Pollution Prevention

Pollution Prevention Initiatives

The CITIZEN Group continues its activities aimed at thoroughly eliminating, reducing, and replacing hazardous chemical substances in its manufacturing processes, both in Japan and around 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 compliance with global legal restraints such as the EU RoHS Directive and the EU REACH Regulation for procurement items related to the products of Group companies. We are striving to reduce the risk of chemical substances by collecting information on chemical substances contained in raw materials from the adoption stage and confirm hazardous effects both on health and the environment.

Reduction of Hazardous Chemical Substances

The CITIZEN Group has established targets to reduce PRTR chemicals (in Japan) by 10% by 2024 and by 45% by 2030 compared to FY2018, and it is making reduction efforts such as changing processes and switching to alternative substances. In FY2023, we set a target of an 8% reduction from FY2018 and achieved a significant reduction of 29.3% (57.4 tons). 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 FY2023, we reduced the usage of 1-bromopropane by 2.2 tons compared to FY2022. 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 handled in substantial quantities following 1-bromopropane. Our initiatives include 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.

Reduction Targets and Results of Hazardous Chemical Substances (compared to FY2018)
Target Fiscal year Results
  • 10% reduction by 2024
  • 45% reduction by 2030
2019 8.1% (8.2 tons) reduction
2020 27.2% (27.5 tons) reduction
2021 15.1% (15.2 tons) reduction
2022 36.3% (71.1 tons) reduction
2023 29.3% (57.4 tons) reduction
Chemical Substances Subject to the PRTR Act Whose Use Has been Discontinued to Date
Subject substance Fiscal year of discontinuation
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
2019 6% (2.4 tons) of FY2018 use 8.5 tons reduction
2020 1.6% (0.5 tons) of FY2019 use 2.0 tons reduction
2021 4.5 tons reduction
2022 2.1 tons reduction
2023 2.2 tons reduction

[Case Study] Efforts to Reduce the Use of Substances Subject to the PRTR Act

CITIZEN FINEDEVICE

At both the headquarters and the Kawaguchiko Plant, 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, kerosene (xylene and trimethylbenzene) and cyanide compounds were reduced by 35% and 51%, respectively, compared to FY2018.

Graph

Reduction of kerosene use

[Case Study] Substitution of 1-Bromopropane

CITIZEN WATCH MANUFACTURING

CITIZEN WATCH MANUFACTURING Tohoku Kitakami Plant uses a cleaning solution with 1-bromopropane as its main ingredient in cleaning movement parts before plating. We have been switching washing solutions as an effort to reduce the use of 1-bromopropane, and in February 2024, we introduced an automatic hydrocarbon washing machine to discontinue its use completely.

We are currently in the process of evaluating quality with the aim of totally discontinuing the use of 1-bromopropane by the end of FY2023 and expect to reach zero use in FY2024. Moreover, the introduction of the hydrocarbon washing machine will lead to energy savings and a reduction in environmental impact.

Photo

Cleaning work in the clean room