The rapid development of the heavy and chemical industries after World War II left a negative legacy of environmental problems. Keenly aware of their part in this legacy, companies have achieved solutions through various measures and technological innovations, but many underlying problems still remain. As a chemical industry company, the main businesses of NICHINO Group have a close relationship with the natural environment. Therefore, environmental preservation is an important issue for our future. We engage in proper environmental compliance management in relation to laws, regulations, and agrochemical registration systems in R&D and throughout the product life cycle.

Ideal business model for 2030

• “Climate change”: Continue to address the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and provide highly transparent information disclosure
• “Carbon neutrality”: Continue to implement GHG emissions reduction measures to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 (2070 in India)
• “Water conservation” “Waste reduction”: Promote intensity management and set KPIs in accordance with actual conditions
• “Preserving biodiversity”: Continue to minimize our impact on biodiversity and engage in sustainable procurement, technological development, and collaboration

Challenges to achieving our ideal business model

• “Energy conservation” “GHG emissions reduction”: Enhance our efficient, low-carbon technologies to reduce GHG emissions and energy consumption associated with increased production
• “Water conservation”: Enhance water security at overseas manufacturing sites
• “Waste Reduction”: Promote the optimization of product standards and collaboration within the industry to reduce packaging waste and agrochemical waste
• “Preserving biodiversity”: Promote research and development that addresses market needs and climate change

Results for FY2024 and Plan for FY2025

Please refer to the Data Book for detailed environmental data.

Preserving Biodiversity

Agrochemicals are required to be not only effective but also safe for people, livestock, and the surrounding environment. The Group complies with laws and regulations and develops agrochemicals that are closely aligned with the perspectives of “the environment, safety and health,” by utilizing the latest scientific knowledge. Nichino Ryokka utilizes its products and weed management technology to participate in the “Satochi-Satoyama (Socio-ecological Production Landscape) Revitalization Project by Industry, Academia, and Government” in Nasukarasuyama City, Tochigi Prefecture. Nihon Nohyaku participates in CropLife JAPAN’s “Bee Friendship Plan.” It grows plants preferred by pollinating insects on part of the company premises in an effort to preserve the biodiversity of insect habitats. On June 5, World Environment Day, we hold events for employees, present quizzes to deepen their interest in biodiversity, and otherwise strive to raise awareness as part of the Group’s environmental education.

Strict Standards for Managing Water Resources

The Group works to reduce water usage through efforts in improving production efficiency, saving water, and recycling. We also thoroughly treat wastewater and manage water quality, complying with legal wastewater standards and standards set by local ordinances in the areas where our plants and research facilities are located. In Japan, we have set voluntary control values for wastewater that are stricter than the legal standards, and we manage the wastewater to ensure that it does not exceed the standard values.

Promoting Waste Reduction

The Group actively works on the 4Rs, while Nichino Service, a production site, promotes the goal of zero emissions.^*1 For some products, we offer multiple packaging specifications tailored to each customer’s needs, encouraging them to purchase the optimal amount based on their requirements. In this way, we work to reduce waste agrochemicals and the amount of packaging used. For items other than products, we focus on reducing waste through green purchasing, and we have joined the Green Purchasing Network.
 
*1 The final landfill amount of waste shall be less than 1% of generated volume.

Environmentally Friendly Materials Procurement

Some of our products use packaging made with biomass ink and rice ink. By replacing petroleum-based ink with these environmentally friendly inks, we can reduce the amount of petroleum resources used. The Group has also formulated the Basic Procurement Policy and Green Procurement Standards, and we promote environmentally friendly materials procurement.

Response to Environmental Problems

The Group shares any problems that occur within the Group as they arise. We use this information to horizontally deploy preventive measures and improvement initiatives to prevent environmental issues. We also provide environmental education for employees.

Initiatives for Environmental Assessment

Through Responsible Care activities and ISO 14001 (Environment Management Systems), the Group thoroughly complies with environmental laws, ordinances, and local agreements, etc., and takes into account its effect on the surrounding areas, considering factors such as the generation of noise, odor, or vibration.

Scope 3 Emissions

Regarding our domestic CO₂ emissions, the Group has always disclosed Scope 1 (direct emissions of GHG by the reporting company) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions from the use of electricity, heat, or steam supplied by others) emissions. From FY2020, we also started disclosing our global CO₂ emissions, including those in India and Brazil where we have manufacturing sites

Furthermore, we have calculated and disclosed Scope 3 (other indirect emissions besides Scope 1 and Scope 2, emissions from the corporate value chain) emissions from FY2021 in Japan^* and from FY2022 overseas^**.

*: Nihon Nohyaku and domestic Group companies that have manufacturing sites
**: Overseas Group companies that have manufacturing sites

TOPICS 1

Increasing the Modal Shift Rate
Nihon Nohyaku has endorsed the White Logistics Movement, an initiative put forward by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). We have submitted our Declaration of Voluntary Action. Our modal shift rate^* in FY2024 was 20.5% (results in FY2023: 20.0%). We will continue to work on logistics efficiency, including the reduction of environmental impact.

*Modal shift rate (ratio of railway freight and marine transport) = (railway freight and marine transport amount) / (total transport amount) x 100

TOPICS 2

Promoting Environmental Conservation Initiatives at Work and at Home
To ensure that employees are fully aware of environmental laws and regulations and to promote environmental conservation initiatives at work and at home, including the reduction of plastics, the Environment Safety & Quality Assurance Department issues the “Environment Safety News” newsletter to share information with all employees. The newsletter features information related to environmental safety.