Environment
Sysmex undertakes a variety of initiatives at all stages of its business activities to reduce environmental impact throughout product lifecycles, with a focus on dependencies and impacts. From fiscal 2023, in addition to our activities to date, we are promoting activities to realize a circular resource value chain based on our Eco-social Strategy, which has been outlined as one of our core strategies in the long-term corporate strategy.
Starting in fiscal 2024, Sysmex launched an internal program “Environmental academy.” In this program, leaders mainly from the R&D divisions engage in discussions to realize environmentally conscious product design. From fiscal 2025, the program will be expanded to include major divisions in the value chain, positioning environmental impact reduction as a key factor in new product development and model changes, thereby promoting green innovation through the practice of the Eco-social Strategy.
To reduce the use of natural resources, Sysmex Corporation has established a method of producing animal-derived proteins that can be deployed for diagnostic agents. The technique uses silkworms or cultured cells. In the past, producing these substances consumed a great deal of energy. However, as silkworms can be raised indoors and only need to be fed artificial food in containers, we can ensure a stable supply and quality of the substances. We are also able to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, water consumption, and waste.
We use genetically modified proteins produced from silkworms as ingredients for a reagent for hemostasis tests launched in fiscal 2017. This reagent, which uses genetically modified proteins as ingredients, is the first in Japan to obtain manufacturing and marketing approval. Furthermore, for other reagents, we are considering the development and application of new raw materials utilizing gene-recombinant technology, and are working to expand our product lineup with consideration for biodiversity.
To quantify the environmental impact of the change in the production method, we conducted a lifecycle assessment jointly with Professor Norihiro Itsubo of Tokyo City University (currently of Waseda University). The assessment confirmed that the new process reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 50 percent compared with conventional methods.
Sysmex has established Green Procurement Standards, which set out the Company’s fundamental stance on environmental considerations in procurement activities. We promote the procurement of raw materials and parts that have a low environmental impact. We are expanding our business with suppliers who act to protect the environment. We also conduct annual CSR surveys of each supplier to confirm that they have environmental management policies in place, as well as targets and plans for CO2 reduction and energy conservation.
At the procurement policy briefing in 2023, we introduced our Eco-social Strategy. We also requested collaboration from suppliers in reducing CO2 emissions and implementing various environmentally friendly measures, and recognized suppliers that achieved progress in environmental initiatives.
In working to reduce Scope 3 emissions, we have set engagement targets to encourage suppliers to obtain SBTi certification or establish equivalent targets, and Sysmex has also received certification from SBTi.
Toward achieving these engagement targets, in fiscal 2024, we held a study session for suppliers to share the importance of obtaining SBTi certification, setting reduction targets, as well as best practices in reduction initiatives. Approximately 130 suppliers participated in this session.
Sysmex complies with regulations governing chemical substances in each country and region, including RoHS Directives that restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products, and the Stockholm Convention (POPs Convention), which internationally regulates persistent organic pollutants.
To comply with these regulations, we have set standards to manage the chemical substances in our products. This includes managing environmentally hazardous substances in the components, devices, and reagent solutions that make up the products we produce and sell.
In its selection criteria for distribution partners, Sysmex Europe includes a certified environment management system and the use of green distribution. HITADO, a Sysmex Group company, selects distribution partners who proactively use renewable energy and electric vehicles, while Sysmex Malaysia uses reusable vacuum insulation boxes for product transportation requiring thermal management, reducing CO2 emissions by saving electricity and generating less polystyrene box waste. In addition, Sysmex Turkey stores products in external warehouses with solar panels installed and undertakes other initiatives to reduce environmental impact in collaboration with its partners.
Company | Initiatives |
---|---|
Sysmex Reagents America |
|
Sysmex Europe Other affiliates in the EMEA region |
|
Sysmex Malaysia |
|
Sysmex Australia |
|
Sysmex is working to reduce CO2 emissions associated with participant travel by developing and expanding environments that allow user training on instrument operation and maintenance, as well as scientific seminars, to be conducted online in regions around the world. In addition to e-learning, which enables customers to acquire skills anytime and anywhere at their convenience, we also provide highly immersive virtual training through fully equipped online studios, making it possible to deliver standardized, high-quality product training even in regions far from training centers.
Furthermore, Sysmex offers training programs in virtual environments for the Company’s and distributors’ technical service staff and application support staff to acquire specialized product skills. By increasing the ratio of training provided online, we are promoting both high customer satisfaction and the reduction of CO2 emissions.
In January 2025, Sysmex became the first in the industry1 to begin closed-loop recycling2 of plastic reagent containers. While this had previously been considered difficult in the healthcare industry due to quality requirements, Sysmex has made this possible by securing recycled resins that meet medical-grade standards, thereby realizing the re-materialization of used plastic reagent containers. This initiative will contribute to reduce virgin resin consumption for container materials (by approximately 30%) and lowers CO2 emissions associated with disposal of used containers (by around 15 tons annually)3.
Furthermore, in June 2025, Sysmex has obtained certification for its business plan for "collection and recycling by manufacturers and retailers" under the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics ("Plastic Resource Circulation Act").
This certification will exempt us from obtaining a license from each local government to collect industrial waste when the company collects used plastic reagent containers from medical institutions nationwide. Thus, our business plan to recycle used plastics (five tons per year) will be accelerated. It will also become possible to expand the range of items that are made by closed-loop recycling, which will contribute to reducing costs. Going forward, we will continue to strive to realize a sustainable, circular resource society.
Since 2023, Sysmex has been selling maintenance parts from analyzers as valuable materials instead of disposing of them. Beginning in 2024, we have also been selling analyzers that were damaged during transportation and could not be marketed as valuable materials. As a result of these efforts, we reduced waste* by 10.3 tons in fiscal 2024.
For some analysis devices in the hematology field, Sysmex provides reagents that are 25 times more concentrated than traditional ones. Employing these concentrated reagents contributes significantly to improving usability by reducing the frequency of reagent replacement in laboratories and saving warehouse space. Additionally, concentrated reagents enable us to care for the environment by not only reducing the amount of disposed containers and packing materials but also reducing CO2 emissions during transportation. Lastly, we have set a concentrated agent penetration rate as a sustainability target and will work on initiatives to reduce the environmental impact.
Sysmex has initiated a new program to harmonize healthcare workplace safety and environmental sustainability. Evaluations of blood cell morphology in blood testing have been made using methanol-containing staining solutions to prepare blood smear samples. However, medical institutions have encountered significant challenges, including the health risks to medical professionals from methanol toxicity, rising costs associated with regulatory compliance, and environmental burdens posed by hazardous substances.
To resolve these issues, Sysmex has launched a methanol-free staining solution and corresponding instruments,* providing a solution that supports safe and secure laboratory operations. This will reduce the health risks associated with the use of methanol and will also reduce the costs and risks associated with its transportation and storage, thus contributing to improved operational efficiency at medical institutions. Furthermore, reducing harmful substances will lead to reduction of environmental impacts.
We remain committed to integrating solutions that harmonize healthcare safety with environmental responsibility across our products and services, thereby strengthening stakeholder trust and enhancing corporate value.