Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling

Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling for the Global Environment

To promote the growth of a recycling-oriented society, we endeavor to reduce, reuse, and recycle by effectively utilizing limited resources.

Summary for 2021

The volume of waste materials generated by the group’s 31 business offices*1 in 2021 was 21,933 tons (previous year: 19,785 tons) and the recycling rate was 97.4% (previous year: 96.6%).
The volume of waste materials generated on construction sites was 4,863 tons (previous year: 2,973 tons) and the recycling rate was 80.7% (previous year: 82.0%). The responsibilities of prime contractors relating to the disposal of waste materials generated on construction sites has been clarified while the duties of waste-generating companies have been further reinforced. We strived to curtail waste materials by reviewing how we order components processed in construction sites. As waste materials generated on construction sites are not homogenous, there are many cases in which recycling is difficult due to the intermingling of various types of waste materials in a given batch. Nevertheless, we will continue to properly dispose of waste materials in conjunction with the implementation of controls on their generation and aim to achieve 100% for the rate at which waste materials are recycled.

*1 Databank Snapshots

Offices

In 2021, our offices produced 795 tons of waste (compared to 790 tons in 2020) and recycled 97.8% of waste (compared to 97.3% in 2020). Although there is a limit to what an office can do, our office staff are doing their bit by separating waste and going paperless.

Production Sites

In 2021, our factories produced 10,684 tons of waste (compared to 9,930 tons in 2020) and recycled 96.9% of waste (compared to 96.7% in 2020). Since 2009, our Japanese production sites produce zero emissions when disposing of waste. Overall, they recycled 99.2% of waste (compared to 99.3% in 2020), because plasterboard at Mie plant is now reused (material recycling) instead of being burned for energy (thermal recycling). That is a result of considering resource recycling. Nevertheless, we discovered when checking the manifest that some of the waste plastics discharged as industrial waste were unintentionally disposed of in landfills at KOKUYO Product Shiga. Therefore, the recycling rate of industrial waste was 95.6%. Currently, we are taking corrective action and maintaining zero emissions again.
In 2021, our overseas production sites recycled 90.3% of waste (compared to 87.4% in 2020). We encourage each of these sites to reduce and recycle while taking into account local recycling standards.

Distribution Channels

In 2021, our distribution channels produced 10,454 tons of waste (compared to 9,066 tons in 2020) and recycled 97.9% of waste (compared to 96.4% in 2020).
Cardboard and wooden pallets used in packaging are repaired and reused.
We will continue our active efforts to use resources effectively.

KOKUYO Products: Reuse and Recycle

For certain cases, we encourage customers to return used products so that they can be reused or recycled. In 2021, KOKUYO Logitem collected around 2,321 tons of used office furniture (desks, chairs and so on). Around 183 tons of the collected furniture was salvaged for reuse. The remainder was dismantled and sorted for recycling.

A desk being dismantled and sorted