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Japan is confronted with such problems as the mass consumption of resources and a shortage of landfill sites, so a key issue is now "reducing" in other words, taking care of resources, not producing waste, or reducing it as much as possible.
Nikon Group encourages the reduction and recycling of waste so that the world's precious and finite natural resources are used as effectively as possible.
Starting from the year ended March 2009, the Nikon Group has introduced level-specific indicators to further define zero emission. (Until now, the definition was "final (landfill) disposal amounting to less than 1% of the total waste volume.")
Based on this definition, 12 business establishments including Nikon Corporation and its manufacturing subsidiaries in Japan (excluding Hikari Glass and TNI Industry) have achieved level 1 zero emission system.
The total amount of waste generated by Nikon Corporation increased by 17.9% year-on-year for the year ended March 31, 2009, despite a decline in production. However, the resource-recycling rate stood at 98.8%, while the final (landfill) disposal rate improved to 0.30%, enabling Nikon Corporation to maintain its level 1 zero emission system.
| Level | Final (landfill) disposal rate |
|---|---|
| 1 | Less than 1% |
| 2 | Less than 5% |
| 3 | Less than 10% |
| 4 | Less than 20% |
The Sagamihara Plant was able to make the following improvements in cost reductions and resource-recycling.
Nikon's major manufacturing subsidiaries in Japan reduced the total amount of waste they generated by 10.9% year-on-year for the year ended March 31, 2009, helped by a decline in production. The resource-recycling rate stood at 67.4%while the final (landfill) disposal rate improved to 28.1%, meaning that seven major manufacturing subsidiaries in Japan, excluding Hikari Glass, maintained their level 1 zero emission system (see page 61). In addition, the Hikari Glass Akita Plant separates Eco-glass (harmless) from the vast amounts of discarded glass, and outsources the processing to waste service companies that make products (for use as roadbed materials, etc.) out of used glass. This enables Hikari Glass Akita Plant to minimize cost increases while recycling resources.
"Achievement of Zero-Emission Level 1 of Nikon Group","Waste by category(in the year ended March 31, 2009)(Nikon / Major manufacturing subsidiaries in Japan)","Waste by plant(in the year ended March 31, 2009)(Nikon / Major manufacturing subsidiaries in Japan)" and "Discharge, disposal, and recycling of waste(Nikon / Major manufacturing subsidiaries in Japan)" are shown.