have the capability to stably burn all kinds of solid fuels, ranging from biomass to refuse derived fuel (RDF), in order to reliably produce highly-efficient and clean energy.
These boilers make use of regional biomass and waste, thereby contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions and advancing the post fossil-fuel era. This is a power generation system able to fulfill its role as a clean balancing power source for stabilizing electric grids even in the coming society when our main power supplies will be renewable energies.
The CFB Biomass Boiler captures sulfur oxides (SOx) inside the furnace using limestone as the sorbent. The CFB design eliminates the need for traditional flue gas desulphurization (FGD) systems, emitting no more than 50 ppm SOx (6% O2 equivalent). Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are avoided by employing low-temperature and staged combustion, which decreases production to less than 50 ppm (6% O2 equivalent). Particulate matter is kept below 20 mg/m3 (6% O2 equivalent) with an electrostatic precipitator or bag filter, achieving a low environmental footprint.
Hydraulic Excavators
Our hydraulic excavators are equipped with a fuel-efficient clean engine and proprietary hydraulic system offering both low fuel consumption that is unsurpassed and more efficient operability, resulting in highly-efficient fuel performance.
This superior fuel performance that these excavators deliver surpasses the 2020 JCMAS fuel standard to acquire the highest rank ☆☆☆ certification, which is awarded to those products that meet the fuel performance standards at 100% or higher.
The clean engine, SPACE5α, which significantly reduces exhaust, surpasses world-class level exhaust gas standards and the Off-Road Act’s 2014 standard. When compared to similar conventional models, our hydraulic excavators emit 80% less NOx, which places them in an even higher eco-friendly class of construction equipment.
Sloped-Ejection Jet Pump-Type Sand Lifter System (SUMIJETTER II)
Grit jet pumps are used at pump stations and wastewater treatment plants where they separate and remove debris and sand in the water to protect other treatment equipment downline and streamline processing. The jet pump system requires a significant amount of power to operate the pressure pump, so one challenge has been to reduce the amount of power needed.
For the sloped-ejection jet pump-type sand lifter system “ SUMIJETTER II,” a concerted effort was made to reduce pressure loss, thereby reducing power required by more than 40% compared to conventional products. This has contributed significantly to its decreased power consumption. In addition, the decreased power consumption makes it also possible to lower the capacity of the pressure pump. This also reduces costs, including those for electrical equipment.
