Generation of waste materials (industrial waste and valuable resources) in 2023

In 2023, there were 3,813 tons of waste materials. In order to make effective use of resources, we are actively working to turn waste materials into valuable materials and were able to convert 286 tons of waste materials into valuable resources, thereby reducing industrial waste emissions. The breakdown of valuable resources was 191 tons for reuse of research equipment and 95 tons for recycling of plastics, metals, and other materials. Details on each of these items of industrial waste are explained below.

Change in Industrial Waste Emissions

In 2023, industrial waste emissions increased by 11% over the base year and decreased by 14% from the previous year, to 3,527 tons, of which 1 ton was emitted through the wide-area certification system. In 2022, emissions increased significantly due to the disposal of buried waste at the Fujieda Plant. In the following year, 2023, emissions were expected to increase due to the closure and relocation of the Kamakura and Fuji Gotemba Research Laboratories. However, we were able to control the increase in emissions thanks to effective use of resources, such as the active reuse of research equipment as valuable resources and the recycling of plastics and metals.

On the other hand, emissions per total floor area were 9.9 kg/m², down 6% from 10.5 kg/m² in the base year and up 0.4 kg/m² from the previous year. Since the total floor area uses the value at the end of 2023, the increase in emissions per total floor area is derived from the decrease in total floor area due to the closure of the Kamakura and Fuji Gotemba Research Laboratories.

We will continue to promote waste reduction efforts by reviewing our waste generation process while promoting proper disposal of waste.

Change in Plastic Waste Emissions

Plastic waste emissions in 2023 were 795 tons, up 47% from the base year, and emissions per total floor area were 2.2 kg/m², up 25% from 1.8 kg/m² in the base year. This is due to a temporary increase in plastic waste emissions resulting from the closure of the Kamakura and Fuji Gotemba Research Laboratories, as well as a decrease in total floor space. While the concept of the circular economy is currently gaining ground, marine pollution caused by plastics is a serious social issue, and we will work to reduce plastic waste as well as overall waste.

Change in Waste Recycled and Recycling Ratio

In 2023, the amount of recycled waste amounted to 3,495 tons out of the 3,527 tons of industrial waste generated, for a recycling rate of 99.1%. The Ukima Plant, Fujieda Plant, and Utsunomiya Plant achieved zero emissions.

Change in Amount of Industrial Landfill Waste, Final Disposal Rate

Final disposal amount: Calculated by multiplying the disposal amount for each industrial waste by the respective incineration coefficient

In 2023, the final disposal amount was only 4 tons and the final disposal rate was 0.1%. We will continue our efforts to reduce industrial waste as well as to improve the recycling rate and reduce the final disposal amount.

Proper Disposal of Waste Materials

Once a year, Chugai holds conferences for persons in charge of waste, mainly those at plants and research laboratories.
The staff in charge shares information on revisions to the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act and proper disposal, to ensure thorough compliance.

In addition, we conducted a total of 63 on-site inspections of waste disposal contractors for 52 companies during the three-year period from 2021 to 2023, which is an effort requirement under the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, thereby achieving our goal of 100% or more in three years.

We will continue our efforts to reduce the risk of illegal disposal of waste.

Reduction in OA Paper and Copy Paper Use

OA and copy paper purchased decreased by 10% from 2022 to 61 tons. Purchases have been kept low due to a decrease in work being done at the office, as employees have had more opportunity to work from home since 2019. We also continue to promote purchasing of paper that complies with Japan’s Green Purchasing Law.

There is a common awareness that in the field of resource recycling, the impact of marine plastics on ecosystems has become an urgent, global-scale issue, and discussions are being held at a variety of international conferences, including the G20 and the United Nations. To address this plastic litter problem, the G20 Osaka Summit held in June 2019 shared the “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision” which aims to reduce additional marine plastic litter to zero by 2050. In May 2019, Japan formulated its Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics, based on the concept of “3Rs + Renewable” (4Rs), established specific numerical milestones for reducing the use of plastics, and is engaged in a variety of initiatives.
In the use of recycled/renewable resources, one of the material issues in the Chugai Group’s Mid-term Environmental Target 2030, we have established the goal of reducing the emissions of plastic waste per total floor area by 5% in 2025 and by 10% in 2030, compared with 2019, part of our effort to reduce the plastic waste emitted by our facilities.

In a new initiative in addition to “Reducing” plastic, since 2020 we have been using “Recycled” plastic. In “Renewable,” we are considering switching from petroleum-based plastic materials to biomass plastic derived from plants and other renewable raw materials. This initiative is focused on PTP, aluminum pillows, syringe blister packs and plastic bottles, which are used in particularly large quantities. In 2022, we switched to packaging materials containing recycled plastic in aluminum pillows and syringe blister packs for some products, and in 2023, we began to use biomass plastic in some of our PTP and plastic bottles. We will continue to consider technologies with the aim of using packaging materials containing eco-friendly plastics in all of our products by 2030. Please see the link below for details.

Container and Packaging Usage, Recycling Consignment Application (2023 results) (tons)

Change in Water Consumption (water withdrawal)

In 2023, water withdrawal was 1,820 tons, down 12.6% from the base year and up 4.6% from the previous year, and in terms of water withdrawal per total floor area, it was 5.1 kg/m², down 25.8% from the base year and up 27.5% from the previous year. The increase in water withdrawal from the previous year is attributed to the fact that the Kamakura and Fuji Gotemba Laboratories were in operation until their closure in June and July 2023, while the increase in water withdrawal per total floor area is attributed to the decrease in total floor area due to the closure of both laboratories.