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Hitachi

EcoAssist-Pro/LCA
Supporting the Decarbonization of
Supply Chains


This solution quantitatively analyzes the environmentally hazardous substances related to each product based on the concept of life cycle assessment (LCA) and visualizes the amount of emitted greenhouse gases (GHG) and other information.
Detailed assessments can be easily made through calculations using a cumulative formula based on the bill of materials (BOM).

Overview

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

Solution

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.

Features of the Solution

1

Linkage with internal and external systems to provide LCA estimated using primary data sources

  • Linking with the BOM, ERP*7, and MES makes it possible to calculate CO2 emissions for all component parts and processes without any overlaps, thus reducing data management costs and ensuring data quality.
  • Linking with shipping information allows for LCA estimates by shipment composition rather than model-based estimates. This makes it possible to report minimum CO2 emission data by shipment composition.
  • Linking with supplier LCA systems allows for the phased retrieval of primary data to the extent possible.
*7
ERP: Enterprise Resource Planning
2

Estimation logic that is compliant with ISO/PACT standards

  • Compliance with international standard rules (ISO 14040/14067*8 and PACT Pathfinder Network*9).
  • Life stages and calculation logic are predefined based on product characteristics, reducing the man-hours required for research and calculation.
  • Set default values for transportation, disposal, and recycling conditions to immediately start calculating LCA estimates.
*8
ISO 14040: International standard on life cycle assessment
ISO 14067: Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products — Requirements and guidelines for quantification
*9
Pathfinder Network: Provides an open, distributed network infrastructure that connects various technological solutions and enables peer-to-peer data sharing across different value chains and industries.
3

Analyze, visualize, and evaluate along multiple axes

  • Identify areas in need of remedial action through three-axis analysis encompassing life stages, part hierarchies, and inventory.
  • Provide feedback to manufacturing sites, procurement, and management by linking the MES, procurement management, ERP, and other systems.
4

LCA estimate system developed at Hitachi

  • Hitachi is a pioneer in LCA estimation technique based on bottom-up calculation using parts data. The system leverages Hitachi's many years of extensive experience.
  • This system is currently being implemented at factories across the Hitachi Group and carries in it all the know-how that has been accumulated by applying to a broad range of products.