Beyond its reputation for car exhaust system, SANGO is embracing a new identity as a leader in environmental responsibility, actively pursuing CO2 reduction initiatives.

Sango is a leading manufacturer and supplier of automotive components, providing critical parts to numerous global car manufacturers. The company’s unique strength lies in an integrated production process that encompasses both the processing of components and the secondary processing of steel materials. This comprehensive capability allows Sango to manage the entire production chain from raw materials to finished products, setting the organization apart within the competitive automotive industry.

The primary focus of the business is on automotive exhaust systems. Sango manufactures environmentally conscious products such as exhaust manifolds that purify exhaust gases through catalytic converters and mufflers designed to reduce noise pollution. While the company has long addressed environmental concerns through its core product development, management launched a long-term project in 2017 titled the “Sango Environmental Challenge 2050” to solidify its commitment to carbon neutrality.

This project promotes sustainable practices throughout the entire product lifecycle. Sango has established an ambitious goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2013 levels, surpassing the Japanese government’s national target of a 46% reduction. Through these comprehensive efforts, the company aims to evolve its market identity from a traditional muffler manufacturer into a leading environmentally conscious enterprise.

However, while advancing these sustainable business practices, Sango encountered operational challenges regarding environmental information disclosure, particularly when responding to CDP requests from multiple major customers. Because requirements such as Scope 3 CO2 emissions calculations exceeded internal administrative capabilities, the company decided to seek specialized external consulting support for its CDP reporting. Simultaneously, management recognized the necessity for new, structured initiatives to achieve true carbon neutrality beyond merely answering customer questionnaires. Sango sought a strategic partner capable of providing valuable insights and long-term guidance to help achieve these environmental benchmarks.

Sango first engaged with ASUENE during an active search for external consulting support to manage CDP disclosures and explore new carbon neutrality initiatives. Confronted with the immediate challenge of calculating complex Scope 3 emissions, Sango turned to ASUENE for expert guidance.

The primary factor behind selecting ASUENE was the provider’s high industry reliability, demonstrated by a proven track record of over 4,000 corporate implementations and prestigious recognition, including the Ministry of the Environment’s Environmental Startup Ministerial Award in 2022. Furthermore, ASUENE stands as the only organization in Japan certified as a CDP Climate Change Consulting and Scoring Partner, which reinforced Sango’s confidence in their domain expertise.

During initial consultations, ASUENE demonstrated high responsiveness and a strong ability to adapt to Sango’s specific corporate structure. Because standard CDP questionnaires are typically structured for publicly listed corporations, ASUENE provided specialized advice tailored to how Sango, as a privately held company, could most effectively formulate its disclosures. The consultants also shared critical, up-to-date information regarding shifting environmental regulations and global best practices. These strategic insights proved instrumental in refining the execution of the Sango Environmental Challenge 2050.

By leveraging ASUENE’s consulting services, Sango successfully visualized its administrative gaps and identified new operational challenges within its sustainability framework. This clear visualization of areas requiring improvement has served as a primary benefit of the partnership. Moving forward, Sango anticipates continued strategic guidance from ASUENE to not only optimize its annual CDP scores but also elevate its overarching environmental initiatives.

Looking to the future, Sango remains committed to improving its CDP scores, refining its Scope 3 emissions calculations, and systematically strengthening its broader environmental initiatives. The Sango Environmental Challenge 2050 outlines specific corporate objectives based on the framework of “Three Values to Create and Five Challenges to Overcome,” a philosophy derived directly from the company’s name.

The Three Values consist of expanding and creating environmentally friendly products, reducing the environmental impact of business activities, and conserving the natural environment. Sango places a heavy strategic emphasis on environmental conservation, maintaining an active tree-planting initiative since 2006. This program originally launched following the discovery of regulated substances at the Nagoya factory, the historical birthplace of the company.

Initiated as a localized soil remediation project, the campaign has successfully planted approximately 320,000 trees to date, with management targeting a milestone of 350,000 trees by 2028. While Sango remains dedicated to developing green products and eliminating operational energy waste, industrial manufacturing and logistics inevitably generate CO2 emissions. Through continuous tree-planting efforts, the company actively seeks to offset these residual emissions and contribute directly to a decarbonized society.

Concurrently, the Five Challenges declared by the company include:

• Minimizing lifecycle CO2 emissions
• Minimizing new vehicle CO2 emissions
• Minimizing waste from production activities
• Building a society in harmony with nature
• Establishing a robust environmental management system

To minimize production waste, Sango has established rigorous reduction targets, working diligently to mitigate not only CO2 emissions but also other industrial pollutants, including wastewater and chemical substances.