Environmental Management
Basic Approach
Environmental Philosophy
Established in 2001, our Environmental Philosophy guides our aim to deliver products of consistent quality to customers through stable, safe production while reducing our environmental impact.
- 1Environmental protection is the mission of a company as a public institution of society
- 2Our fundamental belief is that environmental protection can be achieved through innovative technology
- 3Environmental protection is achieved when all employees embrace a sense of mission and take on challenges
Responsible Care
- 1Prioritize the environment and safety:
Protecting the environment and ensuring safety are prerequisites for all business activities and take precedence over all other considerations. We will continuously implement comprehensive accident-prevention measures and provide education and training to all employees in an effort to prevent safety and environmental accidents.
- 2Collect and distribute the latest information on chemical products:
We will collect, store, and manage the latest information required for the appropriate handling, use, and disposal of chemical products, and distribute this information to employees and users.
- 3Minimize the discharge of hazardous chemicals and waste:
We will strive to develop technologies for reducing emissions of hazardous chemical substances and for reducing, recycling, and reusing waste.
- 4Promote activities for conserving resources and energy:
From the standpoint of preventing global warming as well, we will actively promote resource- and energy-conservation activities involving all employees, and we aim to dramatically reduce energy consumption through the development of original technologies.
- 5Take the environment and safety into account when developing new processes and products and performing quality assurance:
We will conduct thorough environmental and safety evaluations from the initial stages of research, develop technologies and products that take the environment and safety into account, and strive to maintain and improve their quality.
- 6Live together with society
We will comply with environmental and safety regulations established by local communities, national and overseas authorities, and organizations to which we belong, and will cooperate with their activities. We will strive to communicate with local communities and society so that Zeon’s activities are accurately understood, and to further strengthen society’s trust in the Company.
- 7Pursue continuous improvement:
We will continuously improve our environmental and safety management and technology through the operation of Responsible Care audits, the Safety Management System, an Environmental Management System based on ISO 14001, and an Occupational Health and Safety Management System. 14001, and an Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
Structure and System
We have established environmental and safety management systems based on the Responsible Care philosophy and pursue the safety of everyone involved with our worksites and plants. In the environmental field, we have also obtained ISO 14001 external certification and are working on continuous improvement.
Overview of Environmental and Safety Management Systems
- President’s Annual Policy and Safety Management Improvement Master Plan
- These documents are created by top management.
- Annual Environment and Safety Policy
- The General Manager of the Environmental and Safety Affairs Department drafts this policy based on the President’s Annual Policy and the Safety Management Improvement Master Plan established by top management. The Annual Environment and Safety Policy is then reviewed by the Management Committee and finalized by the President.
- Annual Worksite Manager’s Policy and Annual Worksite Safety Management Improvement Master Plan
- Worksite managers formulate these documents based on the President’s Annual Policy and the Safety Management Improvement Master Plan. The Annual Worksite Manager’s Policy applies to everyone working at the site, including Zeon employees and partner-company personnel.
- Annual Worksite Environmental and Safety (Responsible Care) Activities Plans
- Worksite managers prepare the Activities Plans based on the company-wide Annual Environment and Safety Policy.
Progress Management
The Management Committee, chaired by the Representative Director, together with the Environment and Safety Committee under its supervision, deliberates on company-wide planning and progress management related to the environment and occupational safety and health. The executive officer in charge of environmental safety serves as chair of the Environment and Safety Committee.
- Safety Management Improvement Master Plan: Progress verified by the Management Committee
- Annual Worksite Safety Management Improvement Master Plan: Progress verified by the worksite manager during worksite inspections
- Annual Worksite Environmental and Safety Activities Plans: Progress verified by the worksite manager during worksite inspections
Key Initiatives
Audits (Assessments of Existing Lines)
We conduct audits to assess whether our management systems are functioning effectively.
In particular, worksite Responsible Care audits cover environmental and safety initiatives and are headed by the General Manager of the Environmental and Safety Affairs Department. These audits have two parts: the Responsible Care Audit and the Responsible Care Dialogue.
Responsible Care Audits
- Audits conducted from a professional perspective to assess the implementation of Responsible Care activities
- This audit also covers worksites accredited as Certified Safety Inspection (Completion Inspection) Operators under the High Pressure Gas Safety Act
- Progress on remedying audit findings is verified using the Audit Findings Improvement Plan and Implementation Report
Responsible Care Dialogues
- A venue for dialogue among worksite members and management to jointly consider, discuss, and find solutions to worksite environmental and safety issues that are difficult to identify through audits
Responsible Care Audits at Group companies
Group Company Responsible Care Audits cover Group company Responsible Care activities and are headed by the General Manager of the Environmental and Safety Affairs Department. The progress of improvements in areas where audits uncovered such needs is verified using the Audit Findings Improvement Plan and Progress Report.
Internal plant audits
Each plant conducts internal audits as outlined below.
- Plant manager inspections: Inspections of the progress of Responsible Care implementation conducted by the plant manager (at least once a year)
- Environmental Management System (EMS) internal audits, and Safety Management System internal audits
Overview of environmental impacts
We procure the chemical substances that serve as our raw materials and consume energy and water resources in manufacturing and selling our materials and chemical products. In manufacturing products, at the input (resources introduced) stage, we evaluate resource and energy efficiency while also giving due attention to maintaining quality.
Regarding outputs (emissions), the release of some substances that affect the atmosphere and water bodies may be unavoidable. Nevertheless, we pursue continuous improvement to minimize these emissions.
