Chemical Substance Management

Minimizing Environmental Impact through Proper Control and Emission Reductions of Chemical Substances

Management Approach

Basic ConceptMinimizing Environmental Impact through Proper Control and Emission Reductions of Chemical Substances

While chemical substances make people's lives more convenient, they also could have harmful effects on the environment or on human beings. Therefore, we believe that consideration of product safety, occupational safety and health and environmental impact through proper management of chemical substances is an important responsibility of an enterprise.
Since fiscal 1999, Sekisui Chemical Group has set and worked toward its own targets for reducing emissions and the transfer of chemical substances in addition to implementing efforts such as the Product Assessment System for Environmental Impact*1 and the Green Procurement System*2. Periodically we also review chemical substances, in accordance with the establishment and amendment of relevant laws and regulations.
From fiscal 2020, we will continue to engage in thoroughgoing chemical substance management activities with a view toward minimizing their impact.

  • *1 Product Assessment System for Environmental Impact:
    A system for assessment of the environmental impact of product development all the way from raw material procurement through manufacture, use, disposal, transport and all other stages.
  • *2 Green Procurement System:
    A system of giving priority to choosing raw materials, parts, etc. with lower levels of environmental impact when procuring them.
  • 3-056
Major Initiatives

Controlling VOC EmissionsVOC Emissions Increased by 3.9% Compared with the Fiscal 2016 Level

Sekisui Chemical maintains the medium-term target of reducing VOC emissions by more than 3% compared with the fiscal 2016 level. In fiscal 2019, VOC emissions in Japan increased by 3.9% compared with fiscal 2016. The reason for the greater emissions was a higher volume of production by the Adhesive Tape Manufacturing Department, which uses solvents, as well as the Medical Business.

Preventing Air and Water PollutionManaging Gas Emissions and Wastewater in Accordance with Regulations

Sekisui Chemical Group complies with the regulatory values under laws and ordinances for the various types of equipment it uses in connection with exhaust gases and water drainage. We also strive to control the discharge of pollutants through appropriate maintenance and management, including periodic inspections.

Soil Contamination CountermeasuresContinue Management at All Production Facilities based on Legal Regulations

Sekisui Chemical Group conducted a self-assessment of soil contamination at all of its production sites. The Group has cleaned up and taken steps to prevent spread at all locations where contamination was found as well as has completed its report to the government. In addition, the Group continuously monitors groundwater, taking ongoing steps to verify that no pollution leakage has occurred.
Moreover, the Group takes legally mandated decontamination measures when selling land on which production facilities have been closed. In fiscal 2019, conditions did not require any new measures to be taken.

Disposal and Storage of Devices Containing PCBs and Management of Equipment That Uses FluorocarbonsProperly Storing and Disposing of Devices Containing PCBs in Line with Regulations

Transformers and condensers that contain PCBs are being disposed of steadily, where PCB treatment facilities are available. Machines and equipment in storage that contain PCBs are managed strictly and thoroughly, through means including locked storage and periodic inspection.
Steps are being taken to enhance awareness toward mandatory requirements regarding equipment that use fluorocarbons in accordance with Japan’s Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons (Freon Emission Control Act) and to ensure thoroughgoing management including periodic inspection.

  • Environment-contributing Products are evolving into products to enhance sustainability from fiscal 2020. For more details, please refer to the "Products to Enhance Sustainability" page.
Performance Data
  • From fiscal 2019, Medical Business results are collated and presented with Headquarters results following its separation from the High Performance Plastics Company as an independent entity. (P 248~250)

Aggregated Results Based on the PRTR Law (Substances Handled at the Business Sites Subject to Assessment with Volume of Handling of 1 Ton or More Are Aggregated)

  • 3-058
(Tons)
Substance Govt.
ordinance
notification
no.		 Emission
volume		 Emission volume Transfer volume Detoxification
Atmospheric Public
water areas		 In-house soil In-house
landfill		 Sewage
system		 Transfer in
waste
disposal		 Transfer in
waste
recycling
Ethyl acrylate [3] 1.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.12 1.1
n-Butyl acrylate [7] 222.2 1.2 0 0 0 0 0 1.7 219
Acrylonitrile [9] 489.3 4.0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0080 485
Acetaldehyde [12] 190.9 0.14 0 0 0 0 0 0 191
Acetonitrile [13] 187.1 15 0 0 0 0 0 172 0
2,2’-Azobisisobutyronitrile [16] 5.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.6
Antimony and its compounds [31] 12.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.2 0
Isobutyraldehyde [35] 93.2 0.58 0 0 0 0 0 0 93
2-Ethylhexanoic acid [51] 6,440.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.5 6,427
Ethylbenzene [53] 1.8 1.8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ε-Caprolactam [76] 40.9 0 0.013 0 0 0 0 0 41
Xylene [80] 29.7 1.9 0 0 0 0 0 0.037 28
Hexavalent chromium compounds [Special 88] 2.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Vinyl chloride [Special 94] 124,073.4 4.4 0.12 0 0 0 0 0 124,069
Chloroform [127] 5.0 0.27 0 0 0 0 0 2.8 0.53
Vinyl acetate [134] 57.8 4.4 0 0 0 0 0 3.7 50
Inorganic cyanide compounds
(not including complex salts and cyanate)		 [144] 33.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 34
Cyclohexylamine [154] 2.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.2
Methylene chloride [186] 230.3 3.0 0 0 0 0 0 0.21 227
Divinylbenzene [202] 1.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.4
2,6-di-t-butyl-4-cresol [207] 9.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9.7
N,N-dimethylacetamide [213] 2.7 0 0 0 0 1.3 0 1.4 0
N,N-dimethylformamide [232] 8.7 0.70 0 0 0 0 0 8.0 0
Organic tin compounds [239] 128.0 0 0 0 0 0 0.064 0.69 0
Styrene [240] 1,208.8 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 612
Terephthalic acid [270] 81.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 81
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene [296] 1.2 1.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tolylene Diisocyanate [298] 23.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23
Toluene [300] 763.2 284 0 0 0 0 0 103 375
Lead compounds [Special 305] 608.6 0 0.0021 0 0 0 0 3.5 62
Nickel compound [Special 309] 1.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.39 0
Bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate [355] 4.8 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.4 0
n-Hexane [392] 286.4 218 0 0 0 0 0 11 57
Boron and its compounds [405] 32.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Poly (oxyethylene) = alkyl = ether
(C = 12-15 and other blends)		 [407] 3.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Manganese and its compounds [412] 1.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.9 0
Methacrylate [415] 235.8 1.3 0 0 0 0 0 0.0060 234
Methyl methacrylate [420] 164.3 1.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 163
Methylnaphthalene [438] 3.7 0.018 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.7
Methylenebis (4,1-phenylene)
= diisocyanate		 [448] 1,738.9 0 0 0 0 0 9.0 8.1 1,709
    137,428.4 572 0.14 0 0 1.3 9.1 328 135,205
Index Calculation Method
Volume of chemical substances handled Volume of handling of substances subject to regulation by the PRTR Law
Production sites and research institutes in Japan are subject to assessment
Volume of emissions / transfer of chemical substances Volume of emission / transfer of chemical substances subject to regulation by the PRTR Law
Volume of emissions = Volume of emissions into the air + Volume of emissions into public waters + Volume of emissions into the soil on-site + Volume disposed by burial on-site
Transfer volume = Volume transferred to sewers + Volume transferred as waste material
Covers production sites and research facilities in Japan
Volume of chemical substances subjected to detoxication Volume of chemical substances subject to regulation by the PRTR Law subjected to detoxication
Amount detoxified = Amount consumed in reaction + Amount consumed through combustion, etc.
Covers production sites and research facilities in Japan
  • 3-059
  • 3-060

  • Chemical Substance Emission and Transfer Volumes (PRTR Law) / Japan

    Index Calculation Method
    Volume of emission /transfer of chemical substances Volume of emission / transfer of chemical substances subject to regulation by the PRTR Law
    Volume of emission = Volume of emission into the atmosphere + Volume of emission into the public waters + Volume of emission into the soil on site + Volume disposed of as landfill; Volume of transfer = Volume discharged into sewage systems + Volume discharged as waste elsewhere
    Production sites and research institutes in Japan are subject to assessment

  • Discharge of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the Atmosphere / Japan

    Index Calculation Method
    VOC emissions Volume of emission into the atmosphere of volatile organic compounds (VOC) among the substances subject to regulation by the PRTR Law and Japan Chemical Industry Association
  • 3-061
  • 3-062
  • 3-063

  • NOx Emissions / Japan

    Index Calculation Method
    NOx emissions NOx emissions =Σ(Amount of exhaust gas airflow per year x NOx concentration x 46/22.4)

  • SOx Emissions / Japan

    Index Calculation Method
    SOx emissions SOx emissions =Σ(amount of SOx per year x 64/22.4)

  • Soot and Dust Emissions / Japan

    • Some past figures have been revised due to improvements in precision.
    Index Calculation Method
    Soot and Dust emissions Soot and Dust emissions =Σ(amount of exhaust gas airflow per year x soot concentration)