Energy-saving, resource-saving, and reduction of the environmental impacts
Water Resource Conservation
There are water scarcity areas in the world, and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has predicted that the issue of water scarcity in some regions will become serious by the year 2025.
The Shin-Etsu Group's major manufacturing plants are located where clean water is abundant. However, we recognize that tackling water shortages around the world is an important issue for us to work on. The Group carries out water risk assessments and works proactively study for the technology for the conservation of water resources by reducing water withdrawal, ensuring that water is recycled, and implementing thorough wastewater purification and water quality management.
In addition, we are working to recycle water to the utmost limit, and we also properly treat the water that is finally discharged, comply with regulations concerning water contaminants when discarding water, and check the water quality ourselves for verification.
Initiatives Aimed at Conserving Water Resources
Effective Use of Water Intake and Thorough Water Quality Management (Gunma Complex)
The Shin-Etsu Chemical Gunma Complex manufactures highly functional materials such as silicones. Located inland in the southwest region of Gunma Prefecture, the complex draws almost all of the water required for manufacturing from nearby rivers and purifies the wastewater from the complex before discharging it.
The Gunma complex is situated in a rich natural environment. The Tokyo metropolitan area is downstream from the nearby rivers, which sustain the daily lives of Tokyo residents as well as its industry and agriculture. Although the manufacturing of chemical products requires large quantities of water, the complex strives to conserve valuable water resources by keeping its water intake from these rivers to a minimum. For this reason, the complex reuses as much water as possible in its manufacturing and water cooling processes by recycling and circulating inside the Complex.
Besides purifying the water before returning it to the rivers, rigorous water quality management is also applied. The Complex strives to maintain optimum conditions by continually monitoring the operating status of water treatment facilities and conducts regular water quality analysis of discharged water to verify that it is in strict compliance with high water standards. Furthermore, it separate rainwater to prevent the inflow of rainwater during heavy downpours as a measure to protect their treatment facilities from being damaged by natural disasters. In addition, it have been carrying out seismic strengthening works since 2014 in preparation of large-scale earthquakes.
By effectively utilizing limited water resources, the Gunma complex will continue to fulfill its responsibility as a production base that is located upstream.
For specific examples of initiatives at the Gunma Complex, see Reduction of environmental impact in plants: Gunma Complex.
Rainwater Utilization (Thailand: Asia Silicones Monomer Limited)
Calls are increasing for the protection of the world's water resources, and since its foundation, Asia Silicones Monomer Limited has been making effective use of the abundant rainfall it enjoys in its location in Thailand.
It stores rainwater in storage tanks on-site, using it for industrial water and as coolant for waste gas incinerator. It always maintains a reserve of rainwater for use in firefighting in the event of an emergency. It also supplies Group company Shin-Etsu Silicones (Thailand) and its nearby partners with industrial water using rainwater.
Metrics and Targets
FY2023
- Targets
- Reduce water withdrawal in terms of intensity at an average annual rate of 1%.
Reduce water pollutant discharge in terms of intensity at an average annual rate of 1%. - Results
- Intensity at the average annual rate from FY2020 to FY2023 was decreased by 17.7% in terms of water withdrawal and increased by 1.6% in terms of BOD emission.
- Evaluation
- The target was achieved for water withdrawal, not achieved for BOD.
FY2024
- Targets
- Reduce water withdrawal in terms of intensity at an average annual rate of 1%.
Reduce water pollutant discharge in terms of intensity at an average annual rate of 1%.
In FY2023, the amount of COD emissions was reduced as a result of reducing wastewater at domestic bases that generate COD and increasing wastewater treatment capacity.
Related Data
Aspect | Classification | Scope | Unit | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Water resource conservation | Water use* | Consolidated | Million m3 | 2,606 | 2,618 | 2,536 |
Water withdrawals | Consolidated | Million m3 | 187 | 193 | 164 | |
Water recycle | Consolidated | Million m3 | 2,420 | 2,425 | 2,372 | |
Water recycle ratio | Consolidated | % | 92.8 | 92.6 | 93.5 | |
Water discharge | Consolidated | Million m3 | 174 | 183 | 161 | |
BOD emission | Consolidated | t | 747 | 699 | 737 | |
COD emission | Consolidated | t | 4,941 | 3,259 | 2,790 |
*Water use
Amount of water withdrawals and water recycle
Key Sustainability Issues
- The foundation of all activities: legal compliance, fair corporate activities
- Health and safety of employees and contractors
- Energy-saving, resource-saving, and reduction of the environmental impacts
- Product quality improvements and product safety control
- Promoting CSR procurement and the diversification of supply sources
- Respect for human rights, the development of human resources, and the promotion of diversity
- Respect for and protection of intellectual property
- Contribution to industry and social initiatives
- Accurate and timely information disclosure and communication with stakeholders