Resource Recycling
Reduction of Waste
- Goal
- Continue the status check of waste handling and the self-check of waste management at each office based on the Industrial Waste Management and Waste Management Regulations to operate waste disposal appropriately
Waste Management and Formulating Rules
To be sure to comply with the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, we established a groupwide system for managing waste and have selected a general manager of groupwide waste and assigned responsible waste managers and waste management representatives at the respective offices (13 offices) to create a system that allows systemized waste management. In addition, we have established the Industrial Waste Management and Waste Management Regulations and related procedures to manage waste appropriately.
Groupwide System for Managing Waste (Conceptual Diagram)
Waste Materials and Recycling
Taisho Pharmaceutical strives to cut down on waste materials by promoting the 3Rs of reduce, reuse and recycle. The Production Department has set environmental targets for reduction of waste materials under the Environment Management System, and works to achieve these. In FY2020, the rate of final landfill disposal amount of waste and other materials was 1.1%.
Waste Emissions and Recycling Rate
| Fiscal year | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waste generated (tons) | 4,563 | 4,426 | 3,952 | 3,660 | 3,535 |
| Final landfill disposal amount (tons) | 36.2 | 40.4 | 43.6 | 50.0 | 65.4 |
| Rate of final landfill disposal amount (%) | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.9 |
Consumption of Raw Materials and Other Materials / Purchased Volume of Copier Paper
| Fiscal year | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material consumption (1,000 tons) | 14.9 | 13.7 | 11.8 | 11.4 | 11.8 |
| Consumption of other materials* (1,000 tons) | 55.5 | 54.9 | 47.9 | ‐ | ‐ |
| Purchased volume of copier paper (tons) | 102.7 | 87.9 | 75.2 | 72.7 | 64.9 |
- * Four materials subject to the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law（Calculated up to FY2020 results）
Environmental Consideration in Containers and Packaging
Environment-Friendly Design
After a product is used, the container and packaging become waste and are therefore a burden on the environment. To reduce this load, we examine the viability of designing products with lower environmental load.
Compliance with Containers and Packaging Recycling Law
We fulfill our duties as a business operator by outsourcing product reconfiguration to the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association. The outsourcing cost for product reconfiguration in FY2021 was a total of 140.03 million yen in glass bottles, paper containers and packaging, plastic containers and packaging, and PET bottles. The outsourcing cost for the product reconfiguration for each material is also found on the website of the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association.
Outsourcing Expenses for Product Recycling in Fiscal 2021
| Container type | Glass bottles |
|---|---|
| Paper containers and packaging | |
| Plastic containers and packaging | |
| PET bottles | |
| Outsourcing expenses (after settlement) | ¥140.03 million |
Total Weight of Specified Containers and Packaging
| Fiscal year | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total weight of specified containers and packaging (1,000 tons) | 59.5 | 55.5 | 54.9 | 47.9 | 46.8 |
Management of Water Resources
Effective Use of Water Resources
Water is an important resource for the production of high-quality pharmaceuticals. To ensure it has the water resources it needs, the Taisho Pharmaceutical Group is striving to conserve water by managing the quality of wastewater generated by its factories and Research Center, by reusing used water, and so forth.
Water use in FY2021 was 624,000 m3,a decrease of 2.3% compared with the previous fiscal year.
Initiatives for Water Recycling
Taisho Pharmaceutical is working proactively to use recycled water as an alternative water source in the face of concerns over the shortage of available water due to global warming and the impact on ecosystems due to the development of new water resources. By doing so, we are contributing to the realization of a sustainable recycling-oriented society.
As an example, wastewater from the Hanyu Factory in northern Saitama Prefecture undergoes biological treatment, coagulation/sedimentation and filtration before the organic matter is removed and it is discharged into an urban regulating pond. This water is then reused for agriculture in surrounding areas via rivers. A portion of the water is collected at the Hanyu Factory and treated before it is used as cooling water in production facilities and for watering plants and trees.
In addition, cooling water and cleaning water are reused at other factories, and rainwater is used for watering plants and trees at Head Office and branch offices.
Water Consumption (by Type)
| Fiscal year | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water consumption (10,000 m3)* | 70.7 | 77.7 | 63.9 | 62.4 | 63.6 |
| Tap water | 22.4 | 23.1 | 22.2 | 21.2 | 21.2 |
| Industrial water | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.7 |
| Groundwater | 46.1 | 52.1 | 38.6 | 38.8 | 40.5 |
| Greywater (rainwater) | 0.32 | 0.28 | 0.39 | 0.24 | 0.21 |
- * Scope of calculation: Sales and back offices, Hanyu Factory, Okayama Factory, Omiya Factory (including Research Center)
Total Wastewater (Whole Company)
| Fiscal year | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wastewater consumption (10,000 m3) | 45.4 | 52.9 | 42.9 | 41.5 | 42.2 |
Response to Water Risk
Taisho Pharmaceutical conducts water resource risk assessments at production bases and ascertains the impact its business activities will have on water resources in the future and works to reduce the impact. The World Resources Institute's Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas and the Ministry of the Environment's National Ground Environment Information Directory are among the tools used for the risk assessment.
At this point in time, there are no bases that have the latent risk in the near future of operations being forced to halt for reasons such as drought, water shortage or worsening water quality, or subsidence caused by drawing groundwater.
We will continue to strive for effective use of water resources.