Initiatives for Chemical Substances
Approach and policy toward handling chemical substances
We comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the use of chemical substances in our development and manufacturing processes, and we manage and improve the working environment to minimize workers’ exposure to chemical substances. In addition, we educate and remind workers about the safety of chemical substances and the precautions for handling them so that they can deepen their understanding about chemical substances.
About management of chemical substances used in products
Many chemical substances are used in our Group’s products. We evaluate chemical substances in accordance with the chemical substance laws and regulations of each country where our products are manufactured and used, as well as the requirements of our customers, and manage chemical substances that may have harmful effects on human health and the environment by compiling a “Chemical Substances Control List.”
In selecting chemical substances to be used, we avoid the use of substances that have a significant impact on the health of all people involved in our products and on the environment, and as for those substances whose use cannot be avoided, we are working to reduce and replace them. In addition, we do not intentionally use the following chemical substances in our product manufacturing processes, which are frequently inquired about by our customers:
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Conflict Minerals
- Heavy Metal Stabilizers
- Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOAs)
- Plasticizer Phthalates
- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
About recovery and release of chemical substances
Our Group works on the recovery and reuse of organic solvents used in the manufacturing process of our products. A large amount of water is used in the manufacturing process to give our products their unique soft texture and supple feel, and the water discharged from the process contains large amounts of organic solvents. Daiichi Kasei’s Saitama Plant is equipped with facilities to recover and reuse organic solvents from such discharged water. The facilities are operated and monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure proper management in response to the status of the discharged water, weather conditions and other changes in the surrounding environment, and the solvent recovery efficiency is 98% or higher. In August 2018, new facilities the processing capacity of which is twice as high as the previously used facilities were installed, contributing to increased production capacity and a reduction in environmental impact.
At Daiichi Kasei’s Gunma Plant, equipment has been installed to deodorize and remove organic solvents from the exhaust air from the manufacturing process by combustion treatment. The waste treatment efficiency is 98% or higher, leading to a reduction in the environmental impact of plant waste.