Management of Waste

Basic Philosophy

Earth's resources are limited, and sustainable use and conservation are essential. As a manufacturing company, our group uses a variety of raw materials, including ceramics and precious metals, and we believe it is our responsibility to actively engage in reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) to protect the global environment. In our Eco Vision 2030, our group has set forth the goal of "promoting zero emissions and contributing to the formation of a global circular economy" as its target state for 2040, and has set targets of "effective utilization rate of 95% or more," "reduction of emissions intensity by more than 1% per year compared to FY2018," and "promotion of 3R activities" as our desired state for 2030.
Furthermore, we will promote the sustainable and efficient use of raw materials and other resources within our supply chain.

Trends in waste generation intensity

In EcoVision 2030, we set a target of "reducing waste emission intensity by more than 1% annually compared to FY2018" as our desired state in 2030. In FY2025, the group's waste emission intensity was 0.057 tons/million yen, a 24.4% reduction compared to FY2018, achieving our target. We will continue to improve our processes and work towards reducing waste.

Trends in the effective utilization rate of waste

In our Eco-Vision 2030, our group has set a target of "effective utilization rate of 95% or higher" as our desired state for 2030. In fiscal year 2025, the group-wide effective utilization rate was 96.0%, an improvement from fiscal year 2024. The improvement in the effective utilization rate, achieved through progress in the effective use of resources overseas, has allowed us to reach our Eco-Vision target. We will continue our efforts to effectively utilize waste in the future.

Reduce efforts

Initiatives during the design phase

By making the products lighter and smaller, we are reducing the amount of raw materials required.

• Structural Materials

Initiatives in the manufacturing process

We reduce process losses by optimizing processing conditions and improving setup to increase processing accuracy and reduce defect rates.

Initiatives to promote a paperless environment

Our group is promoting paperless operations company-wide, across all departments, and is striving to reduce paper usage.

Reuse Initiatives

Repair and reuse of production equipment

We maintain our production equipment in-house and use it for extended periods. Even equipment that has reached the end of its original role is reused and put to good use within the company. Furthermore, we repurpose equipment beyond the scope of our business to adapt to changes in production volume driven by market needs.

Standardization of production equipment

We standardize equipment specifications as much as possible and develop equipment that can be used across different businesses. This allows for the reuse of parts such as the base and control panels of the equipment in different processes.

Recycling efforts

Promoting material recycling

Our group is promoting material recycling in order to make effective use of limited resources. Furthermore, from the perspective of reducing CO₂ emissions, we are advancing the shift from thermal recycling to material recycling of waste materials.

Initiatives under the "Act on Promotion of Resource Recycling Related to Plastics"

As part of our efforts related to the "Act on Promotion of Resource Recycling Related to Plastics," our group is reusing plastic packaging materials and recycling waste plastics.

Regarding plastic packaging materials, we reuse the packaging materials used for delivered parts in other departments. The departments that received the packaging materials have seen a decrease in new purchases of packaging materials.

Material recycling of waste plastics is an initiative to switch from thermal recycling of waste plastics to material recycling. In our group's ceramic sheet manufacturing process, a large amount of mixed waste of ceramics and plastics is generated. This waste is unavoidable due to the nature of the manufacturing process, and until now we have been working to reduce the amount of waste generated as much as possible through process improvements. From fiscal year 2021, we have been seriously promoting material recycling, and by fiscal year 2024 we were able to material recycle all of this mixed waste, and we are continuing to operate under this system.
Furthermore, we are working to make the expanded polystyrene, which was previously thermally recycled, valuable by converting it into ingots using volume reduction machines.

We will continue to promote initiatives for the recycling of plastic resources.

Effective use of food waste

At our company, we implement awareness campaigns and initiatives to reduce food waste in our employee cafeterias, but some food waste is still generated. Food waste from the employee cafeteria at our Komaki factory is transported to a biogas power plant in Komaki City, where it is converted into biogas through methane fermentation and effectively used as fuel for power generation.

Proper disposal of waste

We regularly inspect waste disposal companies to ensure that waste is being processed according to contract. In fiscal year 2024, we inspected 32 locations and confirmed that waste was being processed properly.

Initiatives for resource recycling throughout the product lifecycle

Our group efficiently utilizes resources throughout the entire product lifecycle.

Extending the lifespan of products

By providing highly durable and high-strength products, we reduce the frequency of replacements during use.

• Design for Environment (DfE)

Product repair and restoration

We offer a service to repair parts whose performance has deteriorated due to use, making them usable again.

Product collection and recycling

We view used products as valuable resources and are working to collect and reuse them.

• SALVAGE SENSOR RECOVERY PROGRAM

• Return to the Environment
• Return to the Management Foundation