Environmental Risk Management

In fiscal 2023, four environmental accidents occurred within Toray Group, some of which were minor.
These were all accidents in which chemicals leaked into the ground, or wastewater emissions exceeded administrative and agreed standards for water quality. After promptly contacting the local governments, the plants involved confirmed, through analytical investigations and reviews of the surroundings based on internal rules, that the impact on the environment was extremely minor.
The causes of these accidents included incorrect valve operation, which allowed chemicals to enter a wastewater line, and deterioration of a containment pit, which resulted in partial chemical leakage into the ground. To prevent recurrences, Toray will take thorough measures such as implementing modifications to wastewater lines and repairing containment structures group-wide, as well as strengthening the management of wastewater within factories.
The Group received three complaints from residents near its facilities concerning noise, which were seriously examined and addressed by implementing improvements.

Environmental Accidents in Fiscal 2023 (Toray Group)

Toray Industries conducts product safety reviews before launching new products on the market. As part of these reviews, a prescribed checklist is used for environmental assessment. The Environment & Safety Department confirms and evaluates the measures taken for each stage of the new product’s life cycle, from raw material procurement, manufacturing, packaging and distribution, to product use, recycling, and disposal.

<Evaluation Checklist Items (excerpt)>

• Does the product comply with the Toray Green Procurement Guidelines? (e.g. Is it free from prohibited substances?)
• To help protect biodiversity, do the operational emissions exceed the standard values for regulated substances?
• Is recycling used within the processes and are waste heat and unused energy utilized effectively?
• Have the amounts of exhaust gas and noise generated during product use been reduced?
• Have measures been taken to reduce the environmental impact, such as by preventing the generation of harmful gases during incineration and by avoiding the leaching of hazardous substances during landfilling?

Toray Group constructs protective embankments around its facilities and storage tanks for hazardous chemicals, and takes precautions to ensure that none of these dangerous substances leak or discharge into the surrounding area or contaminate the soil onsite. In fiscal 2023, remediation using wells to clean up groundwater pollution continued at Toray Monofilament Co., Ltd., and remediation to address soil pollution continued at Toray Industries' Nagoya Plant. Toray Group will continue these ongoing remediation efforts and voluntary surveys to monitor soil and groundwater pollution.