Energy-saving, resource-saving, and reduction of environmental impacts
Policy
The Group will further promote energy conservation and the effective use of resources, and work to resolve a variety of environmental issues for the future of the Earth.
Awareness of Issues
We recognize that specific measures to combat climate change, the efficient use of limited resources, and a circular economy1 are key issues that companies face. The Group is committed not only to contributing to the global environment, but also to enhancing our competitiveness and achieving sustainable development through efforts to conserve energy, effectively use resources, and reduce the environmental impact of our manufacturing processes.
- 1Circular economy
Economic activities to recycle and circulate existing resources, such as converting waste after use into resources for another business
- Environment Management
- Response to Climate Change
- Resource Saving
- Biodiversity and Pollutant Countermeasures
Conservation of Biodiversity
The Shin-Etsu Group aims to design environmentally considerate product starting from the
product development stage. At the same time, we are also meeting our responsibilities as
a chemical company by working actively to ensure the strict control of chemical
substances, mitigate global warming, reduce energy consumption, reduce the amount of
waste generated, prevent air and water pollution, and make other environmental
contributions. We are also engaged in activities such as tree planting at our plant
sites in compliance with the Factory Location Act and voluntary river cleaning in areas
around our plants. Furthermore, we request our suppliers to implement environmental
conservation initiatives in accordance with our CSR procurement guidelines.
The Group preserves the earth's ecosystem through these efforts.
Nearby river cleanup effort
(June 2022, Shin-Etsu Chemical Takefu Plant)
- Animals and plants that live and grow in the premises of our factories (From the left: squirrels, Japanese pigmy woodpeckers, and Kirishima azaleas at the Shin-Etsu Handotai Shirakawa Plant)
Biodiversity Conservation Efforts of Our Pulp Suppliers
We have purchased pulp derived from wood as the main raw material of cellulose derivatives.
When purchasing pulp, we ask all our pulp suppliers to consider the conservation of
biodiversity, and we have confirmed that they have all obtained national and/or
international forest certifications. In addition, we work hard to learn about our pulp
suppliers' biodiversity activities.
Participated in a meeting of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
In February 2021, the Company participated in a meeting of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) as an associate member. The RSPO is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable growth and use of palm oil by way of cooperation within the supply chain and open dialogue with interested parties. The Company agreed with the purpose and participated in the RSPO, and obtained mass balance certification in March 2023.
Reduction of chemical emissions
The Group strictly manages the discharge of necessary chemical substances. The Group works to reduce chemical release with proper manufacturing processes and the proper operation conditions of pollutant treatment facilities. In addition, the Group reports the amount of chemical substances released and transferred in the environment according to the PRTR system1 under the PRTR Law.2
In FY2021, we invested in the recovery of chloromethane by increasing the separation capacity of the silane synthesis rectification column, thereby lowering the emissions intensity and decreased emission in FY2022. Additionally, improved cleaning processes have further reduced ammonia and hydrogen fluoride emissions.
The Group does not use or produce substances that fall under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.3
- 1 PRTR system
Chemical substance release and transfer notification based on the "Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof" - 2 PRTR Law
Short for "Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof," it is intended to promote the voluntary control of chemical substances by business operators in order to prevent the risk of damaging the environment. - 3 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
It is a convention that prohibits or restricts the production, use, export, or import of designated substances for the purpose of reducing persistent organic pollutants that would require immediate attention. It is also known as the Stockholm Convention or POPs Convention.
PRTR Controlled Substance:
Trend of Total Amount
Released
PRTR Controlled Substance:
Trend of Total Amount
Transferred
PRTR Controlled Substance:
Chloromethane Release
Trend
PRTR Controlled Substance:
Chloroethylene Release
Trend
- * The figures are aggregated only for Shin-Etsu Chemical and consolidated companies in Japan.
- * The amount of emissions of substances designated by the PRTR system changes depending on the production volume.
Related Information
Prevention of Air Pollution
The Group is working to reduce emissions of air pollutants by setting emission reduction
targets at each of our Group companies and by converting to the use of fuel components with
less sulfur. Each group company carried out regular investigations on their emitted gas to
confirm that they comply with laws and regulations.
FY2022
Target：
Reduce emissions of air pollutants in terms of production intensity at an average
annual rate of 1%.
Results：
Soot was decreased 30.0%, and Sox was decreased 5.6%.
Evaluation：
The target was achieved.
Soot Emissions Trend
NOx Emissions Trend
SOx Emissions Trend
Related Information
Prevention of Soil Pollution
Groundwater and soil monitoring is carried out at each plant in accordance with the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act, and we make sure that we are in compliance with laws and regulations. In FY2022, the company performed groundwater and soil monitoring 239 times at its plant sites.