Reducing Environmental Load
- Environmental Considerations ; Atmosphere and Water
- Use of Sustainable Resources
- Prevention of Pollution
Environmental Considerations ; Atmosphere and Water
Basic ideas and policies
The Showa Denko Group has been conducting “Active Safety” activities* to achieve zero environmental incidents. Specifically, we analyze our past accidents and problems to prevent the reoccurrence of similar incidents. In order to prevent air, water, and soil pollution, we also foster fuel conversion and the improvement of our manufacturing processes. Through these measures we are reducing the amount of chemical substances discharged from our sites to reduce their environmental impact.
We set the discharge criteria for each of our plants to prevent pollution.
* Active Safety activities: Activities in which we analyze past incidents and disasters and summarize the lessons learned from them in the “Active Safety checklist,” and then make use of the list to identify related risks and as an educational material to prevent the reoccurrence of similar incidents
- Reducing emissions of hazardous air pollutants
- Reducing our environmental impact on the air
- Minamata disease in Niigata Prefecture
- Measures to prevent soil and groundwater pollution
Reducing emissions of hazardous air pollutants
■ Total amounts released of
harmful atmospheric pollutants(VOC) (Showa Denko)
Reducing our environmental impact on the air
Exhaust gas treatment facility(Isesaki Plant Showa Denko K.K.)
To reduce emissions of SOx, NOx, dust and soot, and other substances having adverse effects on the air, the Group continued advancing a variety of measures including fuel switching, improvement of combustion methods, proper operational management of desulfurization and denitrification devices, and reduced fuel consumption through waste heat recovery.
Change in discharged amounts of substances with atmospheric impact (Showa Denko)
*In October 2020, we corrected the discharged amounts of Sox and Nox disclosed in August.
Reducing our environmental impact on water
Water quality monitoring system(Oyama Plant Showa Denko k.k.)
To reduce chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and other water pollution indexes, the Group continued implementing various measures including improvement of production processes, upgrading and proper operational management of wastewater treatment facilities, and recycling of water.
Moreover, we installed equipment to prevent high concentration wastewater from leaking outside via drainage pipes.
Discharged amounts of substances with water quality impact (Showa Denko)
Minamata disease in Niigata Prefecture
More than half a century has passed since the outbreak of Niigata Minamata disease was officially recognized.
Maintaining an awareness of the significant scale at which we have caused damage to the victims and residents of neighboring areas through contamination of the Agano River, Showa Denko is committed to collaborating with the Japanese Government as well as local governments in order to cope with this issue with sincerity, and provide solutions in accordance with the Act on Compensation, etc. for Pollutionrelated Health Damage and other relevant laws and regulations.
Measures to prevent soil and groundwater pollution
On occasions such as changes in the uses of plant sites or soil removal, the Showa Denko Group undertakes surveys and other measures in line with the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law and local government regulations. None of the Group’s sites exceeded the regulatory environmental standards also in 2019.
