Waste Reduction Efforts

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Environmental Activities

Environmental Initiatives | Environmental Protection Goals | Climate Change Initiatives | Conserving Water | Waste Reduction Efforts | Chemical Substance Use | Eco-Product Initiatives | Eco-Communication Initiatives | Biodiversity Conservation Activities | Environmental Data and Third-Party Verification

Waste Management Initiatives

Waste Management Policy

Renesas strives to reduce, reuse or recycle as much waste as possible. Our waste management methodology is based on proper sorting and safety treatment. All of our production sites adhere to environmental action guidelines and local regulations.

Basic Concept and Target

Waste Recycling
90%
or more

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Renesas Group is focusing on the 3Rs ("Reuse," "Reduce," and Recycle") to maintain the waste recycling rate at *90% or more globally. We diligently implement these "3Rs" during manufacturing and intend to reuse all the waste generated derived from our business activities as resources as a mid-term goal.    

^{*Recycling rate (%) = 100 - (Final disposal amount ÷ Total amount of waste & valuable emissions) x 100. Proper processing, such as thermal recycling and neutralization treatment, is also included.}

The 3Rs Activity Overview

Reuse

Renesas uses plastic packaging materials (trays and magazines) for product shipments. We have a reusable infrastructure (collection-cleaning-inspection system) in place at our Japanese and overseas production sites to ensure those materials are efficiently reused. Carrier tape, cardboard and wafer cases are also being reused for other applications.

Reduce and Recycle

During manufacturing and factory design processes, we are making efforts to minimize waste generation as much as possible and promote waste recycling by working together with companies in other sectors. For example, cement manufacturers are using sludge we generate from the effluent treatment as roadbed and cement materials. Metals are also reused for material steel manufacturing, and paper as raw materials are converted to recycled paper. We are also recycling scrap wafers generated during the production process and final products that are considered defective.

* Including scrap wafers generated during the production process and products that are considered defective.
 

The 3Rs Performance

Waste emissions in 2021 increased 14% for reasons including increased semiconductor production, waste from closed production sites, and fire recovery-related emissions. Most of the domestic waste was reused, recycled or properly treated through intermediate processing, and the ratio for the final landfill disposal amount (final disposal amount) was 0.12%.

From a global perspective, the ratio of landfill disposal (final disposal amount) was higher than that of Japan, which was 42%. As a result, the waste recycling rate at our global bases has reached 92.2%, which meets our goal of maintaining the index of 90% or higher.
 

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Waste Reduction Initiatives

In 2021, Renesas Group achieved a waste reduction of 1,143 tons (including 263 tons of waste plastic reduction) in Japan.

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In 2022, Renesas continues to implement following initiatives.

FY2022 Major Initiatives (including ongoing activities) 

[Reduction of plastic waste (Response to the new Plastic Resource Circulation Act in Japan)]

• Reusing or recycling of plastic packaging materials (tray) and plastic cases
• Reducing plastic waste by increasing the size of BGA package
• Reducing the amount of cushioning material used in cardboard shipping boxes by promoting full cartoning. (Reduction of waste plastic generated by customers) *Fractional packing for small orders.

[Overall waste reduction activities]

• Valuable waste liquid and activities to reduce the amount of wastewater treatment sludge
• Promotion of waste reduction activities among teams participating from all Japanese sites

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Environmental Pollution and Laws and Regulations

Renesas Group is committed to proper management and disposal in accordance with relevant waste laws and regulations.

Initiatives for the "Plastic Resource Recycling Promotion Law (Japan)"

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Amount of waste plastic (ton, excluding valuable, Japan)

Preventing Soil Pollution

When harmful chemicals are passed into and accumulated in the soil, there are concerns about their negative impact on human health, crops, and ecosystems. In an effort to prevent harmful chemical substances from being passed into the soil, we systematically implement measures to reduce the risk of chemical leakage and to prevent permeation into the soil in the unlikely event of leaks.

Furthermore, in our annual environmental audits, we confirm the management status of chemical substances, including the storage locations of chemical substances and the management status of facilities used, and the status of response procedures in the event of leaks, and actively propose measures to further reduce risks.

Facilities that have already taken measures

• Concrete work at the bottom of the outdoor pluming stand (Naka Factory), etc.
   

Contributing to SDGs

Renesas’ efforts in Waste Reduction contributes to these Sustainable Development Goals targets:

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3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

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11.6 By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

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12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally- sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment

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12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

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15.3 By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world

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15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development