Environment

Resource Circulation in Product Life Cycle

Product Lifecycle and Initiatives at Each Stage

Sysmex undertakes a variety of initiatives at diﬀerent stages of its business activities toward reducing environmental impact throughout product lifecycles. As one of the activities of the Environment Management Committee, we set up Group-wide working groups with different objectives, including “eco-friendly product design” and “reduction in CO₂ emissions in transportation”, to facilitate further activities.

Environmental Friendliness in Product Design

Development of Smaller, Power-saving Products

In our global regulations concerning product lifecycle management, Sysmex specifies efforts to protect the environment at each stage of the product lifecycle that it believes appropriate in terms of its business. Our goal is to help reduce the energy needed by our customers to use our products and to reduce waste from their use. Accordingly, we strive to develop products designed to save electricity and reduce reagent use.
Our fully automated urine particle analyzer launched in 2022 is 30% smaller and uses 10% less cleaning solution per measurement than conventional ones. Its electricity consumption is also 30% less, realizing an eco-friendly design.

Status of Sustainability Targets

Biodiversity Considerations in the Production of Raw Materials

Production of ingredients using silkworms

To reduce the use of natural resources, Sysmex Corporation has established a method to produce recombinant proteins using silkworms, for animal-derived proteins for use in diagnostic agents. 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 establish a stable supply and achieve energy savings and waste reduction.
We also use recombinant proteins produced from silkworms as ingredients for a reagent, launched in fiscal 2017, for hemostasis tests. This is the first reagent in Japan to obtain manufacturing and marketing approval using recombinant proteins as ingredients. We also offer protein production contracting services using this technology and provide ingredients to pharmaceutical companies, universities, research institutions, and other entities.

Environmentally Conscious Procurement

Promoting Green Procurement

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 our business partners to confirm that they have environmental management policies in place, as well as targets and plans for CO₂ reduction and energy conservation.

Chemical Substance Management of Products

Sysmex complies with the laws and regulations of individual countries and the EU, such as the RoHS Directive. At the same time, based on its Green Procurement Standards, Sysmex discloses actions it is taking regarding any regulated substances, or substances that are to be reduced (environmentally hazardous substances), contained in the parts, devices and materials constituting manufactured products and products for sale.

Environmental Considerations in Product Transportation

Efforts to Lower CO2 Emissions in Domestic and Inter-regional Transportation of Products

Sysmex has switched its means of transportation from air to sea or rail (modal shift), improved container loading rates for more efficient transportation, and reduced transportation between regions by transferring the production of reagent products to local areas. In addition, we are working to reduce CO_² emissions by recycling and lightening transportation and packing materials used for parts procurement and product transportation.

Status of Sustainability Targets

Realization of Ultralow Temperature Transportation Without Dry Ice

Sysmex Corporation had used charter and other private delivery services to transport reagents for genetic testing, which requires strict quality and thermal control, thereby facing issues of transportation costs, distribution flexibility, and convenience. In addition, the dry ice needed for cold storage is made from CO₂ emitted in the oil refining process. We explored measures to improve this situation from an environmental perspective.
In fiscal 2021, we developed, together with Yamato Transport Co., Ltd., a dry ice-free transportation system for reagents for genetic testing in consolidated cargo at an ultralow temperature (-70°C). In fiscal 2022, we started using completely dry ice-free transportation for biochemical system-controlled substances in collaboration with Toho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
We will continue working to popularize high-quality, eco-friendly cold chains.

Environmental Considerations for Distribution Packaging

With growing exports of bio-diagnostic reagents from Japan, we began the reuse of cold storage materials necessary for transportation globally, and we are working toward reusing plastic cold storage materials to reduce waste. In fiscal 2022, we implemented such reuse in transportation between Japan, China, and Singapore, reducing waste by approximately six tons.
We are also working with our suppliers to promote a transition from cardboard to returnable boxes (plastic containers) for transporting materials, and 30% of packing materials were successfully switched to returnable boxes.

Saving Resources by Revising Packaging Materials

Volume of Petroleum-Based Cushioning Materials Used (Monthly Average)

Sysmex is continuing to work on reducing packing materials to conserve natural resources. We have downsized our packaging boxes through optimization and steadily changed part cushioning materials from vinyl to bogus paper. We have also switched from bag-shaped cushioning materials to plastic film for packaging. Through these measures, in fiscal 2022, we were able to reduce the amount of petroleum-based cushioning materials by approximately 51% compared to fiscal 2017. In addition, Sysmex Deutschland uses recyclable materials for all its packaging.

Initiatives at Group Companies: Collaboration with Distribution Partners Considering the Environment

In its selection criteria for distribution partners, Sysmex Europe includes a certified environment management system and 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	Replace equipment disposal containers with ones that are six times larger and reduce the frequency of transportation Replace ingredient transportation boxes with reusable containers
Sysmex Europe Other affiliated companies in EMEA region	Consider consolidation and combination of shipment/transportation to reduce the frequency of transportation Use recyclable vegetable fiber for reagent containers Consider the use of alternatives to polystyrene foam boxes for cold storage Replace polystyrene foam cushioning materials with paper scrap Replace plastic packing tapes with paper-based tapes Reuse packages and cushioning materials Use electric forklifts Reduce the quantity of paper cartons by promoting the use of concentrated reagents Use electric vehicles and expand the charging infrastructure
smex Australia	Utilize reusable insulated containers which enable management at the recommended cooling temperature when transporting products requiring thermal control

Environmental Considerations in Sales and Support Services Activities

training through e-learning and virtual training

Sysmex reduces CO₂ emissions associated with travelling by providing online systems for instrument maintenance, user training, and scientific seminars in each region of the world.
In 2019, we initiated a project for reforming support services worldwide, and have been working on increasing the online rate user training through e-learning and virtual training. In fiscal 2022, we provided 60% of user training online.

Pursuit of Quality and Trust > Enhancing Customer Satisfaction

Environmentally Conscious Use and Disposal of Products

Use of Concentrated Reagents

For some analysis devices in the hematology field, reagents that are 25 times more concentrated than traditional reagents can be used. Such concentrated reagents not only contribute significantly to improving usability by reducing the frequency of reagent replacement in laboratories and saving warehouse space, but also enable us to reduce the amount of disposed containers and packing materials and CO₂ emissions during transportation. Sysmex has set a concentrated agent penetration rate as a sustainability target, working to reduce environmental impact.

Stakeholder’s Voice

Takahito Mihara, Manager in the System Engineering Division

Developing new products means understanding what customers want and creating high-quality products that satisfy customer needs. As a leading company in the hematology field, Sysmex is committed to high quality and high goals. Because of this, we will continue to be close to our customers and their patients and deliver products they can use with peace of mind.
Environment-friendly medical instruments with high quality and usability provide added value that can satisfy the needs of medical institutions and society around the world. We will continue to work on product development that incorporates such sustainability perspectives.

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