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

SOx Emissions

NOx Emissions

NOx Emissions

Soot and Dust 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)

Water Consumption

Wastewater Discharges (*1)

Wastewater Discharges

Chemical Oxygen Demand in Wastewater (*1)

Chemical Oxygen Demand in Wastewater

Nitrogen in Wastewater (*1)

Nitrogen in Wastewater

Phosphorous in Wastewater (*1)

Phosphorous in Wastewater

Suspended Solids in Wastewater (*1)

Suspended Solids in Wastewater

*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)

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

Chloroethylene Emissions

1,2-Dichloroethane Emissions

1,2-Dichloroethane Emissions

Chloroform Emissions

Chloroform Emissions

Acrylonitrile Emissions

Acrylonitrile Emissions

1,3-Butadiene Emissions

1,3-Butadiene Emissions

Dichloromethane 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.

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