Environment
Reduction in Environmental Burden through Activities at Business Offices
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Business Offices
We are undertaking a variety of efforts to reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from our business offices. Our bio-diagnostic reagent base, which opened in fiscal 2019, is working to conserve energy by introducing LED lighting, motion sensors, a demand control system for measuring and monitoring the amount of electricity needed, and highly efficient air conditioning. Furthermore, at Sysmex International Reagents, the production reform launched in fiscal 2013 has successfully improved our productivity and reduced burdens on the environment. We eliminated everything that led to inefficiency and integrated processes into a series, and we implemented Karakuri Kaizen* to use the weight of the products as a source of power in our manufacturing line. This resulted in the enhancement of productivity of some products by about 12 times since the production reform began. Furthermore, we received the “33rd Nikkei New Office Award,” which is given to offices that sufficiently take into consideration their co-existence with the global environment.
- Karakuri Kaizen: Improvements that divert power that already exists on site, and wherever possible, do not use man-made energy such as electric power but rather use gravity, natural energy, and other forms of power as sources of power (Source: Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance)
At Sysmex Europe, 100％ of the electricity used is generated from renewable energy, and solar panels have also been installed at its factory. A group of employees promoting environmental action was also formed, and in addition to holding frequent discussions and making improvement proposals, the group issues a newsletter for employees three times a year to promote awareness.
Sysmex America and Sysmex Reagents America switched to renewable energy for 50％ of the electricity used since fiscal 2019. They also reestablished a system that enables customer training and employee training to take place online so as to reduce the amounts of CO2 emissions that result from traveling.
Sysmex America and Sysmex Reagents America switched to renewable energy for 50％ of the electricity used since fiscal 2019. They also reestablished a system that enables customer training and employee training to take place online so as to reduce the amounts of CO2 emissions that result from traveling.
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Employee newsletter -
Customer training on the Center for Learning
Fiscal 2020 Results
Energy-saving efforts such as business optimization and the impact of working from home led to a decline in electricity consumption, and CO2 emission factors for electric power were changed to the latest emission factors in fiscal 2020.* For these reasons, CO2 emissions from activities at business offices fell 35％ from fiscal 2016, the base year for Sysmex Eco-Vision 2025. We will continue promoting activities at our business sites to reduce CO2 emissions.
Major Initiatives at Business Offices
| Approach | Company | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Shifted to high-efficiency equipment | Sysmex Corporation | Installed high-efficiency air conditioning equipment that does not use gas |
| Sysmex RA | Introduced power-saving air conditioners with timers | |
| Sysmex America | Converted all lighting to LED | |
| Sysmex Europe | Switched to LED lighting in principal reagent filling rooms, adopted motion sensors | |
| Sysmex Asia Pacific | Replaced lighting at factories and warehouses with LED units | |
| Jinan Sysmex | Using natural gas boiler (switched from oil boiler) | |
| Planned introduction of renewable energy | Sysmex Corporation | Installed solar panels and introduced natural lighting to save electricity (i-Square) |
| Sysmex America, Sysmex Reagents America | 50% of electricity used is from renewable energy | |
| Sysmex Europe | 100% of electricity used is from renewable energy, installed solar panels | |
| Enhancement of employee awareness | Sysmex Europe | Gave incentives to employees who used trains for business trips, established an internal car- sharing site, and provided bicycles to commute to work |
| Sysmex Malaysia | Gave incentives to employees who use hybrid vehicles to commute to work | |
| Sysmex India | Confirmed that all employees who use their own cars to commute to work have received PUC certification* |
- An acronym for “pollution under control”, PUC certifies that vehicle emissions meet pollution control standards. Indian law requires vehicles to undergo semiannual PUC testing, and PUC certification is obligatory. (The PUC certification period is one year for new vehicles.)
Decreasing CO2 Emissions from Fleet
To cut down on fuel consumption by our 400 vehicles across Japan and curb CO2 emissions, we used the intranet and dedicated on-board devices to automatically determine travel distances, fuel consumption, and driving behaviors for each vehicle and convert it to points to visualize the quality of driving. In this way, we aim to raise the environmental awareness of each driver while also proactively introducing fuel-efficient vehicles and hybrid cars.
Complying with Related Laws and Regulations
Based on the Energy Conservation Act, Sysmex Corporation and Sysmex International Reagents have submitted to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry a medium- to long-term plan that summarizes their regular reports aggregating annual energy usage amounts and their energy reduction plan. Going forward, we will continue promoting energy conservation activities throughout the company to achieve these nonbinding targets in Japan.
Using Water Resources Effectively
Reducing Water Consumption
Sysmex uses both tap water and groundwater in our business activities, such as in core reagent production. Recognizing the reduction of water use as an important social responsibility, Sysmex has set targets for the decrease of water use in Sysmex Eco-Vision 2025, and it is working to improve the efficiency of water use at individual sites.
Water Risk Assessments
Sysmex assesses risks related to water stress. As a result of analysis using Aqueduct, an assessment tool provided by the World Resource Institute (WRI), we identified China, Brazil, and India, where we have our diagnostic reagent production bases, as areas of relatively high water stress. The water risk at each of the diagnostic reagent production bases has not become apparent to date, but we are coordinating with the production bases and continue to monitor the situation. At the same time, we are taking measures to reduce risk such as optimizing water usage in production processes and reducing supply risks by securing safety stock.
Involvement with Biodiversity
Sysmex understands that it receives a host of benefits from the world’s living things as it conducts its business activities. Accordingly, we recognize that preserving the forests that contribute to local watershed protection is an important social responsibility. We also aim to contribute to the preservation of biodiversity.
Fiscal 2020 Results
As a result of employees working from home, water consumption at business offices declined. Consequently, water consumption from activities at business offices declined 7％ compared with fiscal 2016, the base year for Sysmex Eco-Vision 2025.
We will work to reduce water consumption by further improving production efficiency.
We will work to reduce water consumption by further improving production efficiency.
Major Initiatives at Business Offices
| Company | Approach |
|---|---|
| Sysmex Corporation | - At each factory, made improvements in production efficiency to reduce person-hours, thereby reducing water consumption - At the bio-diagnostic reagent base, used well water to water plants and flush toilets |
| Sysmex Asia Pacific | - Upgraded the ultrapure water plant to recycle wastewater through reverse osmosis when the factory is not in operation - Installed a degasifier for raw water pretreatment to achieve more effective water use |
| Sysmex India | - Introduced a wastewater treatment system to purify wastewater from the reagent manufacturing process to irrigate the green area around the factory - Improved production efficiency and reduced the volume of water used in reagent production |
| Sysmex Brazil | - Recycled and used water from the production process as domestic water |
| Sysmex Wuxi | - Established reduction targets for water consumption and put in place a person dedicated to environmental/health and safety matters. Implemented periodic inspection of environmental/health and safety matters |
Wastewater Management and Processing
Methods of Managing and Processing Wastewater
| Company | Method |
|---|---|
| Sysmex International Reagents | - At Ono Factory, we introduced a system that sounds an alarm when biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) exceeds standards, preventing the emission of liquids containing organic matter. |
| Sysmex RA | - We introduced waste liquid processing equipment to heat-sterilize infectious waste, rendering it harmless before direct release into sewage systems. |
| Sysmex America | - We introduced a wastewater processing system for removing boron-containing compounds from the wastewater produced during reagent manufacturing. |
| Sysmex Asia Pacific | - We installed a wastewater processing system that purifies water emitted during reagent production before its release into sewers. |
Managing and Recycling Waste
Reducing Waste and Promoting a Stable Recycling Rate
Sysmex engages in ongoing initiatives to reduce waste and increase its recycling rate.
i-Square, our instrument manufacturing factory, uses its own garbage disposer to convert kitchen waste into materials for organic fertilizers, which is offered to food growers, to reduce food waste at its cafeteria. i-Square also buys the produce from these growers, thereby contributing to the development of a recycling-oriented inclusive society.
i-Square, our instrument manufacturing factory, uses its own garbage disposer to convert kitchen waste into materials for organic fertilizers, which is offered to food growers, to reduce food waste at its cafeteria. i-Square also buys the produce from these growers, thereby contributing to the development of a recycling-oriented inclusive society.
Promoting Digital Data
Sysmex works to reduce its use of paper by utilizing personal computers, tablets, and smartphones to send and receive data electronically. These efforts have boosted operating efficiency and reduced paper use and waste volume. Our manufacturing facilities are also working to switch to electronic production records and manuals to go paperless.
Fiscal 2020 Results
As the recycling rate improved at our sites abroad, including those in the Americas, our overall recycling track record ended up at 78％ against the recycling rate of 93％ or more targeted in Sysmex Eco-Vision 2025.
We will continue to promote initiatives aimed at achieving our targets, including the enforcement of measures to improve the recycling rate at each of our business sites.
We will continue to promote initiatives aimed at achieving our targets, including the enforcement of measures to improve the recycling rate at each of our business sites.
Major Initiatives at Business Offices
| Company | Approach |
|---|---|
| Sysmex Corporation | - Reduced waste using garbage disposers at cafeterias (in Technopark, the Solution Center, and i-Square) |
| Sysmex Asia Pacific | - Switched from aluminum foil to recyclable material for measuring drums |
| Sysmex Malaysia | - Recycled cardboard boxes and plastic materials and donated them to charitable institutions |
Managing Harmful Substances
Managing Chemical Substances
Sysmex uses chemical substances in its R&D and manufacturing processes. In addition to preventing losses or leaks, we strive to manage chemical substances appropriately to prevent damage to the health of employees working onsite.
Managing and Processing Harmful Substances
As a precaution against the danger of infection by biological substances, we strictly control the locations in which such substances are stored and used, based on manuals. Also, these substances are carefully segregated from general waste for proper disposal. For other harmful substances, we work to prevent aerial drift, dispersion, and groundwater permeation through countermeasures addressing both facilities and management methods. In these ways, we endeavor to keep emissions below statutory standard values.
Management and Processing Related to Atmospheric Emissions
In response to the Fluorocarbons Emission Control Law, a revised version of which went into effect in 2015, each Group company in Japan established a response manual. We identified fluorocarbon-containing equipment we own or manage and worked to determine appropriate use, conducting inspections and determining calculated leakages.