Pollution Prevention

We view minimizing the impact of our business activities on the local environment as a critical responsibility and are steadily advancing our environmental conservation efforts. In particular, for key areas regulated by environmental laws and regulations—such as air emissions, wastewater, odors, noise, and vibration—we have established our own voluntary standards of “70% or less of regulatory standards” and are continuously monitoring and making improvements. As a result, we were able to maintain high achievement rates across all categories in fiscal year 2024.

We detoxify and reduce the pollution load of the wastewater from our industrial processes and dining halls by using purification tanks and wastewater treatment equipment to manage wastewater without exceeding our own voluntary standards.

In addition, we regularly inspect and maintain wastewater processing equipment and change filters and absorbent materials.

We also continue to improve wastewater by installing grease traps to prevent oil used in dining halls from spilling from kitchens and providing water quality preservation training including training regarding the proper use of detergents.

The Air Pollution Control Act regulates substances such as toxic air pollutants and ozone depleting substances, including sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These substances have an impact on health and the global environment, causing problems such as photochemical smog and ozone layer depletion. We at the DNP Group are working hard to monitor and reduce emissions of such substances.

Inks, solvents, adhesives and cleaning solutions used in the printing process contain toluene and other VOCs. The DNP Group’s anti-VOC measures not only seek to regulate concentrations as required under the Air Pollution Control Act, but also to reduce emissions overall. We have been switching to substitute products with a lower environmental impact and installing equipment for VOC treatment and solvent recovery.

FY2024 results: Domestic VOC emissions: 3,983 (tons)

The DNP Group conducts soil inspections based upon our voluntary management guidelines. When soil contamination is discovered, we file a report with the office of the governor or mayor in charge of that prefecture or city, and upon receiving instructions from the local authorities, we implement appropriate measures for removing the contamination.

In fiscal year 2024, we will continue water purification treatment at one site, and from the perspective of preventing soil contamination, we will continue to inspect tanks, waste storage areas, and storage locations for PCB-containing equipment scheduled for disposal.

Regarding PCB-containing equipment currently in storage or in use, we have planned to dispose of all affected equipment by the disposal deadline of the end of March 2027, and we are carrying out disposal in stages.