Resource Circulation
Relevant SDGs
For companies that use various resources to provide products and services, resource circulation is an important management issue. Because we want to help bring about a circular society, we are working to effectively utilize all resources and reduce waste throughout product lifecycles.
Basic Approach
Our Group uses various resources such as minerals, plastics, wood, paper, biological resources, and water resources in manufacturing. We believe that effective resource usage and waste reduction are important not only in the manufacturing and sales stages, but throughout the entire product lifecycle, from raw material extraction to disposal and recycling. We are deeply committed to these efforts.
First, based on the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) concept, we utilize resources efficiently, from the upstream and manufacturing stages. We strive to reuse resources as much as possible and develop recycling partners to minimize disposal to final disposal sites when waste is generated.
Furthermore, from the product planning and design stages, we aim not only to extend product life and reduce size and weight, but also to create products that contribute to efficient resource use and promote recycling by our client companies and end users. We promote resource recovery and the use of recycled materials after we have fully confirmed their quality.
In the future, we will also promote measures that help to bring about a circular economy.
Summary of Fiscal Year 2023
In 2023, we continued our resource recycling efforts from a lifecycle perspective. In the planning and development of environmentally friendly products, we evaluated 3R items, including plastics reduction, and promoted improved materials utilization and product downsizing. At the manufacturing stage, we continued efforts to reuse cleaning agents in the cleaning process and recycle resins. When discharging waste, we aim to reduce the amount as much as possible while ensuring compliance with waste disposal regulations. We also promoted paperless office operations by introducing an ongoing digital transformation (DX). For consumer-use products, we digitized warranty certificates and instruction manuals and expanded the use of FSC®-certified paper. As a result of all these efforts, the total amount of waste generated came to 4,987 tons compared to 5,664 tons the previous year.
Total Waste Output and Recycling Rate4,987 tons
※The recycling rate includes heat recovery.
Paper Usage60 tons
Life Cycle Initiatives
Development and Design
In the product development and design stages, we utilize computer simulations to analyze phenomena that are not visible to the naked eye, such as the stress impacting component materials and the resin flow state of molded parts. These simulations are valuable for confirming design and product performance. We also use supercomputers and parallel computing software for three-dimensional flow analysis of liquid ink ejected from inkjet printer heads. These analyses contribute to improving product performance, shortening the design period, and reducing environmental impact through virtual-trial prototyping, leading to reductions in energy and material use.
Images: Simulation of resin flow in gears (left) and ink ejection status.
Manufacturing
In our manufacturing subsidiaries, we consistently focus on resource circulation based on the fundamental 3Rs principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Activities such as reducing the use of chemical substances in the manufacturing process and emphasizing reuse and recycling practices are integral to our daily operations. We also recycle water resources, recognizing that water is a valuable natural capital.
Maintenance and Regeneration of Production Facilities
Within our Group, we regularly renew aging production facilities, such as repairing or replacing worn-out components, in order to keep those facilities functioning properly, maintain effective resource utilization, and limit the need for waste disposal.
We also actively retrofit older production facilities by installing or integrating modern technologies to enhance functionality, maintenance capabilities, and energy efficiency. In the case of key equipment such the cam-type automatic lathe in prototyping models, retrofitting can result in an up to 20% increase in energy efficiency.
Transportation and Sales
We are working on reducing the size and weight of packaging, minimizing the use of foam materials, promoting the use of reusable boxes, and incorporating labels that encourage sorting and recycling as per regulations.
Collection and Recycling
We are engaged in the collection and recycling of used products and consumables through collaboration with sales outlets, industry associations, and other channels.
| Products, etc. | Participating organizations |
|---|---|
| Collection of button batteries | Button Battery Recycling Promotion Center (Battery Association of Japan) |
| Small Rechargeable Batteries | Japan Portable Rechargeable Battery Recycling Center (JBRC) |
| Containers and packaging | Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association |
