Environment
Managing Chemical Substances
Preventing Pollution and Managing Chemical Substances
We are working for the prevention of air and water pollution, the appropriate management of toxic chemical substances, and the reduction of related emissions.
Preventing Air Pollution
Our production activities comply with the standards stipulated in the Air Pollution Control Act as well as the criteria in agreements with local governments.
Regarding the atmosphere, SOx and NOx emissions from all parent manufacturing sites increased in fiscal 2021 from the previous fiscal year, but soot and dust emissions decreased. This was due to the effect of changing the geographic origin of coal used in coal boilers. From Group companies in Japan, SOx emissions also increased, but NOx emissions decreased year on year.
SOx Emissions
NOx Emissions
Soot and Dust Emissions
Kaneka’s Atmospheric Emissions
Fiscal 2017 | Fiscal 2018 | Fiscal 2019 | Fiscal 2020 | Fiscal 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SOx Emissions (Tons) | 73.2 | 74.5 | 70.1 | 48.9 | 71.6 |
NOx Emissions (Tons) | 869.9 | 825.7 | 834.9 | 828.1 | 830.7 |
Soot and Dust Emissions (Tons) | 23.7 | 22.8 | 21.7 | 22.3 | 21.7 |
Water Conservation
Our production activities comply with the standards stipulated in the Water Pollution Control Act as well as the criteria in agreements with local governments.
In fiscal 2021, the Kaneka Group consumed 37.7 million m3 of water and discharged 29.6 million m3 of water. We monitor the amount of water intake and strive to use water efficiently.
Also in fiscal 2021, we conducted water risk assessments for each Kaneka Group site and the bases of Group companies in Japan and overseas. We use an assessment tool to identify areas with high water stress and, based on the proportion of water intake from water-stressed areas to total water intake, have confirmed that the Kaneka Group as a whole does not face high water risks. Going forward, we will expand the scope of the assessment targets in terms of geographical location and time, and prioritize and implement measures based on results of the assessment.
In terms of preventing water pollution, Kaneka's COD, nitrogen, and SS emissions increased, but phosphorus emissions decreased. At overseas Group companies, emissions of COD, nitrogen, and SS decreased due to the impact of increased production volume and the variety of products made. We will continue to maintain and improve the quality of water discharged into public waterways.
Water Consumption (*1)
Wastewater Discharges (*1)
Chemical Oxygen Demand in Wastewater (*1)
Nitrogen in Wastewater (*1)
Phosphorous in Wastewater (*1)
Suspended Solids in Wastewater (*1)
*1 Our water consumption and wastewater volume include those generated from non-manufacturing facilities other than the plant department.
*2 Seawater consumption at some manufacturing sites in Japan was included in totals starting in fiscal 2021. Such consumption was previously not included, as measuring instruments were not set. Note that this seawater had already been included in wastewater discharges since previous years.
*3 In making group companies in Japan subject to third-party assurance starting with fiscal 2021 results, we reviewed fiscal 2020 data to confirm year-on-year changes. As a result, we discovered input and other errors, and have corrected fiscal 2020 figures.
Kaneka Emissions into Waterways
Fiscal 2017 | Fiscal 2018 | Fiscal 2019 | Fiscal 2020 | Fiscal 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Water Consumption (Million m3) | 22.0 | 21.6 | 21.8 | 21.5 | 24.3 |
Wastewater Discharges (Million m3) | 21.4 | 23.0 | 21.5 | 19.5 | 19.5 |
Chemical Oxygen Demand in Wastewater (Tons) | 257.0 | 241.4 | 227.4 | 215.7 | 230.2 |
Nitrogen in Wastewater (Tons) | 154.0 | 153.5 | 146.5 | 141.9 | 150.7 |
Phosphorous in Wastewater (Tons) | 5.0 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 4.4 |
Suspended Solids in Wastewater (Tons) | 150.1 | 170.1 | 178.2 | 183.4 | 199.7 |
Volatile Organic Compounds Emission Reductions
We are committed to reducing the emission of VOCs (*4), which are known to cause photochemical smog. In fiscal 2015, we at Kaneka set the goal of controlling VOC emissions to below 1,800 tons.
In fiscal 2021, total emissions were 1,905 tons, an increase of 20.0% from the previous fiscal year, and we did not achieve our target. This was due to the impact of higher production volume and differences in the product mix. We will continue our efforts to manage and reduce VOC emissions.
*4 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are organic chemical substances that cause suspended particulate matter and photochemical oxidants.
VOC Emissions(Kaneka)
Hazardous Atmospheric Pollutants
Kaneka is voluntarily aiming to reduce emissions of hazardous atmospheric pollutants (shown by manufacturing site in the following graphs). Total emissions of these six pollutants in fiscal 2021 were 27.1 tons, which represented a year-on‒year increase of 9.7%. The increase was due to higher emissions of 1,2-dichloroethane and chloroform stemming from an equipment failure at the Takasago Manufacturing Site. To prevent future problems, we established an inspection cycle for the equipment in question and are working to reinforce management. Meanwhile, 1,3-butadiene emissions decreased due to improvements in processes and equipment. We will continue to make efforts to control total emissions to reduce environmental impact.
Chloroethylene Emissions
1,2-Dichloroethane Emissions
Chloroform Emissions
Acrylonitrile Emissions
1,3-Butadiene Emissions
Dichloromethane Emissions
Substances Subject to the PRTR Law
Based on the Act on the Assessment of Releases of Specified Chemical Substances in the Environment and the Promotion of Management Improvement (PRTR Law), we calculate the release and transfer amount of chemical substances subject to the law.
In fiscal 2021, Kaneka’s total discharge of the relevant substances was 96.1 tons, an increase of 11.3 tons from the previous fiscal year. The total discharge by Group companies in Japan was 69.9 tons, an decrease of 19.3 tons compared to the previous fiscal year.
Kaneka Emissions Subject to the PRTR Law
(Kilograms)
Designated Number under Ordinance | Chemical Substances | Fiscal 2021 | Fiscal 2020 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emissions | Transferred | Emissions | |||||||
Atmospheric Emissions | Discharges into Public Waterways | Discharges into Soil | Internal Landfill | Total | Total | Total | |||
Large Discharges of 10 Substances | 392 | n-hexane | 19,476 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19,476 | 82,550 | 15,406 |
94 | Chloroethylene (vinyl chloride) | 13,733 | 312 | 0 | 0 | 14,044 | 957 | 18,253 | |
275 | Sodium dodecyl sulfate | 0 | 8,479 | 0 | 0 | 8,479 | 0 | 8,430 | |
157 | 1,2-dichloroethane | 7,978 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 8,005 | 0 | 2,147 | |
134 | Vinyl acetate | 5,863 | 305 | 0 | 0 | 6,168 | 0 | 4,258 | |
232 | N,N-dimethylformamide | 4,254 | 1,353 | 0 | 0 | 5,607 | 215,543 | 3,541 | |
420 | Methyl methacrylate | 5,465 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5,470 | 11 | 5,177 | |
240 | Styrene | 5,383 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 5,425 | 12,290 | 5,256 | |
7 | n-butyl acrylate | 3,670 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3,670 | 3,282 | 3,931 | |
123 | 3-chloropropene (allyl chloride) |
3,107 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3,107 | 0 | 1,644 | |
Total Other than the 10 Substances Above | 10,477 | 6,208 | 0 | 0 | 16,685 | 152,503 | 16,756 | ||
Grand Total for All Substances | 79,406 | 16,730 | 0 | 0 | 96,136 | 467,136 | 84,800 |
Note: Of the 462 substances subject to the PRTR Law, Kaneka reports about 64 items.
Amounts reported here may not fully match, due to rounding.
Group Companies in Japan Emissions Subject to the PRTR Law
(Kilograms)
Designated Number under Ordinance | Chemical Substances | Fiscal 2021 | Fiscal 2020 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emissions | Transferred | Emissions | |||||||
Atmospheric Emissions | Discharges into Public Waterways | Discharges into Soil | Internal Landfill | Total | Total | Total | |||
Large Discharges of 10 Substances | 232 | N,N-dimethylformamide | 26,035 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26,035 | 28,734 | 34,645 (*5) |
300 | Toluene | 21,009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21,009 | 545,174 | 24,963 (*5) |
|
186 | Dichloromethane (methylene dichloride) |
14,273 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14,273 | 247,967 | 22,722 | |
296 | 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene | 2,662 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,662 | 0 | 2,268 | |
80 | Xylene | 2,486 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,486 | 0 | 2,116 | |
242 | N,N-dimethylacetoamide | 1,690 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,690 | 81,170 | 0 | |
355 | Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) |
717 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 759 | 247,255 | 855 | |
392 | n-hexane | 470 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 470 | 9,050 | 1,200 | |
56 | Ethylene oxide | 351 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 351 | 0 | 329 | |
127 | Chloroform | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 3,150 | 50 | |
Total Other than the 10 Substances Above | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 16,053 | 38 | ||
Grand Total for All Substances | 69,835 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 69,879 | 1,178,553 | 89,186 |
Note: Of the 462 substances subject to the PRTR Law, Group companies in Japan reports about 27 items.
Amounts reported here may not fully match, due to rounding.
*5 Because N,N-dimethylformamide and toluene emissions at some manufacturing sites in fiscal 2020 were calculated without deducting transferred amounts, we made corrections.
CHECK & ACT
We are working to reduce environmental impacts on air and water quality and ensure rapid response to any abnormality.
Managing Chemical Substances