Waste & Environmental Pollution Prevention
Basic Approach
SHI Group strives to curb waste and other emissions discharged during our business operations as well as to recycle and effectively utilize resources in an effort to reduce our environmental footprint. We have also imposed controls on VOCs as well as PRTR and other chemical substances.
Waste
Curbing Waste Emissions
The target which we have set for waste emissions (including hazardous waste) is to maintain the basic sales unit at a level equal to or below the Japan average for the period from 2017 to 2019.
In FY2023, we achieved our target with a 29.0% reduction in waste emissions. Converting shot blast chip refuse, which used to be disposed of as industrial waste, into a marketable provision, reusing filtered test-run oil, and implementing other innovations has led to a reduction in emissions. In the future as well, we will promote waste reduction with a particular awareness of the 3R principle, including carefully separating waste and recyclable items.
Overseas, we have advanced our activities to meet the basic target unit of a 4% reduction below the FY2019 level, and we achieved a 21.6% reduction in FY2023.
Zero-Emissions (Landfill Rate Reduction)
SHI Group defines a zero-emission plant in Japan as one for which the ratio of landfill disposal volume (landfill rate) to waste discharge volume is less than 0.5%. Since FY2005, we have been promoting efforts to reduce the landfill rate. In FY2023, the landfill rate for all domestic works (6 works and 7 plants) and group businesses other than works (9 companies) was 0.03%. We have consistently achieved zero emissions since FY2011.
Overseas where business activities are carried out with a non-landfill target rate of at least 95%, we achieved the target of 3.7% in FY2023. Our combined domestic and overseas waste landfill rate was 2.0% in FY2023. Recycling by separating waste is key to achieving zero emissions. In the future as well so that we are sure to maintain zero emissions, we will meticulously separate waste as part of our aim to have our plants contribute to a sound circular society.
Compliance with Act on Promotion of Resource Recycling Related to Plastics
SHI Group manages waste plastic using metrics measuring group-wide emissions and the amount of waste generated per basic unit of sales.
Plastic waste emissions for SHI were 1,243t in FY2023 on a non-consolidated basis.
SHI Group will continue our activities to manage and reduce waste plastic across the entire group. We will promote the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) plus renewable for plastic packaging materials and consider more comprehensive actions that even look at product components in our aim to engage in operations with a full awareness of the supply chain.
Plastic Product Reuse Initiatives
When considering how to dispose of the polycarbonate partitions used during the pandemic, the Osaki Head Office made the decision to recycle these rather than scrapping them. Approximately 161 kg was recycled, resulting in a significant contribution to the office’s efforts to recycle reusable plastic.
Prevention of Environmental Pollution
Complete Elimination of Organochlorine Chemical Use
We have continued to strive to completely phase out the use of dichloromethane, tetrachloroethylene, and trichloroethylene, organic chemicals subject to the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act.
We have completely eliminated and banned the use of ozone-depleting substances HCFC-225 and HCFC-141b since FY2008 and FY2010, respectively. We have been promoting the scheduled replacement of R-22, production of which was discontinued in FY2020.
Control of VOC Substance Emissions
Toluene, xylene, and ethyl benzene contained in paint solvents account for at least 90% of VOC substances used by the SHI Group in Japan. For FY2023, we set a target of keeping these emissions at or below the actual level in FY2019. We achieved a 17.6% reduction in these admissions as well as a reduction of 33.7%% per basic unit of sales.
Beginning with the 7th Medium-Term Environmental Plan, we will set a target of keeping these admissions at or below the basic unit average for the period from 2020 to 2023 on a global consolidated basis. We will continue to expand the scope for employing low-solvent coatings and cleaning agents that do not contain VOCs, as well as expansion of powder coating, in addition to further enhancing painting efficiency so that we may reduce the amount of paint and other substances used and thereby contribute to our endeavors to reduce emissions of the substances.
PRTR Substance Emissions and Transfer Volume
Paint solvents toluene, xylene, and ethyl benzene comprise 90% or more of all PRTR substances. In FY2023, we achieved a 3% reduction compared to the FY2019 level.
While maintaining quality, we will expand the application of low-solvent paints and establish and expand solvent recovery and removal equipment so that we may reduce emissions and transfer volume.
PCB Management and Complete Elimination of Equipment Using PCBs
All devices containing high concentrations of PCBs were registered early on with the waste-disposal company Japan Environmental Storage & Safety Corporation. These devices have been systematically detoxified pursuant to the Act on Special Measures Concerning Promotion of Proper Treatment of PCB Wastes. Transformers containing PCBs and stabilizers for lighting equipment containing PCBs have been replaced or updated gradually. Some Works and affiliated companies have completely disposed of all PCBs. Additionally, we have completed our survey to identify equipment containing low concentrations of PCBs, and have been working to detoxify such equipment step-by-step before the deadline.