Proper Waste Disposal and Creation of a Circular Economy
Recognizing that proper management of waste is a critical environmental issue around the world, in December 2022, we established and published our Policy and Commitments on Waste Management, through a resolution of the Board of Directors.
Policy and Commitments on Waste Management
Our Policy
We ensure our actions reflect appropriate waste management, the 3Rs (reuse, reduce, recycle), and efficient use of resources to reduce environmental impact and form a circular economy.
Commitments
- Reduce waste and implement appropriate waste segregation and collection
- We will strive to reduce the amount of waste generated from our business activities and implement appropriate waste segregation and collection.
- Implement appropriate waste treatment and disposal
- We will treat and dispose waste generated from our business activities in accordance with the laws and regulations.
- When outsourcing waste treatment and disposal to external contractors, we will undertake an appropriate contractor selection procedure and conduct regular inspections and audits to ensure that outsourced waste treatment and disposal is carried out appropriately.
- Promote measures on the efficient use of resources
- We will identify waste management issues in our businesses and promote measures on the efficient use of resources, including reuse and recycling.
- Contribute to the formation of a circular economy
- We will aim to contribute to the formation of a circular economy by building new business models, promoting innovation and leveraging our business operations.
Commitments on Recycling and Proper Disposal
We actively practice the 3Rs of environmental management - reduce, reuse, and recycle - at our projects, offices, and other sites to reduce our environmental impact.
We also properly manage, treat, and dispose of waste generated by our operations in line with the laws and regulations of countries in which we operate our projects. We create waste management plans for waste generated at our operator project sites that incorporate legal requirements, risk management methods, treatment and disposal methods, and audit plans.
When we are unable to viably reuse waste generated by our operations, we properly treat and dispose of it via licensed waste service providers.
Since 2023, we have conducted surveys to introduce more detailed classification methods for waste generated at each of our business sites, and to understand the detailed treatment status of waste up to final disposal. Through these efforts, we will further reduce the amount of waste for final disposal and promote reuse and recycling.
Efforts to Create a Circular Economy
In addition to our usual proper waste management and further implementation of the 3Rs, we will actively pursue a circular economy in our future endeavors.
Overseas Activities to Create a Circular Economy
Since being awarded exploration rights in 2019, we have been exploring Onshore Block 4 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Excavation cuttings generated by excavation activities are usually processed by an industrial waste processor before being sent to a final landfill for disposal, however, in this project, we recycle the cuttings through a cement manufacturer.
This recycling process is called co-processing, in which the mineral components in the excavation cuttings are used as raw materials for products, and the combustible components, such as oil, are recovered as heat in the clinker production process. Through these processes, more than 500 tons of excavation cuttings are recycled annually without generating secondary waste.
Research toward the Creation of a Circular Economy
As part of our research and development of flare reduction measures, we are currently studying the introduction of an initiative aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by applying methane cracking technology to fix the carbon content of flare gas in Japan.
The fixed carbon produced through this technology can potentially be used in various ways as carbon black, and is expected to contribute to the formation of a circular economy.
For more information, please refer to Climate Change Response Initiatives.
Education and Training on Waste Management
We implement regular education and training for staff at our domestic operations to ensure appropriate waste management practices. Through this training program, we aim to improve understanding of waste management laws, regulations and systems, industrial waste classification and management methods, and 3Rs practices, and implement them.