Initiatives to Address Water Risk
Amid increasing public attention for water resources as a global sustainability requirement, the Group’s products and manufacturing processes use water as an essential resource. Therefore, TOK strives to minimize the volume of water consumed in production activities and to maintain and improve the quality of wastewater. The Group will continue to make environmental contributions through its business activities while monitoring water risks for global environmental conservation considering future generations as a material issue.
Water Usage Volume
Water use volume changes as the manufacturing processes and output change. TOK works to reduce its use by constantly monitoring the state of industrial water and city water use and reviewing related equipment.
In 2022, water use volume in Japan was 447,000 m3 with an increase of 21.8% year-over-year and 22.1% compared to 2019. Water use volume at overseas sites decreased by 110,000 m3 year-over-year to 238,000 m3 . Although water use volume increased in Japan, the base unit index (sum of domestic and overseas) decreased by 4 points year-over-year because of production increases and reduced water use volume overseas.
Water Risk Management
Water risks and other natural resource risks are ranked among the ten greatest risks over the next ten years in the Global Risks Report 2023 published by the World Economic Forum. To better understand water use volume at all sites around the world, the TOK Group has clarified the respective risks in the stages of water supply, raw materials supply, manufacturing processes, and wastewater emissions from plants. TOK then examined the measures to implement for water risks in the supply chain, including water intake restrictions and flooding risks due to natural disasters and the risk of business interruption resulting from water contamination
Set a Medium- to Long-Term Target
The company implemented proactive measures to reduce water risks in 2018 and worked toward the attainment of company-wide targets since 2019. In 2022, TOK examined its reduction measures for the risk of contamination of piping and equipment at each site, water use operation, and measures to reduce natural disaster risks, and performed the relevant activities based on the plans. As part of the activities, the company installed a new high-yield system for pure water production at the Koriyama plant to reduce water use volume in the future through the centralized supply of pure water.
TOK will continue to implement risk reduction measures to attain the medium- to long-term target of reducing domestic water use by 15% from the 2019 level by 2030.
Future Issues and Initiatives
The company has a plant in Aso, Kumamoto, and has participated in forest preservation activities that led to watershed cultivation in the Aso region since 2022. Concerns are rising about the water stress that climate change may impose on water resources. If water intake restrictions, drainage restrictions, or other regulations are strengthened in the future in the regions where the TOK Group operates, water use by the TOK Group plants may also be affected. The company continues to reduce water consumption through the cyclic use of water and to reduce contamination risks, not only for the reduction of environmental impact but also for business continuity.
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