Evaluation by Outside Organization

Basic Issues in JSR Group's Corporate Activity Responsible Care (RC)

1. Philosophy

JSR Group developed its Environment Safety Management Policy promotion items with reference to "Management Policies - Responsibility to Our Stakeholders" and the Japan Chemical Industry Association's "Guiding Principles for the Improvement of Environmental, Safety and Health Conditions." We use these items as the basis for formulating concrete activity plans and advancing our RC activities.

(1) Promotion Items and Policy

1) Development of Safety-Focused and Environmentally-Friendly Products

When developing new products, JSR Group evaluates the environmental, safety and health impact at every stage from research and development to production, transport, use and disposal, and makes the utmost effort to provide products that take such evaluations into consideration.

2) Provide Safety and Environmental Information Related to Products

JSR Group sets in place a system for the management of product-related safety and environmental information, and provides Safety Data Sheets (SDS)*1 to customers and yellow cards*2 to transporters as necessary.

3) Preserve the Environment and Assure safety for Local Communities

JSR Group takes a positive approach in its measures for preserving the global environment, facility safety, and protection against major earthquakes, taking into consideration the impact its business activities have on the environment. JSR Group's objective is to earn even greater trust at its business locations.

4) Reduce Environmental Impact

JSR Group conducts studies on the environmental impact of chemical substances and works toward the systematic reduction of emissions. JSR Group engages in thorough efforts to reduce sources of emissions, reuse materials, and recycle resources in order to reduce environmental impact.

5) Assure Safety and Environmental Preservation in International Operations

JSR Group cooperates with cross-border transfers of environmental and safety technologies. Regarding corporate activities overseas, JSR Group strictly complies with the regulations of Japan and other nations, and makes every effort to assure safety and environmental compliance at each operating site outside Japan.

6) Ensure Employee Health and Safety

Constantly at work on the pre-assessment of safety matters related to chemical substances and their handling, JSR Group is dedicated to improving operations and facilities, and to creating a healthy and safe workplace environment.

*1 Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document that contains information for the safe handling of chemical products. To ensure the safe handling of chemical substances and prevent accidents, the Industrial Safety and Health Act requires the provision of information when transferring or supplying a chemical substance. One way of doing this is by issuing a document (SDS) that notes the hazardous qualities of the chemical substance in question.

*2 Yellow Card
This is an “emergency contact card” that accompanies a hazardous material or product when it is shipped on land. Containing information on measures to take if an accident occurs, it is intended as a means of comprehensively ensuring safety in the transport of hazardous materials. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Jikan No. 48 of February 18, 1997) and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency direct that a yellow card must be carried when moving hazardous materials.

(2) International Initiatives

JSR Signs Declaration Supporting RC Global Charter

Declaration of support for RC Global Charter

Declaration of support for RC Global Charter

The Responsible Care (RC) Global Charter is a voluntary activity policy adopted by the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) and shared by the chemical industry to enhance and reinforce RC activities around the world. JSR subscribes to this activity policy, and signed a declaration supporting the RC Global Charter in October 2008. JSR has also signed the revised RC Global Charter in March 2015. By signing the declaration, JSR has committed itself to making even greater contributions to health, safety, and environmental preservation not just in Japan, but around the world.

2. RC Advancement Structure

Led by the officer in charge of safety and environmental affairs, the Responsible Care Promotion Committee formulates activity policies and action plans concerning JSR Group’s environmental safety, product safety, chemical management, and other matters and manages the results of those activities.
For the execution of concrete operations, the Responsible Care Promotion Committee sets up various meetings and committees and then proceeds according to plans.
Additionally, decisions made by the Responsible Care Promotion Committee are periodically presented to the CSR Committee and are also reported to senior management.

RC Advancement Structure

3. Environment and Safety Management

(1) Compliance

When environmental and safety laws are adopted, enacted, or amended, the Head Office distributes information to each business site to keep them fully informed. JSR Group identifies laws and regulations requiring compliance in each country based on compliance regulations and conducts annual self-checks to ensure that business practices conform with laws and regulations.

Additionally, we actively advance efforts to have all plants acquire plant and operator certification under the High-Pressure Gas Safety Act, the Fire Service Act, and Industrial Safety and Health Act. We will continue to maintain and upgrade certifications with the aim of improving safety and preventing accidents.

CertificationJSR PlantDate of certification renewal
High Pressure Gas Safety Act
Certification Inspector (Completion, Safety)
Yokkaichi PlantSeptember 2015
Kashima PlantMarch 2016
Chiba PlantMarch 2017
Fire Service Act
Test at Completion of Hazardous Materials Facility Upgrade
Yokkaichi PlantMarch 2016
Kashima PlantMarch 2016
Chiba PlantJune 2017
Industrial Safety and Health Act
Test of Class 1 Pressure Vessel Operation
Certification of Open Inspection Frequency of Boilers, etc.
Yokkaichi PlantMarch 2018
Kashima PlantJanuary 2017
Chiba PlantMarch 2018

Certified High-Pressure Gas Establishment Audits

Each year, we conduct headquarters-led audits of our certified plants—the Yokkaichi Plant, Chiba Plant, and Kashima Plant—as a certified high-pressure gas business. Through our FY2018 audits, we confirmed that all of our certified plants continue to be in compliance with our safety management system. We also audit Group companies that are certified high pressure gas establishments, and provide cooperation in the appropriate operation of their safety management system.

(2) Environmental Management System

By 1999, all three main domestic JSR plants had acquired ISO 14001 certification, an Environment Management System that supports environmental management. We have kept our certifications up to date each year since. We proceeded with preparations in response to ISO 14001 revisions that were released in September 2015 and brought all three of our plants in line with them by January 2018.

JSR Group companies, mainly manufacturing companies, have also obtained ISO certification, and are promoting environmental conservation activities using a management system that complies with the ISO14001 standard.

ISO 14001 Certification

Japan
(9 companies, 16 business establishments)
International
(8 companies, 8 business establishments)
JSR Corporation
Japan Coloring Co., Ltd.
Techno-UMG Co., Ltd.
JSR Engineering Co., Ltd.
Elastomix Co., Ltd.
JSR Micro Kyushu Co., Ltd.
Emulsion Technology, Co., Ltd.
JM Energy Corporation
JSR Logistics & Customer Center Co., Ltd.
Elastomix (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (Thailand)
JSR Micro Korea Co., Ltd. (South Korea)
JSR Micro, Inc. (United States)
JSR Micro N.V. (Belgium)
JSR BST Elastomer Co., Ltd. (Thailand)
JSR Micro Taiwan Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)
Elastomix (Foshan) Co., Ltd. (China)
PT Elastomix Indonesia (Indonesia)

(3) Industrial Health and Safety Management System

JSR builds and manages a health and safety system that is based on the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS). The system is designed to manage the industrial health and safety risks to employees and others concerned, continuously improve our industrial health and safety systems, and reduce workplace accidents and health disorders.

(4) Environment and Safety Audits

1) Headquarters Environment and Safety Audits

JSR Headquarters conducts annual audits of its plants and research laboratories with the president acting as head of the auditing team. Beginning with the audits of FY2015, we have been employing a style whereby we share and discuss issues challenges faced by audited departments. We also set up dialogues between top management and employees that serve as opportunities for sharing the two sides’ thoughts and stimulating environmental and safety activities.

Through the FY2018 audits, we confirmed that awareness of “safety first” is penetrating throughout the organization. We further confirmed that efforts targeting facility management and recruitment of environmental safety personnel, which were previously identified issues, are progressing. However, common issues include inadequate sharing of risk information and adjustment of assessment levels, and expectations for better clarification in terms of envisioning and responding to emergency situations. It should be noted that we are also extracting and providing suggestions for matters to be presented to senior management and the head office through audits. Priority issues for FY2018 audits will be i ) management of risks concerning accidents (fires and leaks) and ii ) efforts to prevent unsafe behaviors as well as compliance with laws relating to the environment and chemicals.

  • President Koshiba visiting a plant

    President Koshiba visiting a plant

  • A dialogue with President Koshiba

    A dialogue with President Koshiba

  • A top-level audit

    A top-level audit

2) Environment and Safety Audits in JSR Group Companies

At JSR, we implement environmental and safety audits using the JSR audit system at our Group companies in Japan that are involved in production, transportation, and engineering processes in order to achieve integrated Responsible Care activities. The audits have allowed us to verify activities in each company and share information on them.

In addition, given differences in laws, cultures, and customs that exist in each country, we did not conduct audits of overseas Group companies in FY2018 but instead visited them to hold “safety information exchange” meetings. This was done with consideration for the fact that the challenges and concerns each business establishment faces differ from those in Japan.
We also held EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) meetings in Japan with JSR Micro Inc. and JSR Micro NV.

Audited Dept. of FY2018 Headquarters Environment and Safety Audits
JSR (plants)Yokkaichi Plant, Chiba Plant, Kashima Plant
JSR Group companies
(in Japan)
Japan Butyl, Elastomix, JSR Engineering, Emulsion Technology, Kraton JSR Elastomers, JSR Life Sciences Corporation, JSR Micro Kyushu, Japan Coloring, JM Energy
Department of Overseas Group Company Holding Safety Information Exchange in FY2018
JSR Group companies
(overseas)
Elastomix Indonesia, Elastomix (Thailand), Elastomix (Foshan)
  • A safety information exchange with an overseas Group company

    A safety information exchange with an overseas Group company

  • Hands-on safety training in an EHS meeting

    Hands-on safety training in an EHS meeting

(5) Environment Distinguished Service Award

To further encourage environmental protection activities, we created the Environment Merit Award for employees who have made important contributions to environmental protection through a range of activities that include environmental product and technology development, environmental impact reduction, and assisting local communities with environment-related issues. Ten employees received this award for four areas of excellence in FY2018.

Business establishmentDescription
Yokkaichi PlantReduction of emissions of hazardous air pollutants by closing drain work.
Yokkaichi PlantPrevention of colored wastewater discharges by introducing colorimeters
Chiba PlantControl of butadiene releases to the air from gas tanks
Yokkaichi PlantReduction of wastewater odors from the plant

4. Policy on Chemical Management

In light of recent global trends in chemical management, JSR has established the following three policies in its environment and safety management organization.

  • 1) Instead of hazard-based management,*3 we will endeavor to implement risk-based management.*4
  • 2) We will strive to manage our entire supply chain by utilizing a globally standardized method.
  • 3) We will strive to comply with regulations and promote self-motivated initiatives to ensure the safety of our products.

*3 Management based solely on the hazardous properties of substances

*4 Management based on exposure to the hazardous properties of substances

5. Stakeholder Engagement

By applying the PDCA cycle based on dialogue with our various stakeholders, we identify new issues, make frequent improvements and responses, and contribute to the building of a better society. Please access the links for more details.

Employees:
Employee awareness surveys, activities to ensure penetration of the Corporate Mission, the CSR & RC Caravan program, etc.
Local communities:
Social contribution/regional contribution activities, regional dialogue meetings, etc.
Customers:
Customer satisfaction surveys, responses to CSR questionnaires, winning of awards, etc.
Shareholders:
Shareholders' meetings, communication with shareholders and investors, information disclosure, etc.

6. Disclosure of Legal and Regulatory Violations

There were no legal or regulatory violations of laws pertaining to the environment, safety, quality, product safety, or chemicals in FY2018.
We are working to prevent recurrence of the types of cases that occurred in the past by continuing preventative measures and providing periodic education on those cases.

What is RC?

Responsible CareRC is an acronym for Responsible Care®. In the chemical industry, each company handling chemical substances is responsible for ensuring that safety, health, and environmental issues are addressed throughout the chemical lifecycle, from development and production to distribution, use and disposal, publishing the results of their activities and maintaining dialogue and communication with society - all voluntarily. This initiative is called "Responsible Care."

Started in Canada in 1985, Responsible Care is practiced in the chemical industries of 58 countries and regions of the world (as of April 2015). It has attracted considerable international attention as a unique initiative of a type not seen in other industries, and is even encouraged in an action plan (Agenda 21) for implementation by countries and related international organizations to achieve sustainable development in the 21st century that was adopted at the “Earth Summit” (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992.