Preserve Biodiversity
The TOK Biodiversity Protection Declaration guides the TOK Group’s activities to preserve biodiversity. In 2023, TOK implemented CSR training for all directors, auditors, and employees at its domestic sites, as well as employees of partner companies for some operation centers. The company also dispatched six employees to participate in the afforestation activities with residents of Kanagawa Prefecture through the Kanagawa Trust Midori Foundation. TOK will continue to preserve biodiversity with the intention of starting a ripple effect inside and outside the company and spreading biodiversity activities throughout society.
Reducing the emissions of air-polluting substances
TOK endeavors to reduce the emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) as key substances related to air pollution; the company uses natural gas-based boilers with low emissions at all plants, except those that have no city gas sup plies in the surrounding areas.
In 2023, SOx emissions related to production activities decreased by 0.4 tons year-over-year. NOx emissions decreased by 6.5 tons year-over-year because of the reduced operating time of power generators at the Koriyama Plant.
Monitoring soil pollution
The TOK Group manages the risk of soil and underground water pollution by recognizing that such pollution could threaten the safety and health of local residents and employees. In the event surveys discover soil or underground water contamination, the company rapidly discloses information and takes remedial action to ensure the health and safety of local residents.
In addition, the TOK Technology Innovation Center is a member of the Koza River Purification Association, which comprises the plants, offices, and municipalities located along the rivers in the Koza District of Kanagawa Prefecture. As such, the Center endeavors to conserve water quality and maintain and improve the environment of the rivers in the neighborhood.
Reducing emissions of water-polluting substances
TOK sets its own management standards for treating the wastewater discharged from its sites. The standard is stricter than the local regulations, laws, and ordinances for purifying wastewater, such as activated sludge processing, at its process wastewater treatment facilities. Only water that satisfies the standards for cleanliness is released into the public water system.
The company periodically evaluates water quality to ensure compliance with its voluntary standards and with all laws and regulations. In fiscal year 2023, the emissions were lower than the voluntary standards and lower than the values specified in local laws and regulations. TOK will continue to reduce emissions by maintaining and managing its process wastewater treatment facilities so that the water released satisfies all applicable standards.
The BOD emissions discharged into public water areas in 2023 decreased by 0.1 t from the previous year to about 0.4 t, and COD emissions decreased by 0.1 t from the previous year to 0.6 t.
Countermeasures against Ozone-Depleting Substances
The TOK Group uses the ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons CFC-11 and CFC-12 as coolants in refrigerators and freezers. The entire Group is working to reduce the use of these substances and to switch to alternative substances and green coolants (non-CFC). The revised Act on the Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons mandates regular inspections and the reporting of any leakage; therefore, TOK is updating its environmental system for the proper management, filling, and disposal of CFCs. As a result of these appropriate actions, the leakage volume stood at approx. 172 t-CO2e in 2023. TOK will continue group-wide inspections and to periodically replace fire extinguishers that use ozone-depleting substances with the aim of further strengthening management to prevent any CFC leakage.
* Data collection period: April 2023 to March 2024
Comply with PRTR Law
Under the Japanese Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Act, companies must manage and report to the government the production, release, and transfer of designated chemical substances. TOK relies on its chemicals and PRTR management system to accurately calculate and report these figures. Of the Class I Designated Chemical Substances, which is a list of 515 substances defined by the PRTR Act, TOK handled 86 substances (a total of 2,012 tons) in 2023, including an estimated 2 tons released into the atmosphere and public water systems. TOK measures the emissions of VOCs and harmful air-polluting substances through PRTR surveys as a member of the Japan Chemical Industry Association.
* Data collection period: April 2023 to March 2024
|
Government |
Chemical substance name | Emission volume (tons) | Transferred volume (tons) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | Water | Waste Materials | ||
| 21 | 2-aminoethanol | 0.0 | 0.0 | 19.6 |
| 42 | Alkylphenols | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 |
| 73 | ethylbenzene | 0.2 | 0.0 | 4.4 |
| 78 | ethylene glycol monomethyl ether | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
| 103 | xylene | 1.0 | 0.0 | 13.1 |
| 106 | cumene | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 110 | cresol | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.8 |
| 166 | Diethanolamine | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| 170 | Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| 173 | 1,4-dioxane | 0.4 | 0.0 | 52.4 |
| 208 | dichlorobenzene | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.1 |
| 242 | N,N-dimethylacetamide | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.6 |
| 264 | N,N-dimethylformamide | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| 267 | 1,2-Dimethoxyethane | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
| 307 | Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14.3 |
| 342 | Trimethyl benzenes | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 347 | toluene | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| 352 | naphthalene | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 |
| 391 | phenol | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.9 |
| 414 | hydrogen fluoride and its water-soluble salts | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.3 |
| 442 | heptane | 0.2 | 0.0 | 107.1 |
| 464 | formaldehyde | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| 486 | methylnaphthalene | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.9 |
| 489 | N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.5 |
| 501 | 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethanol | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Preserve Biodiversity
The TOK Biodiversity Protection Declaration guides the TOK Group’s activities to preserve biodiversity.
In 2023, TOK implemented CSR training for all directors, auditors, and employees at its domestic sites, as well as employees of partner companies for some operation centers. The company also dispatched six employees to participate in the afforestation activities with residents of Kanagawa Prefecture through the Kanagawa Trust Midori Foundation. TOK will continue to preserve biodiversity with the intention of starting a ripple effect inside and outside the company and spreading biodiversity activities throughout society.
At the Aso plant, personnel participate in the forest preservation activities organized by Aso Green Stock, a public interest incor porated foundation with the intention of improving and enhancing the watershed cultivation function* within the Aso region and to establish an environment with a sustainable ecosystem. TOK designated an area on the north somma of Mt. Aso (736 m2) as the TOK Forest” In 2023, 31 employees worked to weed the area, cut bamboo, and engage in other activities on three occasions. At the Koriyama plant, personnel collected stranded aquatic plants in Lake Inawashiro, located in the approximate center of Fukushima Prefecture. Because stranded aquatic plants decay and decrease the water quality, the removal of aquatic plants is an important environmental conservation activity that serves to maintain water quality.
* Functions of the forest to reduce flooding from rainfall, preserve water resources, and purify water
TOK Biodiversity Protection Declaration
- We will position biodiversity protection as one of management’s highest priorities and strengthen protection activities for the global environment
- We will work to continually reduce our environmental impact through our production activities, our development and provision of products and services, and in coordination with the supply chain, thereby working to protect biodiversity.
- We will strive to enhance activities by educating employees on a regular basis and facilitating recognition and a correct understanding of the importance of biodiversity protection.
- We will continually conduct social contribution activities for environmental protection to earn the esteem and trust of society
- We will announce the results of initiatives and promote communication with the general public.
Future Issues and Initiatives
The TOK Group implemented a variety of activities and measures to prevent global warming and the pollution of the air, soil, and water and worked to maintain biodiversity. In all these categories, the Group will continue to appropriately maintain and manage its facilities and equipment to ensure continuous normal operation, thereby fulfilling its social responsibility as a company handling chemical substances.
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