Resource Circulation and Consideration of Environmental Burden
The raw materials and water that KYB uses in its manufacturing activities are limited resources. Therefore, the Company is promoting resource circulation at its own facilities. For example, 1,000 tons of scrap material is reused within the Group every year, and the chrome wastewater treatment facility in our plating process reuses 33,000 kiloliters of water.
To minimize the environmental burden caused by corporate activities, we conduct risk assessments and implement appropriate safety measures for chemical substances with potential hazards or toxicity. Additionally, starting in FY2023, we are addressing the latest revisions to the chemical substance regulations under the Industrial Safety and Health Act by promoting internal awareness and conducting inspections.
Product Compatibility with Environmental Regulations
KYB is working to comply with increasingly stringent regulations such as the REACH Regulation*1, ELV Directive*2, and the RoHS Directive*3 incorporating these trends into its technical development plans.In addition to meeting chemical substance regulations, we are also promoting initiatives aimed at achieving a low‑carbon society and developing products designed with recycling in mind.Engineering Planning Dept.
- REACH Regulation: REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It is an EU regulation intended to protect human health and the environment while enhancing the competitiveness of the European chemical industry.
- ELV Directive: A directive that came into effect in the EU in October 2000 to reduce the environmental impact of end‑of‑life vehicles.
- RoHS Directive: A directive that came into effect in the EU in July 2006 that restricts the use of specific hazardous substances found in electrical and electronic products.
Initiatives to Preserve Biodiversity
Our Corporate Spirit encompasses our love for the environment, which we treat as precious. Based on this, we undertake environmental conservation initiatives with a focus on the global environment of the future, and in March 2024, became a signatory of the Keidanren Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation. We engage in responding to climate change and resource circulation, the reduction of waste, and the management of chemical substances, thereby actively promoting the safeguarding of natural resources.
＜Native Species Conservation: Protecting Rare Vegetation through the Lespedeza tomentosa Initiative＞
KYB's Development Center is situated in the nature-rich mountainous area spanning Kawabe Town and Minokamo City in Gifu Prefecture. Established in July 2011, the center continues to play a vital role in our operations.
During the planning phase, a survey of the natural environment was conducted to ensure the preservation of local biodiversity. The survey identified the presence of Lespedeza tomentosa, an endangered species. In response, a conservation initiative was launched. At the time, the plant covered an area of approximately 100 square meters. Today, it has expanded to around 700 square meters. Looking ahead, we remain committed to proper management practices to safeguard the continued growth and preservation of Lespedeza tomentosa.
