Environmental Report

Realization of a Recycling-oriented Society

In addition to conventional efforts to reduce the amount of waste generated through continuation of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), we are working to improve the efficient use rate of waste by introducing a finer classification of waste, thereby promoting circulation of resources.

Reducing Waste

The LINTEC Group is working to reduce waste through various efforts, such as revising manufacturing conditions to lower the number of defective products and improve yield, promoting active reuse by collecting product core rolls and pallets used for shipment, and reducing the amount of raw materials used by introducing lighter and simplified packing materials.

Efforts for Zero Emissions

We make efforts to achieve a zero landfill disposal rate, including identifying the disposal method of each disposal firm (material recycling, thermal recycling, landfilling) and searching for firms capable of their effective use, switching to recyclable raw materials, and fine classification of waste.

  • Zero emissions: LINTEC’s standard is a final landfill disposal rate (= Final landfill disposal amount/Amount of waste generated × 100) of 1% or less.

Flow of waste (FY2022)

Flow of waste (FY2022)

Waste discharge

Waste discharge

Circular Economy

To achieve a sustainable economy and sustainable environments, we are promoting a transition to a circular economy, in which resources are circulated from product production to product use and then to recycling, with product design that limits the generation of waste and pollution from products and production, and the effective use of recycled materials to reduce consumption of new resources. In response to the April 2022 enforcement of the Plastic Resource Circulation Act, which responds to the issues of marine plastic waste, climate change, and tightened regulations on waste imports in other countries, we will work on initiatives to reduce the amount of plastic used at the stages of design and manufacturing, reduce the amount discharged, and recycle plastic.

3R Efforts

Efforts to Reduce (reduce amount of waste)

The LINTEC Group promote a paperless office by introducing an electronic approval system via the in-house intranet and by other means. Together with the Research Center, each plant is making efforts to improve manufacturing technology and yield to reduce the number of defective products. Each plant is also striving to reduce input resources in accordance with production plans designed to downsize the furnace for preparing application liquids, reduce the width of raw material rolls used in the paper passing process, and ensure continuous production for products that use similar raw materials.

Efforts to Reuse (use repeatedly)

We clean pallets used within the LINTEC Group’s production sites and the cores we use for the rolls of adhesive products in process on an as-needed basis. These pallets and core rolls are reused at the sites that transfer or receive them.
LINTEC also promotes reuse practices involving customers and raw material manufacturers. We manage the pallets of customers and raw material manufacturers after sorting them by owner, and return them to their original owners to ensure that they can be reused.

Efforts to Recycle

We bring paper waste generated at group companies in the Kanto region to our Kumagaya Plant to effectively use it internally as a raw material for thermal recycling. We ensure waste sorting and promote recycling by separating valuable materials from mixed materials that were previously processed as waste.
We are also focusing on the development of environment-friendly products, and have launched products such as base paper for straws to reduce plastic use, a PET film product made from recycled plastic bottles, an adhesive product using biomass adhesive, and others.

Sustainable Raw Material Procurement

LINTEC promotes sustainable raw material procurement in accordance with the LINTEC Procurement Policy. We confirm the stable supply of raw materials from our partners through questionnaire surveys.
In fiscal 2022, based on the survey results of the previous fiscal year, we conducted a supplier evaluation on 110 companies (142 departments) including trading firms and agencies out of our approximately 500 suppliers of raw materials. We provided feedback to the evaluated companies and requested improvement from 11 departments.
Regarding approximately 3,700 types of raw materials, we study and organize information related to their production. If an incident occurs, we will promptly identify the raw materials that may be affected and take measures so that procurement of the materials will continue.

Efforts under the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics

As the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics took effect in April 2022, we held an internal study session in July 2022, in which 254 members from all of our 29 business sites, including plants, sales offices, and group companies in Japan, participated. After organizing education and training programs and management systems, we set “Targets for Emissions Reduction, Recycling, etc.” and posted them on our sustainability website in April 2023.

  • LINTEC CORPORATION Head Office, Bunkyo Kasuga Office, Sapporo Branch, Sendai Branch, Hokuriku Branch, Shizuoka Branch, Nagoya Branch, Osaka Branch, Hiroshima Branch, Shikoku Branch, Fukuoka Branch, Kumamoto Office, Agatsuma Plant, Kumagaya Plant, Chiba Plant, Tatsuno Plant, Shingu Plant, Niihama Plant, Komatsushima Plant, Mishima Plant, Doi Plant, Ina Technology Center, Research Center, LINTEC COMMERCE, INC., LINTEC SIGN SYSTEM, INC., SHONAN LINTEC KAKO, INC., LINTEC SERVICES, INC., LINTEC CUSTOMER SERVICE, INC., TOKYO LINTEC KAKO, INC.

Targets for Emissions Reduction, Recycling, etc. under the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics

  1. Work to improve yield through revision of production processes and other measures, and reduce plastic waste.
  2. Promote simplification, weight reduction, and reuse of plastic packaging materials used for purchased raw materials and internal work in process, thereby contributing to reduction of use and discharge of plastic packaging materials both inside and outside the company.
  3. Work to reduce the use and discharge of plastic core rolls by collecting and reusing plastic core rolls used for product shipment.

The amount of discharge and recycling rate of industrial waste from products using plastic at LINTEC

  • Note:Organizations covered: LINTEC CORPORATION Head Office, 10 production sites, Research Center, 11 sales offices

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  FY2020 FY2021 FY2022
Amount of discharge (t) 3,635 3,754 3,423
Recycling rate (%) 4.4 6.2 10.9
Heat recovery rate (%) 93.3 91.5 86.7

Recycling rate (%) = Recycled amount/Amount of discharge ×100
Heat recovery rate (%) = Amount of heat recovered/Amount of discharge×100

FY2022 Amount of industrial waste discharged from products using plastic at group companies in Japan

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  Amount of discharge (t)
LINTEC COMMERCE, INC. 9.6
LINTEC SIGN SYSTEM, INC. 22.4
SHONAN LINTEC KAKO, INC. 125
LINTEC SERVICES, INC. 0
LINTEC CUSTOMER SERVICE, INC. 0.3*
TOKYO LINTEC KAKO, INC. 100.9
  • Note:Calculation period: December 2022 to March 2023

VOICE My Next Stage

The Environment Control Department serves as the company-wide secretariat, the central management function of the group’s integrated ISO 14001 (environmental management system), and is committed to reducing waste from group companies both inside and outside Japan in relation to ISO 14001 activities. We conducted internal training on waste management starting five years ago for the purpose of raising employees’ awareness and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. A total of 583 members from the plants and sales offices of LINTEC and its group companies in Japan have participated in the training, to promote group-wide proper management of waste.
Under the slogan “waste when mixed is a resource when separated,” we have classified waste into 40 to 60 categories, which is double to triple the initial classification, and promoted recycling by converting waste into valuable materials.
In addition, in line with enforcement of the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics in April 2022, we worked to reduce discharge and promote recycling of plastic waste through efforts to improve yield and reduce the use of packaging materials. Furthermore, we have shifted our focus from reduction of waste to establishment of a recycling-oriented economic system, aiming to reduce the weight of raw materials and packaging materials used for products, understand the disposal methods employed by waste disposal firms, and promote effective use of waste in cooperation with suppliers.
We will continue to promote recycling of waste and make group-wide efforts to achieve zero landfill disposal toward the realization of a recycling-oriented economic system.

Masateru Yamakage
Masateru Yamakage
Environment Control Department, Environment and Safety Division