Resource Circulation

Waste Reduction
Reducing Water Use

カテゴリーアイコン_資源循環.png Reducing Water Use

Global water scarcity risk is growing due to the increasing world population, economic growth in developing countries, and climate change. As a business group that uses a large amount of water in its manufacturing processes, the Shinko Group recognizes the importance of water resources as a material issue from the standpoint of business continuity, and we are promoting efforts to reduce water consumption and recycle water.

Response to water risks

The effects of increasingly severe water risks such as water scarcity, water pollution, floods and droughts, and competition for water resources are becoming more apparent worldwide, and responding to water risks is an important issue in sustainable business activities.
The Shinko Group has used Aqueduct, a global water risk assessment tool operated by the World Resources Institute (WRI), to conduct assessments of water-related physical, regulatory and reputational risks at production sites in Japan and overseas.
As a result of this assessment, it was found that none of our production sites have water risk or water stress levels that are High or Extremely High. Therefore, at the time of the assessment, there was no water withdrawal or water discharge in areas with "High" or "Extremely High" water stress.
In the future, we will continue to reduce water consumption and improve recycling rates, mainly at sites with Medium-High water stress, and we will strive to maximize resource circulation.

Assessment of Water Risk and Water Stress at Production Sites1 (FY2022)

水リスク評価表_E.PNG

1 Production sites
Japan:
Kohoku Plant, Wakaho Plant, Takaoka Plant, Arai Plant and Kyogase Plant
Asia:
KOREA SHINKO MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD. (KSM)
SHINKO ELECTRONICS (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD. (SEM)
2 According to Aqueduct assessment criteria
3 Aqueduct assessment index "Overall Water Risk"
4 Aqueduct assessment index "Baseline Water Stress"

Water Withdrawal Rate According to Water Stress Level (FY2022 Results for Production Sites)

水ストレス円グラフ_E.jpg

Results of Activities (FY2022)

Reporting boundary: Shinko Group in Japan

Our target for FY2022 was to "reduce water consumption by at least 0.5% of FY2020 level (by 19,329 m3 or more)," but we far surpassed that to achieve a 0.8% (30,974 m3) reduction. Together with the result for FY2021 (56,671 m3), this amounted to a 2.3% (87,645 m3) reduction, meeting the reduction target of 2% (76,000 m3) set forth in the Environmental Action Program (Stage 10).
Water consumption per sales5  has decreased as a result of these activities to reduce water consumption. We will continue to promote these initiatives.

Total Water Withdrawal and Amount per Unit of Sales

水グラフ2022_E.jpg

5 Amount per unit of sales: Amount of water withdrawal per 100 million yen of sales

Examples of Water Consumption Reduction Activities
We approach water consumption reduction activities from the standpoint of both equipment and processes.
This mainly involves reusing water in manufacturing processes, strengthening the review of the water supply for use in product washing, etc., and streamlining our production lines.

<Water Reduction through Wastewater Reuse>
At the Takaoka Plant, water-purifying washing machines are being introduced to reduce the amount of water used in the washing process. In the past, pure water was supplied at all times, and the entire amount of dirty water was disposed of as wastewater after washing. When our facilities are upgraded, the new water-purifying washing machines are being introduced. This will provide a significant reducing effect on water consumption. So far, water consumption has been reduced by 2,142 m3/year in the one line where the new washing machine was introduced in FY2022. We will continue to introduce water-purifying washing machines to other production lines as we upgrade our facilities.

Before Introduction

水改善前.png

After Introduction

水改善後.png

〈Water Reduction through Automation of Water Management〉
The Takaoka Plant is using the opportunity of the upgrading of the plating equipment to automate the management of water supply tanks. Water supply is switched on or off according to the flow status of products, and the water supply is controlled to the optimal amount to reduce waste. So far, water consumption has been reduced by 1,283 m3/year in the facility where automation was introduced in FY2022.

〈Water Reduction by Streamlining Production Lines〉
In our plants, we are consolidating operating facilities by using common manufacturing specifications and jigs, etc., for different products in order to streamline the production lines. Through these efforts, we were able to reduce water consumption in the manufacturing process at the Arai Plant by 5,780 m3/year in FY2022.