Pollution Prevention and Chemical Substance Management

Under "the Brother Group Environmental Policy," we are working to maintain compliance with laws and regulations and prevent environmental pollution in each country and region in which we operate, throughout the life cycle of our products (product development and design; procurement of parts and materials; production; packaging and logistics; use by customers; and collection and recycling). Furthermore, the Brother Group is committed to continuously reducing our environmental impact, recognizes the risks and opportunities of environmental pollution as follows, and is making efforts to prevent pollution through ISO 14001 activities, etc.

Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) participated in a priority review in line with the introduction of the PRTR system by KEIDANREN (Japan Business Federation) in 1998. BIL started to report the amount of chemical substances transferred and released, starting with those used at business sites in FY1997 (April 1, 1997-March 31, 1998). As in previous years, BIL has been making serious efforts toward managing and reporting chemical substances under PRTR Law. In FY2021, BIL reported the balance of chemical substances as follows. Going forward, we will continue with appropriate management and reporting of chemical substances from FY2021 onwards.

• Brother Industries, Ltd. FY2019-FY2023 Balance of Chemical Substances Subject to PRTR [PDF/482KB]

Since 2008, BIL has properly stored and systematically commissioned disposal in accordance with "the Act on Special Measures concerning Promotion of Proper Treatment of PCB Wastes." Subsequently, electrical equipment containing low concentrations of PCBs was newly found in old warehouses and elevators. A reinvestigation, including idle equipment, was conducted, and disposal of all PCB waste found by FY2023 was completed.

Regarding fluorocarbons, air conditioning equipment has been managed using "the refrigerant management system" of the Japan Refrigerants and Environment Conservation Organization (JRECO) since 2015 after "the Act on Rational Use and Appropriate Management of Fluorocarbons" came into force (April 2015). This system enables centralized monitoring of the operating statuses of about 1,600 air conditioners at BIL in Japan. In FY2023, there was no leakage exceeding a level that requires reporting.

Manufacturing facilities outside Japan have identified applicable laws and regulations in respective regions within ISO 14001 systems. Management frameworks have also been established to ensure local environmental management. The Brother Green Procurement Management System is in operation with collaboration with suppliers to carefully select parts, materials and sub-materials used in production processes to prevent contamination with harmful chemical substances.

The Brother Group gives high priority to preventing environmental accidents by reviewing target facilities and processes and switching to alternatives that are less likely to cause pollution in a timely manner. When managing existing facilities, activities to prevent pollution include setting and complying with voluntary management targets through ISO 14001.

The Brother Group is striving to prevent air pollution. For example, we have replaced fossil fuel-fired boilers and heaters with electric or city gas-fired boilers and heaters, thus reducing the impact of emissions on the environment. City gas has a low CO₂ emission coefficient.

BIL has abolished heavy oil-fired boilers, which contribute to air pollution, at all of our business sites, including employees' dormitories. Solar water heaters and heat pump equipment have mainly replaced the heavy-oil fired boilers used for employees' dormitories at manufacturing facilities outside Japan. The electricity supply for Brother Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd. (BTSL) in Huanan, China, which had relied on private power generation systems fueled by heavy oil, was replaced by the city's public utility service. Through these initiatives, BIL is reducing the risks of air pollution and global warming caused by CO₂ emissions, as well as soil and underground water contamination.

BIL is taking the following measures to prevent water pollution:
In FY2011, BIL installed a wastewater treatment facility at the Kariya Factory to treat our wastewater with the latest membrane bioreactor.

Brother Industries Saigon, Ltd. in Vietnam to treat wastewater from the parts cleaning process, Brother Machinery Xian Co., Ltd. in China to treat coating pretreatment wastewater, and Taiwan Brother Industries, Ltd. established wastewater treatment facilities to treat coating pretreatment wastewater. Brother Industries (Vietnam) Ltd., which expanded its factory in 2012, upgraded the conventional wastewater treatment facility with a biofilm type facility. The increased treatment capacity has significantly lowered the environmental impact values of wastewater.

At sites without sewage infrastructure, facilities have been installed to clean sewage and treat the resulting wastewater. These facilities comply with regional standards in accordance with the ISO 14001 facility management procedure. However, in FY2022, due to stricter standard in the country where one of our manufacturing facilities is located, the amount of n-hexane extract is now 1.5 times higher than the new standard value. In order to meet this new standard, we are implementing measures such as expanding the capacity of grease traps and increasing the frequency of cleaning, and continuing to monitor it.

As part of Brother's preventative measures, we periodically conduct emergency drills for hypothetical incidents such as hazardous wastewater flowing into sewage, public water sources, or permeating into soil. Other specific preventative measures include equipping wastewater treatment facilities with systems which constantly monitor chemical oxygen demand (COD) and installing oil traps for wastewater from cafeterias, to cope with an oil outflow accident. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and n-hexane extracts (an index of the oil content in water, etc.) are regularly measured and monitored.

In 1997, BIL began investigating the status of soil and groundwater contamination by chlorinated organic compounds and harmful heavy metals used inside our factories in the past. In areas where contamination was found, BIL took actions to prevent the contaminating substances from spreading, implemented purification measures, and also submitted reports to the local governments having jurisdiction over the factories. Before selling or modifying company-owned land, BIL carries out a soil survey in accordance with legal standards.

In FY2023, a soil investigation was conducted on the premises of the Mizuho Factory prior to construction of a new company building in accordance with the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Act. The investigation detected fluorine and its compounds and lead and its compounds exceeding the designated standard in some parts of the premises of the Mizuho Factory. Fluorine and its compounds and lead and its compounds are used in some areas of the Mizuho Factory, but no accident, leakage, or disposal was confirmed. Measures to prevent dispersion were implemented in areas that were found to be contaminated. There is no risk of dispersion of contaminated soil due to scattering and rainwater. BIL will take proper action, such as measures to prevent dispersion of contamination caused by contaminated soil, based on guidance from the City of Nagoya.

BIL has been working on initiatives to prevent the generation of noise, vibration, and offensive odors so as not to cause inconvenience to local communities, including homes, schools, and pedestrians. Sources of generation are relocated or converted to achieve reduction. Proper action is taken against noise, vibration, and offensive odors that exceed the standard values. Generation of noise, vibration, and offensive odors is prevented by establishing more rigorous voluntary standards and ensuring continuous monitoring.

Water Pollution Load

For the list of applicable sites, see page 8 of "Material balance" [PDF/663KB].

• Material Balance [PDF/663KB]