Pollution Prevention (Air and Water Environment Conservation)

Basic Concept

To achieve a higher level of environmental conservation, our group is focusing on reducing the emission of pollutants into the air and water environment by proactively incorporating diverse technologies in our business activities such as product research, development, and recycling. In addition, we have established a system to make every employee strongly aware of the necessity of global environmental harmony for business continuity through introductory environmental training at the time of joining the company and regular environmental education. In addition to complying with environmental conservation treaties, laws, and regulations, we are working to prevent abnormalities through standardized actions and the introduction of automated equipment.

Prevention of Air Pollution

Our Group has been striving to prevent air pollution by installing energy-saving equipment and converting fuels, etc. SOx emissions have not only been below the agreed value for the past five years but have also remained at zero. NOx emissions are also maintained below the agreed value.

SOx Emissions

NOx Emissions

Targets and Initiatives

Operating Company Targets for FY2023 Results and Initiatives for FY2023 Targets for FY2024
Yamato Steel Co., Ltd. SOx emissions are below the agreed value with Himeji City, promoting efforts to maintain zero emissions. As a result of switching from fossil fuels such as kerosene to city gas, which does not emit SOx, SOx emissions have remained at zero. SOx emissions are below the agreed value with Himeji City, continuing efforts to maintain low emission levels.
NOx emissions are below the agreed value with Himeji City, promoting efforts to maintain low emission levels. NOx emissions are below the agreed value.
40,116 Nm3/year
Continue efforts to maintain low NOx emission levels.



Preservation of the Water Environment

All of our domestic consolidated subsidiaries, industrial water is filtered and circulated for use, and we strive to minimize the amount of wastewater discharged so as not to waste precious water resources. We are also actively working to reduce the environmental impact of domestic wastewater by treating it with bacteria before discharging it. We take the risk of oil spillage from our factories into public waters ( rivers, etc. ) extremely seriously , and have introduced a constant automatic monitoring system using oil detection devices and pH detectors to control drainage gates.If abnormal value is detected , the gate is automatically closed to prevent leakage outside the company , and we are doing our utmost to protect the water environment.

<Use of alternative water sources>
We are using rainwater storage water for sprinkling water to prevent dust dispersion, instead of conventional industrial water. (Continued from FY2022)

(Fiscal year)

Item Agreed value 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Water withdrawals, discharges, and consumption Water withdrawals – total volume Freshwater ML/year - 1.38 1.36 1.46 1.43 1.40
Intensity L/t-crude steel production - 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.3
Water discharges – total volume Total volume ML/year - 0.48 0.60 0.63 0.58 0.57
Water consumption – total volume Freshwater ML/year - 0.90 0.77 0.83 0.85 0.83
Intensity L/t-crude steel production - 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3
Water quality Total wastewater volume (m³/day)*1 Usual*2 2,708 1,395 1,734 2,107 1,617 1,650
Maximum*3 3,230 2,083 2,306 2,735 1,982 2,002
Hydrogen ion concentration (pH) Smallest*4 5.8 6.5 6.6 6.4 7.0 6.8
Maximum 8.6 8.1 8.1 8.5 8.3 8.2
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) Concentration Maximum (mg/L) 30 5.1 3.5 4.2 3.5 3.4
Standard (mg/L) 6.6 2.8 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.7
Load carrying capacity Maximum (kg/day) 22 7.0 6.3 9.6 6.1 6.4
Standard (kg/day) 18 3.7 4.0 5.2 3.7 4.4
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Concentration Standard (mg/L) - < 0.5 < 0.5 1.1 1.4 1.2
Suspended solids (SS) Concentration Maximum (mg/L) 60 2 3 2 1 2
Standard (mg/L) 22 < 1 1 1 1 1
Load carrying capacity Maximum (kg/day) 72 2.1 6.5 4.0 2.0 3.2
Standard (kg/day) 60 1.4 2.5 2.3 1.6 1.9
n-Hex Concentration Maximum (mg/L) 2 < 0.5 < 0.5 < 0.5 < 0.5 < 0.5
  • *1 Drainage destination: Nishi Shioiri River; receiving destination: Ibo River (industrial water)
  • *2 Standard: Annual average value per day.
  • *3 Maximum: Maximum value per day throughout the year.
  • *4 Minimum: The minimum value per day throughout the year.

Efficient Use of Water Resources

We monitor the consumption of water at all of our domestic consolidated subsidiaries, and we are promoting the efficient use of water resources by reducing the amount of water taken in and discharged and increasing the rate of water recycling. We have set a target of 70% or more for the recycling of industrial water, which is used in large quantities for cooling and other purposes. We are achieving this target on an ongoing basis by properly managing the purification of used industrial water through chemical treatment and other means.
In FY2023, the recycling rate for industrial water was maintained at 74%.

In addition, we are working to purify industrial water using advanced membrane filtration systems and to reuse the purified water as treated water up to the level of tap water. Our target is to use purified water to cover at least 80% of our tap water usage, and in FY2023, the utilization rate for purified water was maintained at a high level of 90%.
This not only reduces the amount of water taken from the water supply but also means that we can provide essential water to our employees and local community in the event of a disaster as part of our business continuity plan (BCP).


Recycling Rate

Item 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Industrial Water Recycling Rate(%) 74 74 73 74 74
Percentage of Purified Water Used in Drinking Water Usage(%) 93 89 94 85 90

(Note) The industrial water recycling rate is calculated as (total circulated water volume)/(total circulated water volume + total water intake).
   The total volume of circulated water is partly estimated based on equipment specifications.


Proper Management of Chemical Substances

The chemical substances released by our Group are properly managed following the Law of Pollutant Release and Transfer Register*1, SDS*2, and other related laws and regulations. In addition to complying with the regulatory values, we are also working to reduce them.

  • *1 PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register): A system under which the governmental agencies monitor, compile, and announce the number of chemical substances released into the environment and the number of chemical substances contained in wastes and transferred outside of business establishments (transferred amount) based on reports and estimates by business operators. This system has been implemented in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
  • *2 SDS: (Safety Data Sheet) : A safety data sheet containing information on the properties and handling precautions of chemical substances. Based on the legislation in other countries, businesses that handle chemical substances designated by government ordinances are required to provide SDS when conducting business transactions with other businesses.

Amount of PRTR Substances Released and Transferred(FY2023)

PRTR substance number Chemical name Purpose of use Amount handled (kg, mg-TEQ/m³) Emissions to the environment (kg, mg-TEQ/m³) Amount of travel outside the office (kg/year) Chemical Substances Control Law notification or not
Emissions to the atmosphere Discharge into public waters Discharge to the soil at the relevant business site Landfill disposal at the relevant business site Waste Drainage
80 Xylene Paint solvent / Fuel 3,318 3,318 0 0 0 0 0 Yes
87 Chromium and trivalent chromium compounds Reduced slag / Rolling sludge / Casting steel mold 2,895 0 0 0 0 2,895 0 Yes
300 Toluene Paint solvent / Fuel 1,195 1,195 0 0 0 0 0 Yes
412 Manganese and its compounds Reduced slag / Rolling sludge / Casting steel mold 41,979 0 0 0 0 41,979 0 Yes
243 Dioxins Unintentional product 124 124 0 0 0 0 0 Yes
691 Trimethylbenzene Paint solvent / Fuel 3,323 3,323 0 0 0 0 0 Yes

(Note: Unit: kg, mg-TEQ for dioxins)

Control of Critical Substances

Our Group considers VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and dioxins as priority substances to be controlled and is working to reduce environmental impact by maintaining and controlling emission levels below voluntarily set targets.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

(Note) The above covers volatile organic compounds (VOCs) related to our group among the chemical substances specified in the Order for the PRTR Act as VOCs.

Dioxins

Targets and Initiatives

Operating Company Targets for FY2023 Results and Initiatives for FY2023 Targets for FY2024
Yamato Steel Co., Ltd. VOC emissions: 30% reduction from
FY2016
(8,522 kg or less)
・Converted fuel from kerosene to city gas
・VOC emissions: 69% reduction from FY2016 (3,759 kg)
VOC emissions: 30% reduction from
FY2016
(8,522 kg or less)
Dioxin emissions: 40% reduction from
FY2018
(300 mg-TEQ or less)
Dioxin emissions: 63% reduction from
FY2018
(183 mg-TEQ)
Dioxin emissions: 40% reduction from
FY2018
(300 mg-TEQ or less)