Environmental Conservation | Seiko NPC Corporation

Environmental
conservation

The Nasushiobara Unit is adjacent to Nikko National Park, which is surrounded by a rich natural environment.
In order to protect and harmonize with this natural environment, we constructed and have operated under the ISO14001 environmental management system since the inception of the plant.
Since the plant is adjacent to a national park, environmental standards are set stricter than the national standards, but in addition to observing these standards, the company has established even stricter voluntary standards to protect the environment.

Environmental Policy

Basic philosophy: Seiko NPC aims at corporate activities and growth in comformity with its environment. Through developing, manufacturing and selling semiconductor products, Seiko NPC contributes to realize sustainable recycling-oriented society which reduces burden on the earth, so that we can continue to live together with natural environment.

Action policy

Seiko NPC not only observes laws and regulations but also pays close attention to and copes exactly with environmental trends and movements.
Seiko NPC promotes to realize recycling-oriented society by effectively applying environmental management system.
Seiko NPC not only makes efforts to reduce burden on environment, but also continues activities on valuing and saving limited energy and resources.
Seiko NPC challenges to develop innovative technologies and products which realize recyling-oriented society.
Seiko NPC makes positive efforts to collaborate and cooperate with stakeholders on environmental problems, as well as improving awareness of its employees through in-house training and education.

ISO14001: Seiko NPC acquired ISO14001 certification in March 1996.

<Scope of application>

Applicable office：Seiko NPC Corporation Nasushiobara Unit

Applicable organization：Applies to all people working at the Nasushiobara Unit.

Applicable business：Applies to environmental conservation activities related to plant site, buildings and equipment used for LSI design, manufacturing, service and business.

First registration date:
March 29, 1996Issuance date:
March 29, 2023Expiration date:
March 29, 2026Certification body:
SGSCertificate
No.JP08/070252

Streamlining energy use

We are actively working to streamline our energy use.
We have also been selected since 2015 as an excellent S-class business establishment in the Business Operators Classification Evaluation System of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Tree-planting activities

At the Nasushiobara Unit, tall trees such as pine and oak have been planted, as well as various flowering trees such as plums, cherry blossoms, azaleas, and hydrangeas and these express the changing seasons.
We engage in planned pruning, tree disinfection, and other maintenance, and based on the idea that if we cut down one large tree that is at risk of falling or one old dead tree, we plant one new green tree, we will continue to have a factory surrounded by greenery.

Protecting endangered species

We found three strains of the endangered golden orchid (cephalanthera falcata) in one corner of the premises of the Nasushiobara Unit. In addition, we have confirmed a large number of silver orchid (cephalanthera erecta) in the vicinity.
Golden orchid is a plant (perennial) in the orchid family that grows near the base of beech and pine trees in lightly forested mountains that are not exposed to direct sunlight, and reaches a height of about 30 to 70 cm.
Golden orchid and silver orchid have very similar characteristics and are often seen in the vicinity. Since they absorb nutrients produced by fungi that parasitize the roots of trees, they have a symbiotic relationship with trees and cannot grow except under certain conditions.
In the past, it was not unusual to see golden orchids growing in clusters in thickets, but in recent years the population has declined and there is concern that they may become extinct in the future, so the Ministry of the Environment has designated these as a Class II Endangered Species.
When you find a wild golden orchid or silver orchid, do not take it home, instead leave it as is.

Period of flowering

January

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December

Golden Orchid

Silver Orchid

History of Environmental conservation Activities

1993	Elimination of specified CFCs and trichloroethane
1995	Excellent Energy Management Factory Award is received from the Director of the Kanto Industrial Bureau
1996	ISO 14001 environmental management system certification is obtained
1998	Start of recycling as cement material of inorganic sludge that had been disposed of
1999	Start of in-house power generation using a co-generation system fueled by LPG
2000	Incinerator decommissioned due to enactment of the Act on Special Measures against Dioxins
2001	Excellent Energy Management Factory Award received from the Director General of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
2001	Start of recycling as cement material of acid sludge waste
2003	Achievement of lead-free in all products
2003	Achievement of 100% industrial waste recycling rate, ongoing
2005	Team Minus 6% (Challenge 25 Campaign) activity expansion
2006	Switch to intermittent operation of co-generation system, reducing CO2 emissions to 60% of the 2005 level
2008	Annual power consumption is reduced by 3% by optimizing (downsizing) nitrogen generating equipment
2010	Global warming measures activities are promoted and certified by Tochigi Prefecture as an Eco Keeper office.
2011	In response to the power use restriction order after the Great East Japan Earthquake, implemented a joint scheme within the group by generating power with a co-generation system, achieving a 15% reduction in the amount of power purchased.
2013	Recertified as an Eco-Keeper office by Tochigi Prefecture (2nd time)
2014	The roof of the factory building is repainted with heat-shielding paint to save energy by reducing the air conditioning load.
2015	Completely stopped co-generation system, reduced LPG use to zero, and installed uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in factory
2016	In-factory air conditioning equipment (turbo chiller) is upgraded to energy-saving type to reduce power consumption, recertified as an Eco-Keeper office by Tochigi Prefecture (3rd time)
2017	Power consumption is reduced by upgrading the screw compressor
2018	Electric power consumption is reduced by updating nitrogen generation equipment
2019	Recertified as an Eco-Keeper office by Tochigi Prefecture (4th time)
2020	Wafer cleaning equipment is upgraded to reduce use of chemicals for cleaning
2021	Registered with the Tochigi SDGs promotion company registration system
2022	Recertified as an Eco-Keeper office by Tochigi Prefecture (5th time)
2023	Reduce CO2 emissions to 50% compared to FY2022 by outsourcing the wafer processing