环保面的工作开展
Measures against Soil Contamination
In fiscal 2003, Kuraray began to ascertain the status of soil contamination at all of its plants through hearings with them. It is voluntarily conducting soil contamination surveys in turn at each, upon determination of the order of priority based on risk assessments that consider items including the history of use of hazardous substances. At four plants that have already undergone soil and water quality surveys, including the Saijo and Niigata plants, which were surveyed in fiscal 2007 and 2008, contamination in excess of the standards was detected on part of the grounds, but there was no impact on groundwater in the surrounding area. We are taking appropriate measures after reporting the survey findings to the authorities.
Effective Use of Resources
In fiscal 2007, the domestic Kuraray Group companies achieved an industrial waste utilization rate of more than 90% and held the final landfill disposal rate below 1% as targeted in the Medium-Term Environmental Plan. At present, they are striving to reduce the very levels of waste derivation in addition to promoting recycling. With the start of fiscal 2009, model units began to apply the Material Flow Cost Accounting* method.
In fiscal 2008, the amount of waste generated by the domestic Kuraray Group companies came to 77,000 tons, 9,000 tons less than in fiscal 2007, partly due to the influence of production decline. This reduction resulted from measures such as a switch to in-house recycling for PC ash, which had previously been put to effective use as fuel off company premises, and transformation of scrap derived in the production process back into usable resources.
- * Material Flow Cost Accounting
A methodology for improving productivity and reducing waste by making items such as material costs, processing costs, and facility depreciation costs corresponding with loss of resources and energy in the manufacturing process visible as negative product costs.
Change in Industrial Waste Utilization Rate
Change in the Volume of Unutilized Externally- Processed Industrial Waste
Change in the Amount of Waste Generated
In-house Recycling of PC Ash
PC (petroleum coke) is one of the fuels used in boilers that generate electrical power in the Okayama Plant. The ash from PC combustion comes to about 10,000 tons per year, and the plant has provided for its effective use off premises as a fuel. In fiscal 2008, it placed into operation a facility reusing PC ash as fuel for a power-generation boiler, and consequently was able to turn 4,800 tons of the ash back into a fuel.
Treatment of PCB waste
The Kuraray Group practices proper storage and management of PCB* waste in accordance with the Law Concerning Special Measures Against PCB Waste. We are also steadily promoting treatment to render PCB stores harmless, in line with laws and regulations. In fiscal 2008, we had such treatment performed on part (388 kilograms) of the waste containing PCB stored at the Kashima Plant by the Japan Environmental Safety Corporation.
- * Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
A chemically synthesized organic chlorinated compound once used in various applications, including insulating oil for electrical equipment and thermal media for heat exchangers. Because of its toxicity, its manufacture and import have been prohibited since 2001. Business operators with stores of PCB waste are required to render them harmless by 2016.
