Prior to constructing manufacturing facilities, Kioxia Group considers the impact of the construction on the surrounding environment, conducts an environmental assessment, and takes all necessary precautions. Additionally, after construction is completed, we monitor various parameters in the surrounding environment such as noise and wastewater levels, and conduct surveys of the ecosystem to ensure that the surrounding environment has not been adversely affected by the construction.
Environmental Protection System
Environmental Protection Structure
To ensure efficient and sustained environmental preservation activities, each manufacturing site of Kioxia Group in Japan has established environmental preservation procedures overseen by a General Manager with clearly defined responsibilities and authority. An Environment Management Committee deliberates environmental preservation issues across the entire spectrum of environmental activities, including environmental management systems, policies and objectives. We have further established a Compliance Committee to supervise and ensure full compliance with all relevant environmental laws and ordinances.
Environmental Protection Structure (Using Kioxia Corporation’s Yokkaichi Plant as an Example)
- EMS: Environmental Management System.
Measures to prevent pollution at environmental facilities
Kioxia Group has established “Environmental Structural Guidelines” for facilities such as wastewater treatment plants; these are aimed at preventing and reducing the risk of contamination caused by chemical leaks.
Examples
Waste gas scrubber
Structures and specifications aimed at ensuring stable processing
Overhead piping (no buried piping)
Reduces the risk of soil contamination
Drainage dike
Prevents wastewater from leaking underground or into public water areas.
Wastewater treatment
Stable processing system that prevents discharge of wastewater
Double piping joints
Monitoring and prevention of liquid leakages
Six-sided inspections
Six-sided inspections quickly uncover abnormalities at an early stage
Status of water and air quality management
In each of our domestic manufacturing operations, we monitor water and air quality on a daily basis using voluntary standards that are more stringent than the prevailing legal requirements, in order to minimize the environmental impact of our business operations.
Around-the-clock automated monitoring is conducted in respect of legally regulated items such as NOx (nitrogen oxide), SOx (sulfur oxide), T-N (total nitrogen), T-P (total phosphorus), COD (chemical oxygen demand), SS (suspended solids), F (fluorine), and pH (power of hydrogen) levels.
To further strengthen our monitoring of water and air quality, we also voluntarily control items not subject to legal restrictions through sampling conducted at Analysis Centers located within our manufacturing plants. Kioxia Corporation’s Yokkaichi Plant tests around 45,000 air and water samples per year, with Kioxia Iwate Corporation testing around 16,000. In FY2023, Kioxia Group was not subject to any government fines or penalties related to conservation of the environment in respect of issues such as water or air quality. Please refer to the environmental reports created by each manufacturing site for more detailed results.
Environmental considerations in the construction of new buildings
Environmental Facility Audit
Kioxia Group’s audit teams conduct annual environmental audits of its manufacturing sites based on the following principles: the three “Zen (all)” approach (all aspects, all facilities, all staff), the three “Gen (actual)” approach (actual place, actual product, actual reality), and visual control approach (look, visualize, show).
The environmental facility audits conducted by in-house auditors target eight facilities, including wastewater treatment plants subject to legal regulations. The audits ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations as well as the measurement and management of regulated substances, and adherence to the “4S” approach (sorting, straightening up, sanitation, sweeping) at each facility. Preventive measures and improvements are implemented in order to address any identified issues. Additionally, through our internal training program, we develop experts focused on risk management and improve the quality of their audits.
Kioxia Group’s Environmental Facility Audit System Diagram
Cooperation with outside contractors
The Kioxia Group has established processes to manage and supervise outside contractors responsible for off-site waste processing and reuse, ensuring appropriate handling. Kioxia Corporation regularly monitors relevant sites, checking the operation of treatment facilities, the storage of goods, and business documentation. During monitoring in FY2023, we did not uncover any issues at these sites.
