Pollution and Natural Resources

Policy

Recycling is a major plank of the Asahi Kasei Group's Global Environmental Policy, and we work to efficiently utilize resources and energy and to reduce the environmental burden throughout the entire life cycle in our business activities. In order to contribute to a circular economy, we have worked to reduce industrial waste, reduce the burden of chemical substances, prevent air and water pollution, and use resources effectively.
We are also contributing to the creation of a circular economy to achieve a carbon neutral and sustainable world as part of our focus on Care for Earth, under our Medium-term Management Plan for fiscal 2022–2024 focused on the theme "Be a Trailblazer."

Reducing industrial waste

The Asahi Kasei Group is working to reduce the amount of industrial waste for final disposal through the "3-Rs" of reduction, reuse, and recycling.
In fiscal 2021, 326.3 thousand tons of industrial waste was generated, of which 23.1 thousand tons was specially managed industrial waste.
We adopted targets of (1) an overall final disposal rate of 0.3% or less and (2) a final disposal rate for non-construction companies of 0.1% or less of the total amount of industrial waste generated. As a result, we achieved our overall fiscal 2021 targets, with a final disposal rate of 0.09% and a final disposal rate for non-construction companies of 0.02%. We will continue to promote the reduction of final disposal rates through sorting and the selection of disposal sites.
We have also been working towards the goal of zero landfill waste plastic by fiscal 2021. However, we could not achieve this target in fiscal 2021 due to being unable to conduct sufficient separation of mixed waste, with the result that 0.5 tons of waste plastic were landfilled in fiscal 2021. We will continue to separate wastes and promote chemical and material recycling, as well as working towards reducing landfilling to zero.
Waste containing PCBs* is stored under strict control in stainless steel vessels. Plans for disposal are advancing, including for waste with minimal amounts of PCBs. We are systematically identifying and replacing electrical equipment containing PCBs and proceeding with their disposal. We will also proceed systematically with disposal of waste containing minimal amounts of PCBs.
We enhanced our management of off-site treatment of industrial waste by expanding the use of electronic manifests. We also performed periodic on-site inspections of consigned firms to ensure that proper treatment is performed in accordance with sound systems of control.

  • *PCBs(polychlorinated biphenyls) are persistent and pose a risk to the living environment and human health. Their manufacture and use are essentially prohibited in Japan.
  • Waste generated326.3 (100%)On-site treatmentRecycling87.9 (26.9%)Volume reduction by incineration, dehydration, etc.0.7 (0.2%)Landfill0.0 (0.0%)Effluent waste237.8 (72.8%)Off-site treatmentRecycling235.6 (72.2%)Volume reduction by incineration, dehydration, etc.1.8 (0.5%)Landfill0.3(0.1%)TotalRecycling323.5 (99.2%)Volume reduction2.5 (0.8%)Landfill0.3(0.1%)(thousand tons)Excluding industrial waste generated at the construction sites of Asahi Kasei Homes.Note that sums of individual figures may differ from the totals shown due to rounding.
    FY2021 flow of industrial waste
  • OverallFY20170.24%FY20180.21%FY20190.28%FY20200.09%FY20210.09%Non-construction businessesFY20170.21%FY20180.17%FY20190.08%FY20200.05%FY20210.02%Overall targets0.30%Overall targets for non-construction businesses0.10%
    Final disposal rates (overall, non-construction-related)
  • FY2017214 tons, FY2018146 tons, FY201945 tons, FY20200 tons, FY20210.5 tons
    Landfill volume of plastic waste
  • Final disposal volumeFY200026.8 thousand tons, FY2017800 tons, FY2018700 tons, FY20191,100 tons, FY2020300 tons, FY2021300 tons
    Final disposal volume
  • Final disposal by category of wasteDebris24.2%Cinders20.1%Industrial waste containing asbestos19.1%Inert mixed wastes13.3%Glass & ceramic fragments9.6%Others13.8%
    FY2021 final disposal by category of waste
    (Excluding waste generated at the construction sites of Asahi Kasei Homes)

Reducing industrial waste from construction materials and housing businesses

Asahi Kasei Construction Materials recycles trimmings of Hebel™ autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) panels in its own plants and others, utilizing its certification for "wide-area recycling"* which permits the transport of waste from different construction sites. Asahi Kasei Homes is also reducing the volume of waste as well as implementing sorted waste collection at housing construction sites. With these measures, waste for final disposal has been reduced to zero at new construction sites.

  • Building sites→AAC trimmings→Certified plants of Asahi Kasei Construction Materials Hozumi Plant, Iwakuni Plant, Sakai Plant→Hebel TM AAC panels, Building sites→AAC trimmings→Recycling consignee (Kanto area)→Cement material, lightweight artificial soil
    Recycle flow for trimmings of Hebel™ AAC panels
  • New construction+DismantlingFY200055.7 thousand tons, FY201711.7 thousand tons, FY201814.1 thousand tons, FY201914.1 thousand tons, FY202010.2 thousand tons, FY20218.8 thousand tons
    Final disposal industrial waste generated at construction sites
  • * Certificate for wide-area recyclingFor certain parties, who perform recycling in a wide-area, Japan's Minister of the Environment eliminates the need to obtain separate waste transport permits for each local area. The system was established to promote further recycling of industrial waste.

Waste recycling initiatives

As an initiative aimed toward the creation of a circular economy, the Asahi Kasei Group is promoting efforts to recycle* industrial waste.

  • *Recycling refers to material recycling, which reuses waste as materials, and chemical recycling, which uses chemical processing to turn wastes into other chemical substances for reuse.
  • FY2021Material recycling69.4%Chemical recycling1.6%Heat recovery21.6%Volume reduction1.5%Final disposal5.9%FY2020Material recycling71.2%Chemical recycling1.6%Heat recovery21.6%Volume reduction1.1%Final disposal4.5%FY2019Material recycling65.1%Chemical recycling0.4%Heat recovery28.0%Volume reduction1.7%Final disposal4.9%
    Asahi Kasei Group waste recycling

Reducing emissions of chemical substances

The Asahi Kasei Group works to reduce the release of chemicals substances specified in the PRTR1 Law and other chemical substances which we have voluntarily designated for reduction with priority based on the degree of hazardousness and amount of release. As shown in the graphs below, releases of PRTR-specified substances and VOC2 emissions were reduced by 94% and 90%, respectively from fiscal 2000. We will continue to enhance control of operation and equipment to prevent any accidental release.
From fiscal 2021, the calculated amount of leaked fluorocarbons will be aggregated for the Asahi Kasei Group as a whole. The Asahi Kasei Group’s calculated amount of leaked fluorocarbons in fiscal 2021 was 1,725 tons of CO2-equivalent.

  • Release to air+Release to waterFY2000 4.89 million tons, FY2017 390 thousand tons, FY2018 570 thousand tons, FY2019 350 thousand tons, FY2020 300 thousand tons, FY2021 290 thousand tonsNotes: •No releases to soil. •The number of PRTR-specified substances changed in FY2010 due to regulatory revision.
    Releases of PRTR-specified substances
  • Releases of VOCsFY2000 10,400 tons, FY2017 1,350 tons, FY2018 1,400 tons, FY2019 1,100 tons, FY2020 920 tons, FY2021 1,000 tons
    Releases of VOCs
  • 1PRTRPollutant release and transfer register. Under the PRTR Law, releases to the environment and off-site transfers of specific hazardous chemical substances must be monitored and recorded for each production facility and operating site. Results are reported to the government, which publishes aggregated results.
  • 2VOCVolatile organic compound. Although the term generally applies to any organic compound which is in gaseous state at the time of release, regulations for the control of their release exclude methane and some fluorocarbons which do not form oxidants.

Preventing air pollution

The Asahi Kasei Group works to control emissions and prevent spills in order to avoid the pollution of air, water, soil, and groundwater. Measures to prevent noxious odors include the installation of exhaust gas absorption equipment and increasing the capacity of our wastewater treatment facilities. To prevent soil pollution, we perform tests and take appropriate measures in accordance with the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act and related regulations. Substances covered by the Air Pollution Control Act are managed within regulatory standards.

  • Nobeoka+Mizushima+Moriyama+Fuji+Ohito+Kawasaki+Suzuka+Other sitesFY2017 6.6 million tons, FY2018 6 million tons, FY2019 6.3 million tons, FY2020 5.2 million tons, FY2021 6.8 million tons
    SOx emissions
  • Nobeoka+Mizushima+Moriyama+Fuji+Ohito+Kawasaki+Suzuka+Other sitesFY2017 3,300 tons, FY2018 3,300 tons, FY2019 3,400 tons, FY2020 3,600 tons, FY2021 3,500 tons
    NOx emissions
  • Nobeoka+Mizushima+Moriyama+Fuji+Ohito+Kawasaki+Suzuka+Other sitesFY2017 110 tons,FY2018 140 tons,FY2019 90 tons,FY2020 110 tons,FY2021 140 tons
    Soot and dust emissions

Effective resource use

As indicated by the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision at the G20 summit in 2019, the issue of marine plastic waste will require global cooperation to solve. In order to understand how marine microplastics are generated, we are working in collaboration with Kyushu University and participating in awareness-raising activities with industry groups dealing with proper use and disposal of plastics. It is important to make effective use of used plastic resources, so we also promote the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).

  • Our Primary Opportunities to Make ContributionsEasily recyclable materials Extending lifespan Circulation of used products Collaboration with industry/government Recycling technology Creation of basic chemicals Digital infrastructure Sustainable resource use Recyclable materials→ Material manufacturing (conventional contribution)→ Final processing productization→ Use→ Reuse→ Recovery→ Separation→ Recycling
    Approach to the Circular Economy

Initiative for Achieving a Circular Economy

"BLUE Plastics" Project

As part of our sustainability efforts, which are symbolized by the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), we are working with academia and other companies to achieve a circular economy.
For the material recycling of polyethylene, we have launched the "BLUE Plastics" project* with the technical support of IBM Japan, Ltd. We are striving to make a circular economy a reality through collaboration with recycling company Toyama Kankyo Seibi; Mebius Packaging Co., Ltd., which specializes in molding and final product processes; and brand owner Lion Corporation.

  • Existing Value ChainsRecycling technologyPolystyrene (PS)Chemical recyclingPolyethylene (PE)Material recyclingMaterialsUtilizing recycled materialsUtilizing biomass feedstockA digital platform facilitating circularityBLUE Plastics
  • Collection Separation Toyama Kankyo Seibi Co., Ltd.→Blending of raw materials Pelletizing Asahi Kasei Corp. Academia Material regeneration technology: Fukuoka University Mechanism analysis: Kobe University→Molding Processing Mebius Packaging Co., Ltd. Lion Corporation→Collection Separation
  • *Overview of the "BLUE Plastics" Project
    The "BLUE Plastics" project was launched by Asahi Kasei Corp. to create a digital platform that promotes resource recycling. IBM Japan will support the construction of the digital platform by utilizing blockchain technology that runs on the IBM Cloud. Blockchain technology is an irreversible database technology that maintains a continuous record of operations, which ensures traceability as it is accessible to all parties involved and cannot be altered. Toyama Kankyo Seibi, Mebius Packaging Co., Ltd., and Lion Corporation, which together specialize in the collection, pelletizing, molding, and conversion of waste into final products, will collaborate using IBM Japan’s blockchain technology to accelerate the achievement of a circular economy.