Environmental management

 

Fundamental environmental policy

At Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., we've formulated a "Fundamental Environmental Policy" as a companywide policy, and are actively involved in environmental management activities.

Principle

Hamamatsu Photonics, as a company that contributes to society through photonics technology, aims to realize a sustainable society toward a future with balance among all forms of life, whilst considering the importance to harmonize environment with society and economy.

Policy

  1. Providing environmentally friendly products
    Manage chemical substances contained in products, as well as develop and provide products that contribute to environmental improvement and reduce the burden throughout the product life cycle.
  2. Actions to address environmental activities
    Encourage all our employees to take environmentally friendly actions, achieving our environmental goals based on the identification of risks and opportunities that can influence our business activities, products and services.
  3. Protection of the environment, prevention of pollution
    Address energy saving, global warming prevention, waste reduction, sustainable resource use, chemical management, biodiversity protection, conserving water and preventing pollution.
  4. Compliance of environmental regulations
    Comply with domestic and international legal requirements, individual agreements and other requirements to which we subscribe voluntary.
  5. Continual improvement of environmental management system
    Make efforts to improve our environmental performance by the continual improvement of our environmental management system, through the evaluation of the environmental impact at regular intervals.
  6. Promoting environmental communication
    Promote environmental consciousness and friendly communication with stakeholders and our employees by widely disclosing environmental information both internally and externally.

Environmental management system

Under the Hamamatsu Photonics Fundamental Environmental Policy, each fiscal year we set environmental goals and targets for our environmental management system(EMS), we evaluate the results from our activity, and work to constantly improve our EMS on the basis of management review.

To ensure that the cycle described above runs smoothly, we have established a Headquarters Environmental Committee, the decision-making body of the EMS chaired by the General Environmental Management Representative (environmental management executive officer) under the Sustainability Management Committee. This Committee is an umbrella group composed of the five environmental working groups, the environmental committees in each business domain, and the Headquarters Environmental Committee Secretariats. By establishing similar structures in each business domain, we enable the execution of comprehensive environmental activities.

The environmental working groups and the issues they primarily deal with are listed below.

  • Energy saving working group: Reduction of use of electricity, fuel and other forms of energy; advancement of use of renewable energy; prevention of global warming
  • Waste working group: Appropriate management of waste, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” (3R Activities)
  • Chemicals working group: Appropriate management of chemicals, management of shipment and receipt of chemicals
  • Conservation working group: Pollution prevention and other environmental maintenance; maintenance of biodiversity; prevention of global warming
  • Product assessment working group: Advancement of environment-friendly and environmentally contributing products; management of chemicals included in products; green procurement

Certification under ISO 14001

Every business location of Hamamatsu Photonics is certified under ISO 14001:2015 and is striving to maintain and improve its environmental performance. To deepen each employee’s understanding of the EMS, Hamamatsu Photonics conducts a wide range of employee training programs, including new-employee training, internal-auditor training and specialist environmental training.

 

The Company also conducts annual environmental internal audits. Through these audits, all employees work together to improve the EMS, not only identifying failing processes but also optimizing operation through pointing out areas for possible improvement, and sharing information.

 

Today ISO 14001 certification covers 100 % of Hamamatsu Photonics on a production-site basis and 98.1 % of the Company on an employee basis.

Hamamatsu Photonics is planning to expand the range of certification.

Organizational unit certified Name of business location Date of certification
Main Office Main Office March 2012
Central Research Laboratory Central Research Laboratory March 2012
Industries Development Center, Tsukuba Research Center February 2020
Electron Tube Division Toyooka Factory, Tenno Glass Works
(including Koso Corporation,and Takaoka Denshi*)
December 2003
(December 2011, January 2018)
Solid State Division Main Factory, Mitsue Factory December 2003
Shingai Factory January 2012
System Division Joko Factory August 2004
Laser Promotion Division
Central Research Laboratory
Miyakoda Factory February 2012

Initiatives of the Photonics Group

Hamamatsu Photonics is working with its subsidiaries in Japan and around the world to promote environmental action throughout the Photonics Group.

The Company monitor environmental impact data and environmental activity plans of subsidiaries, share environmental measures, and provide environmental education.

In FY2022, the entire Photonics Group improved its environmental management, promoted efforts toward its long-term vision, and promoted the introduction of renewable energy.

Targets and results of environmental activities

Medium- and long-term targets

Item Medium- and long-term targets
EMS Advancement and improvement of the Fundamental Environmental Policy, its objectives and its targets
Advancement of the Environmental Management System (EMS)
Making products environmentally friendly Production and development of environmentally friendly products; expansion to new markets and customers
Appropriate management of chemicals Establishment of appropriate management systems for chemicals
Promotion of understanding and management of the dangers and hazards of chemicals
Prevention of pollution Compliance with laws and regulations and efforts to prevent environmental pollution
Fighting global warming

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 83 % or more compared with FY2018 in FY2051

Reduction of energy consumption per unit of sales by 10 % or more compared with FY2021 in FY2031

 

<RE100>

Increase of use of renewables to 100 % of electricity used in FY2040
Increase of use of renewables to 60 % or more of electricity used in FY2030

 

<SBT>

[Scope1+2]
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 30 % or more compared with FY2019 in FY2031(Science Based Targets)

 

[Scope3]
Category 11 (Emissions from use of sold products):
15% reduction by FY2031 [Compared to FY2019](Science Based Targets)
Category 1 (Emissions from purchased goods and services):
76 % of suppliers by spend covering purchased products and service will have science-based targets by FY2026. (fiscal year ended September 2026)(Science Based Targets)

 

<Non-energy greenhouse gas>
Reduction of non-energy greenhouse gas emissions by 44 % with FY2013 in FY2030

3R activities Support of Company-wide landfill rate of less than 1.8 %
Minimizing the environmental impacts caused by waste plastics by FY2030
Measures to protect water resources Support of reduction of water use per unit of sales by 10 % compared with FY2020 by FY2030 (Reduce by 1 % in one year)
Environmental and social communications Advancement of environmental communications

Targets and results in FY2022

Item Main targets in FY2022 Main results in FY2022 Evaluation
EMS Continuous support, management and improvement of the EMS at ISO 14001-certified business locations ・Acceptance of maintenance and renewal examinations from external examining organizations
Compliance with environmental laws and regulations Number of violations of environmental laws and regulations: 0
Making products environmentally friendly Company-internal/external operation based on the Standards for Use of Environmentally Controlled Substances (Management of Chemical Substances) and update of the Standards ・ Updated to version 19 of Standard for Use of Environmentally Controlled Substances
・Provided presentations on green procurement (to business partners), in-house training (In Japan: 8 times; overseas subsidiaries and dealers: 2 times)
Advancing R&D in environmentally contributing and friendly products Advanced at each business locations
Making business activities environmentally friendly Appropriate management of chemicals
Advancement of collection of GHS-SDS 94.2 % of GHS-SDS possessed Company-wide

None of major nonconformity of chemical environmental laws and regulations

None of chemical substance related environmental accident

None of major nonconformity

None of environmental accident

Prevention of pollution
Support of reduction of atmospheric emissions of VOCs per unit of sales by 30 % or more compared with FY2000 and achieving a 50 % or more recovery rate Atmospheric emissions of VOCs per unit of sales in FY2021 were 54.5 % lower than in FY2000. The recovery rate was 61.4 %.
Support and management of operations according to autonomous standards Confirmed and responded to applicable laws, etc. and observed environmental-maintenance facilities.
Fighting global warming
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 10  % or more compared with FY2018 ・ Reduction by 13.9 % compared with FY2018
Promoting the introduction of renewable energy ・ Renewable-energy usage rate:14.6 %
Reduction of energy consumption per unit of sales  by 1 % compared with FY2021 compared with the previous fiscal year
16.4 % reduction compared with FY2021
Saving energy programs and it promotional activities Promoted energy-saving activities as a Fun to Share sponsor company:
・ Held an Energy-saving contest in FY2022, with 1,842 participants.
・Carried out Energy-saving Campaign in Summer and Winter.
3R activities
Support of Company-wide landfill rate of less than 1.8 % Landfill rate of 0.5 %
Support of management of waste-disposal contractors Through actions such as on-site inspection of the operations of waste-disposal contractors, it was confirmed that the contracted waste disposal is handled correctly.
Measures to protect water resources
Support of reduction of water use per unit of sales by 10 % compared with FY2020 by FY2030(Reduce by 1 % in one year)

23.3 % reduction compared with FY2020.

(12.5 % reduction compared with the previous fiscal year.)

Evaluation of water risks Using tools for the evaluation of water risk, water risks were evaluated at all production facilities and research centers. In addition to "WRI Aqueduct", we also measure of risks with local hazard maps such as "Hamamatsu City Disaster Prevention Maps" and "Ibaraki Digital Map".
Environmental and social communications Promoting biodiversity conservation activities ・Distribution of Happy Memorial Trees to 113 employees.
 A total 421 employees participated in the following activities
・Local cleaning activities (12 times) at each Division
・Tree-planting in Tsunami mitigation forest, etc (6 times).
Dissemination of environmental information within and outside the Company ・Dissemination of environmental information in online
・Held internal environmental learning courses
・Posted ECO communication 4 times a year in company newsletter

Compliance with environmental laws and regulations

Hamamatsu Photonics works hard to prevent pollution of the living environment in all forms, including air, water, noise, soil and odor pollution. We also strive to reduce our environmental impact and manage waste responsibly. On a regular basis, the Company measures and analyzes outputs such as wastewater, noise and vibration, and conducts on-site inspection of its waste-disposal contractors. When problems are discovered, we take appropriate measures and takes every precaution to ensure that it complies strictly with environmental laws and regulations. At the meetings of the Headquarters Conservation Working Group and Headquarters Waste Working Group, we observe environmental preservation facilities and the status of waste management at each business location.

There were no violations of environmental laws and regulations, environment-related fines or major environmental accidents at Hamamatsu Photonics during the period under review.

Environmental accounting

The environmental accounts for FY2018 and FY2019 are currently being prepared.

Period covered: FY2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017)
Scope of tabulation: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., non-consolidated
Method of tabulation: Tabulation was conducted with reference to the Ministry of the Environment’s Environmental Accounting Guidelines 2005.
Related investments: Capital investment related to environmental conservation
Related expenses: Personnel costs and expenses related to environmental conservation (except depreciation)
Note: For expenses and investments that cannot be considered entirely related to environmental conservation, balance tabulation and proportional-distribution tabulation are conducted.

1. Environmental conservation cost

Concerning the results for environmental conservation costs in the fiscal year under review, investments were ¥863 million and expenses were ¥921 million. In comparison with the previous fiscal year, investments increased while expenses decreased. The majority of investments consisted of costs for the global environment conservation and costs for prevention of pollution, both of which are included under costs within operating areas; and research and development costs, which mainly consist of costs for research and development of environmentally friendly and environmentally contributing products. Meanwhile, expenses mainly consisted of research and development costs.

Classification Main activities Investments (millions of yen) Expenses (millions of yen)
Business area cost Prevention of pollution
 Prevention of air and water pollution, restraint of emissions of chemicals into the environment, etc.
168 68
Global environmental conservation
 Investment and maintenance costs for energy-saving equipment, etc.
385 9
Resource circulation
Treatment, disposal, recycling of general and industrial waste, etc.
0 82
Upstream/downstream cost Advancement of green procurement, surveys of chemicals included in products, recycling of containers and packaging, etc. 2 105
Administration cost Expenses for formation and maintenance of the EMS, greening and beautification of business locations, etc. 63 175
R&D cost R&D in environmentally friendly products and environmentally contributing products, etc. 246 479
Social activity cost Expenses for greening and beautification of areas around business locations, etc. 0 1
Environmental remediation cost Imposition of fees for pollution impact 0 0
Other Environmental conservation activities 1 0
Total*1   863 921

*1 The total may differ from the total of investment and expenses in each category due to rounding.

Breakdown of environmental conservation cost

FY2016 Investments

FY2016 Expenses

2. Environmental conservation benefit

Category Environmental performance index (unit) FY2016*2 FY2017 Environmental conservation benefit (amount of improvement compared with previous fiscal year)
Effects within the business area Environmental conservation benefit related to resources input into business activities Energy usage (thousands of GJ) 1,155 1,093 62
Amount of relevant chemicals handled (t) 14 13 1
Water usage (thousands of cu. m) 784 703 81
Amount of photocopy paper purchased (t) 25 24 1
Container and packaging usage (t) 296 318 -22
Environmental conservation benefit related to waste or environmental impact originating from business activities Volume of greenhouse-gas emissions (t) 53,475 50,151 3,324
Total waste emissions volume (t) 776 869 -93
Final waste disposal volume (t) 12 9 3
Recycling volume (t)*3 756 870 114
Wastewater volume (thousands of cu. m) 761 631 130
Nitrogen oxides (t) 44 46 -2

*2 This value is adjusted for increases and decreases in sales.
*3 Increase in recycling volume is evaluated as a positive effect.

3. Economic benefit associated with environmental conservation activities (actual benefit)

Economic benefit associated with environmental conservation activities” refers to the effects generated by environmental conservation activities, expressed in financial terms.

  Item of benefit Economic benefit (millions of yen)*4
Revenue Revenue from sale of valuables 41
Revenue from sale from solar-power generation 6
Expense saving Expense reductions from energy-saving measures 185
Reductions in waste-treatment expenses/td> -5
Reductions in photocopy-paper purchasing expenses 1
Reductions in expenses from purchasing of containers and packaging -4
Reductions in fees for waterworks usage -0.4
Reductions in fees for sewerage usage -1
Total*5   223

*4 Figures other than receipts from sale of valuables are calculated as economic benefit using figures adjusted for increases and decreases in sales.
*5 The total may differ from the total of individual categories due to rounding.

Timeline of environmental activities

Final update: Mar, 31, 2023

     
Year Environmental activities and related topics
2022 Restructuring and introduction of waste management system
Conversion of all purchased electricity at domestic business sites (excluding some offices) to renewable energy
Participated in the international initiative "RE100”
Began disclosing information based on the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD)
2021 Photonics Group's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Receive SBT Certification
Receipt of 2020 Environmentally Friendly Building Award from Shizuoka Prefecture for Shingai Factory Building No. 2
2020 Endorsement of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) recommendations
Introduction of solar-power generating equipment (Toyooka Factory, Shingai Factory)
Endorsement of the Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren and Action Policy
Formulation of Long-Term Vision for Global Warming Countermeasures to 2050
Expansion of the scope of ISO 14001 certification (Industries Development Center, Tsukuba Research Center)
2019 Expansion of the scope of ISO 14001 certification (Miyakoda Factory CFC)
Participation in a prefectural 6R campaign to prevent ocean waste plastic
Introduction of solar-power generating equipment (Main Factory)
Publication of 2019 Environmental and Social Report
Participation in Hamamatsu City’s 2019 Environmental Future Project—Countrywide Garbage Reduction Campaign
2018 Participation in the electrical and electronics industries’ Low-carbon Society Action Plan
Start of purchasing of renewable (CO2-free) energy
Start of participation in flower-bed display by Hamamatsu businesses (south exit of JR Hamamatsu Station)
Receipt of 2017 Environmentally Friendly Building Award from Shizuoka Prefecture for Shingai Factory Building No. 1
Publication of 2018 Environmental and Social Report
2017 Start of participation in Shizuoka Prefecture Industrial Waste 3R Campaign
Receipt of Chair’s Award from the Chubu Regional Committee on Rationalization of Energy Use for corporate excellence in energy management (for Mitsue Factory)
Revision of Fundamental Environmental Policy
Publication of 2017 Environmental Report
2016 Implementation of third-party testing of greenhouse-gas emissions in accordance with ISO 14064-3
Receipt of CSR Activity Award (for social-contribution activities) for Hamamatsu businesses (for Joko Factory and Miyakoda Factory)
Receipt of Shizuoka Prefecture Governor’s Award for Distinguished Service in Advancement of Appropriate Treatment of Industrial Waste
Receipt of Top Runner Award from the 2015 Hamamatsu City Top Runner Certification Program for New Energy and Energy-saving Measures
Start of participation in the KALA seawall tree-planting project
Receipt of Grand Prix in the business-location category of the 2015 Try Fujinokuni Eco Challenge Cup
Publication of 2016 Environmental Report
2015 Start of Donguri-no-Morizukuri (tree-planting) activities (Central Research Laboratory)
Introduction of solar power generating equipment in coordination with the Company’s solar-power generating business (Toyooka Factory)
Publication of 2015 Environmental Report
2014 Registration to participate in Fun to Share, a climate-change campaign promoted by the Ministry of the Environment
Publication of 2014 Environmental Report
2013 Receipt of the FY2013 Environment Minister’s Award for Activities to Prevent Global Warming
Introduction of solar power generating equipment (Central Research Laboratory)
Start of introduction of solar power generating equipment at employee dormitories
Receipt of Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director’s Award for corporate excellence in energy management (for Main Factory)
Start of participation in the Lake Hamana Cleanup Campaign
Participation in the Subcommittee on Environmental Measures for Light-source Devices of the Japan Lighting Manufacturers Association (JLMA)
Publication of 2013 Environmental Report
Receipt of Judges’ Special Prize in the 2012 Fujinokuni Eco Challenge Cup
Participation in the Environmental Committee of the Japan Analytical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association (JAIMA)
2012 Participation in the Energy and Low-carbon Measures Committee of the Japan Electric Measuring Instruments Manufacturers’ Association (JEMIMA)
Receipt of Top Runner Award from the 2011 Hamamatsu City Top Runner Certification Program for New Energy and Energy-saving Measures (eco-friendly business-location category)
Publication of 2012 Environmental Report
Certification under ISO 14001 of the Central Research Laboratory, Miyakoda Factory and Main Factory
2011 Receipt of Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director’s Award for corporate excellence in energy management (for the Central Research Laboratory)
Start of apportionment of Happy Memorial Trees
Publication of 2011 Environmental Report
2010 Receipt of Associate Grand Prix in the CSR/eco-office category of the 2009 Stop Global Warming Action Campaign
Registration to participate in the Challenge 25 Campaign
Publication of 2010 Environmental Report
Complete Elimination Company-wide of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
Sponsorship of Hamamatsu City as “Hamamatsu, City Where You Can Enjoy Green Living”
2009 Sponsorship of Hamamatsu City as “Hamamatsu, City of Flowers and Greenery”
Receipt of silver medal in the Excellent Energy Service Company (ESCO) Award program (Central Research Laboratory)
2008 Registration for participation in Team Minus 6%
Introduction of acid-waste thickening equipment (Main Factory)
2007 Introduction of energy-service operations (Central Research Laboratory)
2006 Introduction of system for management of chemicals included in products
Start of provision of information on the compliance of Hamamatsu Photonics products with RoHS (EU) directives
Start of introduction of equipment for removal of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) (Main Factory)
Introduction of a gas cogeneration system (Main Factory)
Preparation of Green Purchasing Guide
2004 Establishment of Standard on Use of Environmentally Controlled Substances (chemicals)
Certification of System Division under ISO 14001
Participation in Environmental Green Committee of JEMIMA
Membership in the Japan Business Council in Europe (JBCE)
Participation in the Environmental Working Group of the Japan Medical Imaging and Radiological Systems Industries Association (JIRA)
2003 Complete elimination Company-wide of controlled CFCs and 1,1,1-trichloroethane
Establishment of the Green Procurement Policy and management procedures for environmentally controlled substances
Certification of Electron Tube Division and Solid State Division under ISO 14001
2002 Launch of the Headquarters Environment Committee
Introduction of environmental accounting
Establishment of the Fundamental Environmental Policy
2001 Launch of the Seminar on Environmental Laws and Regulations, an in-house training program
1998 Launch of the Environmental Preparation Committee
1990 Launch of the Environmental Preservation Measures Committee