Basic Concept
The Nisshinbo Group's Business Conduct Guidelines include Awareness and Concern towards its environmental impact. The Group promotes water conservation, recycling, and other activities with an eye to improving the quality of resource recycling, and faithfully realizes a safe and secure society for all people.
【Main measures】
- ① Promoting water conservation activities through ISO 14001 activities
- ② Expanding activities such as the introduction of water-saving equipment at manufacturing sites, reduction of water consumption and reuse of treated wastewater
- ③ Efforts toward sustainable water intake at overseas sites with different water availability conditions, such as use of rainwater and water recycling (returning to groundwater)
- ④ Activities in the Textiles business to purify water that has been drained and deliver a portion of it to neighboring residents free of charge
Please refer to "Promotion System" in "Environmental Management" for the promotion system.
Specific Initiatives of The Nisshinbo Group
6th Sustainability Promotion Plan (to be achieved by FY2027)
Reduction of water usage per unit of sales: Reduce by 77% or more compared to FY2014
The Nisshinbo Group established the 6th Three-Year Environmental Goals (6th Sustainability Promotion Plan) with the fiscal year ending FY2027 as the target year, setting the promotion of environmental management as a priority activity and establishing the following KPIs to promote reduction of water usage per unit of sales.
Water consumption per unit of sales has been reduced by 78% compared to FY2014, and the Group has already reached the target level for FY2027.
In light of the prolonged oversupply in the nonwoven fabric industry and the aging of production facilities, the Nisshinbo Group decided to withdraw from the nonwoven fabric business; therefore, the operations at the relevant production facilities were suspended as of the end of October 2025. As a result, water consumption is expected to decrease further in the coming fiscal year and beyond.
Please refer to "Environmental Management" for details regarding of the "3-Year Environmental Targets."
Please refer to "Sustainability Promotion Plan and KPIs" for details regarding of the "Sustainability Promotion Plan."
Independent Practitioner's Assurance of Environmental Data
The Nisshinbo Group obtained independent practitioner's assurance from Deloitte Tohmatsu Sustainability Co., Ltd. in its Nisshinbo Group Environmental Data 2025 (Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Water Withdrawal) in the Japanese version to improve the reliability of its Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Scope1, Scope2) environmental performance data.
Water Withdrawal Volume
The Nisshinbo Group's water withdrawal in FY2025 was 5,959 thousand m3, a slight decrease of 1% from the previous fiscal year. Water withdrawal per million yen of sales was 11.9 m3/million yen, a decrease of 3% from the previous fiscal year.
* Water withdrawal: Water withdrawal refers to the total volume of water withdrawn from Third-party water (Potable water, Industrial water), Groundwater, and Surface water (River water and Rainwater). Water recycled (reused) within the facility is not included. Only measurable Rainwater withdrawals are included in the total.
Trends in Water Intake
(Thusand m3)
| Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water withdrawal | 7,146 | 6,341 | 6,567 | 6,038 | 5,959*2 | |
| Third-party supplied water | Potable water | 829 | 810 | 841 | 843 | 825 |
| Industrial water | 630 | 427 | 422 | 404 | 384 | |
| Groundwater | 5,418 | 4,879 | 5,146 | 4,620 | 4,419 | |
| Surface water | River water and rainwater | 269 | 226 | 159 | 171 | 331 |
*1 The figures in the table have been rounded; therefore, the total may not match the sum of the individual items.
*2 The "Nisshinbo Group Environmental Data 2025 (Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Water Withdrawal)" are assured by an independent third party, Deloitte Tohmatsu Sustainability Co., Ltd.
Trends in Water Withdrawal Volume and Water Withdrawal Volume per Sales
*1 Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. (the "Company") excluded TMD Group, which was a consolidated subsidiary, from the scope of consolidation, due to its transfer, which took place on November 30, 2023. As a result, data for TMD Group is included in the aggregation up to November 2023.
*2 On December 27, 2023, the Company included KOKUSAI DENKI Electric Group within its scope of consolidation, and data for the group is included from FY2024.
*3 On November 28, 2024, the Company included ARGONICS GmbH and ARGONAV GmbH within the scope of consolidation as subsidiaries in the Wireless and Communications business. However, data for these companies is not included in the FY2024 data.
Trends in Water Withdrawal by Business
By business segment, the Textiles business accounted for 49% of total water intake. Next, the Micro Devices business accounted for 21%.
*1 Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. (the "Company") excluded TMD Group, which was a consolidated subsidiary, from the scope of consolidation, due to its transfer, which took place on November 30, 2023. As a result, data for TMD Group is included in the aggregation up to November 2023.
*2 On December 27, 2023, the Company included KOKUSAI DENKI Electric Group within its scope of consolidation, and data for the group is included from FY2024.
*3 On November 28, 2024, the Company included ARGONICS GmbH and ARGONAV GmbH within the scope of consolidation as subsidiaries in the Wireless and Communications business. However, data for these companies is not included in the FY2024 data.
Amount of Recycled Water
The Nisshinbo Group’s water recycling volume for FY2025 was 711 thousand m3, a 16% decrease from the previous fiscal year. This is primarily due to the discontinuation of water recycling in the relevant manufacturing processes following the withdrawal from the nonwoven fabrics business within the Textiles business.
*1 Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. (the "Company") excluded TMD Group, which was a consolidated subsidiary, from the scope of consolidation, due to its transfer, which took place on November 30, 2023. As a result, data for TMD Group is included in the aggregation up to November 2023.
*2 On December 27, 2023, the Company included KOKUSAI DENKI Electric Group within its scope of consolidation, and data for the group is included from FY2024.
*3 On November 28, 2024, the Company included ARGONICS GmbH and ARGONAV GmbH within the scope of consolidation as subsidiaries in the Wireless and Communications business. However, data for these companies is not included in the FY2024 data.
Water Consumption
The Nisshinbo Group’s water consumption for FY2025 totaled 580 thousand m3, a 4% decrease from the previous fiscal year. There were no major structural factors; the decrease was primarily due to reduced production in the Chemicals and Textiles businesses.
Trends in Water Consumption
*1 Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. (the "Company") excluded TMD Group, which was a consolidated subsidiary, from the scope of consolidation, due to its transfer, which took place on November 30, 2023. As a result, data for TMD Group is included in the aggregation up to November 2023.
*2 On December 27, 2023, the Company included KOKUSAI DENKI Electric Group within its scope of consolidation, and data for the group is included from FY2024.
*3 On November 28, 2024, the Company included ARGONICS GmbH and ARGONAV GmbH within the scope of consolidation as subsidiaries in the Wireless and Communications business. However, data for these companies is not included in the FY2024 data.
Displacement
The Nisshinbo Group’s actual wastewater discharge volume for FY2025 was 5,378 thousand m3, which represented a slight decrease of 1% compared to the previous fiscal year. The volume of effluent discharged fluctuated in tandem with the volume of water abstracted.
Trends in Displacement
*1 Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. (the "Company") excluded TMD Group, which was a consolidated subsidiary, from the scope of consolidation, due to its transfer, which took place on November 30, 2023. As a result, data for TMD Group is included in the aggregation up to November 2023.
*2 On December 27, 2023, the Company included KOKUSAI DENKI Electric Group within its scope of consolidation, and data for the group is included from FY2024.
*3 On November 28, 2024, the Company included ARGONICS GmbH and ARGONAV GmbH within the scope of consolidation as subsidiaries in the Wireless and Communications business. However, data for these companies is not included in the FY2024 data.
Water Withdrawal in Water-Stressed Areas
The Nisshinbo Group assessed the water withdrawal risks at its 174 major sites and confirmed that seven manufacturing sites (in China, India, and Indonesia) are located in regions affected by water stress. The Group’s actual water withdrawal volume from water-stressed regions in FY2025 was 791 thousand m3. Approximately 70% of this volume was withdrawn by PT. Nisshinbo Indonesia. The company is working to reduce water withdrawal by exploring the reuse of wastewater with the aim of mitigating operational risks.
For more details on identifying water risks, please refer to the section below titled "Understanding and Monitoring Water Risks."
Water withdrawal at major manufacturing sites located in water-stressed regions
| Segment | Companies and Business Locations | Water withdrawal volume (thousand m3) |
|---|---|---|
| Automobile Brakes | Saeron Automotive (Yantai) Co., Ltd. (China) | 19 |
| Precision Instruments | Nisshinbo Mechatronics India Private Limited (India) | 5 |
| Precision Instruments | Nisshinbo Comprehensive Precision Machining (Gurgaon) Pvt. Ltd. (India) | 40 |
| Precision Instruments | PT. Standard Indonesia Industry (Indonesia) | 10 |
| Textiles | PT. Nikawa Textile Industry (Indonesia) | 150 |
| Textiles | PT. Nisshinbo Indonesia (Indonesia) | 558 |
| Textiles | PT. Naigai Shirts Indonesia (Indonesia) | 9 |
| Total | 791 | |
Understanding and Monitoring Water Risks
The Nisshinbo Group conducts water risk assessments of all of the Group's manufacturing facilities and main suppliers using the AQUEDUCT Water Risk Atlas* published by the World Resources Institute (WRI).
As a result of the AQUEDUCT assessment, seven of the Group's business sites (Nisshinbo Mechatronics India Private Limited in India, NISSHINBO COMPREHENSIVE PRECISION MACHINING (GURGAON) PRIVATE LIMITED, and Saeron Automotive (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Saeron Automotive (Yantai) Co., Ltd. in China, and PT. Standard Indonesia Industry, PT. Nikawa Textile Industry, PT. Nisshinbo Indonesia and PT. Naigai Shirts Indonesia in Indonesia) are classified as "Extremely high" areas. At view point of the current water consumption at these sites, the Group estimates that it is not highly likely to have a significant impact on its business activities.
In addition, 61 locations within the Nisshinbo Group's main supply chains are classified as extremely high risk areas. These locations are distributed across the countries of India, China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brazil where suppliers for our Wireless and Communications, Automobile Brakes, Precision Instruments, and Textiles businesses are based. The Group continues to monitor the situation at each of the facilities and supply chain locations assessed as extremely high risk.
The Group has also assessed the risk from flooding as of 2050 in its climate change scenario analysis. The Group will promote risk reduction measures to deal with property damage and loss of business due to possible flooding.
Furthermore, in the nature-related risk analysis under the TNFD, Nisshinbo evaluated whether the Group's direct operations and corporate activities in the upstream value chain are located in sensitive areas with regard to water risks in relation to identified material issues.
* AQUEDUCT Water Risk Atlas: Maps based on 12 different water risk indicators, including "physical water stress," "water quality," "water resource regulatory risks," and "reputational risks."
CDP Water Security 2025 Evaluation
Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. discloses environmental information through the CDP. In 2025, Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. responded to the Water Questionnaire and received a B rating (Management Level). The Group will continue to actively address climate change and strengthen transparency and information disclosure in its environmental activities.
The CDP evaluates companies annually using a fair method based on such factors as disclosure comprehensiveness, recognition and management of environmental risks, and goal setting by assigning scores on an eight-point scale (A, A-, B, B-, C, C-, D, D-).
The CDP is an international environmental nonprofit organization established in the UK in 2000. It collaborates with more than 700 financial institutions with assets exceeding US$142 trillion and operates a global environmental information disclosure system. Specifically, in response to requests from investors, companies, governments, and other entities around the world, the CDP sends questionnaires on environmental issues to companies, provides an information disclosure platform, and scores and analyzes the responses.
In 2025, more than 23,100 companies worldwide disclosed data through their CDP responses. CDP scores are widely used in investment and procurement decisions through the CDP website and reports to achieve net-zero and a sustainable and resilient economy.
Specific Activities of the Group Companies
Reducing Groundwater Usage
Since 2014, Nagano Japan Radio Co., Ltd. has been switching from water-cooled to air-cooled air-conditioning units as part of its equipment upgrades in order to reduce groundwater consumption.
Groundwater use in FY2021 was 313 thousand m3. However, thanks in part to the replacement of air-conditioning equipment with 36 units upgraded to air-cooled air conditioners over the four-year period from FY2022 to 2025, water use decreased to approximately 200 thousand m3 in FY2025. This decrease represents a reduction of approximately 113 thousand m3 or about 36% compared to FY2021. In terms of equipment, the number of water-cooled air conditioners, which stood at approximately 100 units in 2013, has been reduced to 8 units through successive replacements.
Nagano Japan Radio will continue to systematically upgrade to air-cooled air-conditioning systems while striving to further reduce groundwater use and conserve local resources.
Effective Use of Water Resources Through the Reuse of Dehumidification Water
The Kawagoe Plant of Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. uses an outside air-handling unit (AHU)* to dehumidify the air and maintain a stable environment inside the cleanroom in response to the hot and humid conditions of summer.
The plant focused on the water generated during this dehumidification process (dehumidification water) and implemented measures to recover and reuse that water. By using the recovered dehumidification water as makeup water for the cooling tower, the plant reduced its annual consumption of well water by approximately 266 m3, which represents a reduction of about 10% over the target period.
Cooling towers serve a function similar to that of the outdoor units of air-conditioners by releasing heat from equipment into the air. They operate by exchanging heat between water and air. Because some of the water evaporates during this process, a constant supply of makeup water is required. An analysis of the dehumidified water confirmed that it was high-quality water with a low temperature and minimal impurities. Consequently, using it as makeup water for cooling towers is expected to help maintain and improve equipment performance.
On the other hand, challenges remain because of the fact that dehumidified water is generated only during the summer months, and the amount recovered fluctuates depending on production volume. However, no adverse effects on equipment performance have been observed as a result of this initiative; therefore, the plant is continuing to implement it as a safe and effective water resource management strategy.
Going forward, the plant will continue to promote initiatives aimed at the efficient use of limited water resources and the reduction of its environmental impact.
* Air-handling unit (AHU): Equipment that adjusts the temperature and humidity of outside air to maintain a comfortable indoor environment
Reducing Water Consumption During Backwashing
Nisshinbo Micro Devices (Thailand) Co., Ltd., has implemented a water purification system using reverse osmosis (RO) and deionization (DI) to ensure a supply of high-quality water for its factory operations. In this system, impurities are removed by sand filtration before the raw water is fed into the purification process. Previously, the sand filtration units underwent backwashing approximately every 24 hours, consuming about 28 m3 of water each time.
An analysis revealed that the primary cause of clogging in the sand filtration system was the aeration equipment (mixing blower) in the raw water storage tank. Aeration was stirring up sediment in the water and causing turbidity. Consequently, Nisshinbo Micro Devices (Thailand) implemented an operational improvement to stop the mixing blower whenever the raw water pump was in operation. This allowed particles in the water to settle to the bottom so that clearer water was supplied to the filtration process, thereby reducing clogging in the sand filtration system. As a result, Nisshinbo Micro Devices (Thailand) was able to extend the backwash interval from approximately every 24 hours to every 48 hours, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing water consumption.
This improvement was implemented in March 2025 and reduced the number of backwashes from 48 to 24 per year. As a result, annual water consumption was reduced by approximately 672 m3.
Reducing the Use of Industrial Water by Reusing Treated Wastewater
Since 2019, Nisshinbo Somboon Automotive Co., Ltd., in Thailand has been reusing treated water from its wastewater treatment system to flush the wet scrubbers that clean the exhaust gases generated by local exhaust ventilation systems and to irrigate green spaces within the factory with the aim of reducing industrial water consumption.
The wastewater treatment system employs an aerobic biological treatment method known as a biofilm treatment system (Acti-Contact), which utilizes a special carrier material called Acti-Lite to support bacterial growth.
Nisshinbo Somboon Automotive uses a standard wet scrubber system consisting of packing material, a spray nozzle, and a mist separator. The company also conducts regular measurements of exhaust gases to verify that the exhaust treatment system is functioning properly.
By reusing this treated wastewater, Nisshinbo Somboon Automotive has been able to reduce the annual industrial water consumption by approximately 3,700 m3. This represents about 31% of their annual industrial water usage.
Initiatives to Reduce Water Consumption
The Tokushima Plant of Nisshinbo Textile Inc., is reviewing the operating conditions of each piece of equipment with a view to improving efficiency throughout the entire manufacturing process and is also working to reduce water consumption.
In the MOBILON®*1 manufacturing process, the company reduced water consumption by thoroughly implementing daily management practices and optimizing equipment operation, such as circulating cold water, frequently stopping machines, and adjusting water flow rates, based on the status of each machine.
To reduce water consumption in the elastomer*2 manufacturing process, the company installed automatic valves at 12 locations on the cooling water piping for the extrusion hopper dryer and at one location on the cooling water piping for the 1,500 mm film production equipment. The company improved the system so that it supplies water only when necessary, while monitoring equipment operation and cooling conditions.
Through these initiatives, Nisshinbo Textile achieved an annual reduction in water consumption of approximately 19 thousand m3. The company will continue its efforts to make effective use of water resources and reduce the environmental impact.
*1 MOBILON®: An elastomer/spandex product made from 100% thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
*2 Elastomer: A general term for polymer materials that stretch significantly like rubber and return to their original shape when the force is removed
