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 manufacture aqueous 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 wastewater treatment 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 and water 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 its plants and promote efficient water use by recycling and reusing water.
Trends in water withdrawal*1
| Fiscal year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon Shokubai | 14.8 | 14.4 | 14.1 | 14.0 | 14.1 |
| Group companies in Japan | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.0 |
| Group companies outside Japan | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
- 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon Shokubai | 8.2 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.8 |
| Group companies in Japan | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| Group companies outside Japan | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
- Total amount of water discharged into rivers, lakes, the ocean, and sewage, excluding seawater.
Trends in water consumption*3
| Fiscal year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nippon Shokubai | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
| Group companies in Japan | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Group companies outside Japan | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
- Water consumption = Water withdrawal – Water discharge
Water Pollution Prevention
To prevent water pollution, at all plants we work to reduce the environmental impact of wastewater through advanced treatment of wastewater from manufacturing processes using high-performance activated sludge treatment equipment capable of consistently treating even high-load wastewater.
All emissions of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus, and total nitrogen in wastewater remain below the agreed limits with local governments or the applicable regulatory limits under laws and local ordinances for each site.
The introduction of advanced treatment equipment has also helped reduce waste sludge.
Nippon Shokubai
| Fiscal year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COD discharge | 56 | 45 | 34 | 36 | 37 |
| Total phosphorus emissions | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 |
| Total nitrogen emissions | 56 | 57 | 28 | 27 | 25 |
Group companies in Japan
| Fiscal year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COD discharge | 55 | 72 | 53 | 52 | 75 |
Products and Technologies Providing Solutions to Water Issues
We develop and sell water treatment agents and wastewater treatment catalysts for wet air oxidation and decomposition of hazardous substances in wastewater (See Environmental Contribution Products), osmotic pressure-generating agents for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment (See R&D for the future), and other products to help solve water resource issues.
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 conducted in FY2023 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 assessments at each production site.
- Aqueduct 4.0 Current and Future Global Maps Data (August 16, 2023)
- The Group defines areas of high water stress as those that have an Aqueduct Baseline Water Stress of “Extremely High” or “High.”