Environmental Load Reduction

 Santen promotes the 3R initiatives of "Reducing" the production of waste, "Reusing" packaging and stationery used during the distribution process, and "Recycling" waste by sorting, at each operational site. Before concluding an agreement with a new outsourced waste disposal service provider, we visit it and check that appropriate waste treatment is being conducted. Furthermore, we ensure that our waste is properly treated at our outsourced waste disposal service provider by confirming the waste policy, and the form of management of waste treatment, and by making regular visits to the service provider. The recycling rate, including thermal recycling, as a group was 98.5%, thus meeting the FY2030 target of 98% or higher.

While no Santen plants or laboratories are located in areas under water stress(*), we view water as a precious resource and are striving to reduce our environmental impact by restricting water consumption by reusing wastewater for cooling or cleaning and other means. In FY2022, water consumption per unit of production, which is our target for FY2030, was 14.7 m³/10,000 bottles, 9.7% higher than in  FY2021. This increase, caused by the launch of a new building at the Shiga Product Supply Center is transitory. If this effect is deducted, the water usage per production quantity in FY2022 is 13.5m³/10,000 bottles, 0.7% higher than in FY2021.

• From small eye drops to big environmental contributions: Santen's approach to water and energy | Santen Global Website

We regularly measure and analyze a variety of indices at each operational site, including air pollution, water contamination, and noise levels, in order to appropriately control and identify pollution levels according to the regulatory standards stipulated in laws and local regulations.

We also compile procedures to prevent the leakage of pollution and install equipment that prevents wastewater leaked from the storage container from flowing into the general discharge channel outside the plant, and practice the operation thereof. We thereby establish a system to prevent impact on the environment and the neighborhood.

We have defined "Hazardous Wastes", according to the laws and regulations of each country, as substances that fall under specially controlled industrial waste as stipulated in the "Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Act" in Japan, and substances to be treated as dangerous waste in China. We started collecting data from FY2020.

Because appropriate forest conservation contributes to not only facilitating the absorption of CO2 but also maintaining the rich natural environment and headwater conservation capacity, leading to the protection of biodiversity, the Company engages in forest conservation activities.

Noto Plant supports the Environmental Education Project to conserve nature at Mt.Hodatsu, organized by the board of education of Hodatsushimizu Town, the local government of the area where it is located.

To contribute to the cleaning up and beautification of local environments, Santen's sites, including the Noto Plant, the Shiga Product Supply Center, and the Nara Research and Development Center, conduct clean-up activities in collaboration with local governments and regional organizations. We have restarted such activities, albeit on a reduced scale of activities was reduced due to the continuation of COVID-19 infections in FY2022.