HIROSHIMA: Mazda Motor Corporation successfully operated a cupola melting furnace at its Hiroshima plant using 100% biomass fuel, marking a global first for this type of casting facility.
The trial replaced fossil fuels with bio-coal briquettes derived from coconut shells, demonstrating stable operation without CO2 emissions from combustion.
The achievement is the result of Mazda’s collaboration with the foundry industry and local partners, forming part of its broader effort to achieve carbon neutrality (CN) in production by 2035 and across its supply chain by 2050.
The company aims to establish a sustainable energy circulation scheme using waste-derived biomass fuels for cupolas by 2030, promoting local production and consumption of renewable energy.
To ensure a stable biomass fuel supply, Mazda launched the Cupola CN Co-creation Working Group in March 2023, bringing together industry stakeholders to develop biomass fuel technology and secure local raw materials.
While coconut shell bio-coal was used in this trial, Mazda is working to expand fuel sources, including biomass waste collected in Hiroshima and neighbouring areas.
Since November 2024, the company has been repurposing spent coffee bean husks from Tully’s Coffee Shop and vending machines at its headquarters, confirming their viability for bio-coal briquette production through demonstration experiments.
This initiative aligns with Mazda’s three-pronged strategy for carbon neutrality: energy conservation, a transition to renewable energy, and CN fuel adoption.
Mazda plans to further strengthen its regional cooperation framework, uniting industry, government, academia, and private enterprises to ensure sustainable raw material procurement and facilitate fuel conversion.
