Group Companies in Japan

NIPPOH CHEMICALS CO., LTD.

Principal business	Manufacture and sale of iodine, iodine compounds, raw materials for pharmaceuticals and pesticides, and natural gas

In FY2023, we promoted activities for the second year of the 1st Medium-term RC Three-Year Plan and strengthened the RC promotion system.
In terms of occupational safety and health, we worked to thoroughly implement basic safety behaviors and raise safety awareness and have made pointing and calling obligatory. Unfortunately, due to a fall from a fixed ladder, there was one injury without loss of workdays. We are making efforts to prevent a recurrence by implementing three-point support ascending and descending training and displaying caution signs.
In terms of process safety and disaster prevention, we implemented scenario-less annual emergency drill to make it more practical.
In the area of environmental protection, we investigated the methane released into the atmosphere from a well that extracts groundwater (brine water) containing iodine and natural gas in order to study how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, we are on track to reduce the amount of methane generated at the well by approximately 50%. In FY2024, we will formulate specific measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including from other sources, to achieve a 30% reduction compared to FY2014.
We intend to further enhance and promote RC initiatives with the participation of all employees.

TOKYO FINE CHEMICAL CO., LTD.

Principal business	Manufacture and sale of antiseptics, antifungal agents, disinfectants, brine, stabilizers of vinyl chloride resins, etc.

In FY2023, the second year of the 8th RC Promotion Plan, we continued to implement RC activities based on “safety taking priority over production” from the previous fiscal year. As part of these initiatives, we displayed signage on staircases as shown in the picture to encourage the use of handrails throughout the Group. In addition, in areas at production sites with steps, we installed caution tape in an effort to prevent injuries.
As part of our environmental protection efforts, we are continuing to reduce and sort waste, and we have been able to achieve results such as processing waste containers that were previously incinerated into valuables for recycling.
We intend to continue companywide RC initiatives to further enhance our activities.

NISSHOKU TECHNO FINE CHEMICAL CO., LTD.

Principal business	Manufacture and sale of (meth)acrylic acid derivatives and photo/electro chemicals

In FY2023, due to injuries without loss of workdays caused by younger employees, we reviewed our standard operation procedure, shared this information, and conducted training to prevent a recurrence. To prevent occupational injuries, we are continuing hazard prediction and near miss analysis. In addition to hosting an environmental and safety convention in July and a health convention in October, we provide educational opportunities by employees who have worked for a long time to pass on their skills and make efforts to improve safety awareness.
As an environmental protection effort, we are working to improve the operational efficiency of production equipment to reduce the volume of total waste, emissions of substances subject to the PRTR Law, and energy consumption to FY2022 intensity levels or lower. We are also planning and promoting a conversion from the use of heavy oil as steam boiler fuel to city gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and in FY2023, we renewed one of four units to reduce our environmental impact.
In the area of process safety and disaster prevention, we conducted a comprehensive emergency drill with the Ichikawa City East Fire Station and Ichikawa Joint Disaster Prevention Center and implemented water discharge training, confirming our cooperation in the event of an accident. We also participated in a disaster prevention hands on experience and general lifesaving course of the Honjo Life Safety Learning Center at the Tokyo Fire Department, mainly for our younger employees, in an effort to improve our emergency response capabilities.

CHUGOKU KAKO CO., LTD.

Principal business	Manufacture and sale of adhesive-processed products and fine sphere particles

In FY2023, we experienced an injury with loss of workdays resulting from a fall and overturn from the stepladder while working in a storehouse of the 2nd production section, ending our continuous record of zero injuries with loss of workdays at 2,040 days. The main factor was non-compliance with our basic safety behavior of three-point support, and we took corrective actions by revising the work method and adding equipment.
In terms of process safety and disaster prevention, 19 employees took part in the lifesaving course that had been suspended for seven years due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the number of employees who completed the course to 34.
As part of our environmental protection activities, we were able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by updating outdated equipment such as the chiller for air conditioning at a coating plant and converting to LED lighting.
We will continue to promote RC initiatives with the aim to completely avoid injuries and accidents and reduce environmental impact.

Nisshoku Butsuryu Co., Ltd.

Principal business	Logistics of chemicals

The Nisshoku Butsuryu Group positions “providing environment-friendly, safe, and high-quality logistics services for chemicals and contributing to society through its RC initiatives” as its key management policy. Under this policy, we have been working on the reduction of GHG emissions as an initiative to reduce environmental impacts and promoting risk prediction as an initiative to achieve zero accidents and injuries. We also promote proper operation of advanced operation information systems and the introduction of vehicles equipped with Advanced Emergency Braking System as priority tasks.
We also worked on the following priority issues: prevention of environmental disasters and accidents, promotion of energy consumption reduction and resource conservation, prevention of accidents with vehicle equipment, prevention of chemical transportation/handling issues, and promotion of white logistics.

NIPPON POLYMER INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.

Principal business	Manufacture and sale of acrylic resins

In FY2022, we suffered five occupational injuries with and without loss of workdays (including one at a contractor), which is the most in recent years. In FY2023, we responded by implementing near miss analysis, enhancing follow-up training for new employees, and expanding the installation of on-site warning signs (using universal design displays). (One injury occurred for this period.)
In terms of process safety and disaster prevention, we have focused on updating outdated equipment and have started renewal of fire hydrant piping (1st phase), which is planned to be completed in FY2025.
In terms of the environment, we are updating aging raw water tanks and sludge dehydration treatment equipment as part of preventative maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities.
As a companywide effort, we have started activities this fiscal year to solicit all employees for various feedback (areas of improvement) on the company and push forward reforms based on this feedback. We will continue our RC initiatives throughout the company in the future.

NIPPON NYUKAZAI CO., LTD.

Principal business	Manufacture and sale of surfactant and other chemicals

Regarding activities in FY2023, in the occupational safety and health area, employees who have worked for a long time conducted safety training for younger employees in response to multiple occupational injuries with youngers in recent years. This effort has been made to enhance sensitivity to hazards and prevent similar injuries, and it is creating certain positive effects. We will maintain and expand these activities in the future.
In terms of quality, in response to numerous incidents during the filling process for raw materials and products in past cases, we implemented corrective action this year to prevent recurrence of filling issues by setting “measures against quality problems in the filling processes” as a priority action item.
In the area of process safety and disaster prevention, in addition to performing annual comprehensive emergency drill, we revised procedures and conducted training for responding to power outrage because the gap was confirmed between what happened and what was expected through two regional power outages experienced at the Kashima Plant since FY2022.
As part of our communication with society, 21 people, including employees of the Kashima Plant and their family members, joined in helping clean up Nikkawahama Beach in FY2023.
We will continue to promote RC initiatives in an effort to ensure safe operations.