Environmental Management
KYORIN Pharmaceutical regards environmental issues as a challenge shared by all humanity, and is actively striving to preserve the environment and prevent pollution by establishing and reviewing objectives and targets as needed; promoting the reduction of substances that place a burden on the environment, for example through energy and resource saving, waste reduction, and enhanced management of chemicals; and promoting the effective use of our limited resources.
Environmental Conservation Initiatives
The Kyorin Group is actively committed to environmental conservation, focusing on the following major themes: preventing global warming, protecting resources, and living in harmony with the natural environment. The Kyorin Group is working to reduce the environmental burden and promote effective use of limited resources by conserving energy and resources, reducing waste and strengthening our management of chemical substances. KYORIN Pharmaceutical Group Facilities Co., Ltd. obtained ISO 14001 certification, an international standard for environmental management systems, at its Noshiro Plant and Inami Plant.
In our efforts to reduce CO2 emissions to combat global warming, The Kyorin Group sets a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 2% on average annually until fiscal 2019, based on CO2 emissions of fiscal 2015 (30,444 tons) and are promoting such efforts. In fiscal 2018, our CO2 emissions were 28,823 tons.
KYORIN Group material flow(fiscal 2018)
Environmentally Friendly R&D Center
In May 2017, the ReHP technology newly installed at KYORIN Pharmaceutical’s WATARASE Research Center, which commenced operations in fiscal 2015, was awarded an honorable mention for the Kanto chapter of the Japanese Association of Building Mechanical and Electrical Engineers’ carbon neutral prize for construction equipment contributing to the achievement of a low-carbon society. During fiscal 2018, this system reduced electric power consumption by 81,071 kWh and CO2 emissions by roughly 41 tons compared with conventional heat pumps for air conditioning and heating, for approximately 32% in energy savings.
A Renewable Energy Heat Pump (ReHP) is a highly efficient heat pump that uses renewable energy, and the ReHP installed at two adjacent buildings (CS and LAB1) at the WATARASE Research Center uses geothermal heat and unused waste heat from a water chiller as a heat source, and circulates heated water in a single loop, which is used by air conditioning and water heating equipment, to increase energy efficiency.
Introducing Hybrid Cars to Reduce CO2 Emissions
KYORIN Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is proactively introducing low-emission cars, hybrid cars, and other environmentally friendly vehicles for its sales force as a way of preventing global warming. As of March 2019, all 911 vehicles used by the sales force met the standard for having low emission (a 75% reduction in emissions from the 2005 standard), and of these, 583 (approximately 64%) are hybrid vehicles, which were introduced in 2004. In addition, these vehicles adhere to the Ministry of the Environment’s “Eco-Driving” guidelines, as their operation regards the impact on the environment and traffic safety.
Biodiversity
KYORIN Pharmaceutical’s WATARASE Research Center has installed birdhouses in trees adjacent to the WATARASE Yusuichi wetland and confirmed the location of nests as a way to enhance the environment for wild animals in the Center’s grounds.