Use of 100% Biodiesel Fuel in 7-Eleven Delivery Truck

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. ("Mitsui"; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kenichi Hori) and SEVEN-ELEVEN JAPAN CO., LTD. ("Seven-Eleven"; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Fumihiko Nagamatsu) will introduce B100, a 100% biodiesel fuel (BDF), on a trial basis for use in a delivery truck servicing 7-Eleven stores. The trial will start on December 26, 2024, at the Frozen Kobe Center, a combined distribution center in Hyogo Prefecture for 7-Eleven stores.

The BDF that will be used in this new trial scheme is refined plant-based used cooking oil. Since CO₂is absorbed during the growth of the plants used to make cooking oil, the CO₂emission level is considered net zero during combustion. The use of B100 fuel is expected to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality. Compared with conventional diesel fuel, the use of B100 reduces CO₂emissions by 2.62 kg per liter^*.

B100 fuel will be refined from used cooking oil collected from approximately 1,500 7-Eleven stores in Osaka and Kyoto Prefectures. This fuel will be used in a delivery truck at the Frozen Kobe Center (operated by Mitsui & Co. Retail Group, Ltd.) to service 7-Eleven stores in the Osaka area. The procurement and supply management of the biodiesel fuel will also be handled by a 100% subsidiary of Mitsui. In addition to expecting a reduction in CO₂emissions through the use of B100 fuel, this initiative will also gather driving data, such as fuel consumption, to consider future increases in the number of trucks and expansion of the coverage area. Seven-Eleven and Mitsui see the use of BDF as an effective way to reduce CO₂emissions from land transportation. Both companies aim to contribute to the development of an environment-friendly logistics infrastructure network.

Previous initiatives by the two companies to reduce environmental impacts include the introduction of small hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks and electric trucks. Seven-Eleven and Mitsui will continue to work toward the realization of a carbon-neutral society through various initiatives.

*The diesel emission factor as stated in the Ordinance on Greenhouse Gas Emission Calculation for Designated Emitters (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Ministry of the Environment)

Roles in the Project

• Seven-Eleven
  Development of a system for use of biodiesel fuel in store delivery
• Mitsui & Co.
  Creation of logistics infrastructure designed to reduce environmental loads
  Proposal of ways to utilize used cooking oil
• Mitsui & Co. Energy
  Management of procurement and supply of next-generation energy
• Mitsui & Co. Retail Group
  Store delivery services using biofuel vehicles, and collection of vehicle operation data
• Uedayushi
  Collection of used cooking oil from the service area and production of biodiesel fuel

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