Evaluation by Outside Organization

Social Issues Attributable to JSR Group's Corporate Activity: Environmental Conservation (Waste Reduction)

1. Initiatives to Reduce Industrial Waste

JSR Group is controlling the amount of waste it generates, sorting waste, and searching for businesses that accept recyclable materials.
In FY2018, the Group generated 72,000 tons of waste globally.

Wastes Generated by JSR Group

Wastes Generated by JSR Group

(1) JSR

Since FY2000, JSR has been implementing its goal of "zero emissions"*1 through activities that include prevention of generation of waste materials, sorting of waste, and the search for recycling locations throughout the company. We have been continuing our zero-emissions efforts since FY2003.

*1 JSR’s definition of “zero emissions”: When the volume of final off-site waste buried at third-party landfills is less than 0.1% of the volume of waste generated

Specifically, the Yokkaichi Plant is continuing the following measures targeting 1) sludge and 2) coal ash, which account for about 90% of the total volume of generated waste materials.

  • 1) Transforming sludge into a valuable material (conversion into fuel) with the introduction of sludge drying equipment
  • 2) Recycling coal ash as cement material

Furthermore, we are an executive member of the Mie Prefecture Industrial Waste Solutions Promotion Committee and endeavor to continually reduce industrial waste and ensure its proper disposal in cooperation with the community.

Moreover, aiming to help create a recycling-based society, JSR is searching for even more recycling locations and taking other measures toward fulfilling the goal of “reducing waste by 15% in FY2030 compared to the FY2013 level.”

In FY2018, we reduced our generated waste by 4.5% compared to FY2013. We will continue working toward our goal by reducing the amount of waste we generate.

Wastes Generated by JSR Group

Industrial Waste Processing Flowchart (FY2018 performance in thousand tons/year)

Industrial Waste Processing Flowchart

(2) Logistics: Application of "3R" (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to Packaging Materials

JSR has always been serious about environmental measures in its logistics. Therefore, we promote "3R" (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to effectively utilize waste-free packaging materials and packaging containers.

Reduce: Reducing the weight of external cardboard boxes (two-tier construction to single-tier) and the weight of steel box pallets used as packing containers for synthetic rubber.
Reuse: Reusing intermediate product containers and preventing the breakage of packaging materials for linked use.*
Recycle: Promoting a switchover to recyclable materials when selecting packaging materials.

JSR will actively engage in the above 3R activities for packing materials to promote recycling and effective use of resources.

* Packaging materials for linked use: Packaging materials that can be returned by or collected from the customer for reuse

(3) PCB Management

JSR stores and manages PCB waste in an appropriate manner in accordance with the Act on Special Measures concerning Promotion of Proper Treatment of PCB Wastes and systematically carries out detoxification treatment to meet treatment deadlines.

Treatment of high-concentration PCB

Electrical devices Number of devices Oil containing PCB (liter)
Devices in storage (not in use) 3 462
Devices in operation 0 0
Total 3 462
Treatment volume thus far 318 182,960
(Current treatment status %) 99.1 99.7

As of March 31, 2019

2. New Initiatives

JSR considers the problem of marine plastic litter to be an important issue. In light of this, we are participating in the Japan Initiative for Marine Environment (JaIME), an organization that was launched by five chemical industry bodies on September 7, 2018, as a founding member.

We are also investigating JSR Group’s disposal processes for plastics in Japan based on the national government’s proposed “plastic materials recycling strategy (tentative)” and studying management indices.

Looking ahead, we will promote further recycling of waste plastics by setting the following two points as long-term targets (FY2030). We will also strive to make a social contribution by, for example, raising awareness of the plastics problem through in-house seminars and explanatory briefings, promoting “3R”-based activities in daily life (e.g., regarding the use of plastic bags and PET plastic bottles), and participating in coastal cleanups.

  • 1) 100% recycling (including heat recovery)
  • 2) 60% recycling (not including heat recovery)