Pioneer is committed to reducing emissions by conducting environmental impact assessments and reducing the discharge of chemicals used in the production process into the air or water, changing to alternative substances where technologically practicable or improving the process. We are currently engaged in deciding the procedures for appropriate management of chemical substances required in the production process.
Management by PRTR System
Under the PRTR Law*, Pioneer is required to notify the government of emissions/transfers of chemical substances, starting with our business activities in FY2002. Regarding to the PRTR law object substances, in FY2011 the total volume of handled was 9.8 tonnes and volume emitted into atmosphere, water and soil were zero in Japan. We will continue to reduce our environmental impact by improving the management level of chemical substances.
* PRTR Law:Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Release of Specific Chemical Substances to the Environment and Promotion of the Improvement of Their Management
PRTR : Pollutant Release and Transfer Register
Handling, transfer and emissions of PRTR chemical substances
Substance |
Volume handled |
Volume emitted into atmosphere |
Volume transferred | Volume consumed |
Volume removed or disposed of |
Volume recycled |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Volume transferred as waste |
Volume transferred to sewers |
Total | ||||||
| Hydrogen fluoride and its water-soluble salts |
4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 0.0 |
|
N,Ndimethyl formamide |
2.8 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2-amino ethanol |
2.5 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Total | 9.8 | 0.0 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 0.0 |
Volumes of PRTR chemical substances handled and emitted (in Japan)
Reduction of VOC Emissions
VOC emissions (in Japan)
Pioneer has also been working to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) used in the production process. We aim to reduce emissions by 30% by FY2011 from the FY2000 (2001/3) level in accordance with the industry's voluntary action plan. In FY2011, we succeeded in reducing emissions by 87% from the base year.
Total Elimination of Ozone-depleting Substances
As early as 1992, Pioneer had totally eliminated specified chlorofluorocarbons with high ozone depletion potential whose use was banned by international regulations in 1995 from the production processes of all group companies. In addition, by 1996 we had totally eliminated chlorofluorocarbon alternatives*, whose use will be banned by international regulations by 2020, from the production processes of all group companies by switching to cleaning with alcohol or not cleaning at all.
* Chlorofluorocarbon alternatives: Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Strict Water Quality Control
Pioneer has set voluntary water quality standards that are stricter than those set by Japanese law, and implements strict water quality control throughout the group. At plants that use harmful substances, Pioneer has installed wastewater treatment facilities and it supervises and manages processes in order to stay in strict compliance with water drainage regulations for wastewater and public water resources.
