Biodiversity Initiatives
Participating in "Team TYURA SANGO"
In accordance with the environmental policy of Nippon Sanso Holdings, Taiyo Nippon Sanso participated in "Team TYURA SANGO", taking action to protect the beautiful coral reefs of Onnason, Okinawa in February 2025. We will work to conserve coral, which is a treasure trove of biodiversity as well as a tourist resource, through participation in programs such as planting coral seedlings.
* For Nippon Sanso Holdings's initiatives on corals, click here
Initiatives toward the Realization of a Carbon-Neutral Society
One of the challenges in realizing a carbon-neutral society is to build a supply chain for green fuels that do not emit CO2, and develop the technology to use it. Specifically, a key aspect is the efficient delivery of green fuels from their production site to their consumption site. One method is to make use of hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3). By combining this with the oxygen combustion technology that the Group has been researching and developing for over half a century, we can contribute to faster social implementation of green fuels.
* For more information on Nippon Sanso Holdings' environment-related activities, please visit this page.
Development of Ammonia Fuel Combustion Technology for Industrial Furnaces
Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation has been selected as the contractor for a project commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for the development of ammonia fuel combustion technology. The aim of the project is to develop ammonia combustion technology for industrial furnaces that are currently unable to use ammonia, in order to contribute to the decarbonization of the industrial sector. Taiyo Nippon Sanso has a track record for various industrial furnaces both inside and outside Japan, including oxygen burners for glass melting furnaces. The project covers a five-year period from FY 2021 to FY 2025. Taiyo Nippon Sanso is proceeding with the development of ammonia-oxygen combustion and oxygen-enriched combustion.
Joint Development of Spherical Silica Manufacturing Technology Using Carbon-Free Fuel
Spherical silica is used as a filler for semiconductor sealants. As the scope of semiconductor applications has expanded over the past few years, demands regarding the quality of spherical silica have been increasing. The traditional manufacturing method carries a risk of carbon contamination from fossil fuels, which impairs insulating performance and reduces the reliability of the semiconductor. In February 2022, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation and Admatechs Company Limited, a spherical silica manufacturer, developed a melting and spheroidizing technology using carbon-free ammonia-oxygen combustion to enable the production of high-quality spherical silica free from carbon contamination.
Successfully Melting Glass Using a Hydrogen-Oxygen Burner to Dramatically Reduce CO2 Emissions
In April 2022, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation successfully conducted a verification test with 100% hydrogen combustion to melt glass using a hydrogen-oxygen burner jointly developed with Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd. The jointly developed hydrogen-oxygen burner can change the mixing ratio of natural gas and hydrogen as required. In the verification test, it was confirmed that melting capability equivalent to combustion using 100% natural gas could be obtained with either combustion using 100% hydrogen as fuel, or a mixture of both natural gas and hydrogen. This enables a significant reduction of CO2 emissions from melting furnaces.
Installation of CO2 Liquefaction System for Verification Test
Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation cooperated with Taiheiyo Cement Corporation in the CO2 liquefaction process for NEDO's "Development of Carbon Circulation Technology for the Cement Industry" project. In February 2022, the company established a CO2 liquefaction system at Taiheiyo Cement's Kumagaya Plant. The system will recycle CO2 emitted in the cement manufacturing process for reuse as a raw material for cement and civil engineering materials. Taiyo Nippon Sanso provided technical collaboration on a series of processes for liquefaction of captured CO2 in a verification test for separating and capturing CO2 from cement kiln exhaust gas.
Working with Venture Companies to Create a Sustainable Society
Algal Bio Co., Ltd., in which Taiyo Nippon Sanso is invested, is a microalgae venture company with a world-leading technology platform and developmental environment combining unique algae strains, breeding, and mass producing cultures. Since algae produce useful compounds using CO2 as a raw material, it is a field with a high possibility of direct connection to carbon neutral businesses. Taiyo Nippon Sanso is committed to creating a sustainable society through an investment and business partnership with Algal Bio Co., Ltd., promoting research and development for both companies, and developing mass microalgae culturing technology.
* For details, click here
Initiatives to Reduce GHG Emissions
Taiyo Nippon Sanso is promoting the installation of solar panels in various locations to reduce CO2 and other GHG emissions that contribute to global warming. We will continue to promote installation in various locations.
Initiatives to Reduce Environmental Impact in Business Activities
The Taiyo Nippon Sanso group conducts its business in accordance with the following policies.
(1) Striving to reduce emissions of NOx, SOx, dust and soot, PM, etc. following our technology risk management and the president's policies
(2) Striving to eliminate the impact of noise and vibration of air separation units, etc. on areas outside factory premises by complying with the Noise/Vibration Regulation Act
(3) Striving to prevent pollution and resource depletion by working to collect and recycle plastics used in product packaging within the company
(4) Striving to prevent global warming by producing and selling industrial gases with minimum carbon footprints by using renewable energy, etc.
ISO 14001 Status
The Taiyo Nippon Sanso Group strives to acquire ISO 14001 international environmental management system standard certifications, throughout the Group. To date, certifications have been acquired by 12 companies in Japan and 1 company overseas.
ISO14001 Operational Status
Taiyo Nippon Sanso is operating as follows under ISO14001, according to the environmental manual.
Results of Water Risk Assessment
The Taiyo Nippon Sanso Group conducts water stress and coastal flood risk surveys at all of its production sites in order to apprehend the risks related to use of water resources and facilitate a more effective response to water risks. The following are the results of surveys at 24 sites using the Aqueduct water risk evaluation tool developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI).
Top line: water usage (thousand m3), bottom line: number of production sites
- Reporting period: April 2022 to March 2023
- Reporting range: Taiyo Nippon Sanso and its consolidated subsidiaries. Production sites with ASU, HyCO, or liquid carbon dioxide facilities with annual water withdrawal of 20,000 m3 or more