Ensuring Product and Chemical Substance Safety
Systems for Eliminating Chemical Substance Risks
Prior Risk Assessment of Chemical Substances
Using its unique system to achieve the appropriate management of chemicals
Risk assessment of candidate materials
Konica Minolta has established a system that assesses the risk of candidate materials when considering the use of new chemicals in the process of creating products. Using this system, the Group practices appropriate management based on comprehensive chemical risk assessment in terms of product safety, environmental safety, and work safety.
Designation of prohibited and restricted chemical substances
Konica Minolta designates prohibited and restricted chemicals based on its own criteria in order to eliminate chemicals with unacceptable hazards in the prior risk assessment carried out before the adoption of a chemical substance. These criteria include not only chemicals regulated by law, but also chemicals recognized as significantly hazardous by specialized institutions.
Risk management that envisions substance usage
Since risks differ depending on the form of exposure, Konica Minolta classifies substances into five categories that envision usage, ranging from use under strict safety controls (e.g., at production sites) to use by the general public, which cannot be assumed to take safety measures. It then specifies safety requirements according to the different risks in order to carry out more practical risk management.
Risk assessment during continual use
Even after incorporating a chemical into the production process following risk assessment, Konica Minolta checks periodically to make sure that there are no changes in the amount used or the conditions of use. If there are any changes, a risk assessment is performed again to ensure appropriate management.
Reducing Chemicals
Reducing VOCs based on Konica Minolta's own risk management indicators
Konica Minolta assesses risk based on a chemical's hazardousness and amount of use and is committed to finding alternatives and reducing those substances judged to have a high risk. Since 1993 it has been making efforts to reduce atmospheric emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from production sites worldwide.
Reducing atmospheric emissions of VOCs
Konica Minolta is systematically reducing VOCs in line with its own environmental impact index, which multiplies the impact on the human body and the environment by a location coefficient as a management indicator. Each site has established reduction goals in line with the Sustainable Factory Certification System and is working to achieve them.
See Environmental Data (Excel) in ESG Data for more information
| Hazard coefficient | Example of substances | |
|---|---|---|
| Substances that pose a risk to human health Substances that pose a risk to ecosystems Substances that pose a risk of atmospheric pollution |
×100 | 1, 2-dichloroethane |
| ×10 | dichloromethane, ethyl acrylate, n-heptane | |
| Substances that pose a risk of having an indirect adverse impact on the environment | ×1 | isopropyl alcohol, methanol, ethanol, acetone, ethyl acetate |
- *
- Environmental impact index: An index unique to Konica Minolta.
Environmental impact index (point) = Atmospheric emissions of VOCs [t] × Hazard coefficient × Location coefficient
Hazard coefficient: Set at 1-fold, 10-fold, or 100-fold depending on the severity of the impact on human health and the environment (set independently by Konica Minolta based on the coefficient used in the safety evaluations conducted by Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan)
Location coefficient: Outside the industrial park: 5; inside the industrial park: 1
See Environmental Data (Excel) in ESG Data for more information
Countermeasures against Contamination of Soil and Ground Water
Striving to manage the state of contamination through regular monitoring, to facilitate cleanup, and to prevent the spread of contamination
At sites where soil or groundwater contamination has been discovered, Konica Minolta is carrying out purification of contamination and taking measures to prevent contaminants from affecting the surrounding area and from leaking outside the premises.
We continuously conduct regular groundwater monitoring and report both the results of our purification efforts and the progress of monitoring results to the local government for their confirmation.
Dealing with Asbestos
Konica Minolta is conducting a survey into the usage of sprayed asbestos in the buildings of all its sites and affiliated companies in Japan. It had confirmed that there are no health risks for exposure to residual asbestos. Going forward, it will continue to systematically remove the asbestos.
Dealing with PCBs
Konica Minolta ensures the proper storage and management of PCB waste at all domestic sites and affiliated companies in Japan to prevent leakage. It also reports the storage status to the government as required by law and continues to carry out planned disposal.
