JSR keeps our SOx and NOx emissions below regulatory values by implementing various measures, including the use of low-nitrogen fuels (LNG, city gas, etc.) and the introduction of low-NOx burners.

• SOx and NOx emissions → JSR Group ESG Data

JSR complies with total emission controls in terms of water quality for COD, nitrogen and phosphorous in wastewater. We have strived to maintain and improve water quality through rigorous wastewater management at all of our plants.
We will continue to strictly monitor water quality. At the same time, we will work to reduce the burden caused by the wastewater discharged from our plants into enclosed coastal seas.

• Environmental Load (COD emissions, total nitrogen emissions, total phosphorus emissions) → JSR Group ESG Data

JSR regularly conducts fixed-point studies of soil and groundwater (observation wells) at each of its plants. As in previous years, no problems in the soil environment at our plants were found in FY2022.

Additionally, whenever we plan construction that involves changing the soil’s form and nature over an area exceeding 900 m², we voluntarily conduct a soil survey beforehand.

Based on the Act on the Assessment of Releases of Specified Chemical Substances in the Environment and the Promotion of Management Improvement (Chemicals Management Act) in Japan, JSR and its Group companies in Japan aggregates for each business site the amount of designated chemical substances emitted into the environment (atmosphere, water and soil), transferred by manufacturing, or used in the previous year, and notifies the government of Japan of the results.
Together with this, we have systematically implemented a range of measures primarily for substances that are highly hazardous or are emitted in significant amounts and that have a great impact on the environment. Such measures include enhancing the airtightness of substance release sources, rendering substances harmless (scrubbers, activated carbon absorption, and RTO, etc.), and improving manufacturing processes.

As a result of these efforts, our atmospheric emissions of designated chemical substances in FY2022 were 32 tons.

We will continue to maintain atmospheric emissions at the current level through full implementation of the above-mentioned measures in the future. At the same time, we will proceed with advance preparations to respond to future legal revisions (reexamination of the substances subject to notification).

*1 PRTR: Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers. This is one of the systems stipulated by the Chemicals Management Act.

• JSR’s emissions of main chemical substances → JSR Group ESG Data FY2022 Emissions of Chemical Substances

JSR and its Group companies in Japan work to control fluorocarbon leaks when using Class-1 Specified Equipment, including industrial air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers, based on the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons in Japan.
To properly promote efforts, JSR has prepared management standards that expand the scope of management to include all devices that use fluorocarbons (including those that are not designated products) and are continuing to manage leaks based on them.

Our fluorocarbon leaks in FY2022 amounted to 118 t-CO2 after CO2 conversion (reporting to the government is mandatory for leaks of 1,000 t-CO2 or more).

In addition, we introduced a system at each of JSR’s business sites to collectively and electronically manage documents in response to a revision to the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons (requiring, among other things, the storage of more documents) on April 1, 2020. Going forward, we will provide necessary information-based assistance to Group companies.

We will continue to appropriately manage fluorocarbon leaks and link our efforts to control leaks.

JSR conducted a survey of locations sprayed with materials containing asbestos in all of its facilities, including Group companies. For those places that were identified as a result, we undertook removal and enclosure work in accordance with the Ordinance on Prevention of Health Impairment due to Asbestos. This work was completed in FY2006.

In addition, whenever we demolish structures, we take suitable measures based on the Air Pollution Control Act in Japan and Ordinance on Prevention of Health Impairment due to Asbestos to ensure that no workers or others nearby suffer health problems due to exposure to asbestos.

JSR has set a voluntary target even higher than that of the government and industry groups to reduce VOC^*2 emissions by 75% compared to the FY2000 level. Under that aim, we are making large-scale capital investments and taking other actions to reduce emissions. Our VOCs emissions in FY2021 were 572 tons (81% reduction as compared to FY2000), and thus we continue to meet our voluntary target.
This target compared to FY2000 was reviewed following the transfer of the Elastomers Business in April 2022, and we decided to set the new target at current emissions levels.

JSR and its Group companies in Japan emitted VOCs totaling 39 tons in FY2022.
We will maintain our current level of emissions through various emission reduction measures and management activities.

*2 VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds.

JSR values the opinions of people living near its manufacturing and research bases, and considers high transparency of plant operations to be the key to improving the local environment. With this in mind, we strive to improve the local environment based on the opinions we receive through monitoring and tours of environmental equipment at regular intervals.

We will continue striving to maintain our basic policy of improving the local environment.