Here we outline our four businesses, through which we contribute widely to the lives of people around the world.
Machine tools
Citizen began production of machine tools in 1936, utilizing the technologies and know-how developed through the manufacture of watch parts. Our products contribute to the development of manufacturing industries all over the world.
About Us
More than a century since it was founded in 1918 with the desire to produce Japanese-made watches, the CITIZEN Group has evolved into a corporate entity engaged in a wide range of businesses.
CITIZEN's corporate philosophy, "Loved by citizens, working for citizens" is to
deeply contribute to the lives of people around the world through the manufacturing of products that are loved and trusted by citizens.
Message From President & CEO
Crafting a new tomorrow Towards sustainable value creation
The CITIZEN Group continues its activities aimed at thoroughly eliminating, reducing, and replacing hazardous chemical substances in its manufacturing processes, both in Japan and in the rest of the world.
Compliance with Regulations
To address legal and social chemical substance issues throughout the product lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal after use, The CITIZEN Group promotes chemical substance management through a variety of initiatives, including the development of internal systems to ensure compliance with domestic and international chemical substance-related laws and regulations and the provision of information to customers on product safety and applicable laws and regulations.
The CITIZEN Group Green Procurement Standards require the Group companies to comply with global legal restraints, such as the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive and the EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation, for procured items related to the products of Group companies. We are striving to reduce chemical substance-related risks by collecting information on chemical substances contained in raw materials from the raw material selection stage and by checking their hazardous effects both on health and the environment.
Reduction of Hazardous Chemical Substances
The CITIZEN Group has established targets of reducing chemicals subject to the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Act (in Japan) by 10% by 2024 and by 45% by 2030 compared to FY2018, and the Group is making reduction efforts, such as changing processes and switching to alternative substances. In FY2024, these efforts resulted in a significant reduction of 56.1% (77.9 tons) in PRTR chemicals from FY2018, exceeding the 2024 target. The Group has also been working to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals for many years, and it has already achieved the total elimination of chlorinated organic solvents and other substances. (See the table below.)
In FY2024, we reduced the usage of 1-bromopropane by 8.9 tons compared to FY2023. This accomplishment was attributed to several improvements, including minimizing excess evaporation and gradually replacing 1-bromopropane with environmentally friendly alternatives.
In addition, we are directing our efforts towards reducing the use of xylene and trimethylbenzene, which are organic solvents handled in the second largest quantities after 1-bromopropane. We are also implementing active substitution and reduction strategies for various other chemical substances. To achieve our objective of diminishing hazardous chemical components, we are intensifying our focus on technological advancements and facility enhancements within the watch business and the automotive parts sector, where significant quantities of these chemical substances are utilized.
Environmental risk management overseas is also an important issue, and we are thoroughly monitoring the amount of chemical substances used there and are working on reduction efforts.
Hazardous Chemical Substances Reduction Targets and Results (compared to FY2018)
Target
Fiscal year
Results
10% reduction by 2024
45% reduction by 2030
2019
5.8% (11.3-ton) reduction
2020
26.5% (48.9-ton) reduction
2021
34.7% (50.9-ton) reduction
2022
49.1% (71.1-ton) reduction
2023
45.8% (57.1-ton) reduction
2024
56.1% (77.9-ton) reduction
Chemical Substances Completely Disused to Date
Substances disused
Fiscal year of disuse
Chlorine-based organic solvents
2008
Alternative chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) (not including coolants inside devices)
2008
Ferric chlorides
2018
1-Bromopropane Substitution and Reduction
Fiscal year
Amount substituted
Reduction results (compared to the previous fiscal year)
2019
6% (2.4 tons) of the amount used in FY2018
8.5-ton reduction
2020
1.6% (0.5 tons) of the amount used in FY2019
2.0-ton reduction
2021
4.5-ton reduction
2022
2.1-ton reduction
2023
2.2-ton reduction
2024
8.9-ton reduction
[Case Study] Efforts to Reduce the Use of Substances Subject to the PRTR Act
CITIZEN FINEDEVICE
At both the headquarters and the Kawaguchiko Works of CITIZEN FINEDEVICE, media and cleaning solutions containing substances regulated by the PRTR Act are employed for the surface treatment of components. The replacement schedule for the medium (kerosene) and cleaning solution (cyanide) utilized in the barrel processing was previously determined by the number of days, but in FY2022, this protocol transitioned to a usage count basis. Moreover, the kerosene recycling equipment, which had previously been inactive, has been restored to operational status.
As a result of these activities, in FY2024, kerosene (xylene and trimethylbenzene) and cyanide compounds were reduced by 46% and 62%, respectively, compared to FY2018.
Reduction of kerosene use
[Case Study] Substitution of 1-Bromopropane
CITIZEN WATCH MANUFACTURING
CITIZEN WATCH MANUFACTURING’s Tohoku Kitakami Factory used 1-bromopropane for many years to clean parts before plating and remove processing oil. The company’s commitment to achieving the reduction target it sets every year contributed to reducing the amount of the substance used, but completely discontinuing the substance was a more challenging path than expected.
The departments that used 1-bromopropane devoted efforts to introducing automatic hydrocarbon washing machines and fluorine cleaning machines and to replacing the substance with other cleaning solutions, resulting in the complete discontinuation of 1-bromopropane in FY2024. This has led not only to a reduction in PRTR chemical emissions but also to reduced risks to workers.
