Commitment to Sustainable Innovation Underpins Hitachi Digital Services’ Ability to Positively Impact Climate via Controlled Resource Dependencies, Decarbonization, and Responsible Business Practices
Hitachi Digital Services today released its FY2024 sustainability impact report. The document is the company’s second annual report and first official presentation on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) progress since establishing itself as a standalone business. The report reveals a strong forward momentum, as well as a complete Materiality Assessment establishing areas for future commitments. Hitachi Digital Services has since set 18 ESG goals for FY2025, an 80% increase over last year.
While not new, publishing ESG and sustainability reports has generally been voluntary. However, as global debates around climate and human rights grow louder, the landscape is shifting with select disclosures now becoming mandatory domestically and internationally. This trend impacts how and with whom companies do business, as study results not only affect brand reputations, but employees, investors, and other stakeholders, too. For Hitachi, the call for responsible, ethical practices aligns with the company’s century-old founding principles which center on a people-first mentality, along with a promise to positively contribute to society.
“At Hitachi, accountability has always been at the heart of who we are. We understand that when our customers evaluate the practices of their partners, they do so out of genuine concern for their people, their communities, and the planet, not simply to satisfy regulatory requirements,” said Roger Lvin, CEO, Hitachi Digital Services. “For us, resilience and sustainability are not side initiatives. They are part of our heritage and our future. We lead by example, proving that technology can drive progress while protecting what matters most. Together with our customers, we are shaping solutions that create trust, deliver impact, and enable transformation for generations to come.”
Based on the Materiality Assessment priorities, notable FY2024 milestones include:
Responsible Procurement: DS’ mandatory training on sustainable procurement achieved a 100% completion rate. Additionally, 100% of new suppliers agreed to comply with the company’s Expectations of Business Partners—a code of conduct (CoC) for environmental sustainability, business continuity, data privacy, diversity, human rights and more. As a new member, DS committed to adhering to the Responsible Business Alliance’s (RBA’s) CoC that will influence future Expectation of Business Partners iterations.
GHG Emissions Management and Reduction: Building on its climate strategy, Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions calculations were completed, representing the first year of comprehensive data collection and reporting for the restructured company. The results provide a robust baseline for future emissions tracking and reduction efforts. They will be used to set a reduction roadmap to net zero FY2050, with DS committing to set a near-term goal aligned with SBTi by FY2025.
Water Conservation: DS sites in Santa Clara, California, and Hyderabad, India, represent nearly half of the company’s operational floor area. Monitoring water withdrawal in the two locations revealed that over 40% of the total water used in Hyderabad is recycled. To reduce the strain on local water sources, DS installed a water recycling plant in India with the capacity to treat more than 100 m³ of water per day, significantly reducing its water footprint and marking a meaningful contribution to its environmental goals.
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