Environmental Considerations; Atmosphere

Basic ideas and policies

The Resonac Group is working to reduce the release of chemical substances to the environment, including air pollutants (NOx, SOx and dust and soot), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), substances included in the target of voluntary surveys by the Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA), and those regulated by the Japanese Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof (“PRTR law”). We will contribute to the creation of a sustainable society by setting our own management criteria for exhaust gas, promoting fuel conversion, and improving our manufacturing processes to minimize the release of hazardous substances and pollutants on a continual basis.

Reducing emissions of hazardous air pollutants

Of the 12 substances designated by the Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA) as hazardous air pollutants, the Resonac Group handles nine. We continued our efforts toward reducing the emissions of these substances by promoting a shift to alternative substances and collection and recycling of the substances. In fact, we achieved a substantial reduction relative to 2010 (baseline year).

Total amounts released of harmful atmospheric pollutants(VOC)
Target: Below the amount released in the baseline year of 2010 (33 tons)

VOC

Reducing our environmental impact on the air

To reduce emissions of SOx, NOx, dust and soot, and other substances having adverse effects on the air, the Group continued advancing a variety of measures including fuel switching, improvement of combustion methods, proper operational management of desulfurization and denitrification devices, and reduced fuel consumption through waste heat recovery.

Exhaust gas treatment facility
(Isesaki Plant)

Change in discharged amounts of substances with atmospheric impact

SOx

NOx

Dust and soot

PRTR law-regulated substances and substances included in the JCIA’s target of voluntary surveys

In order to reduce the release of these substances to the environment, we will improve the related processes and facilities and install exhaust gas incineration equipment. For the PRTR law-regulated substances and those that are discharged in large amounts on an annual basis in particular, we are making reduction plans for each of our sites and implementing intensive measures for the reduction. In fiscal 2020, we substantially reduced the release amount due to the improvement of exhaust gas treatment equipment at affiliated companies in Japan. We will also work to do better by engaging in risk communication with those living in areas around our sites and local governments to deepen mutual understanding.

Discharge of PRTR law-regulated substances and substances included in the target of the JCIA’s voluntary surveys

Into air

Into water

We discharged no such substances to soil.