Basic Concept
The Nisshinbo Group's Business Conduct Guidelines include Awareness and Concern towards its environmental impact. The Group properly manages hazardous substances, implements measures to prevent leakage in accordance with the laws and regulations of each country, strives to properly manage substances contained in its products, and faithfully realizes a safe and secure society for all people. The Group manages key performance indicators (KPIs) as part of systematic measures to reduce the emissions of PRTR* substances per sales, to achieve its environmental target.
【Main measures】
- ① Conducting appropriate control and anti-leakage measures for hazardous materials through ISO 14001 activities in accordance with the laws and regulations of each country
- ② Reducing the use of substances subject to PRTR and reducing the release and transfer of substances subject to PRTR at manufacturing sites
- ③ In the Precision Instruments business, switching of cleaning agents used in cleaning processes to products not covered by PRTR
- ④ Provide emergency response training for chemical substance leaks
* PRTR substances: Substances subject to the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) system pursuant to the "Act on the Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof" and reports of their amounts of release and transfer must be filed.
Please refer to "Promotion System" in "Environmental Management" for the promotion system.
Specific Initiatives of The Nisshinbo Group
Volume of Chemical Substances Handled
In FY2023, The volume of substances subject to PRTR handled by the Nisshinbo Group was 2,390 t, down 9% year-on-year (YoY). The volume of methylene bis (4,1-phenylene) diisocyanate decreased due to lower production of spandex and elastomers in the Textiles business.
Major items making up the Nisshinbo Group’s volume of PRTR substances handled were antimony, chromium, and trivalent chromium compounds as raw materials for brake friction materials and isocyanates, the raw material for heat insulating material.
The Automobile Brakes business accounted for 52% of the overall volume of chemical substances handled by the Group.
Trends in the Volume of PRTR Substances Handled
*1 Because of the transfer of all shares of TMD FRICTION GROUP S.A. (TMD), a subsidiary in the Automobile Brakes business, on November 30, 2023, and for other factors, TMD and 21 other companies were excluded from the scope of consolidation. Therefore, TMD and 21 other companies are included in the data until November 2023.
*2 On December 27, 2023, HVJ Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. and 7 other companies were included in the scope of consolidation, but are not included in the data for FY2023.
Volume of PRTR Substances Handled by Business
Volume of Chemical Substance Emissions
In FY2023, the Nisshinbo Group's volume of PRTR substance emissions totaled 23.6 t, up 11% year on year. Volume of PRTR substance emissions per unit of sales was 0.044 kg per million yen, up 8% year on year. Although the amount of paint used was reduced at Nanbu Plastics Co., Ltd. Susono Plant through a variety of improvement activities, such as standardization of paint conditions and digital setting of paint application flow rates, the amount of PRTR substances released into the environment increased due to changes and additions to the substances subject to the PRTR system as a result of the revision of the Chemical Substances Control Law*1.
*1 Chemical Substances Control Law: Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management
Trends in Volume of PRTR Substance Emissions and Volume of PRTR Substance Emissions per Sales
*1 Because of the transfer of all shares of TMD FRICTION GROUP S.A. (TMD), a subsidiary in the Automobile Brakes business, on November 30, 2023, and for other factors, TMD and 21 other companies were excluded from the scope of consolidation. Therefore, TMD and 21 other companies are included in the data until November 2023.
*2 On December 27, 2023, HVJ Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. and 7 other companies were included in the scope of consolidation, but are not included in the data for FY2023.
Emission Breakdown by Chemical Substance
| Chemical Substance | Discharge Amount(t) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Toluene | 7.8 | 32.9% |
| Xylene | 3.2 | 13.4% |
| 1-Bromopropane | 2.4 | 10.3% |
| Ethylbenzene | 1.5 | 6.5% |
| Phenol | 1.4 | 5.8% |
| Antimony and Other Compounds | 1.1 | 4.5% |
| Others | 6.3 | 26.6% |
Toluene accounted for the highest proportion of emitted chemical substances, at 33% of the total.
By business, the proportion of the Precision Instruments business releasing toluene, xylene, and 1-bromopropane was 41% of the total.
Volume of PRTR Substances Emitted by Business
*1 Because of the transfer of all shares of TMD FRICTION GROUP S.A. (TMD), a subsidiary in the Automobile Brakes business, on November 30, 2023, and for other factors, TMD and 21 other companies were excluded from the scope of consolidation. Therefore, TMD and 21 other companies are included in the data until November 2023.
*2 On December 27, 2023, HVJ Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. and 7 other companies were included in the scope of consolidation, but are not included in the data for FY2023.
Purification of Wastewater
In FY2023, the Nisshinbo Group's volume of suspended substances (SSs) emissions per unit of sales totaled 0.20 kg per million yen, up 14% year on year. The volume of CODs* emissions per unit of sales was 0.28 kg per million yen, up 7 % year on year. In the Micro Devices business, Nisshinbo Micro Devices (Thailand) Co., Ltd. saw an increase in the CODs emissions due to the start of a new plating process.
* Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): An index of water contamination expressed as the volume of oxygen chemically required or chemically consumed
Trends in Amount of SSs Emissions per Unit of Sales and Amount of CODs Emissions per Unit of Sales
*1 Because of the transfer of all shares of TMD FRICTION GROUP S.A. (TMD), a subsidiary in the Automobile Brakes business, on November 30, 2023, and for other factors, TMD and 21 other companies were excluded from the scope of consolidation. Therefore, TMD and 21 other companies are included in the data until November 2023.
*2 On December 27, 2023, HVJ Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. and 7 other companies were included in the scope of consolidation, but are not included in the data for FY2023.
Atmospheric Releases
In FY2023, the Nisshinbo Group's sulfuric oxides (SOx) emissions per unit of sales was 0.07 kg per million yen, up 7% YoY. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions per unit of sales was 0.09 kg per million yen, down 5% YoY. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs*) emissions per unit of sales was 0.12 kg per million yen, down 7% YoY. Soot and dust emissions per unit of sales was 0.03 kg per million yen, unchanged down 27% YoY.
PT. Nikawa Textile Industry (Indonesia), the Textiles business, stopped using coal boilers in November 2021 and eliminated the use of coal, resulting in a significant decrease in SOx and NOx emissions for the Group from FY2022.
VOC emissions have decreased because of the decrease in the use of acetone as a result of a decrease in production in the Chemicals business. Soot and dust increased at Nisshinbo Micro Devices (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in the Micro Devices business because of the increase in the number of boilers in operation as a result of a new plating process.
* Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Volatile organic compounds, such as toluene
Trends in Amount of SOx Emissions per Unit of Sales, Amount of NOx Emissions per Unit of Sales, Amount of VOCs Emissions per Unit of Sales and , Amount of soot and dust Emissions per Unit of Sales
*1 Because of the transfer of all shares of TMD FRICTION GROUP S.A. (TMD), a subsidiary in the Automobile Brakes business, on November 30, 2023, and for other factors, TMD and 21 other companies were excluded from the scope of consolidation. Therefore, TMD and 21 other companies are included in the data until November 2023.
*2 On December 27, 2023, HVJ Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc. and 7 other companies were included in the scope of consolidation, but are not included in the data for FY2023.
Specific Activities of the Group Companies
Chemical Substance Education Based on Education and Training Plan and Others
JRC Tokki Co., Ltd. conducts different types of training once a year for employees engaged in relevant operations based on an education and training plan. For the proper management of chemical substances, the company provides education on the basics of chemical substances, proper handling of organic solvents, and legal revisions, and at the end of the course, students take a quiz to determine their level of understanding.
In addition, during the emergency response training (chemical spill response), practical training, which had been canceled because of the COVID-19 disaster, was held for the first time in three years. In accordance with company standards, all participants were able to take appropriate action, including the discovery of chemical substance leaks, reporting through the emergency response route, and implementing measures to deal with the leakage situation. Unlike the paper-based training until 2022, the practical training included many questions about how to wear protective equipment and the hazards of chemicals, confirming that employees' awareness of emergency situations increased.
The company will continue to make efforts to prevent employee safety and environmental pollution by ensuring that safety education activities do not become a mere formality.
Power Equipment Emergency Treatment Training
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Fukuoka Co., Ltd. conducts emergency drills three times a year in cooperation with the Power Equipment and Environmental Response Division (Facility Environment Section) and the power equipment operation and management contractor (Fukuoka Plant of Kyokuyo Semiconductors Co., Ltd.) in response to possible power equipment leakage accidents (city gas, chemicals, high-pressure gas).
The power equipment, which has been in operation since 1984 and is approaching its 40th year, is being maintained regularly, and efforts are being made to ensure a stable power supply through life extension and planned upgrades, but there is a risk of a serious accident if a leak occurs. The company conducts drills on a daily basis to be prepared for unforeseen situations and to be able to respond safely and quickly to limit the spread of damage and prevent secondary damage and victims.
The current training was conducted under the scenario of sulfuric acid leakage due to damage to transfer piping from a sulfuric acid tank and possible leakage out of a gutter. This activity is carried out to prepare for unforeseen events by changing the assumed leakage points of chemicals used in the power equipment every year.
Emergency Response Training Based on The Assumption of a Hazardous Chemical Leak
Nisshinbo Micro Devices (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Thailand conducts an emergency response drill for hazardous chemical substance leaks every February and March.
In the event of a hazardous chemical spill, the company needs to take prompt action, so the following emergency response drills are conducted to prepare for such an event.
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① Acquisition of knowledge of chemical substances through lecture format
Understanding of the properties, storage methods, storage facilities, and transportation methods of chemicals using SDS, and understanding of the effects on the environment and humans in the event of leakage or contact with the human body - ② Practical training through simulation
In FY2023, the company conducted an emergency response drill based on the scenario of a leakage of chemicals used at the No. 2 Pure Water Plant. The drill simulates a situation in which a chemical moving from a storage room falls from a cart and leaks onto a road on the premises. In the event of a chemical spill of 10 liters or more onto a road, the person on site who determines that a spill has occurred will take steps to contact the chemical response team in accordance with the communication route. The chemical response team will then treat the leak and notify safety and environmental personnel.
By conducting drills based on such specific scenarios, the company is prepared for an emergency response to hazardous chemical substance leaks.
Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Test
Nisshinbo Mechatronics Inc. Miai Machinery Plant has prepared a procedure for dealing with a possible leakage of hazardous materials (cutting oil) from inside a hazardous materials storage facility to the outdoors in the event of an earthquake or other disaster.
The procedures are ① detection, ② emergency contact, ③ leak prevention work, ④ emergency treatment, ⑤ waste oil recovery, and ⑥ restoration contact in that order. The company conducts a test once a year to confirm that the procedures are actually effective. For testing, members who are expected to actually perform the work gather together to confirm the contents while working according to the procedure manual, and if there are areas for improvement, the manual is also being reviewed. In previous tests, the company has reviewed the position and quantity of sandbags and adsorption mats. Safety points are also included to ensure safe operations. During testing, the company makes every effort to reaffirm our social responsibility as a corporate organization, in addition to the impact on the environment and ecosystems if procedures are not followed.
Emergency Response Drills for Various Scenarios
Nisshinbo Precision Instrument & Machinery Hiroshima Corp. has prepared a list of emergency situations in accordance with the Environmental Management System. At the beginning of the year, when the environmental action plan is prepared, each department is encouraged to conduct emergency drills.
The company is particularly proactive in providing education and training to production departments that use many chemicals and to development departments that use chemicals. In the previous year, training was conducted on ① cutting oil leaking outside the plant, ② hydrocarbon cleaning fluids (Class 2 petroleum) leaking downstairs, ③ methanol and ethanol handling and emergency procedures, ④ caustic soda flake spills, and ⑤ handling chemical leaks. These emergency response drills have been conducted on an ongoing basis and have become well known throughout the department. The company is now planning to expand the number of participating members to include related departments. The company hopes that this will further raise awareness of the hazardous nature of chemical substances among employees. The company also plans to move forward with drills that focus not only on emergencies that significantly affect the environment but also on infrastructure-related supply disruptions.
Education on The Use, Management, and Leakage of Chemicals
Nisshinbo Mechatronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (China) conducted chemical product management in compliance with laws and regulations and provided relevant departments with training on how to use and manage chemical products and on chemical product, leaks in order to prevent chemical product leaks.
For education on how to use and manage chemicals, the company created a procedure manual for the use of chemicals that describes precautions for the safe use of chemicals and how to manage them in accordance with laws and regulations, provided guidance according to the manual, and began the operation. The company's health and safety manager periodically checks the operational status.
In addition to the initial response procedures in the event of a leak (sealing off and isolating the leaking area, wearing safety equipment and evacuating the area, taking appropriate measures for chemical leaks, etc.), the company prepared educational materials and provided guidance on how to wear masks when hazardous gases are generated, fire prevention measures due to chemical leaks, and how to respond in the event of a fire.
The company will continue to provide education and training to ensure that chemical management complies with laws and regulations and to prevent accidents caused by chemical product leaks.
Emergency Response Training for a Chemical Leak
Every year, the Nisshinbo Chemical Inc. Toke Development Center and the Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. R&D Center jointly conduct an emergency response drill for a hypothetical chemical substance leak as part of their annual disaster prevention training.
In FY2023, training was conducted in November on the assumption of a chemical leakage due to the toppling of chemicals (18-liter drums) stored in an indoor storage facility at the Toke Development Center after a major earthquake. In addition to overall training, each workplace unit conducts training as part of EMS activities, and the company continues its efforts to maintain a system in which all employees who handle chemical substances can respond appropriately in the event of an emergency.
Received the Award for Excellence in Accuracy Control at the 16th Total Accuracy Control Project of the Japan Association for Working Environment Measurement
Nisshin Environmental Planning Inc. participated in the 2023 Comprehensive Accuracy Control Project (Japan Association for Working Environment Measurement), which evaluates the technical capabilities of working environment measurement organizations. As a result, the company was recognized as an excellent institution and awarded in June 2023 for its efforts in precision control in the three areas of design (measurement plan), sampling, and analysis, and in all four areas of analysis (dust, organic solvents, metals, and specified chemical substances) for which the company is registered as an institution.
The significance of working environment measurement is based on the premise that a series of processes from measurement design, sampling, and analysis are properly and accurately conducted. Even if a working environment measurement organization is commissioned to measure the working environment, if the results obtained are not an accurate representation of the actual conditions at the workplace, they will not only not serve as a guideline for working environment management but may also lead to incorrect management.
The company believes that the high evaluation of their technical capabilities related to working environment measurement will lead to the expansion of chemical substance management operations, which will be strengthened in the future.
Certification for Sustainable Practices
PT. Nisshinbo Indonesia has received the following certifications for its sustainable practices.
- OEKO-TEX®*1 STANDARD 100*2
- OEKO-TEX® STeP*3
- GOTS*4（The Global Organic Textile Standard）
- OCS*5（The Organic Content Standard）
*1 OEKO-TEX®: An association (OEKO-TEX® International Community) established in 1992 with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, is an organization that has established a system to certify the safety and reliability of textiles and includes independent testing and research institutes from 15 European countries and Japan.
*2 OEKOTEX® STANDARD 100: An important indicator for trade and consumption in more than 100 countries as a sign of the world's highest standard of safe textile products, given only to products that have passed strict analytical tests covering more than 350 hazardous chemicals to cover all national regulations.
*3 OEKO-TEX® STeP: Certification of the level of sustainability of textile factories and companies.
*4 GOTS: Organic standard for processing textiles (textile products), which covers textile products in the broad sense, such as yarn, fabrics, and clothing.
*5 OCS: Certification for the production and manufacture of products containing organic fibers.
