Resource Recycling
Reduction of Waste
- Objectives
- Continue checking the status of waste treatment and the self-check of waste management at each office based on the Industrial Waste Management and Waste Management Regulations to ensure the appropriate waste disposal
Establishment of Rules regarding Waste Disposal
To ensure compliance with the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, we established a Groupwide system for managing waste, selected a general manager of Groupwide waste, and assigned waste management officers and waste management representatives at respective offices (15 offices) to enable systemized waste management. In addition, we 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
Although it is difficult to produce no waste, we will reduce the amount of waste we produce by decreasing the volume and weight of containers and packaging. Meanwhile, we promote recycling by sorting waste into categories, choosing appropriate methods of recycling and outsourcing recycling to waste disposal companies. In fiscal 2019, the recycling rate stood at 99.7%.
Waste Emissions and Recycling Rate
| Fiscal year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waste generated (tons) | 6,277 | 5,744 | 5,427 | 4,563 | 4,426 |
| Recycling rate (%) | 99.8 | 99.8 | 99.8 | 99.8 | 99.7 |
| Final landfill disposal amount (tons) | 12.4 | 12.7 | 11.6 | 10.6 | 12.6 |
| Rate of final landfill disposal amount (%) | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
Consumption of Raw Materials and Other Materials / Purchased Volume of Copier Paper
| Fiscal year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material consumption (1,000 tons) | 16.3 | 17.4 | 17.3 | 14.9 | 13.7 |
| Consumption of other materials* (1,000 tons) | 68.6 | 67.8 | 65.7 | 59.5 | 55.5 |
| Purchased volume of copier paper (tons) | 112.5 | 118.3 | 109.1 | 102.7 | 87.9 |
- * Four materials subject to the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law
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 recycling to the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association. Total outsourcing expenses associated with product recycling in fiscal 2019 was ¥113.47 million for glass bottles, paper containers and packaging, plastic containers and packaging, and PET bottles. A breakdown of these outsourcing expenses for each material can be found on the website of the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association.
Outsourcing Expenses for Product Recycling in Fiscal 2019
| Container type | Glass bottles |
|---|---|
| Paper containers and packaging | |
| Plastic containers and packaging | |
| PET bottles | |
| Outsourcing expenses (after settlement) | ¥113.47 million |
Total Weight of Specified Containers and Packaging
| Fiscal year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total weight of specified containers and packaging (1,000 tons) | 68.6 | 67.8 | 65.7 | 59.5 | 55.5 |
Containers and Packaging Emissions, Recycled Amount and Recycling Rate (Fiscal 2018)
| Glass bottles | Paper | Plastic | PET bottles | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emissions (tons) | 52,682.2 | 1,174.1 | 1,643.9 | 4.9 | 55,505.1 |
| Amount recycled (tons) | 16,299.9 | 32.1 | 348.0 | 2.3 | 16,682.2 |
| Recycling rate | 30.9% | 2.7% | 21.2% | 46.3% | 30.1% |
Management of Water Resources
Effective Use of Water Resources
Water is an important resource for manufacturing high-quality pharmaceuticals. To secure the necessary water resources, the Taisho Pharmaceutical Group strives to manage the quality of waste water from factories and research centers and save water by reusing it.
Water consumption in fiscal 2019 was 777,000 m3, up 9.9％ year on year. The rate of internal recycling of water was 1.1%, reflecting the recycling of water for cooling.
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 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water consumption (10,000 m3)* | 84.0 | 83.0 | 76.9 | 70.7 | 77.7 |
| Tap water | 25.8 | 25.8 | 23.7 | 22.4 | 23.1 |
| Industrial water | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 2.2 |
| Groundwater | 55.6 | 54.9 | 51.4 | 46.1 | 52.1 |
| Greywater (rainwater) | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
- * Scope of calculation: Sales and back offices, Hanyu Factory, Okayama Factory, Omiya Factory (including Research Center)
Total Wastewater (Whole Company)
| Fiscal year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wastewater consumption (10,000 m3) | 56.0 | 54.5 | 51.2 | 45.4 | 52.8 |
| Public water area | 5.0 | 5.1 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.3 |
| Sewer | 51.0 | 49.4 | 47.0 | 41.4 | 48.5 |
Response to Water Risk
Taisho Pharmaceutical assesses the water resources risk at production facilities to identify the effects of business activities on water resources in the future and reduce them. When we assess risk, we use tools, including the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas* of the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the National Ground Environment Information Directory of the Ministry of the Environment.
No production facilities are currently at risk of shutting down due to drought, water quality deterioration, or ground subsidence because of pumping up groundwater in the near future, among other reasons.
- * Tool for assessing regional water risks