Water Resource Conservation
The Nippon Shokubai Group manufactures a wide variety of chemical products, and water is indispensable in the manufacturing process. For example, water is used to prepare water solution products, heat or cool materials in the manufacturing process, clean products, and operate detoxifying facilities that remove chemicals generated in the manufacturing process as well as drainage facilities. Consequently, the continuity of our business depends on our ability to ensure the sustainability of water, which we see as our responsibility to society. In an effort to conserve water resources, we are working to use water efficiently and prevent water pollution by introducing a wastewater collection system that enables acrylic acid contained in wastewater to be collected and reused. In addition, we strive to provide solutions to water problems through our products and technology (see Environmental Contribution Products).
Reducing Water Consumption (Efficient Water Use)
The Group aims to reduce water usage in our plants by using and reusing recycled water and making other efforts to use water efficiently.
Trends in water withdrawal*1
| Fiscal year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon Shokubai | 14.9 | 14.6 | 14.8 | 14.4 | 14.1 | 14.0 |
| Group Companies in Japan | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.9 |
| Group Companies outside Japan | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2,6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
*1 Total amount of surface water, groundwater, and third-party sources (such as tap water and industrial water), excluding seawater.
Trends in water discharge*2
| Fiscal year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon Shokubai | 7.7 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.5 |
| Group Companies in Japan | 5.6 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.8 |
| Group Companies outside Japan | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
*2 Total amount of water discharged into rivers, lakes, the ocean, and sewage, excluding seawater.
Trends in water consumption*3
| Fiscal year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon Shokubai | 7.1 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 6.5 |
| Group Companies in Japan | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Group Companies outside Japan | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
*3 Water consumption = Water withdrawal – Water discharge
Water Pollution Prevention
To prevent water pollution, we work to eliminate the environmental impact of wastewater at all plants through high-level purification of wastewater from manufacturing processes, specifically by introducing high-performance activated sludge treatment equipment, which is capable of consistently treating even heavy-duty wastewater.
All emissions of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus, and total nitrogen for our wastewater are at levels below municipal and prefectural agreements.
Nippon Shokubai
| Fiscal year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COD of wastewater | 50 | 50 | 56 | 45 | 34 | 36 |
| Total phosphorus emissions | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 1.9 |
| Total nitrogen emissions | 55 | 52 | 56 | 57 | 28 | 27 |
Group companies in Japan
| Fiscal year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COD of wastewater | 60 | 61 | 55 | 72 | 53 | 52 |
Products and Technologies Providing Solutions to Water Issues
We develop and sell water treatment agents and wastewater treatment catalysts for wet air oxidation and decomposing hazardous substances in wastewater (See Environmental Contribution Products), osmotic pressure-generating agents for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment (See Page 25 of the TCFD Report 2025), and other products to help solve problems with water resources.
Water Risk Assessment
To assess water risk, the Nippon Shokubai Group uses the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) to determine whether any of our production sites are located in areas of high water stress. As a result of a reassessment following the update*1 of the tool, two production sites were identified as being in areas of high water stress.*2 However, both sites are promoting initiatives to secure additional water resources and reduce water usage, and there are no issues related to water risks.
We take appropriate measures to reduce these risks in addition to conducting regular water risk assessment at each production site.
*1 Aqueduct 4.0 Current and Future Global Maps Data (August 16, 2023)
*2 The Group defines areas of high water stress as those that have an Aqueduct Baseline Water Stress of “Extremely High” or “High.”