Production Activities Controlling Chemical Substances 22 Setting Voluntary Standards for Controlling Chemical Substances In 1996 TDK established and put into practice standards for controlling chemical substances. In accordance with regulatory trends and the relative potential for harm, TDK’s standards divide chemical substances into three categories: prohibited substances, restricted substances, and controlled substances. TDK revises the substances addressed by these standards when appropriate, subject to the enactment and revision of legal controls. In 1998 we established more specific classifications for substances within the categories of prohibited substances and restricted substances, respectively, in light of risks associated with disclosure and concerns over environmental protection. This is reflected in the selection of chemical substances subject to investigation when included in products to be procured under green purchasing policies, and is also reflected in the items evaluated in product assessments. As part of its effort to control chemical substances, TDK initiated a Chemicals Search System in December 1998. The system, to which every employee has access, is contributing to the establishment of a uniform company-wide system for the control of chemical substances. When the use of prohibited substances cannot be avoided, as in research and development activities, TDK’s Safety and Environment Office conducts a strict investigation. Even when the office approves the use of such a substance, approval must be renewed annually and is linked not only to the improvement of controls in the workplace but also to advancing the development and introduction of substitute technologies and substances. As a result of these efforts, TDK abolished the use of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene in manufacturing processes in August 1998. We will continue to improve our controls in the future, eschewing the use of extremely harmful chemical substances. Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) Since 1998, TDK has voluntarily participated in a survey on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) conducted under the auspices of the Federation of Economic Organizations. We have held company-wide explanatory sessions and taken other steps to make doubly sure we will be in compliance with Japan’s Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers Law, which have taken effect in April 2001. Figures on the respective amounts of air, water, and soil emissions containing substances addressed by the PRTR Law, along shown the quantities of constituent waste substances, are shown in the table below. We are committed to the goal of reducing the overall volume of our emissions of chemical substances by 20%, relative to 1997 levels, by fiscal 2005. In fiscal 2000, we have already achieved reduction of 9.0%. Amount handled Chemicals Search System Fiscal 1997 Fiscal 1999 28 28 (as of April 2001) Supervised Grasping purchase purchasing volume Product Grasping the substance supervision contents of products Green Purchasing Product assessment Pinpointing suitable Storage supervision storage methods Observance of law Operation control Pinpointing suitable usage methods Observance of law Waste disposal Pinpointing suitable waste disposal methods control Observance of law Implementing chemical substances assessments 28 Amount discharged *2 Waste Amount Recycled handled Amount discharged *2 Waste Recycled 380.2 371.6 1376.2 1393.2 434.4 177.7 700.1 1307.1 460.9 466.0 8.2 0.0 0.3 0.0 21.3 0.0 0.4 0.2 108.6 0.0 30.4 0.0 Methylene chloride 838.2 674.5 111.1 52.6 1027.8 831.5 104.7 91.6 979.5 688.0 208.7 82.8 Nickel compounds 693.3 0.0 37.1 0.0 674.4 0.0 59.3 6.9 771.6 2.6 70.8 32.6 60.4 0.0 6.5 0.0 58.7 0.0 6.0 0.0 1.3 0.0 1.3 0.0 281.9 0.1 17.1 51.6 231.5 0.0 39.2 24.2 154.6 0.0 29.8 13.0 Trichloroethylene 80.0 60.0 20.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Xylene 70.0 24.0 34.0 0.0 64.9 21.5 15.9 8.4 157.9 54.5 74.5 28.9 Cobalt and cobalt compounds 61.8 0.0 4.1 0.0 243.9 0.0 8.6 202.1 302.1 0.0 3.2 191.4 Silver and water-soluble silver compounds 28.6 0.0 0.6 0.0 15.1 0.0 0.0 3.8 23.3 0.0 0.3 3.5 Chromium and trivalent chromium compounds 53.3 0.0 0.0 9.8 30.3 0.0 9.0 0.0 27.0 0.0 0.6 1.2 Tetrachloroethylene 13.0 10.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Diglycidyter of bisphenol A *1 - - - - 55.0 0.0 4.0 0.0 59.3 0.0 12.2 0.0 Manganese and manganese compounds 4282.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 5003.6 0.0 27.1 145.3 3903.4 0.0 16.2 205.4 Vanadium pentoxide 4.7 0.0 0.0 0.1 4.7 0.0 0.0 0.1 2.9 0.0 0.6 0.1 Boron and boron compounds 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 23.0 0.0 0.1 2.6 25.4 0.3 0.9 6.8 Dimethylformamide 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 0.8 0.7 0.0 2.4 1.2 0.0 1.2 Di-amino ethanol *1 - - - - - - - - 5.0 0.9 3.3 0.0 Ethylene glycol *1 - - - - - - - - 13.3 9.1 4.2 0.0 Hydrazine *1 - - - - - - - - 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 Di-n-butyl phthalate *1 - - - - - - - - 5.9 4.0 1.9 0.0 n-butyl phthalate = benzyl *1 - - - - - - - - 39.3 26.8 12.5 0.0 Water-soluble zinc compounds *1 - - - - - - - - 49.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 8827.3 1372.3 605.9 1490.3 8848.8 1288.2 452.7 1185.2 7940.2 1248.3 938.4 947.1 Lead and lead compounds Controlled substances: Substances that do not fall into the above categories Amount Recycled handled 603.7 Water-soluble copper salts (other than complex salts) Classification of harmful substances Substances that are not to be Prohibited substances: used in either processes or products (156 substances) Encouraging reduction in usage Restricted substances: volume or shift to less harmful substances (827 substances) Amount discharged *2 Waste Fiscal 2000 2351.5 Toluene Barium and water-soluble barium compounds Chemical substances control standard TDK uses methylene chloride in the cleansing of parts. It has been pointed out that methylene chloride is a harmful substance capable of damaging the human central nervous system. For this reason, TDK set a goal of completely eliminating methylene chloride emissions by March 2001 and has promoted a transition to a substitute cleansing agents and the elimination of detergents. In fiscal 2000 the use of methylene chloride was eliminated at another six plants, but this has not been achieved at the remaining nine plants, due to outstanding problems with product quality. In the future every effort will be made to eliminate the use of methylene chloride at these plants as well, enabling TDK to completely eliminate the use of methylene chloride by September 2001. Amounts of chemical substances covered by the PRTR law handled in TDK (Unit: tons) Number of locations Outline chart of chemical substances control system 23 Working toward the Complete Elimination of Methylene Chloride Making Doubly Sure of Compliance with PRTR Total 63.6% 93.9% 74.7% 79.5% 90.0% 91.0% 154.9% Compared to fiscal 1997 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.2% Notes: · Surveys were conducted at the production and R&D bases of TDK and its domestic consolidated affiliates. The scope of chemical substances subject to the surveys was in accordance with the PRTR Law. · Volumes handled and emissions volumes were calculated by making reference to the PRTR Guidelines for Electrical and Electronic Industries, with calculations carried out from activities under the Environmental Management System. *1: TDK began totaling figures for diglycidyter of bisphenol A as well as di-amino ethanol in fiscal 1999. *2: Total including air, water, and soil emissions