Waste Reduction
ShareOur Approach
The recoverable reserves of aluminum, our Group’s core material, are abundant compared to other metals, giving it what is called a “long mining life.” Nevertheless, we believe it is important to promote reuse and recycling in order to pass on resources to future generations.
In recent years, marine plastic litter has become a major social issue, highlighting the need to create a plastic-free and recycling-oriented economy. With this in mind, we are actively expanding our recycling efforts for aluminum cans and automotive parts to include horizontal recycling *1, where a used product is recycled to use as a resource to make the same product again. We are also continuing efforts to fulfill our environmental activity target to help realize a recycling-oriented society by working to lower our basic unit of industrial waste volume and by promoting the 5Rs, which add Refuse and Repair to the 3Rs of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
- “Horizontal recycling” refers to the use of scrap from used products to produce raw materials to make the same kind of products again.
Key Initiatives
Trends in industrial waste volume
The total industrial waste generated across all business sites in fiscal 2025 was 33,433 tons, representing an increase of 8% from fiscal 2024. Although total generation increased due to an increase in production volume, intensity improved thanks to initiatives such as converting waste into valuable resources and reusing packaging materials.
We will continue doing our part to create a recycling-oriented society by reducing and recycling industrial waste and promoting the conversion to more efficient resources.
The direct landfill ratio at our domestic business sites was 0.07%, as we continued to achieve our target of virtually zero emissions (direct landfill ratio of less than 1%).
Amounts of Industrial Waste Generated by the UACJ Group (Japan + overseas)
Breakdown of UACJ Group Waste by Handling Approach (FY 2025・Japan + overseas)
- Note 1 Measurement scope:
(Japan) UACJ (Nagoya(Sheet,Extrusion), Fukui, Fukaya, Oyama, Foundry & Forging Works), UACJ Aluminum Center Corporation (Fukaya, Shiga, Nara, Utsunomiya, Anjo), UACJ Extrusion Anjo Corporation, UACJ Extrusion Shiga Corporation, UACJ Extrusion Gunma Corporation, UACJ Metal Components Corporation(Sendai, Koriyama, Narita, Ena, Shiga, Hiroshima), UACJ Foil Corporation (Shiga, Nogi, Isesaki), Nikkin Co., Ltd.(Saitama), Kamakura Industry Co., Ltd., Izumi Metal Corporation(Yamagata, Tochigi, Noda, Kawasaki, Head Office)
(Overseas) UACJ (Thailand) Co., Ltd., UACJ Extrusion Czech s.r.o., UACJ Extrusion (Thailand) Co., Ltd., UACJ Foundry & Forging (Vietnam) Co.,Ltd., UACJ Foil Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., UACJ Automotive Whitehall Industries, Inc., UACJ Metal Components Mexico, S.A. de C.V., UACJ Metal Components Central Mexico, S.A. de C.V., UACJ Metal Components (Thailand) Co., Ltd., PT. YANJIN INDONESIA - Note 2 Companies and sites as of September 30, 2025.
Waste Amounts by Type and Main Post-Recycling Application (FY 2025, Japan)
| Waste Type | Tons Generated | Percent Recycled | Main Post-Recycling Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sludge | 7,297 | 79 | Raw material for cement |
| Waste oil | 2,708 | 85 | Fuel |
| Wood waste | 1,737 | 97 | Fuel, fertilizer |
| Waste plastic | 1,159 | 51 | Fuel |
| Slag | 1,287 | 98 | Roadbed material |
Industrial Waste Subcommittee
At UACJ, the Industrial Waste Subcommittee, which consists mainly of representatives from our Japanese business locations generating significant amounts of industrial waste, meets regularly to promote the reduction and proper processing of industrial waste. We achieve this by establishing a common understanding of separation and processing information, and by examining and promoting improvements in separation practices and establishing shared reduction measures at individual business locations.
Generation of Hazardous Waste
We are working to reduce emissions of hazardous wastes, such as strong acids, strong alkalis, and flammable waste oil, that are considered to put a heavy burden on the environment. We define hazardous waste in Japan as "specially controlled industrial waste" and overseas in accordance with the laws and regulations of each country.
In fiscal 2025, we generated 877 tons of hazardous waste in Japan, consisting of 2 tons for direct landfill, 218 tons for intermediate treatment, and 656 tons for recycling. Overseas, we generated 8,940 tons (including 340 tons for direct landfill, 5,617 tons for intermediate treatment, and 2,983 tons for recycling). One of the ways we are reducing hazardous waste is by using sodium aluminate, a type of strong alkali emitted from the extrusion process, as a neutralizer for wastewater treatment at paper mills.
Reduction of Waste Plastic Generation and Resource Recycling
To address evolving societal challenges, such as the waste plastic import restrictions in Asian countries in the late 2010s and the enactment of the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics in 2022, the UACJ Group is committed to the proper management and reduction of waste plastics. In particular, for packaging materials such as polyethylene sheets used for product shipping and packaging, we are working to curb increases in both usage and waste generation by reducing material thickness in consultation with our customers. Furthermore, for unavoidable waste plastics such as protective sheets and plastic strapping, we promote resource recycling by contracting external processors to perform thermal recycling (energy recovery), utilizing them as a heat source for waste-to-energy generation.
Waste Plastic Production Volume (Japan)
- Note 1 Measurement scope:
(Japan) UACJ (Nagoya(Sheet,Extrusion), Fukui, Fukaya, Oyama, Foundry & Forging Works), UACJ Aluminum Center Corporation (Fukaya, Shiga, Nara, Utsunomiya, Anjo), UACJ Extrusion Anjo Corporation, UACJ Extrusion Shiga Corporation, UACJ Extrusion Gunma Corporation, UACJ Metal Components Corporation(Sendai, Koriyama, Narita, Ena, Shiga, Hiroshima), UACJ Foil Corporation (Shiga, Nogi, Isesaki), Nikkin Co., Ltd.(Saitama), Kamakura Industry Co., Ltd., Izumi Metal Corporation(Yamagata, Tochigi, Noda, Kawasaki, Head Office)
(Overseas) UACJ (Thailand) Co., Ltd., UACJ Extrusion Czech s.r.o., UACJ Extrusion (Thailand) Co., Ltd., UACJ Foundry & Forging (Vietnam) Co.,Ltd., UACJ Foil Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., UACJ Automotive Whitehall Industries, Inc., UACJ Metal Components Mexico, S.A. de C.V., UACJ Metal Components Central Mexico, S.A. de C.V., UACJ Metal Components (Thailand) Co., Ltd., PT. YANJIN INDONESIA - Note 2 Companies and sites as of September 30, 2025.
Reduction of Wood Waste and Resource Recycling
For wood used in product materials and packaging, we continuously promote in-house reuse and switching to alternative materials (such as corrugated cardboard), striving to reduce the generation of wood waste. Furthermore, for unavoidable wood waste generated through our business activities, we ensure thorough sorting and actively promote recycling into fuel, paper raw materials, fertilizer, and other uses, thereby reducing environmental impact and making effective use of resources.
Amounts of Wood Waste Generated
- Note 1 Measurement scope:
(Japan) UACJ (Nagoya(Sheet,Extrusion), Fukui, Fukaya, Oyama, Foundry & Forging Works), UACJ Aluminum Center Corporation (Fukaya, Shiga, Nara, Utsunomiya, Anjo), UACJ Extrusion Anjo Corporation, UACJ Extrusion Shiga Corporation, UACJ Extrusion Gunma Corporation, UACJ Metal Components Corporation(Sendai, Koriyama, Narita, Ena, Shiga, Hiroshima), UACJ Foil Corporation (Shiga, Nogi, Isesaki), Nikkin Co., Ltd.(Saitama), Kamakura Industry Co., Ltd., Izumi Metal Corporation(Yamagata, Tochigi, Noda, Kawasaki, Head Office)
(Overseas) UACJ (Thailand) Co., Ltd., UACJ Extrusion Czech s.r.o., UACJ Extrusion (Thailand) Co., Ltd., UACJ Foundry & Forging (Vietnam) Co.,Ltd., UACJ Foil Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., UACJ Automotive Whitehall Industries, Inc., UACJ Metal Components Mexico, S.A. de C.V., UACJ Metal Components Central Mexico, S.A. de C.V., UACJ Metal Components (Thailand) Co., Ltd., PT. YANJIN INDONESIA - Note 2 Companies and sites as of September 30, 2025.