Resource Conservation and Recycling Measures
NSK’s Approach
The NSK Group aims to use raw materials and other required resources efficiently by reducing, reusing, and recycling them (the 3Rs). In this way, we strive to do our part in building a recycling-oriented society. Our development and design divisions work hard to create easily recyclable products that conserve raw materials by designing products that are lighter and last longer. Our manufacturing divisions improve tools and molds and treat in-house waste liquids to make effective use of resources such as steel. Our distribution divisions reduce waste emissions by reusing packaging, among other initiatives. Across the company, we do our utmost to reduce, reuse, and recycle, with the goal of eliminating waste sent to incinerators/landfills.
An examination of our water needs revealed that the NSK Group is unlikely to be subjected to restrictions on water use, in light of the locations of our business sites and the volume of water we use. Still, in preparation for future risks, we strive to reduce water usage by taking measures including cyclical use of cooling water and switching to air cooling, and reusing wastewater after purification treatment in manufacturing divisions. In addition, to ensure the proper disposal of waste, we visit and check the sites of contracted industrial waste processors and strive to enhance management using information systems.
Practicing the 3Rs at the NSK Group
Targets and Performance
Sixth Mid-Term Management Plan Targets (FY2019–2021) and the FY2021 Targets and Performance
Sixth Mid-Term Management Plan targets | FY2021 targets | FY2021 performance | Initiatives | |
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Development | Continue to reduce steel waste | Reduce waste of materials by changing processing methods | Reduced waste of materials by changing processing methods |
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Procurement | − | − | − |
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Manufacturing | Industrial waste per unit of sales 4% reduction from FY2017 | Industrial waste per unit of sales 4% reduction from FY2017 | Industrial waste per unit of sales Increased by 9.5% from FY2017 |
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Recycling rate 99% | Recycling rate 99% | Recycling rate 98.8% | ||
Water withdrawal per unit of sales 4% reduction from FY2017 | Water withdrawal per unit of sales 4% reduction from FY2017 | Water withdrawal per unit of sales Increased by 5.8% from FY2017 | ||
Distribution (Japan) | Packaging waste per production unit 15% reduction from FY2017 | Packaging waste per production unit 15% reduction from FY2017 | Industrial waste per unit of sales Increased by 45.3% from FY2017 |
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Initiatives
Production Process Initiatives
Improved Steel Consumption Efficiency by Forging the Nuts for Large-Size Ball Screws
When manufacturing ball screws used in machine tools, electric injection molding machines, and other machinery, a nut is machined to the shape that meets the customer's specifications and combined with the screw's shaft for shipping.
Previously, when manufacturing nuts, a machine was used to shave off the excess portion from a cylindrical piece of steel that matched a flange with the nut’s largest diameter. NSK has now reduced the volume of steel used by 44% from that prior to the improvement by employing a forging process with a smaller-diameter piece of steel.
Reducing Grinding Waste Liquid
About 40% of the NSK Group’s waste is waste liquid generated during the grinding process, and we are taking steps to reduce this waste liquid. We are working to reduce waste liquid by installing distillation concentrators, and high-performance concentration and drying equipment that can dry liquids in a short amount of time. Some of the distilled water is reused to cool the facilities with the aim of effectively utilizing resources, and the concentrated waste liquid is recycled outside the Company as fuel or another resource.
The waste liquid distillation concentrator deployed to Amatsuji Steel Ball Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Shiga plant)
Reuse of Plastic Bags
At the NSK Group, we are working hard to reduce the amount of plastic we use. NSK Bearings Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. used to dispose of plastic bags serving as packaging material after just one use when parts were delivered from suppliers. Now, the company uses them one more time if they are not too soiled, and has saved 1,000 plastic bags.
Recycling Plastic Containers
Plastic waste has become a social problem, with enormous impacts on marine ecosystems. Plastic accounts for only about 1% of the NSK Group’s waste, but we still work hard to reduce waste plastic. One of our initiatives is closed-loop recycling of plastic containers (returnable containers) in Japan.
Closed-Loop Recycling System
Reusing Water Resources
PT. AKS Precision Ball Indonesia has built a new waste water treatment facility and been reusing the treated water. Treated water is used for cleaning floors, watering plants, and filling cooling towers.
Waste water treatment facility at AKS Precision Ball Indonesia
Distribution Process Initiatives
Reducing Waste Materials
Reduce, reuse, and recycle constitutes an initiative that the distribution division undertakes on a global scale as the Company endeavors to reduce waste materials.
In the Americas, after unpacking imported items, the packaging materials had previously been treated as waste, which became landfill. From fiscal 2020, this waste has been sold to a vendor, and through incineration it is reused as energy (thermal recycling).
In Europe, the wooden pallets used in shipping from Japan, being of a different size than standard European pallets (“EUR-pallet”), had been unable to be reused and were disposed of as waste. In fiscal 2020, however, the Company commenced returning these wooden pallets to the Japan, Asia, or Oceania regions, and subsequently they are being reused for inter-regional shipping. In this way, our operations in Europe were able to cut wasted pallets by around 70% from the previous fiscal year.
A reused wooden pallet