Environmental Risk Management
Toward Legal Compliance
In order to maintain legal compliance, we have created our own criteria to enable remaining consistently within the scope of environmental laws.
Regulated and actual values with regard to laws, ordinances, and agreements on pollution prevention
In order to comply with environmental laws and regulations, we adhere to the ISO14001 mechanism, from obtaining information on amended laws and regulations to operation management.
In FY2024, our Seto Plant exceeded the nitrogen wastewater standards in May, but the issue has been remedied.
All plants other than the Seto Plant were able to observe the regulated values with regard to agreements on pollution prevention, laws, and ordinances.
Investigation into Chemical Substances Designated by the PRTR Act
The Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof (PRTR Act) specifies a system in which the emission of substances affecting humans and the environment is to be investigated and disclosed. We're investigating substances subject to the Act that are used at our plants.
In FY2024, the Kikugawa Plant submitted notices for three substances, and the Iwata, Tochigi Nogi, Nakatsugawa, and Kakegawa Plants, as well as the Headquarters/Nagoya Plant, submitted notices for one substance.
Responding to the Plastic Resource Circulation Act
In order to respond to the wide-ranging issues of marine plastic trash, climate change, and enhanced regulations on waste imports in foreign countries, the Plastic Resource Circulation Act was enacted in April 2022.
The Act calls on waste generators who produce 250 tons or more of waste plastic per year, as large-scale waste generators, to take action in order to suppress waste, reuse resources, and so on.
In FY2024, we produced 192 tons of waste plastic, confirming that we are not considered a large-scale waste generator under the Act.
However, based on our environmental policy, we are working to reduce waste and set waste reduction goals.
We are making every effort to reduce waste plastic and other wastes to whatever extent possible, reducing our environmental load.
Emergency Measures
We designate facilities causing environmental load and conduct yearly abnormality and emergency drills in preparation for disasters or human error. By examining whether there are any problems with the current procedures, we work to minimize damage in the worst-case scenario.
Legal Compliance Initiatives
Management of Hazardous Substances
Plants handle numerous chemicals, some of which are hazardous substances. Hazardous substances risk causing fires and must be managed with great care. NITTO KOGYO conducts storage facility safety management through monthly inspections of indoor storage locations, checking compliance with storage limits on hazardous substances with regular inspections.
As well, storage locations within plants are being mapped, with storage limits (less than 1/5 of designated quantities) management in plants confirmed annually, in order to prevent storage amounts from exceeding limits on site.
Basic Inspections and Regular Inspections Based on the Fluorocarbon Emissions Control Act
The April 2015 amendments to the Fluorocarbon Emissions Control Act require mandatory inspections of Class 1 designated products (industrial air conditioners, freezers, refrigerators, and air compressors which use Freon or its substitutes as refrigerants).
NITTO KOGYO conducts basic inspections of these facilities in June, September, December, and March, with regular inspections in September.
Our freon leakage for FY2024 was 107t-CO₂, below the national standard for reporting (1,000t-CO₂) and thus not requiring a report.