Basic Concept
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a process used to numerically assess the use of raw materials, their environmental impact, and their potential environmental impact on the earth and ecosystem over the entire life of a product, spanning the procurement of raw materials through to production, distribution, use and disposal. The Nisshinbo Group's Business Conduct Guidelines include Awareness and Concern towards its environmental impact. The Group promotes the reduction of environmental burdens throughout the life cycle of its products, including the stage of use, and faithfully realizes a safe and secure society for all people.
【Main measures】
- ① Improved convenience by making the same LCA software available in Japan and overseas
- ② Promoting the development and expansion of operators by holding LCA software utilization seminars
- ③ Reduction of chemical substances and waste emissions based on product LCA results
- ④ Introduction of LCA from the product development stage and application of it for the development of environmentally friendly products
Please refer to "Promotion System" in "Environmental Management" for the promotion system.
Specific Initiatives of The Nisshinbo Group
Assessment of the 5th Three-Year Environmental Targets (to be achieved by FY2024)
The Nisshinbo Group established the 5th Three-Year Environmental Goals (5th Sustainability Promotion Plan) with the fiscal year ending FY2024 as the target year, setting the promotion of environmental management as a priority activity and establishing the following KPIs to promote Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
* Life cycle assessment (LCA): Understanding of environmental load, through the life cycle of a product, from raw materials, to production, use, and finally to disposal.
Promote Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): 60% or more of total sales
As a result of systematic promotion, the percentage of sales accounted for by the Group's FY2024 reached 51%. This was due to the inclusion of the KOKUSAI DENKI Electric Group, which began operations in FY2024, within the scope of the initiative.
Assessment of the 6th Three-Year Environmental Targets (to be achieved by FY2027)
In the 6th Three-Year Environmental Targets (6th Sustainability Promotion Plan) with FY2027 as the target year, we raised the KPI values based on the initiatives of the 5th term as milestones for achieving the medium-term environmental targets.
Promote Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): 70% or more of total sales
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."
Advancement of LCA activities
The Nisshinbo Group is expanding its LCA activities while putting LCA software to effective use to calculate LCA data in order to understand environmental impacts and promote product standards and manufacturing process improvements, as well as the development of environmentally friendly products.
Naturally, the Group draws on LCA product results to reduce energy consumption in manufacturing and emissions of chemical substances. Additionally, the Group introduced LCA from the product development stage, contributing to the expansion of sales of environmentally friendly products.
Specific Activities of the Group Companies
Life Cycle Assessment of RC Radar
Japan Radio Co., Ltd. carried out a life cycle assessment of the RC Radar Handy Search (NJJ-200K), which is manufactured and sold by JRC Mobility Inc.
RC radar is a nondestructive exploration device that uses electromagnetic waves to quickly probe the interior of concrete structures. This makes it possible to check the thickness of buried objects and members and cavities on-site.
The calculations were based on the assumption that the electricity and fuel used in the manufacturing phase by the production department are proportionally distributed on a monetary basis, and that the product is fully recharged 90 times a year during the usage phase with a product life of eight years.
The life cycle GHG emissions were 327 kg-CO2, 77% (253 kg-CO2) from the parts collection phase, 20% (65 kg-CO2) from the manufacturing phase, and 3% (8 kg-CO2) from the use phase.
The reason why greenhouse gas emissions account for such a small proportion of the usage phase is that the company's RC radars are compact and energy-efficient and can be used for seven hours on a single charge, which allows a full day at the measurement site.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Education
As there are only five people with experience in conducting life cycle assessments (LCA) within the design department at Goyo Electronics Co., Ltd. LCA training was conducted in November 2024 for ten engineers in the Design Department.
The training includes the use of the tool while introducing past case studies. The engineers in the Design Department who have taken part in the training will teach each designer while implementing LCA during on-the-job training with a plan to increase the number of people with LCA implementation experience to 17 by FY2025. As a result of this plan, approximately 50% of the company's designers will have LCA implementation experience.
The company set a target of more than 70% of its products applying LCA by FY2027. The number of personnel with LCA implementation experience will gradually expand with the aim of 80% of personnel with LCA implementation experience by FY2027.
By actively using LCA in the development stage, designers will be able to understand the environmental impact of their products over the life cycle, which will then lead to the development of products with the introduction of technologies and materials to reduce the impact.
Utilization of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Nisshinbo Chemical Inc. has been conducting life cycle assessments (LCA) on coated products among its carbon products. In FY2024, the company expanded the scope of the LCA to include three categories: coated products, plate products, and adhesives. The purpose of this assessment was to confirm the current state of environmental impact associated with the production of carbon products.
This enabled the company to visualize environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions. The company can now see where to focus its efforts in each product manufacturing process to reduce environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions, thorough waste separation, and energy consumption.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Powdered CARBODILITE
Nisshinbo Chemical Inc., Tokushima Plant, manufactures and sells powdered CARBODILITE as an additive for improving the hydrolysis resistance of biodegradable plastics.
In 2024, the company conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) on powdered CARBODILITE by performing an inventory analysis* covering everything from raw material procurement to product disposal and manufacturing equipment cleaning. This enabled the company to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and identify hot spots with high environmental impact.
As a result, Nisshinbo Chemical found that the manufacture and transportation of the main raw materials had a significant environmental impact. It was, therefore, determined that reducing the environmental impact could be achieved by replacing the main raw materials with ones that emit less greenhouse gases. Nisshinbo Chemical will utilize the LCA results to promote activities aimed at reducing environmental impact.
* Inventory analysis: Part of life cycle assessment, this is the process of collecting data on inputs and outputs throughout the life cycle of a product or service.
Comparison of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Spun Yarns
Nisshinbo Do Brasil Industria Textil LTDA. carried out a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the conventional spun yarn (ring yarn), which is its main product, and the spun yarn produced by the innovative spinning machine (VORTEX yarn), for which capital investment is being made, and the amount of energy used. The reduction effect was verified by calculating the amount of energy used.
As a result, the company found that the VORTEX yarn produced by the innovative spinning machine, which shortens the spinning process, uses approximately 30% less energy during production compared to conventional ring yarn.
The company has been using this innovative spinning machine since 2014 and has been upgrading from conventional equipment while increasing sales. While the market share of textile products using ring yarn produced on conventional spinning machines is still overwhelmingly high, the company is working with customers to actively develop products and expand sales of VORTEX yarn.
By reducing the impact of textile products on the global environment from the raw material—the yarn, the company is contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.
