Reduction, recycling, and reuse of waste materials

Release Date:

2019-02-27

Author: Shengyue Electronics

To build a circular society that recovers and reuses waste as resources while minimizing landfill disposal, the entire Seiyo Group is committed to the “Zero Emissions Challenge.” Seiyo Motor’s “Zero Emissions Challenge” aims to reduce incineration and landfill waste and promote recycling, with the goal of keeping the proportion of such waste below 1.0% of total waste generated. Accordingly, in addition to reducing the volume of these wastes themselves, it is essential—and a critical priority—to repurpose the waste produced as valuable resources. Reference data: Trends in waste generation and recycling rates, thoroughly analyzed.

To build a circular society that recovers and reuses waste as resources while minimizing landfill disposal, the entire Seiyo Group is committed to the “Zero Emissions Challenge.” Seiyo Motor’s “Zero Emissions Challenge” aims to reduce incineration and landfill waste and promote recycling, with the goal of keeping the proportion of such waste below 1.0% of total waste generated. Accordingly, in addition to minimizing waste generation itself, it is essential—and an indispensable priority—to repurpose the waste produced as valuable resources.

Reference Data: Trends in the Quantity of Waste Disposal and Recycling Status

Thoroughly separate waste materials.

Recycling cannot be achieved without proper waste sorting. To ensure that anyone can sort waste easily and accurately, clearly designed sorting signage has been developed and installed, promoting thorough on-site segregation of waste streams.

Resource management for motor raw materials involves segregating the raw materials of various components and selecting dedicated processing contractors for each type. Currently, in Japan, we entrust two companies with recycling and disposal; at our overseas facilities, depending on the country, certain waste streams cannot be recycled. We are actively identifying and engaging new service providers to achieve early implementation of recycling and proper waste management.

Measures of the Head Office

Reuse of kitchen waste and other materials

In 2006, the head office initiated the recycling of kitchen waste by identifying and partnering with recycling operators, successfully converting kitchen waste into animal feed and compost. As a result, 100% of the kitchen waste generated at the head office is now recycled. Additionally, leaf litter and small branches from the head office premises were previously disposed of by incineration; through composting, these materials are now also fully recycled.

Reuse of Materials Related to Garden Ecological Communities

In 2007, to prevent the sludge generated during routine cleaning of the garden‑ecological community within the head office’s premises from becoming an environmental burden, we commissioned a recycling‑oriented contractor and properly treated 4.6 tons of sludge from that community. Moving forward, we will continue to recycle the sludge produced during annual scheduled cleanings, striving to further reduce our environmental impact.

Factory measures

Previously, after improvement

To facilitate the installation of various components, a chamfer is machined at the front end of the motor shaft (*1). This chamfering process uses a stone‑based grinding method to refine the shaft’s tip, generating substantial sludge containing abrasive particles, which was previously disposed of as industrial waste. Reassessing the conventional grinding approach from the perspective of waste reduction, the company switched to a forging process, thereby cutting annual sludge generation from approximately 8.6 tons to 1.7 tons—a 80.4% reduction. As a result of this sludge reduction, the wastewater treatment system has also been simplified.

Going forward, we will continue to adhere to Shengyue Group’s Environmental Policy and actively promote waste reduction initiatives.

(*1) Shaft: An essential component that outputs the rotational power of the motor and transmits this power to the assembly.

Measures in the logistics sector

In the logistics sector, efforts are focused on reusing polystyrene foam packaging materials used to ship products to customers. In 2007, approximately 7 tons of such materials were reused. In recent years, the use of reusable returnable containers has been promoted, with ongoing initiatives to reduce waste generation.

Furthermore, to reduce CO2 emissions associated with the collection and transportation of reused packaging materials, we are implementing a recycling‑and‑processing system at locations close to our customers, starting within Japan.