Materiality4

Promoting Resource Circulation

Relevant SDGs

Vision

Minimizing resource consumption and maximizing resource circulation throughout the value chain

Strategy

Reducing resource consumption and waste, etc.
Effective use of water leading to reduced water withdrawal

Basic Approach

The 3Rs for Products and Packaging

As the world shifts into a circular economy, companies exist as members of society expected to consider product life cycles that prevent waste generation and reduce environmental impact to the greatest extent possible.
The Nikon Environmental Policy discusses maximizing resource efficiency by optimizing raw material usage and extending product lifespan, etc., moving away from the use of virgin resources, and considering environmental friendliness throughout the product life cycle for the circular economy. Guided by this policy, the Nikon Group engages in the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) for products and packaging in the product development and design phases.

Management and Reduction of Waste

As society transitions to the circular economy, companies are expected to reduce waste, reuse, and recycle resources, and reduce their environmental impact to the greatest extent possible.
The Nikon Group is committed to maximizing resource efficiency and minimizing waste as part of our efforts to create a circular economy. We reduce final landfill disposal of waste or recycle waste as resources, and we are committed to environmental considerations throughout the product life cycle, striving to reduce waste from product manufacturing processes and business sites.

Protection of Water Resources

Large quantities of water are used in the production processes for optical lenses, part of Nikon’s main product category, and for the quartz glass used in these lenses. For example, during the optical lens polishing process, water has to be added frequently in order to keep the polishing agent at the right consistency. Similarly, in the quartz glass production process, our waste gas purification devices require water to remove acid components from waste gases. For these reasons, water is not only an indispensable resource for Nikon Group business, but it also affects the global environment through water discharge and other means. Working to conserve water resources is therefore essential for business continuity. The Nikon Group formulated the Nikon Environmental Long-Term Vision looking ahead to fiscal year 2050. Of the three pillars, realizing a resource circulating society depicts our vision for water and resources, while realizing a healthy and environmentally safe society corresponds to our vision for water safety. To achieve these goals, the Nikon Environmental Policy stipulates the conduct of regular water risk assessments, monitoring of water withdrawal, proactive water reuse, and the establishment and compliance of voluntary standards exceeding legal requirements. In this way, we reduce our environmental impact stemming from water use to the greatest extent possible. In addition, we aim to implement steady initiatives and improve standards through employee training on water-related initiatives and related laws and regulations as part of employee environmental education.

Indicators and Targets

	FY2024 Plan	FY2024 Results	FY2025 Plan
Zero emissions	Nikon and Group manufacturing companies in Japan: Maintain Level S Group manufacturing companies in China: Maintain Level 1 Group manufacturing companies outside Japan: Implement initiatives in line with the actual conditions and circumstances of the country	Nikon and Group manufacturing companies in Japan: Maintained Level S Group manufacturing companies in China: Achieved Level S Group manufacturing companies outside Japan: Conducted disposal in accordance with respective national laws and regulations	Nikon and Group manufacturing companies in Japan: Maintain Level S Group manufacturing companies in China: Maintain Level 1 Group manufacturing companies outside Japan: Implement initiatives in line with the actual conditions and circumstances of the country
Waste reduction	Reduce total waste emissions from business activities by 4% or more compared to fiscal year 2018 (total waste emissions: 7,530 tons)	Reduce total waste emissions from business activities by 16% or more compared to fiscal year 2018 (total waste emissions: 6,531 tons)	Reduce total waste emissions from business activities by 10% or more compared to fiscal year 2018 (total waste emissions: 6993.9 tons)
Promotion of the appropriate use and effective utilization of water	Reduce freshwater consumption by at least 2% compared to fiscal year 2018 (freshwater consumption in fiscal year 2018: 1,877,000 ㎥)	Reduce freshwater consumption by at least 6.4% compared to fiscal year 2018 (freshwater consumption in fiscal year 2024: 1,756,000 ㎥)	Reduce freshwater consumption by at least 3% compared to fiscal year 2018 (freshwater consumption in fiscal year 2018: 1,877,000 ㎥)
Promotion of reduce, reuse, and recycling	1）Reduce Reduce environmental impact from products and packaging materials (reduce size, extend product life, etc.)	Reduced plastic packaging material for certain imaging products (shifted from plastic to paper)	1）Reduce Reduce environmental impact from products and packaging materials (reduce size, extend product life, etc.)
	2）Reuse Promote reuse of products, parts, materials, and packaging	Continued sales of used FPD lithography systems and used semiconductor lithography systems	1）Reuse Promote reuse of products, parts, materials, and packaging
	3）Recycle Promote use of recycled materials in products	Used recycled materials for certain imaging products	3）Recycle Promote use of recycled materials in products

Sustainability Report

For more information, refer to Promoting Resource Circulation in the Sustainability Report.

Promoting Resource Circulation（PDF:704KB）

3R for Products and Packaging

Basic Approach
Strategy
Governance
Risk Management
Major Initiatives

Management and Reduction of Waste

Basic Approach
Strategy
Governance
Risk Management
Major Initiatives

Protection of Water Resources

Basic Approach
Strategy
Governance
Risk Management
Major Initiatives