Sustainability / Environmental ReportWater Resource Preservation
Basic Approach
The risks associated with water, which is one of the irreplaceable natural resources on Earth, are on the rise across the globe. Along with natural disasters such as drought, torrential rain, flooding, and landslides, water pollution and water shortages, arising from people’s daily life and economic activities, can also be viewed as water risks.
The Daicel Group adheres to
Daicel Group’s Basic Policies on Responsible Care as it seeks to preserve water quality and reduce water use for both fresh and salt water by managing the use of this limited resource and implementing appropriate wastewater treatment.
Promotion System
Managing Water Quality
The Daicel Group manufactures a variety of chemical products, and water is essential to our production processes. For example, we use water in a variety of such processes, including heating, cooling, and washing, and water is used for equipment that removes and discharges the chemical substances we produce in our production process. We purify the water we use and discharge almost all of it into rivers and oceans.*
At each plant, wastewater is purified to a water quality that can be discharged into rivers and oceans through the stable operation of advanced wastewater treatment facilities, contributing to reducing environmental impact. In addition to regularly measuring wastewater in accordance with laws and regulations, we also set voluntary setting targets for wastewater standards and total discharge that are stricter than those required by laws and regulations, and strive to preserve water quality by keeping wastewater levels below these targets.
In FY2023/3, we continued proper management based on our voluntary setting targets, and there were no serious legal violations with regard to water resource conservation.
When formulating new business plans, we evaluate the effects of wastewater on water quality in advance by operating the Total Environmental, Health and Safety Assessment System. To fulfill our responsibilities as a manufacturer, we take measures to avoid the risks of water pollution from all causes. This includes improving wastewater treatment facilities in collaboration with facility manufacturers and developing wastewater simulation technology jointly with universities and other institutions.
*No discharge into groundwater
Total Environmental, Health and Safety Assessment System
COD Emissions (Daicel’s Business Sites and Domestic Group Companies)
Phosphorous Emissions (Daicel’s Business Sites and Domestic Group Companies)
Nitrogen Emissions (Daicel’s Business Sites and Domestic Group Companies)
Efficient Use of Water
The Daicel Group is striving to reduce water intake at all of its business sites. Each business site has set a medium-term target of 10% reduction compared to FY2019/3 levels by FY2026/3 as the final year, and is promoting efficient water use. At cooling towers and other facilities, we are working to recycle cooling water and reduce the amount of water used. Each business site is monitoring water intake, discharge, and water consumption to reduce water risk and to review the manufacturing process, etc., and we are considering expanding these initiatives to other plants.
Since FY2017/3, we have responded to the CDP* water security questionnaire, a program for the global disclosure of information concerning water-related risks posed by companies. We received a “B-” rating as a result of our responses to the CDP water security questionnaire conducted in FY2023/3.
*Carbon Disclosure Project. A British NGO that discloses information on environmental measures taken by companies and local governments.
Medium-term Target (Daicel Group)
- Achieve 10% water intake reduction by FY2026/3 (compared to FY2019/3)
Water Intake (Daicel Group)
Breakdown of Water Intake (FY2023/3, Daicel Group)
Water Discharged (Daicel Group)
Water Consumption* (Daicel Group)
*Water consumption = water intake – water discharge
Assessment of Water-Related Risks
Led by the Risk Management Committee, the Daicel Group conducts regular risk assessments on the water intake and discharge at each plant in Japan to accurately grasp and appropriately manage the risks.
In overseas, an Aqueduct* mapping survey in FY2023/3 identified minor risks in Thailand and China, but additional on-site surveys confirmed that there were no water risks at the site level. As a result, the Daicel Group was able to confirm that there were no areas of high water risk throughout the Group, and that there were no water intakes or discharges in water-stressed areas (areas of water shortages where freshwater resources per capita are below 1,700 m3, which are common in North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia). We address water-related risks by taking preventive actions and measures for mitigating damage, and regularly check the status of these measures.
In FY2023/3, in order to strengthen preparedness against large-scale natural disasters, we identified disaster risks related to floods and storm surges in response to Japan’s Fundamental Plan for Regional Resilience.
*It is a global tool for water risk assessment developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI). It is possible to assess the water risk in the area where the site is located in terms of water quantity, quality, regulation, and reputation.