Environmental Protection
Water
Water is an indispensable component of the Mitsui Chemicals Group’s various chemical product manufacturing processes. For example, water is used in manufacturing processes that include heating, cooling, and washing as well as for equipment that removes harmful chemical substances produced during these processes and discharges effluent.
Formulating its basic philosophy on water resources, the Mitsui Chemicals Group works to manage efficient water usage and water preservation. In addition, we ask suppliers to carry out activities that include waste water management and efficient utilization of water in the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines.
*Please refer here for scope of data.
Basic Philosophy on Water Resources
- We recognize that water is a finite and precious resource, and regard water conservation as a key priority on a global scale.
- We make every effort to use water efficiently as we recognize quality water resources are crucial to our operations.
- We appropriately manage water on a case-by-case basis for each country and region in which we operate, in recognition of the fact that water resources distribution varies both geographically and temporally.
Reduction in water quality contaminants
The Mitsui Chemicals Group has adopted benchmarks on water quality contaminants designated by laws and regulations and monitors the emissions of these substances such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen and phosphorus, to preserve the water environment. The emission levels for each of these chemicals are maintained far below the target levels required by laws or other regulations.
In domestic production sites with high water usage, the wastewater from different plants is collected together before it is treated by neutralization, oil separation, and removal of solids. We also pass the wastewater through an activated sludge process to remove organic substances using microorganisms. However, some of the water cannot be treated by the activated sludge process as it contains substances that inhibit microorganisms from organic decomposition or the organic substances contained in the water are persistent. Such wastewater is treated in a normal manner after treated with ozone, combustion, or anammox.*
*Anammox:
Anaerobic ammonium oxidation. A process to remove nitrites from ammonium-rich wastewater using ammonia-oxidizing bacteria.
Total Nitrogen Emissions (Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.)
Total Phosphorous Emissions (Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.)
COD, BOD Emissions
Efficient Use of Water
To grasp its water consumption and to use water efficiently, the Mitsui Chemicals Group monitors the amount of water intake, water discharge, and water recycled. The Group proactively engages in water recycling such as using circulating cooling water systems, particularly at production sites that use large amounts of water, in an effort to reduce water withdrawal.
Water withdrawal
(surface water, ground water, seawater, produced water, third-party water)
Breakdown of Volume of Water Withdrawal
(Mitsui Chemicals Group: FY2022)
Discharge Water Volume
Water Consumption*
*Water consumption = water withdrawal - discharge water volume
Water Recycling Volume and Ratio*
*Water recycling ratio = water recycling volume / (volume of water withdrawal + water recycling volume)
Water Risk Assessment
The Mitsui Chemicals Group conducts water risk assessments for its production sites from the present up to the year 2050. As assessment tools, we use the AQUEDUCT Water Risk Atlas from the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Water Risk Filter from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The Group defines regions with a baseline water stress of "Extremely High" in AQUEDUCT and a "Quantity - Scarcity" level of 4.0 or higher in the Water Risk Filter as regions with a high level of water stress. In addition, a detailed assessment is made based on the water intensity of products manufactured in these areas, water consumption, local information, and other factors. In FY2021, we confirmed that our affiliates in India are located in areas of high water stress, but a detailed assessment confirmed that the water risk at each of our production sites, including India, is not high. In addition, similar surveys are conducted at new plants when operations are commenced.
Including biodiversity risk as a part of water risks, we use IBAT to gather data and investigate biodiversity risk based on the following evaluation items: Protected areas, priority protected areas, endangered species and endangered freshwater species surrounding our production sites.
In support of the TCFD recommendations, we are conducting assessments on the physical risks to our production sites (floods, drought & temperature changes), based on IPCC RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5. In identifying sites to be assessed, 47 sites in eight areas that rank high in importance (Japan, China, Southeast Asia, India, United States, Europe, Brazil and Mexico) have been selected for analysis and assessment for the risk of floods, drought and temperature changes. The risk of water-related natural disasters tends to be high for Japan, China, Southeast Asia and India and the number of disasters is expected to increase in many areas. Water supplies tend to be strained in India and Mexico, with a similar trend anticipated for Singapore and Thailand.
Also, we conducted impact assessments for our 13 production sites in Japan and overseas. Utilizing a particular assessment model, we estimated the value of asset losses from river flooding or high tides from 2020 to 2070. The assessment results suggested that in 2030 and onward, the assets in four of our domestic production sites will be subjected to a greater risk impact from river flooding and five sites in Japan and overseas from high tides. In conjunction with the further development of the physical risk assessment in the recommendations of the TCFD, we plan to further expand the number of production sites subject to impact assessment, determine whether actions need to be taken based on the impact assessment results, and reflect the necessary actions in our business strategy.