Specific Initiatives for Chemicals Management

Utilization of the Integrated Chemical Substance Management System

Resonac established the Integrated Chemical Substance Management System as part of its basic infrastructure for chemical management and manage information about raw materials and its own products. This system is mainly composed of  databases of information on chemical substances relevant to chemical management and information on the laws and regulations governing chemical substances in each country, and it is equipped with functions to carry out practical operations utilizing such information/data.

For managing production and import volumes as required by laws in various countries, we utilize the aggregation functions within our system in linkage with our core systems to ensure highly reliable and transparent data aggregation, which is then used for reporting to domestic and international regulatory authorities.
The Chemicals Management Division extensively researches and expertly evaluates toxicity and regulatory information for each chemical substance to ensure high quality. We also maintain the latest information by updating the database of countries’ chemical substance regulations in a timely manner and periodically reviewing the information to be included in the database. In addition, we have established linkages and mutually complementary ties between our in-house core system and safety data sheet (SDS) management database and our management system.
Going forward, to simultaneously promote further operational efficiency and standardization, we are planning to switch to the new system "Resonac Integrated Chemical Management System (RICMS)." With RICMS, we plan to integrate the functions of the conventional system such as manufacturing/import volume aggregation and SDS/composition information management, and realize efficient and optimal chemical management through automatic data linkage with the core system.
With laws and regulations related to chemical substances being enacted and revised around the world at an accelerating pace, we will continue to augment and expand this system not only to ensure our own compliance but also to fulfill our responsibilities as a member in our customers' business supply chains.

Product Safety Evaluation

To provide products that are socially useful, safe, and considerate of health and the environment, we conduct evaluations based on the "Hazard Information Acquisition Rules" for all products.Specifically, we first collect information from sources such as SDS, and if that information is insufficient, we supplement hazard information through website and literature research. If necessary, consideration will be given to conducting safety tests. When conducting tests, test items are decided in consultation with the Chemical Substance Management Department based on internal rules, and tests are carried out either in-house or entrusted to external testing organizations.
Furthermore, in accordance with the Chemical Substances Control Law, if test results that require reporting are obtained, reports are promptly made, thereby complying with laws and regulations while striving to ensure product safety and fulfill social responsibility.

Consideration for animal testing in safety assessment

As new methods for safety evaluation, We actively utilize toxicity prediction assessments (in silico) and tests using cultured cells and reagents (in vitro and in chemico). By conducting safety evaluations of products through these stepwise approaches that do not rely on animal testing, we minimize the use of experimental animals as much as possible. To comply with global regulatory requirements, when conducting safety evaluation tests using experimental animals, the principles of the 3Rs in animal experimentation (Replacement: use of alternatives, Reduction: reduction of the number used, Refinement: alleviation of suffering) are respected, and animal experiments are outsourced to external organizations managed based on the "Act on Welfare and Management of Animals." Currently, we are preparing an internal process to discuss the necessity of using experimental animals, and going forward, we will strictly manage animal testing on the principle of not using experimental animals unless legally required.

Risk management of products such as nanomaterials

We handle numerous nanomaterials. Since 2017, we have established a safety management system for nanomaterials to ensure the safety and health of workers and customers, as well as to consider the environment, conducting risk assessments on all nanomaterials handled as raw materials and products. These risk assessments and safety management are carried out in accordance with the "Nanomaterial Safety Management Guidelines." The appropriate management of nanomaterials is regularly confirmed at the "Nanomaterials Safety Measures Council," chaired by the CMEO/CQO. The continuation of business/development is then submitted to the management meeting, where a decision is made.
These processes are not limited to nanomaterials but are also considered applicable to risk management for raw materials or newly highlighted substances (such as PFAS or microplastics) whose hazards are not yet fully understood at this time. As environmental regulations rapidly advance, establishing a risk management system for unknown substances at an early stage is an important challenge for the entire industry, and our expertise is expected to be utilized.

Collection and provision of product information to stakeholders

We prepare product SDSs based on the information registered in the comprehensive chemical substance management system. In both the domestic and overseas versions of the SDS, information on the legal requirements of each country is collected, and SDSs compliant with each country's laws and regulations are created, undergo internal review and approval, and are provided to customers.
Due to the amendments to the enforcement ordinances of the Industrial Safety and Health Act (Safety and Health Act) announced in February and May 2022, and April, August, and September 2023, the range of substances subject to labeling and SDS was expanded, and the scope of notification requirements was also extended. At Resonac, based on the intent of the revision, we are strengthening information transmission by advancing SDS revisions to enable us to deliver new information to customers as quickly as possible.
Additionally, as part of our promotion of product stewardship, we have been enhancing the disclosure of information regarding the safe use and handling of our products since 2020. We actively carry out initiatives to select priority chemical substances for evaluation within our company (our own priority evaluation target substances), conduct risk assessments sequentially, and disclose the results to stakeholders. So far, we have performed risk assessments on 68 substances and published the results as safety summary reports.
In 2024, as in the previous year, we focused on risk assessments and worked to improve risk assessment across the entire company. As priority evaluation target substances within our company, we conducted risk assessments on an additional 10 cases, achieving a 100% assessment implementation rate. In addition, 49 reviews were conducted. We created and revised a safety summary report that includes the results, and published it on the chemical substance risk assessment support portal site "JCIA BIGDr" provided by the Japan Chemical Industry Association (hereinafter referred to as JCIA). This continuous effort was recognized, and our company was awarded the JIPS^*1 Grand Prize by JCIA for four consecutive years from fiscal year 2021, an award given to the company that published the most safety summary reports^*2 in that year.

Through steady efforts to date, our risk assessment activities have made solid progress and received a certain level of recognition within the industry. Moving forward, we will continue to build on these achievements and strive to further promote product stewardship.

• *1 JIPS (Japan Initiative of Product Stewardship): The JIPS award is presented by the Japan Chemical Industry Association to member companies that have conducted superior initiatives in disclosing their safety summary reports as part of the autonomous/self-motivated initiatives in chemicals management.
• *2 Safety Summary: A clear and concise document summarizing the risk assessment results and other information related to chemicals that the company manufactures and sells. It contains an overview and properties of the substance, its uses, effects on people and the environment, recommended risk management measures, emergency contact information, etc.