Chemical Substances Management
Shimadzu uses a wide variety of chemical substances for manufacturing, R&D, application development, and other activities. Handling these improperly could cause an incident or accident and many are governed by a variety of laws and regulations.
Therefore, through cooperation between the departments in charge of legal and regulatory compliance and the departments using the chemical substances, Shimadzu makes sure the substances are managed appropriately in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. In addition, Shimadzu also ensures chemical substances are managed appropriately from a business continuity planning (BCP) perspective, such as by confirming that each department has applicable import/export licenses, conducts emergency response training for each item, and is making progress replacing hazardous substances with safer alternatives.
Also, the Chemical Registration Information System (CRIS) developed by Shimadzu System Development Corporation is used to control individual chemical agents entering and leaving the company. In addition to managing the quantities of chemical substances when they are purchased, used, and discarded, this system can also be used to calculate total inventory and usage quantities and quickly issue governmental reports required by PRTR (pollutant release and transfer register) laws.
Usage of PRTR-Reported Substances in Japan
Development of CRIS Chemical Management System
CRIS (Chemical Registration Information System) was developed in 2001 by Shimadzu Trustech Co., Ltd. (Shimadzu System Development at that time) in cooperation with the Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University. To date, it has been adopted by more than 160 universities, research institutes and companies, including Kyoto University and Waseda University. CRIS offers a variety of optional software that is customized and upgraded to meet your needs (a screen example of risk assessment option on the right).
The left is an example of a CRIS inventory registration screen. GHS hazard marks (GHS: Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) can be easily displayed at the time of drug registration.
Example of CRIS Screen, Chemical Management
Ozone depleting substances
In fiscal 2016, Shimadzu completely eliminated the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), an ozone-depleting substance, in the cleaning process during manufacturing.
Pollution Measures
Air Quality Measurements (Sanjo Works)
SOx and NOx levels in exhaust gases emitted from boilers used in factories are monitored regularly with respect to Shimadzu standards, which are stricter than the standards in Japanese air pollution laws and Kyoto prefectural environmental regulations.
At the Sanjo Works, aging fuel oil-fired boilers and natural gas boilers are being replaced successively to help prevent air pollution and to reduce CO2 emissions. In FY 2014, all of the fuel oil-fired boilers have been replaced.
Water Quality Measurements (Sanjo Works)
Plant effluents are regularly measured with respect to Shimadzu standards, which are stricter than the standards in Japanese wastewater laws and Kyoto city wastewater regulations. In addition to regular measurements of each water quality parameter, the Sanjo Works also utilizes a specialized monitor and intranet LAN to continuously monitor pH and TOC (total organic carbon) levels. Also, a rapid response system has been built to send email notification to the person in charge of the problem if the pH level of wastewater exceeds the Shimadzu standards.
In addition, the total organic carbon (TOC) in wastewater is constantly monitored at its main production sites, Sanjyo, Seta and Hadano Works, and its research and development sites, Technology Research Laboratory (Keihanna) and Shimadzu Tokyo Innovation Plaza. TOC is the total amount of carbon that constitutes organic matter in water and is one of the leading indicators of water quality. TOC Analyzer is ideal for upstream wastewater monitoring applications because it can detect organic pollutants very quickly. By disseminating many examples of its use in our company to the public, we hope to promote its use in the real world, and to support our customers' environmental efforts.
On-Line Total Organic Carbon Analyzer
Water Management
We are committed to reducing water usage, such as by watering green areas with rainwater and installing waterefficient fixtures.
For FY 2021, water usage at Shimadzu manufacturing and research sites increased 0.8% (year on year) to 206,000 m3, but decreased by 7.4% per unit of sales to 480 m3 per billion yen. Though we control plant effluents to our own voluntary standards that are stricter than the standards required by current laws and regulations, there was one case last year when the zinc level exceeded that effluent standard.
We will continue to implement measures for using resources sustainably.
Third Party Assurance of Environmental Data
Shimadzu Corporation received a third-party assurance from Deloitte Tohmatsu Sustainability Co., Ltd., to disclose highly reliable environmental impact data.
[Assurance coverage]
Period covered: April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022
Scope of the report: Head office, works, research laboratory of Shimadzu corporation
Extent：Tap water consumption（m3）
- *Click on the image to view the PDF.
Calculation Report Tap water consumption
Case of Effluent Violation
On July 21, 2021, in the Shimadzu Oike district (Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City), a zinc concentration that exceeded the criterion value specified by the Japanese Sewerage Act was detected in effluent water (2.1 mg/ L detected vs 2.0 mg/L criterion value), which resulted in receiving a warning from Kyoto City.
Due to the high probability that the high zinc value was caused by zinc contained in mud sediment that settled in the effluent pathway mixing into the effluent water, as an emergency countermeasure, the mud sediment was removed, the outflow pathway was cleaned, and the subsequent effluent was checked to make sure it complies with effluent criteria. In addition, a simultaneous survey of effluents from all Shimadzu plants and research laboratories was conducted.
To prevent recurrence, an improvement plan was submitted to Kyoto City for periodically (1) cleaning all effluent flow pathways and (2) analyzing effluents for all substances subject to monitoring by laws or regulations, and those practices are currently being integrated into rules and operations.