Chemical Substance Management and Pollution Prevention
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)
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)
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
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.