The Kurita Group - Kurita Water Industries Ltd. : Ultrapure water supply, Water Treatment Facilities & Chemicals

Reduction of Waste

In fiscal 2009, the amount of waste generated by the Kurita Group remained at almost the same level as the previous fiscal year, although waste generation per unit of sales (¥1 million) increased by 4.9% to 135.9 kg against the target of a 1.0% reduction. This was due to a decrease in sales caused by the rapid downturn of the market and we were thus unable to achieve the target.
To reduce both the total amount of waste generation and the amount of waste sent to landfills, the Kurita Group has been fostering sales and recycling of waste as valuable resources. Across the entire group, we plan to implement drastic sorting of waste, which has already produced some great results at selected sites, and select industrial waste disposal companies that will accept waste on the condition it will be recycled.

Waste generation

Example of Initiatives Taken for Waste Reduction

Kuritaz Co., Ltd. is mainly engaged in the maintenance and management of water treatment facilities. The company conducted “SS activities” (SS stands for seiri and seiton in Japanese, which means to “sort’’ and “straighten’’) as part of efforts to reduce waste at all its factories and offices, with the participation of all employees.
In SS activities, employees are encouraged to attach red identification labels to items that seem to be unnecessary. These items are disposed of if they are subsequently not used for a certain period. The practice of this “visible” management method is not only useful for sorting and straightening but also for the review and improvement of the efficiency of the entire operational system. Furthermore, by conducting the SS activities in a thorough manner, the company can constantly optimize the maintenance and management of water treatment facilities, which will eventually lead to waste reduction and safe and stable operations at the facilities.

Internal Change