Planet

The Kuraray Group in Japan had made a major capital investment until around 2008 to reduce chemical substance emissions, and has achieved about an 80% reduction compared to fiscal 1999. Since then, we have set limits on the amount of Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA)-designated Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) substances* based on the concept that, even if the scale of business expands, we will not increase emissions outside production sites from the base year. To achieve this target, when considering construction of new production facilities, we examine and carry out investment projects with consideration of measures to prevent an increase in chemical substance emissions. In fiscal 2023, production activities were controlled due to lower demand from the previous year, resulting in a decrease in emissions to 770 tons from 894 tons in 2022, achieving the target of less than 967 tons. Going forward, we will continue to take measures to prevent an increase in emissions.

The policy of the Kuraray Group outside Japan is to continue to comply with the rigorous environmental regulations of the respective countries and regions where each production site is located and to conduct quantitative control. Until fiscal 2017, total emissions were on an upward trend due to the incorporation of businesses and the construction and expansion of production facilities. However, emissions have been decreasing since fiscal 2018 due to measures to expand exhaust gas treatment equipment at some sites and improve operational control. Emissions in 2023 decreased to 331 tons from 367 tons in 2022, due in part to controlled production activities.
^※Substances subject to the PRTR Law and substances designated by the Japan Chemical Industry Association

The Kuraray Group, including our overseas affiliates, is not engaged in production activities in areas where our business activities significantly impact on local water resources. However, we have been engaging in business activities recognizing that water resources are vital.

In 2023, water consumption (excluding seawater) of the Kuraray Group in Japan decreased from 2022 to 62.1 million m³ per year. The Niigata Plant was affected by temporary restrictions on water intake from rivers and other sources due to drought caused by low precipitation in summer. Even though Kuraray production sites in Japan are well located in terms of water resources, we believe that it is necessary to conduct business activities by considering the long-term prospects for water supply, such as the risk of a water shortage caused by climate change due to global warming. We also continue to “reuse water” by such as reusing coolant water for boiler water. We will keep track of water consumption trends while continuously reducing our water consumption and effectively using water resources.

The water consumption of the Kuraray Group outside Japan has increased since 2014 due to the incorporation of businesses through M&A, such as the acquisition of the vinyl acetate business and the activated carbon business, but it has since remained nearly constant. The Kuraray Group outside Japan are continuing to implement measures to reduce water consumption, such as improving product yield and reusing recovered water. However, water consumption in 2023 was 19.7 million m³, higher than those in 2022 due to an increase in water consumption for exhaust gas cleaning equipment to comply with chemical substance emission regulations at some production sites.

The sales intensity of water usage in overseas Kuraray Group, which was set as the targets for reduction of environmental load in the Sustainability Medium-Term Plan for Planet reduced by 22.0% (improvement) compared to 2019, far exceeding our target of the "Reduction (improvement) of 5% or more in 2026". Going forward, we will continue to work on reducing water usage.