Reduction of Waste

Initiatives at Plants

At our plants, the General Affairs Department checks the status of waste disposal contractors and strives to manage waste disposal appropriately by using electronic manifests. We also strive to improve our waste performance by promoting waste management, such as by conducting waste audits in line with ISO 14001 requirements. As well as making our utmost efforts to curb the volume of waste generated through business activities that we discharge, plants are working to reuse and recycle resources and to reduce the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of (non-recyclable waste).
In FY2023, we reduced the total volume of discharged waste, such as waste ink/solvents/plastics and sludge, by 7.8％ to 1,661 tons from 1,802 tons the previous year. With a recycling rate of 99.8％ (Material recycling, Thermal recycling), the 4 domestic plants (Tokyo, Osaka, Shiga, Hanyu) achieved a recycling rate of over 99.5％ (zero emissions). Going forward, we will continue to work towards achieving our reduction targets and maintaining zero emissions.

Examples of waste reduction activities

  • We work with raw material suppliers to carry out the following initiatives.
  • ・Reuse of used drums, etc.
  • ・Change packaging of purchased raw materials and use of returnable containers (cans ⇒ drums ⇒ containers)
  • We work with our clients to reuse used containers and drums, etc.
  • We work with solvent recycling manufacturers to recover waste solvents.

Initiatives at non-production facilities

At our head office locations (Osaka and Tokyo), we investigated the state of waste disposal, confirmed the state of sorting and separation, and changed our sorting / separation rules. In FY2023, emissions were reduced by 43.4％ to 16.3 tons (down from 28.8 tons in the previous fiscal year) due to a decrease in industrial waste and paper waste. Our effective resource utilization rate came to 98.5％, owing to the decrease in industrial waste and paper waste, which are effectively used resources (material recycling and heat recovery). Going forward, we will continue working to limit the amount of waste generated in the course of our business activities outside of our business sites as much as possible, and drive the reuse and/or effective use of resources.

Initiatives by Overseas Affiliates

Production facilities at overseas affiliates are working to secure ISO14001 certification, as well as on other things such as the proper management of waste disposal.
In FY2023, waste such as waste containers/plastics increased, and the amount discharged was 13,988 tons - 10.8％ increase from 12,620 tons the previous year.