Efforts to Realize a Resource Efficient Society

To address environmental issues, such as depletion of resources, the problem of waste, water shortages, etc., the Group promotes measures like encouraging product recycling, increased use of recycled plastics, resource-efficient manufacturing, and reduced water use and waste from production processes, as we improve the efficiency of water and resource use and work toward full-cycle oriented manufacturing.

Reducing water consumption in the production process

Water resources are faced with a shortage of household and agricultural water due to population growth, ground subsidence stemming from the pumping-up of groundwater, and other issues involving various aspects.
Our group uses water in our production processes, such as for product testing, facility cooling and painting processes. To help solve problems related to water resources, the Group as a whole promotes the reduction of water consumption in our production processes.
We have been working on meeting action plan targets, such as the amount of water used per unit*1; the target set for fiscal 2021 was 76.2% of the level in fiscal 2010, and we actually surpassed the target at 50.2%.
Major measures include the checking of leaks by patrols, promptly dealing with any leaks found, and ongoing efforts to augment the control of water consumption via visualization of how it is used, as well as reusing wastewater. We will continue to further our reduction efforts.

[Subject: Hitachi Global Life Solutions Manufacturing Sites]

Water Usage Improvement per Unit
(Compared to Fiscal 2010)

*1 Quotient of water consumption divided by amount of activities
*2 A value linked closely to water consumption (such as production and quantity produced)

Reducing waste in the production process

Resource issues due to economic development and population growth are common worldwide, and actions are being demanded to control the mass consumption of resources and the large quantities of waste.
Even within the Group, the manufacturing of products generates waste materials, as well as unwanted but salable materials (valuables), so we are working to suppress the production of such materials. From fiscal 2019, based on our long-term environmental goals, we are working to achieve new goals that assumed the standard to be 2010.
We have been working on meeting action plan targets, such as the amount of valuable waste generated per unit*3; the target set for fiscal 2021 was 117.1% of the level in fiscal 2010, and we actually surpassed the target at 109.0%.
For fiscal 2022, we will continue efforts to reduce the amount of valuable waste generated, based on the new environmental action plan.

[Subject: Hitachi Global Life Solutions Manufacturing Sites]

Valuable Waste Generated Improvement per Unit
(Compared to FY2010)

*3 Quotient of the amount of waste and valuable materials divided by the amount of activities
*4 A value linked closely to the amount of waste and valuable materials (such as production and quantity produced)

Promoting product recycling

The Home Appliance Recycling Law mandates that manufacturers recycle end-of-life home appliances which they manufactured in four product categories (room air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators and freezers, and washing machines and clothes dryers). The Law also sets recycling rate*1 standards for each product and mandates manufacturers to attain recycling rates above the standards.
The Group established Kantou Eco Recycle Co. Ltd. in 1999 to comply with the Law. In conjunction with 4 other companies (Group B)*2 in the same industry, our company is also working to develop recycling technologies and to build and operate efficient recycling systems on a national scale.

As a result of these efforts, the recycling rates of our used home appliances in fiscal 2021 were 80% for refrigerators/ freezers, 94% for washing machines/clothes dryers, 74% for CRT TVs, and 86% for LCD and plasma TVs, achieving recycling rates that exceed the legal standards.
In addition, we are contributing to improving the rate of recycling via full-scale operation of refrigerator glass door separators, which we developed in-house. We are also actively promoting initiatives for home appliances, such as the rental business and the sale of refurbished items.

*1 Evaluated by the percentage of used home appliances collected by the manufacturer, etc., that are transferred as parts and raw materials for a fee or for free, by weight. Legal standards for recycling rates: 70% for refrigerators and freezers, 82% for washing machines and clothes dryers, 55% for CRT TVs, and 74% for LCD and plasma TVs.
*2 Sharp Corporation, Sony Corporation, Fujitsu General Limited, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Hitachi Global Life Solutions, Inc. (five companies in total)

Expanded Use of Recycled Plastics

As one route for procuring recycled plastics, we have established a plastics processing facility at a Group company on one of our business sites and it processes high-functionality and recycled plastic materials.
The recycled plastics are recycled as raw materials, which come mainly from used home appliances and are used as-is, or blended with additives to compensate for loss of strength, for thermal degradation prevention and/or other required functions.
For example, large parts from washing machines (such as the base of the frame) used to be made from a mixture of recycled and new materials, but since fiscal 2020, we have been using recycled materials almost exclusively, with the exception of additives.
In the future, we will expand the use of recycled materials further to promote resource recycling in our products.

※ Recycled plastics are also purchased from sources other than the Hitachi Global Life Solutions Group.