For the environment

Initiatives to reduce environmental impact

Promoting energy efficiency and conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

• Business classification system based on the Act on Rationalizing Energy Use

  In accordance with periodic reports submitted to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for FY2023 under the Act on Rationalizing Energy Use, our business received a Class A rating, indicating the expectation for further efforts in energy efficiency and conservation.

  Fiscal year for submission	2021	2022	2023
  Most recent year-on-year change in energy intensity	103.7%	97.2%	121.5%
  Average over five years	98.0%	99.4%	104.0%
  Class	S	A	A

• Energy conversion to liquefied natural gas (LNG)

  Since 2009, the Harima Plant has been operating its boilers using liquefied natural gas (LNG) in place of heavy oil to mitigate CO2 emissions. In 2011, we registered for the domestic credit system certification^* (currently the J-credit system) and transferred a total of 15,000 tons of CO2 reduction between 2010 and 2017.
  By utilizing the generated credits, we promote low-carbon investment and expand Japan's greenhouse gas emission reductions.

  

• Energy efficiency and conservation activities

  • We have established a working group dedicated to the continuous promotion of energy efficiency and conservation activities.
  • At our Harima Plant, we updated our boilers, achieving an efficiency improvement of 5.8%. With this update, we anticipate a reduction in CO2 emissions by 244 tons annually. This project was selected for a subsidy as part of the Advanced Energy Conservation Investment Promotion Support Project.

  

Promotion of recycling

We are practicing the 3Rs (Reuse, Recycle, Reduction) of chemicals used in the manufacturing process of semiconductors and flat panel displays by controlling the concentration of ingredients to extend the life cycle, reducing the volume of chemicals used, and reusing used chemicals through distillation. In addition, in cooperation with Nagase & Co., we have set up an on-site chemical production plant and recycling plant in Green Front Sakai. This initiative has been certified as a Resource Productivity Innovation Plan by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Promotion of green procurement

The basic principle for the management of hazardous chemical substances at our company is not to allow prohibited substances into our offices/factories, that is, not to manufacture prohibited substances and not to purchase raw materials containing prohibited substances.

We have established an organization specializing in chemical substance management to comply with domestic regulations and various laws and regulations, including the EU RoHS Directive and industry and customer requirements. We are working to reduce the environmental impact of our products by voluntarily reducing or eliminating the use and discharge of chemical substances where there is concern about their environmental risks.

Biodiversity conservation

The activities of people and companies have a variety of impacts on local ecosystems. As part of our efforts to create a safe, secure, and warm society where people can live comfortably, we have long sponsored local greening projects.

To fulfill our responsibility to conserve the environment of rivers, their watersheds, and the sea, we have always maintained a strict level of control over wastewater discharged from the Harima Plant.