Conservation of Water Resources
Basic Philosophy
The global water crisis is worsening, raising concerns about water shortages due to depletion and pollution, as well as impacts on biodiversity. Protecting the sustainability of water resources, which are essential for maintaining ecosystems, is one of the important challenges for our group. Our group aims to "implement sustainable business operations in response to global water-related risks" by 2040, and to "maintain water usage intensity at or below 2018 levels" by 2030. Our group will continue to work towards environmental protection for the future by promoting the efficient use of water, a precious and limited resource. We will also promote the sustainable and efficient use of water resources within our supply chain.
Trends in water usage per unit
In EcoVision 2030, which began in fiscal year 2021, the goal for 2030 is to "maintain water usage intensity at or below the 2018 level."
Thanks to our efforts to date, we have achieved significant results, reducing water usage per unit of production by 27.7% in FY2024 compared to FY2018. In FY2025, water usage for the entire group increased to 2.07 million m³ due to the replenishment of cooling water for the calcination furnaces at Niterra Materials, which joined the group. As a result, water usage per unit of production remained at 5.3 m³/million yen (a 2.6% reduction compared to FY2018), but we have maintained our target level. We will continue to systematically review the water usage situation at each site and work to further improve water utilization efficiency.
*In our group, "water usage" refers to the total amount of water taken from water sources (public water supply, groundwater, rivers) in the course of business activities.
Efforts to conserve water resources
Closed system
Niterra's Indian factory employs a closed system to comply with regulations, and no wastewater is discharged outside the factory premises.
Factory wastewater recycling
Our Ise factory has a wastewater treatment plant, and all factory wastewater is recycled and reused. No factory wastewater is discharged outside the factory premises.
Improvement of equipment and manufacturing conditions
We are continuously working to conserve water by improving our equipment and manufacturing conditions.
Groundwater utilization
At our Komaki Plant and other locations, we pump up groundwater, remove iron, manganese, and other contaminants at a water treatment plant, and then use it within the plant.
Groundwater is an important resource, but it is known that pumping large amounts can lead to land subsidence. At the Komaki Plant, we manage groundwater in accordance with Aichi Prefecture's environmental regulations, "Regulations under the Ordinance Concerning the Preservation of the Living Environment of Citizens." Specifically, when the facility was installed, we set an upper limit on the amount of groundwater pumped below the regulatory value and manage it so that it does not exceed that limit. We submit an annual report on the amount of groundwater pumped to the Owari Prefectural Office.