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On the Ground at Shintech in the US
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Shintech, Inc., the US subsidiary of the Shin-Etsu Group, is the world's largest polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manufacturer, with operations based in Texas and Louisiana. Shintech has established an integrated production system that covers everything from raw materials such as ethylene and chlorine to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and PVC resin, achieving strong competitiveness in all aspects of production, including stable supply, quality, and cost.
At the same time, Shintech places the environment, health, and safety at the core of its sustainability efforts and promotes responsible business activities in harmony with local communities.
Shintech's corporate activities are based on the common corporate code of the Shin-Etsu Group, expressed in its Business Principle: " The Group actively conducts in sustainable business practices and creates the value sought by society and industry through the provision of unrivales key materials technologies." In particular, in Shintech's sustainability activities, environmental conservation and occupational health and safety are positioned as the most important issues, and Shintech is working to achieve the goals set by its Environmental, Health and Safety Department every year in accordance with its Code of Federal Regulations. To continuously achieve top-level performance across all facilities, the Safety Steering Committee and Operational Excellence Committee meets every month to monitor progress. In addition to conducting weekly audits of environmental and safety compliance for each unit, Shintech submit a Title V Annual Compliance Certification every year and ensure continuous improvement.
Shintech regards protecting the environment of the local community as an important responsibility, and is committed to preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and continually improving its environmental management system, while complying with all laws, regulations, and permit requirements.
One specific initiative is to comply with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). We introduced a process to recover chlorine, which is a raw material for PVC, from liquid waste, which not only reduces pollutant discharge, but also reduces the amount of energy and raw materials used and improves the operating efficiency of the entire facility while maintaining production volume.
Furthermore, to promptly detect leaks of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and HAPs (hazardous air pollutants), we have established a multi-layered monitoring system that combines continuous monitoring of emission control devices, LDAR inspections*1, monitoring by gas chromatograph, and patrol inspections by operators.
In 2022, the Plaquemine ethylene plant installed a flare gas*2 monitoring system to comply with MACT regulations*3. This monitoring system documents Shintech's compliance with regulatory requirements, and no regulatory violations have occurred since the system went live. Furthermore, NOx removal performance has also been improved by replacing the catalyst in the selective catalytic reduction system, which reduces NOx emissions from the heating furnace.
The Shintech PVC manufacturing plant, which began operation in 2024, achieves both reduced environmental impact and improved energy efficiency by employing ultra-low NOx burners, exhaust gas treatment equipment that reduces particulate matter (PM) emissions, a highly efficient cooling system, and a highly efficient centrifugal separator to reduce the steam from the dryer.
Furthermore, thanks to daily reports to confirm compliance, regular environmental training, and on-site participatory audits, all employees understand the importance of environmental requirements and practice continuous environmental impact reduction activities in their daily work.
*1LDAR inspections
A full-time leak detection and repair contractor.
*2Flare gas
Gas generated when unwanted flammable gases that cannot be processed or utilized are incinerated for safety at oil and natural gas extraction sites, refineries, and chemical plants.
*3MACT regulations
Maximum Achievable Control Technology standards. Regulatory standard imposed on industrial facilities that emit HAP under the U.S. Clean Air Act (CAA).
At Shintech, safety and legal compliance are not special initiatives; they are the universal preconditions for all business activities. We are working to foster a culture of safety by emphasizing the recognition and understanding of risks, the sharing of risks, and the elimination and reduction of risks.
On the manufacturing floor, everyone works together to increase effectiveness and help prevent accidents through activities such as routine safety patrols, KY (hazard prediction) activities, reporting of close-call incidents, and regular review of work procedures. A system has been put in place to share the results of audits and inspections promptly and clearly to ensure that all employees maintain a high level of safety awareness.
We also provide comprehensive safety management education and training. For new employees, we conduct a very detailed safety orientation, followed by annual refresher training and additional training whenever policies or procedures updated. We continue to foster safety awareness through ongoing education and training. To further deepen employee understanding, we conduct regular audits and inspections, and then share the results in a timely and impactful manner to keep everyone informed.
Shintech has also permanently stationed an emergency response team on-site. The emergency response team carries out a wide range of activities, including firefighting operations, rescue operations, hazardous materials response, emergency medical services, and on-site response in the event of an emergency. Emergency response team employees are required to complete initial training and earn certifications as well as continuing education and training.
Shintech is a member of the Vinyl Sustainability Council of the US Vinyl Institute*, which has recognized Shintech for both its environmental and safety performance. Each year, the institute recognizes member companies for outstanding achievements in protecting the environment and improving worker safety, and Shintech has been recognized for meeting rigorous EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards.
On the environmental front, the Addis plant won the Vinyl Institute's Environmental Excellence Award for the sixth consecutive year in 2025 for its performance in relation to PVC MACT regulations. On the health and safety front, the Plaquemine PVC plant won the Safety Excellence Award in 2025 after reaching 12 consecutive years with no serious accidents. In addition, the Plaquemine VCM plant won the Honorary Safety Award for having zero occupational accidents in FY2024. These examples of external recognition are a testament to the cumulative success of our daily efforts and site-led improvements.
*Vinyl Institute
A US trade association established in 1982 representing manufacturers of vinyl chloride, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), additives, and modifiers.
Shintech continues to work to reduce its environmental impact by implementing various methods of monitoring and inspections and improving its facilities and work procedures while complying with laws, regulations, and permit requirements. Moreover, based on the idea that safety is directly linked to the quality of work, we prioritize safety from the equipment design and maintenance stages, and the entire company shares a commitment to continuous improvement rather than being satisfied with the status quo. Going forward, we will maintain our commitment to continuous business improvement and risk reduction with the goal of further improving environmental performance, achieving zero accidents at all facilities, and remaining a company trusted by employees and local communities.