Environmental Protection Activities
The Group continuously monitors CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and other factors as it works to facilitate the reduction of its environmental burden.
Measures to reduce the environmental burden and combat climate change
Since the 1980s, we have been working for many years to prevent
global warming by making effective use of fossil fuels (natural
resources) mainly at our plants.
In 2012, the Company was designated as a specified business
operator under the revised Act on Rationalizing Energy Use, and
we have been engaged in Company-wide efforts to further
conserve energy.
In addition, from FY2022, we have set a new goal of
reducing total CO2 emissions by 38%*1 by FY2030,
and we are implementing measures aimed at
achieving this goal.
- *1 Compared to our peak value recorded in FY2017.
Activities for 2023
In FY2023, we will continue our energy conservation activities aimed at "just-in-time energy" at our Konan Factory, which accounts for over 40% of our energy usage on a standalone basis. We have also increased the proportion of electricity derived from renewable energy sources at our main production bases, the Takarazuka, Ono, and Konan Factory, from 10% to 30%. In addition, we have begun managing the CO2 emissions performance of our major domestic group companies. Furthermore, we have begun investigating the CO2 emissions status of our major overseas group companies, and are working to grasp the CO2 emissions performance of the entire group in the future.
Waste reduction
The Company is committed to reducing waste and recycling through the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) as well as Refuse (not accepting things that will end up as garbage). In our efforts to realize a recycling-based society, we have also set new targets in FY2022 of reducing total waste emissions by 10% *2 by FY2030 and achieving a recycling rate*3 of 99% or more.
- *2 Compared to FY2020
- *3Recycling rate: Amount of waste recycled/ Total amount of waste generated × 100 (%)
Activities for 2023
In order to comply with the Plastic Resource Recycling Promotion Act, we have set targets for grasping the amount of waste and reducing it. Based on these targets, we will continue to work on this issue in a planned manner.
Cooperated in JICA Subject-Specific Training "Fundamentals of Solid Waste Management
Based on our Sustainability management policy, the Group aims to contribute broadly to society through our business activities. Since fiscal 2011, we have been cooperating with the issue-specific training program "Fundamentals of Solid Waste Management" hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Kansai.
This training, which was entrusted to us by the NPO "Leaf: Children's Environmental Activities Support Association," is aimed at government and local government officials in the Pacific, Asia, and Latin America, with the aim of learning about "solid waste management through collaboration between the private sector and civil society." The training consists of a curriculum that includes lectures and field visits on waste disposal and the creation of a recycling-oriented society and resource recycling projects in Japanese local governments. We gave explanations on two themes, "Efforts of a refuse compactors manufacturer" and "Training on the operation and repair of collection trucks." Following the morning lecture, we guided the participants to our Hiroshima factory in the afternoon, where we toured the manufacturing site and used actual vehicles to explain how to operate and safely handle the trucks. This training was canceled after 2020 due to the effects of COVID-19, but in 2023 it was held for the first time in four years, and people from the following countries participated.
By continuing to actively cooperate with JICA training programs, we aim to contribute to solving the world's waste problems through our "refuse compactors."
| Date | Target countries | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| September 27, 2023 | Azerbaijan, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Algeria | ５ |
| February 6, 2024 | Cambodia, Maldives, Nepal, Jordan, Solomon Islands, South Sudan | ６ |
Protecting Water Resources and Reducing Water Use
Since saving water, a precious and limited resource, also leads to a reduction in energy consumption in the water purification process, the plant properly manages both the amount of water used and the amount of wastewater discharged, and there were no cases of non-compliance with laws, regulations or ordinances in FY 2023.
Reducing emissions of pollutants
For substances discharged from factories into the atmosphere and water bodies, we have set voluntary limits *4 that are stricter than laws, regulations and ordinances in an effort to reduce the environmental impact.
(Note that our company does not own any equipment that requires the measurement of SOx emissions.)
- *4Ex/ NOx: Approximately 30–70% of the legal limit; BOD: 50% of the legal limit (Aircraft Division Konan Plant).
