Chemical Substance Management and Pollution Prevention

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Basic Stance

The UACJ Group strives to properly manage chemical substances and control emissions while also switching to chemicals with low impacts on the environment and human health. We do this out of concern not only for effects on the natural environment but also for safety - for employees engaged in manufacturing our products and customers when they use our products. In our efforts to control emissions, we have established and abide by our own standards, which are stricter than those set forth in Japan’s Air Pollution Control Law, Water Pollution Control Law, local government ordinances, and conventions.

Fiscal 2022 Results

Pollutant Control at Individual UACJ Works (Fiscal 2022)

○: Measurements fall within standards

  Measurement Item Fukui
Works
Fukaya
Works
Nikko
Works
Air NOx, SOx, soot and dust
Water  pH, BOD
n-H (mineral oil), SS

Control of PRTR Substances

The UACJ Group seeks to reduce pollutants by utilizing the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) system based on the Act on the Assessment Releases of Specified Chemical Substances in the Environment and the Promotion of Management Improvement* to ascertain and disclose the amounts of substances handled, released, and transferred in its operations.

In fiscal 2022, reduced production volume compared to fiscal 2021 led to the amount of specified substances handled decreasing by 216 tons (-6.1%), while the Group’s overall emissions increased by 23 tons (12.4%) and transferred volume increased by 3 tons (2.2%). The slight increases in emissions and transferred volume may have been due to a change in the product composition.

*The PRTR system requires businesses handling chemical substances that are potentially hazardous to human health and the environment to estimate the amounts of chemical substances released from business sites into the environment (air, water, and soil) and transferred in waste, and report the data to the local governments. The governments then compile the reported data and estimates and publish the emission and transfer volumes.

Amounts of PRTR Substances Handled

(Contain manganese, chromium, nickel, and lead as alloy substances)

Graph of Amounts of PRTR Substances Handled

Amounts of PRTR Substances Released or Transferred

 

Graph of Amounts of PRTR Substances Released or Transferred

  • * UACJ (Nagoya, Fukui, Fukaya, Nikko), UACJ Aluminum Center Corporation, Utsunomiya Color Aluminum, UACJ Extrusion Nagoya Corporation (Nagoya, Anjo), UACJ Extrusion Oyama Corporation, UACJ Extrusion Gunma Corporation, UACJ Extrusion Shiga Corporation, UACJ Foundry & Forging Corporation, UACJ Foil Corporation (Shiga, Nogi, Isesaki)

Handling, Releases, and Transfers of PRTR Substances (Fiscal 2020)

No. Substance Amount Used (kg) Amount Released (kg) Amount Transferred (kg)
412 Manganese and its inorganic compounds 1,803,193 0 18,400
300 Toluene 619,810 31,043 54,021
87 Chromium and chromium(III) compounds 192,995 17 23,778
80 Xylene 182,301 17,774 1,722
273 1-dodecanol 140,646 70,842 31,765
296 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene 117,745 56,715 1,225
53 Ethyl benzene 73,893 2,396 669
71 Ferric chlorides 47,380 0 0
374 Hydrogen fluoride and its water-soluble salts 45,627 1,241 11,169
297 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene 25,955 19,222 272
88 Hexavalent chromium and its compounds 23,783 0 84
308 Nickel 21,074 0 0
302 Naphthalin 7,103 161 59
207 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-cresol 4,238 1,637 2,589
407 Poly (oxyethylene) = alkyl ether 3,774 3,701 0
321 Vanadium compounds 2,806 0 0
392 n-hexane 2,494 423 486
1 Zinc and its compounds 2,395 0 0
304 Lead 1,481 0 0
411 Formaldehyde 1,402 29 4
    3,320,094 205,202 146,245
  • * UACJ (Nagoya, Fukui, Fukaya, Nikko), UACJ Aluminum Center Corporation, Utsunomiya Color Aluminum , UACJ Extrusion Nagoya Corporation (Nagoya, Anjo), UACJ Extrusion Oyama Corporation, UACJ Extrusion Gunma Corporation, UACJ Extrusion Shiga Corporation, UACJ Foundry & Forging Corporation, UACJ Foil Corporation (Shiga, Nogi, Isesaki).

Reducing VOC Releases

The UACJ Group is working to reduce VOC emissions into the atmosphere with specific focus on toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, and 1,3,5,-trimethylbenzene.

Following the installation of VOC exhaust gas treatment equipment at the Isesaki Works of UACJ Foil Corporation in the previous year enabled emissions to the atmosphere to remain low in fiscal 2022. UACJ is also seeking to introduce alternatives to the thinners used in its operations.

Prevention of Air Pollution

The UACJ Group is seeking to reduce emissions of air pollutants by maintaining and managing plant facilities and by converting fuel sources from heavy oil to LNG. Efforts to date are enabling the Group to maintain low levels of SOx and NOx emissions.

NOx Emissions

Graph of NOx Emissions

SOx Emissions

Graph of SOx Emissions

  • Measurement Scope: UACJ (Nagoya, Fukui, Fukaya, Nikko), UACJ Extrusion Oyama Corporation

Control of PCBs

We contract with the Japan Environmental Safety Corporation to carry out the appropriate detoxification of devices containing PCBs. We also contract with certified disposal operators to detoxify devices that contain trace amounts of PCBs. In addition, we are treating devices with high PCB concentrations with the aim of achieving early conformance with the amended PCB Special Measures Law of August 2016.

In fiscal 2022, we disposed of 75 capacitors, 58 ballasts, as high concentration PCB waste, and 43 transformers, 168 capacitors, 2 ballasts, and 1050 kilograms of other contaminants as low concentration PCB waste.

Addressing the Problem of Asbestos

The UACJ Group records the history of asbestos use, examines the current status, and implements measures to reduce asbestos in its products, factory buildings, equipment, and fixtures. The Group has never used asbestos in its product or sold products that contain asbestos.

In fiscal 2004, we began removing sprayed asbestos, which is has a high risk of becoming airborne, from the few places it was used in our buildings. Sprayed asbestos still remains at the Nogi Works of UACJ Foil Corporation, but we have verified that there is no dispersal. The revised the Air Pollution Control Act was enforced in June 2020 tightened regulations on asbestos in roofing slates and other sources with low asbestos risk, and we are taking the appropriate steps to comply with the law. In fiscal 2022, removal work was carried out at the Nogi Works of UACJ Foil Corporation.

We have replaced all equipment and fixtures that had high asbestos risk. When regularly scheduled inspections are conducted, we are replacing equipment and fixtures with low asbestos risk with equipment and fixtures that do not contain asbestos.

Measures to Control Dioxins

The UACJ Group’s aluminum melting furnaces are categorized as “specified dioxin-emitting facilities” under the Act on Special Measures against Dioxins, and we strive to maintain the concentration of dioxins in exhaust gas below the regulatory levels.

We do this by maintaining the optimum amount of combustion air in the aluminum melting furnace and thoroughly controlling the input materials, thereby preventing the production of dioxins.

As required by law, we also inspect our aluminum melting furnaces for dioxins each year and report the results to the government. The dioxin inspections in fiscal 2022 found levels below the legal requirements ​​at all of our 24 designated air quality facilities and 2 designated water quality facilities.

Prevention of Water Pollution

The partially amended Water Pollution Prevention Act enforced in June 2012 requires the submission of notifications regarding hazardous substance in storage facilities, piping, and other areas as well as compliance with standards for structures and other facilities.

The UACJ Group completed the necessary actions at all operating sites prior to the end of the grace period on May 31, 2015.

Prevention of Soil and Groundwater Contamination

UACJ Extrusion Oyama Corporation and UACJ Color Aluminum Corporation used specified hazardous substances in the past and are continuing with cleaning operations for contaminated groundwater. The companies’ monitoring of the effectiveness of their efforts are showing that the contamination levels are decreasing.

Other business locations conduct groundwater and soil contamination inspections as needed, including when pollution accidents occur as well as when replacing buildings or performing large-scale renovations. No operating sites required inspections in fiscal 2022.

Measures Deal with Soil and Groundwater Contamination

Business Location Period Contaminant Response
UACJ Extrusion Oyama Corporation Since fiscal 1999 Tetrachloroethylene Soil replacement, water extraction and purification
UACJ Color Aluminum Corporation Since fiscal 2004 hexavalent chromium, fluorine Soil replacement, water extraction and purification

For information on the management of chemical substances contained in products, please see Environmental Consideration in Products.

Environmental Consideration in Products