Chemical Substances Control : FY2006
We have to appropriately manage chemical substances to minimize the impact on human health and environment. Olympus is making efforts to reduce the environmental risk with the exact knowledge of emissions and quantitative mobility of the chemical substances used in production process.
Policies for Safety and Management of Chemical Substances
Olympus Group controls chemical substances used during production process, setting the Manufacture Process Control Regulations based on the current regulations on chemicals in the world.
In accordance with the Regulations, the chemical substances that Olympus uses are categorized into completely discontinued substances, substances expected to be completely discontinued, and limited use substances.
We are making efforts to reduce chemicals disposed into the environment in order to decrease the environmental risk.
The performances in FY2006
As for 354 substances designated by the PRTR Law (Effective in FY2001), we have conducted a survey on the substances since FY2000 as the Properly Controlled Substances. Each plant or office researches chemical substances that exceed 10kg on annual basis (Transaction volume). In addition, company-wide data on chemicals are collected in case annual handling of chemical substance exceeds 100kg in each plant or office.
The total transaction volume of the substances subject to the PRTR Laws stood at 27tons in FY2006, decreased by 0.5tons from FY2005 year on year. Although consumption of some substances and ethylene oxide gas increased due to increased production, consumption of some solvents decreased due to the use of alternative coating agents. Overall, the Olympus Group as a whole achieved a slight reduction, We continue to actively tackle this issue through strict examinations upon the introduction of new chemical substances or providing technical support to processes that use a large amount of PRTR-listed substances.
Changes in Handling of PRTR Substances
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