Minimization of Environmental Impact

Tackling Climate Change

In fiscal 2007, the NSG Group's energy consumption with Japan declined 12.6 per cent compared to fiscal 1991 (including flat glass manufacturing and other businesses), and CO₂ emissions were down 18.1 per cent over the same period.

Over the past five years, energy consumption and CO₂ emissions were substantially reduced thanks to the centralization of manufacturing operations carried out in fiscal 2003. Since fiscal 2004, CO₂ emissions have been flat.

To reduce CO₂ emissions, NSG Group has installed inverters and implemented energy-saving measures, including leak prevention. In the years ahead, NSG Group will examine the use of alternative energy sources in the manufacturing process and take steps to minimize environmental impact through further reductions in CO₂ emissions and other measures.

Status of Efforts to Reduce the Volume of Energy Consumption (Japan)
image : Chart of Status of Efforts to Reduce the Volume of Energy Consumption (Japan)

image : Chart of Status of Efforts to Reduce the Volume of Energy Consumption (Japan)

Status of Efforts to Reduce CO2 Emissions (Japan)
image : Chart of Status of Efforts to Reduce CO2 Emissions (Japan)

Increasing the Efficiency of Distribution and Reducing CO2 Emissions

The establishment of an efficient distribution system not only reduces distribution costs, it also addresses the issue of reduction of CO₂ emissions.

In Japan, the Group is taking steps to centralize distribution equipment, and to minimize the waste of returning empty pallets to plants following their distribution to customers, it has established yards to serve as shipping pallet collection points. This increases the efficiency of pallet recovery, and by integrating this system with the distribution system, the Group can at the same time minimize the overall transportation distance. In the future, the Group will pursue further efficiency with diversified approaches, including a modal shift.

In addition, NSG Group is working to conserve energy in its offices through a range of measures, including the improvement of window thermal insulation, the installation of solar panels and the control air conditioning and heating temperatures.

Air Pollution Countermeasures

Sulfur oxide (SOx), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and soot arise primarily due to combustion in the glass melting process. SOx emissions in fiscal 2007 amounted to 804 tons (up 0.9 per cent year on year) and NOx emissions totaled 1,615 tons (up 0.5 per cent year on year). SOx and NOx emissions have remained constant in recent years but are on a downward trend. Particulates in fiscal 2007 declined from 94 tons in the previous fiscal year to 66 tons, a 28-ton decrease, thanks to equipment improvements and other measures.

SOx and NOx Emissions (Japan)
image : Chart of SOx and NOx Emissions (Japan)

Particulates (Japan)
image : Chart of Particulates (Japan)

Water Pollution Countermeasures

The volume of both industrial water and wastewater has been on the decline, but in fiscal 2007, the volume of industrial water was 9,937 thousand m³ (up 2.8 per cent year on year), and wastewater was 7,317 thousand m³ (up 17.9 per cent year on year). In Japan, the NSG Group is deploying water circulation systems that recover, purify and then reuse wastewater in an effort to achieve efficient utilization of water resources. The volume of chemical oxygen demand (COD) emissions amounted to 21 tons (up 10.5 per cent year on year), while biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) emissions and suspended solid (SS) emissions were two tons (no change) and 28 tons (down 3.4 per cent year on year). This was a result of the strict application of voluntary management standards and continuous improvements to the management structure.

Water Usage (Japan)
image : Chart of Water Usage (Japan)

BOD Emissions (Japan)
image : Chart of BOD Emissions (Japan)

COD Emissions and SS Emissions (Japan)
image : Chart of COD Emissions and SS Emissions (Japan)