Toray Group seeks to control and reduce environmental risk in order to fulfill the "Safety and Environment" priorities that occupy the top position in the Corporate Guiding Principles of Toray's Management Philosophy.
Toray Group considers environmental risk management to be a critical priority. The Safety, Health, and Environment Committee deals with Group-wide directions and policies, while individual plants strive to manage and reduce environmental risks. These activities are reviewed during annual Safety, Health, Accident Prevention, and Environmental Audits.
In addition to conducting emergency response drills, we work to increase individual employees' awareness of environmental issues by offering "wastewater eduction tours" designed to show workers where the wastewater they wash down the drain ends up.
"Wastewater education tours" at the Okazaki Plant
Employees observe the route followed by wastewater at their workplace
Wastewater treatment facility
Discharge outside of the plant
Pumping and aeration facility at the Nagoya Plant
Toray Group constructs embankments around facilities and storage tanks holding hazardous or dangerous substances to prevent spills from leaking into the surrounding area or seeping into the soil.
We continue to deal with soil pollution that was discovered at the Nagoya Plant (see CSR Report 2005 for more information) and have currently installed 71 purification wells. Similarly, we have installed 57 purification wells at Toray Monofilament Co., Ltd. (see Toray Group Environmental Report 2002 for more information), where we continue to purify groundwater by pumping it up to the surface and aerating it. Neither facility has fallen below environmental standards, but steady cleanup work is making a difference.
We are committed to conducting voluntary surveys, reporting and otherwise disclosing survey results, and undertaking purification measures in the event that any pollution is discovered.
The Virginia Plant operated by Toray Plastics (America), Inc. was cited with one violation in FY 2006 when the contracted waste treatment volume exceeded the level for which the plant had received a permit. Upon being informed by the relevant regulatory agency of the mistake, the company immediately took corrective action and implemented a system of checks to ensure that the problem would not recur.
*1 Includes improvement orders and fines. Improvement guidance and recommendations are included in accident figures.
Lightning-triggered Fire at Seta Plant
On August 12, 2006, a lightning strike sparked a fire at the Seta Plant's No. 2 Plant (Textile Development Center). The solid wood construction of the facility's roof and ceilings aggravated firefighting efforts, and approximately 11,000 square meters were destroyed in the blaze. No employees were injured, although one neighborhood resident was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation as a precaution (she was not seriously injured). Smoke from the fire drifted into neighboring residential areas and inconvenienced residents, but we worked in good faith with the residents' association to wash cars and otherwise make amends.
Health Effects and Response to Asbestos
Toray Group has manufactured and imported building materials containing asbestos in the past, and some of our buildings and facilities were constructed using building materials and thermal insulation containing asbestos.
Following our recognition in 2005 of asbestos as a serious issue that was garnering increasing attention, we took action to address facilities containing it and launched a program of health examinations for approximately 3,000 interested current and past employees who had handled even small amounts of asbestos in the past. We are working in good faith with individuals diagnosed with asbestos-related health issues by helping them apply for workers' compensation and providing an ongoing program of medical examinations. Our understanding of the health effects on past and present Toray Group employees as of March 31, 2007, is described in the table below.
We have not been contacted about health issues by residents living near affected facilities.
Number of individuals (fatalities)
