Basic Approach to Prevention of Pollution and Resource Circulation
Prevention of Pollution
The NAGASE Group has established voluntary control values that are stricter than the standards set by the Air Pollution Control Act, Water Pollution Prevention Act, local ordinances and agreements, and is striving to adhere to them. We will work actively to reduce the release of pollutants and maintain and conserve the natural environment.
Resource Circulation
The NAGASE Group's environmental policy is to conserve resources, including energy and water, and to reduce and recycle waste. We will work toward a circular economy that aims to achieve both economic growth and a reduction in the environmental impact by reducing the amount of resources and energy input and the amount of waste generated and creating added value through recycling.
Targets and progress
Targets and results for raw material consumption and waste reduction
| Disclosure item | Target item | Boundary | Targets for FY2022 | Results for FY2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw materials | Amount of paper used | Non-consolidated (Tokyo Head Office) |
Qualitative: In accordance with the NAGASE Group Environmental Policy (2. Promoting Environmentally Conscious Businesses), we will work to reduce paper consumption at offices. |
Qualitative: Achievement Quantitative: Achievement 65% reduction (Year-on-year change) |
| Waste | General office waste Recycling rate |
Non-consolidated (Tokyo Head Office) |
Qualitative : In accordance with the NAGASE Group Environmental Policy (2. Promoting Environmentally Conscious Businesses), we will work to improve the recycling rate at offices. Quantitative : Recycling rate of 80% or more |
Quantitative: Achievement 76.9％ |
| Amount of general office waste | Non-consolidated (Tokyo Head Office) | Qualitative: In accordance with the NAGASE Group Environmental Policy (2. Promoting Environmentally Conscious Businesses), we will work to reduce the amount of waste generated at offices. | - |
For data on the amount of paper used, recycling rates, and amount of general office waste, please click here.
Support for the United Nations Food Systems Summit (FSS)
Nagase Viita Co., Ltd.
Nagase Viita Co., Ltd. has expressed its support for the United Nations Food Systems Summit (FSS), which is held to promote the transformation of the food system into a sustainable one and concrete actions toward the achievement of all sustainable development goals. Nagase Viita will contribute to the realization of a sustainable food system, especially food security covering both quality (nutrition) and quantity (supply), in order to enrich the health of all life and future food. Nagase Viita will promote the development of nutritious food products by utilizing the company's long-cultivated strengths in enzyme utilization technology and ingredients naturally derived from biotechnology. Nagase Viita will also work to secure stable food supplies by reducing food loss and improving the productivity of agricultural and livestock products.
Efforts for Recycling of Industrial Waste by Nagase Viita Co., Ltd.
Nagase Viita is actively involved in recycling the waste generated at each of its production sites. For example, metal waste from manufacturing equipment is provided to metal recycling companies, and wastewater sludge from wastewater purification facilities is provided as raw materials to companies that manufacture fertilizers and manure. As a result, the recycling rate of industrial waste at Nagase Viita Corporation has been approximately 98% at each production site.
3R activities in office buildings
In business facilities, it is very important to properly separate trash at the point of discharge. At Nagase’s Tokyo headquarters office, individual trash bins are not provided at work stations, but only at utilities located centrally on the floor, to promote 3R activities.
Targets and results for pollution
| Disclosure item | Target item | Boundary | Targets for FY2022 | Results for FY2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contamination | New investment | Non-consolidated |
Qualitative: In accordance with the NAGASE Group Environmental Policy (1. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations), we will strive to prevent pollution by controlling the emission of pollutants, and comply with environment-related laws, ordinances, and other laws and regulations in the promotion of our business activities. |
Achievement |
| Production | Group |
Qualitative: In accordance with the NAGASE Group Environmental Policy (2. Promoting Environmentally Conscious Businesses), we will strive to prevent pollution by controlling emissions of pollutants at production sites, and conduct production activities. |
Achievement |
Please click here for VOC (air pollutant) emission data.
Pollution Prevention and Resource Recycling 2022 Initiatives
| Initiative | Details |
|---|---|
| Air pollution abatement through business process improvement and technology implementation |
Provide and utilize exhaust gas treatment processesTo protect the atmospheric environment, emission standards have been established for soot and dust and VOCs, etc. The NAGASE Group provides wastewater and exhaust gas treatment technology solutions along its supply chain to meet these emission standards. In addition, the Group's manufacturing sites also install scrubbers to reduce emissions of hazardous gases and other pollutants.We also have our exhaust gas concentrations measured regularly by a third party. |
| Use of substitutes or less hazardous substances |
Provide less hazardous alternativesIn order to prevent and minimize damage to the human body and the environment caused by handling chemical substances, it is necessary to obtain scientific information on the hazards and toxicity of chemical substances, assess their risks, and handle them appropriately. Since some of the amine curing agent raw materials provided by Nagase ChemteX Corp. are designated as deleterious substances, we provide "Denatite XNR3324/XNH3324" as a less hazardous alternative as a representative adhesive of non-poisonous substances. |
| Waste Management |
Proper disposal of waste and reporting through electronic manifestsThe NAGASE Group has established a system for collecting and sorting waste to promote the reduction and recycling of waste from its factories and offices, and has set targets for these efforts in its environmental management system. In addition, in order to ensure that waste disposal responsibilities are fulfilled, on-site checks are periodically conducted on contracted waste disposal companies to confirm that waste is being disposed of properly.In accordance with the partial revision of the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law (hereinafter referred to as "Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law") to strengthen measures against improper disposal of waste, businesses that generate 50 tons or more of specially controlled industrial waste will be required to use electronic manifests starting in FY2020, and we are implementing reporting We have been implementing electronic manifest reporting. |
Examples of initiatives
plaplat®:creating new value for business
The NAGASE Group recognizes that maintaining the convenience provided by plastics while taking the global environment into consideration is an important issue. Nagase & Co., Ltd. and Nagase Plastics Corporation operate an online platform called plaplat® that provides information on environmentally friendly materials such as recycled biomass and sustainable solutions such as CO2 visualization and energy-saving molding. It also provides a service that allows customers to request and receive a Certificate of Non-Use of Environmentally Hazardous Substances to confirm the safety of materials. It contributes to a sustainable society by creating new value for the plastics business.
Contributing to resource conservation: Providing resin materials and lab for 3D printers
The spread of 3D printers that do not require molds contributes to resource conservation in the manufacturing industry. The NAGASE Group recognizes that it is an important issue to support the challenge of its business partners through the provision of resin materials to manufacture products using 3D printers. Nagase ChemteX Corporation manufactures optical plastic for 3D printers. In addition, we have developed high-quality resins to match the curing characteristics of the 3D printer equipment and to meet various properties such as strength, heat resistance, rubber elasticity, and castability. At the same time, Open Lab supports manufacturing using 3D printers at suppliers.
TiMELESS®:combining environmental friendliness with delicious food
The NAGASE Group recognizes the importance of providing packaging that preserves the taste of food products and is environmentally friendly. Nagase & Co., Ltd. is expanding sales of the gas control technology TiMELESS®developed by MIB Co., Ltd., which produces and sells packaging materials, etc. In May 2022, Nagase & Co., Ltd. developed asue, a barrier packaging material for food products that utilizes TiMELESS, with Nakabayashi Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group, Oji F-Tex Co., Ltd., and Kyokuyo Co., Ltd. In general, plastic valves are often used in the packaging of coffee beans to deaerate carbon dioxide emitted from the beans and prevent the bags from expanding and bursting. As an alternative to plastic valves, asue uses TiMELESS®, a technology developed by MIB that forms a flow path for deaeration, in the seal part. By doing so, the packaging material preserves the taste of food products and is environmentally friendly.
Acquisition of ISCC PLUS certification
The NAGASE Group considers the promotion of biomass production related to climate change issues as an important challenge. NAGASE & CO., LTD. has obtained ISCC PLUS certification, one of the international certification systems for sustainable products. ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) is already widely used in Europe as a certification system for biomass, and ISCC PLUS certification is a certification system that manages and secures products such as biomass raw materials and recycled raw materials produced by the mass balance method (*1) in the supply chain. ISCC PLUS certification for products from all over the world, including those from outside the EU, enables the handling of certified products. This year's renewal also allows for the handling of trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, and neopentylglycol. In the NAGASE Group, Nagase Wahlee Plastics Corp. (Taiwan) obtained ISCC PLUS certification. We will continue to contribute to the fight against global warming through the handling of ISCC PLUS certified products.
- ※1A management and calculation method for products containing sustainable materials, such as those derived from biomass, and non-sustainable materials, such as those derived from petroleum. It is mainly used to promote biomass production in supply chains with complex production processes.
Prevention of air pollution and offensive odors by Aience Inc’s Deoriser
The NAGASE Group recognizes that providing solutions to prevent air pollution and offensive odors at production sites as an important issue. Deoriser, a scrubber (a device to prevent air pollution and bad odor) developed by Aience Inc, an affiliate company of NAGASE Group, uses a cartridge-type screen that enables 100% gas-liquid contact with a water film. This is a high-performance scrubber that is friendly to the global environment. It shuts out exhaust gas with a water film of around 40mm, and is equipped with Aquablaster, which has an established reputation in wastewater treatment, to prevent water decomposition and enable long-term use of recycling water. It has been adopted by many factories and can be used for a wide range of odorous substances. We will continue to contribute to pollution prevention by popularizing and promoting Deoriser.
Received the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Director General Award, the 47th Excellent Environmental Equipment Award
Aience Inc's Deoriser received the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Director General Award, the 47th Excellent Environmental Equipment Award. For more information, please click here.
Building a sustainable food system through the use of TREHA®
The NAGASE Group considers the establishment of a sustainable food system as an important issue. TREHA® provided by Nagase Viita, a Group company, is making a significant contribution to improving food production volume and reducing food waste in the food production, processing, distribution, and consumption processes of the food system. The functions of TREHA® are as follows: in food production, as feed for livestock and fertilizer for crops, TREHA® contributes to the growth of agricultural products; in distribution, it contributes to the stabilization of the organization of vegetables and fruits, and maintains moisture and freshness for a longer time. We will continue to contribute to resource recycling by building a sustainable food system utilizing TREHA®.
Establishment of the industry-academia Circular Materials Consortium
Kyoto University Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability and Nagase & Co., Ltd. established the Circular Materials Consortium, a forum for discussions and proposals regarding the development of circular materials (sustainable materials) and started its operation in September 2022. The Consortium, organized by Kyoto University, provides information and opportunities for discussion on the latest technologies and trends in sustainable materials development. As a sponsoring company, Nagase & Co., Ltd. will promote the Consortium through its extensive network in the industry, especially among manufacturers in the chemical industry, and provide follow-up and other support to participating companies. With increasing attention paid to the circular economy, the development of materials in accordance with sustainability has been a challenge that cannot be solved by one specialty alone, due to the complexity of various factors such as resources, energy, and recycling rates. The Consortium aims to contribute to the circular economy from the aspect of material development by providing information and opportunities for discussion on cutting-edge technologies and international trends from a comprehensive and bird's-eye view. (Participants: esa Inc., Toyobo Co., Ltd., Natoco., Co., Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Yonex Co., Ltd., Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd., and Nagase & Co., Ltd.)
Data on prevention of pollution and resource circulation
- 【Non-consolidated】Amount of raw material consumption
- 【Group】Amount of general industrial waste
- 【Group】Amount of special controlled industrial waste
- 【Non-consolidated】Waste and recycling rate
- 【Group Manufacturing】Amount of raw material consumption
- 【Group Manufacturing】VOC (air pollutant) emissions
- 【Group】Environment-related fines and penalties
