#Japan #Waste Management #carbon footprint #Chiyoda #DOWA Ecosystem

DOWA Ecosystem Launches Innovative Carbon Footprint Reporting Service for Waste Management

In a significant development for the waste management industry, DOWA Ecosystem Co., Ltd. is introducing a groundbreaking carbon footprint (CFP) reporting service aimed at customers engaged in waste processing. Set to launch in June 2026, this service will provide reliable primary data regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated through waste management processes. The introduction of this service comes in light of the increasing demand for transparency and accuracy in corporate sustainability disclosures, particularly under the Sustainability Standards Board of Japan (SSBJ) framework.

With the establishment of mandatory disclosures for Scope 1 through 3 emissions for companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market starting from the fiscal period ending March 2027, the need for accurate reporting has never been more crucial. Historically, estimating Scope 3 emissions, which encompass the entire supply chain—including materials procurement, logistics, and waste management—has primarily relied on secondary data, often using emission coefficients published by the Ministry of the Environment. However, the SSBJ standards promote the use of primary data obtained directly from suppliers, thereby enhancing the accuracy of corporate activity reflections.

Currently, while the manufacturing sector has seen a significant increase in the active calculation and provision of product-based CFPs using primary data, the waste management sector has lagged. The complexity of waste types and transportation, coupled with insufficient infrastructure for data collection across the spectrum of waste processing—from collection to final disposal—has hindered timely and accurate data provision.

Overview of the Carbon Footprint Calculation System

DOWA Ecosystem's bespoke CFP calculation system incorporates data sourced from its robust waste management database and procurement and operational management records. By utilizing a reliable database that provides emission coefficients related to waste, transport, utilities, and auxiliary materials, the system can accurately calculate and aggregate GHG emissions at both customer and process levels. This innovative approach has recently been validated by Intertek Certification Co., Ltd., an international certification body, granting limited assurance in accordance with ISO 14067:2018 and the GHG Protocol Product Standard as affirmed by ISO 14064-3:2019. This validation marks a pioneering step within the domestic waste management industry, ensuring the reliability and credibility of the calculated emissions data.

Launch of the CFP Reporting Service for Waste Processing

The forthcoming CFP reporting service will be provided at a fee and will be available to customers who entrust their waste management to the DOWA Ecosystem group. This service will leverage real operational data during the waste processing phase, allowing for a tailored assessment of each customer’s GHG emissions. With a focus on high precision and comprehensive coverage, the service will include detailed data regarding transportation of waste and incineration residues, utilities and auxiliary materials involved in the incineration process, and final disposal practices.

By facilitating access to credible primary data within the waste management sector, this service not only aims to improve the accuracy of Scope 3 emissions computations, it also serves to enhance emissions visualization efforts. This will ultimately support strategies aimed at emission reductions and streamline the disclosure process.

Initially, the service will target waste processing activities at DOWA Ecosystem's facility in Chiba, which has received validation. However, the company plans to expand this service to other facilities located in regions like Akita and Okayama sequentially.

Company Profiles

DOWA Ecosystem Co., Ltd.
1. Headquarters: 4-14-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
2. Established: October 2006
3. Capital: 1 billion yen
4. CEO: Yasuharu Yanai
5. Employee Count: Approximately 2,900 (as of March 2025)
6. Parent Company: DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd. (100%)
7. Business Focus: Environmental and recycling operations, including resource recycling, waste processing, soil purification, logistics, and consulting.

Ecosystem Chiba Co., Ltd.
1. Headquarters: 1-30-2 Nagaiura Takeo, Sodegaura City, Chiba
2. Established: May 1970
3. Capital: 90 million yen
4. CEO: Hidekazu Oike
5. Employee Count: 129 (as of March 2025)
6. Parent Company: DOWA Ecosystem Co., Ltd. (100%)
7. Business Focus: Intermediate processing of industrial waste and specially managed industrial waste, including destruction of fluorocarbons.