Effective Use of Resources

In addition to cutting volumes of waste produced, Nippon Kayaku promotes exploring the reuse of waste as a future resource. Of the many types of waste generated by the Fukuyama Plant, sludge produced during microbial water treatment comes in particularly large amounts. As the moisture component of sludge makes it difficult to treat, we formerly sent it to landfill after the proper management processes. As a result of our exploration of using this sludge as a resource that could help decrease environmental burdens, it is now being effectively used by one incineration firm as a heat-adjustable fuel (or so-called “reduced fuel”) and by another incineration firm which converts incinerated ash into materials for cement or roadbeds. The Fukuyama Plant is also looking at ways of utilizing other forms of industrial waste, and continues to achieve rates of 0% landfill and 100% recycling.
Going forward, we will endeavor to maintain the proportion of industrial waste earmarked for incineration (the Zero-Emissions Rate) at 1% or less, and raise recycling rates to 80% or more.

Our environmentally-friendly packaging initiatives see us respect domestic and overseas legislation and regulations related to the environment, envisage the risks associated with product development, manufacturing processes and business activities, and advance efforts to reduce environmental burdens, prevent pollution, save energy, mitigate climate change, conserve resources, and reduce waste.
Our pharmaceutical packaging has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and has acquired an FSC license. We are sequentially switching over our pharmaceuticals packaging boxes, patient brochures and shipping boxes to FSC certified paper, as well as widening the use of eco-friendly (non-VOC) inks. As of February 2025, of our 66 products with 122 items, 21 products with 37 items (30%) of packaging material and 48 of 117 leaflet materials (41%) have been switched over to environmentally-friendlier alternatives. FY2025 has seen our new carbon neutral initiative rise in prominence, with efforts made to reduce plastic use and CO₂ emissions through, for example, switching from cup-shaped to pedestal-shaped protective wrapping.