Initiatives for Resource Recycling

Astellas recognizes that since the use of sustainable resources is essential for continuing its business activities, it must play an active role in the creation of a recycling-oriented society. We have established an Environmental Action Plan and are moving forward with steps to effectively use water resources and recycle waste materials (reuse, recycling, and use of all thermal energy) as initiatives contributing to a recycling-oriented society.

Effective Use of Water Resources

Effective Use of Water Resource

The effective use of water resources serves as a useful indicator for gauging society’s impact on biodiversity. Astellas assesses the relationship between water resources and economic activity using a water resource productivity index, and has been striving to improve this index. Water resource productivity for fiscal 2022 improved significantly by 48% compared with the base year of fiscal 2016.

Changes in Volume of Water Resources Withdrawn and Revenue

		Fiscal 2016	Fiscal 2020	Fiscal 2021	Fiscal 2022
Volume of water resource withdrawn (1,000 m3)		8,774	7,564	7,394	6,864
Japan	Surface water	7,705	6,932	6,737	6,231
	Groundwater	758	436	458	434
	Others	-	-	-	-
US	Surface water	146	24	53	55
	Groundwater	-	-	-	-
	Others	-	-	-	-
Established Markets	Surface water	145	151	128	129
	Groundwater	-	-	-	-
	Others	-	-	-	-
Greater China	Surface water	21	21	19	15
	Groundwater	-	-	-	-
	Others	-	-	-	-
International Markets	Surface water	-	-	-	-
	Groundwater	-	-	-	-
	Others	-	-	-	-
Revenue (billions of yen)		1,312	1,250	1,296	1,519
Water resource productivity (billions of yen／1,000 m3)		0.15	0.17	0.18	0.22
Improvement from Base-year		-	11%	17%	48%

Target: production facilities and R&D sites
* The indicators subject to independent assurance are the volume of water resource withdrawn and water resource productivity.

Recycling of Water and Reducing Water Consumption

Astellas’ operations use only water drawn from surface water and groundwater. Water used in work operations is treated in accordance with wastewater discharging standards and returned to an aquatic environment. In addition, Astellas is continuously working to reduce water consumption while minimizing process wastewater. The amount of water recycled is almost equivalent to the entire amount of water intake.

Risk Assessments

Water is indispensable for Astellas’ research and production activities. Each business site obtains necessary government approval to use water, and wastewater is discharged after being treated to satisfy wastewater discharging standards. In fiscal 2022, there were no cases of non-compliance with regulations at each business site.
Moreover, Astellas uses Aqueduct provided by World Resources Institute to analyze water risks specific to the operating regions where its plants and other facilities are located.
The Astellas Group on a global basis does not currently withdraw water from water bodies in areas concerned with water resource depletion. As water risks may emerge in the future as a result of climate change, we are conducting risk analysis and taking steps to minimize our dependence on such resources, and also regard this as an effective means of ensuring business continuity.

Waste Management

Waste Management 

Astellas is promoting efforts to reduce the waste landfill volume to as close to zero as possible through the proactive recycling and reuse of waste materials. Moreover, Astellas also evaluates the relationship between the waste generation volume and economic activities with the index known as the Waste generated per unit, and the Company is making efforts to improve it.
In fiscal 2022, the waste generated per unit improved 16% over the base year (fiscal 2016).

Changes in Waste Generation Volume and Revenue 

	Fiscal 2016	Fiscal 2020	Fiscal 2021	Fiscal 2022
Waste generation volume (Tons)	13,899	14,352	13,882	13,544
Japan	11,836	10,714	10,158	9,787
US	54	361	576	783
Established Markets	1,956	3,228	3,043	2,866
Greater China	54	50	105	109
International Markets	-	-	-	-
Revenue(billions of yen)	1,312	1,250	1,296	1,519
Waste generated per unit (Tons/billions of yen)	10.6	11.5	10.7	8.9
Improvement from Base-year	-	-8%	-1%	16%

Target: production facilities and R&D sites
*The indicators subject to independent assurance are the waste generation volume and waste generated per unit.

Waste Management in the Value Chain

In waste management, it is also important to prevent environmental pollution being caused by hazardous waste generated by research centers and manufacturing plants and the illegal disposal of that waste. As a means of prevention, we first examine appropriate methods of waste disposal, and then conduct regular on-site assessment that waste treatment contractors are using appropriate waste treatment methods.

State of High-Concentrate PCB-contaminated Waste Storage

We have been systematically conducting detoxification of any high-concentrate PCB-contaminated equipment that is stored by Astellas. Load-figure registrations for all items stored at each of our business facilities have been completed, and the waste storage situation at the end of March 2023 was as follows. We plan to treat the entire amount by the end of fiscal 2023.

State of high-concentrate PCB-contaminated Waste Storage