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Together with the EnvironmentManagement of Chemical Substances

Approach

Chemical substances are indispensable for people to lead comfortable and fulfilling lives. Failure to properly manage chemical substances, however, can result in accidents that put human health and ecosystems at enormous risk. In addition to compliance with related laws and regulations, the Lion Group strives to ensure the strict management of chemical substances at all stages from product development to use and disposal in accordance with its own independent standards.

Chemical Substance Management Policy

Based on the spirit of the Lion Group Charter for Corporate Behavior, the Group has established the Chemical Substance Management Policy. This policy was formulated in light of international trends in chemical substance management and is aligned with the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). The policy stipulates that we will strive to implement sound management of chemical substances throughout their life cycles, minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health, and promote communication.

Overview

Group-Wide Management of Chemical Substances

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Chemical Substance Management Initiatives at Each Product Life Cycle Stage

1. Product Development

Selection of Chemical Substances for Use in Products

The types and amounts of chemical substances used in products are determined at the product development stage, with consideration given not only to enhancing product performance, but safety and environmental impact.

2. Chemical Substance Registration and Notifications

Japan: Complying with the Act on the Regulation of Manufacture and Evaluation of Chemical Substances

Based on the Act on the Regulation of Manufacture and Evaluation of Chemical Substances, Lion notifies the relevant authorities of the use classifications and volumes of all the general chemical substances and priority assessment chemical substances it manufactures or imports (with exceptions based on the provisions of the Act, such as for substances manufactured or imported in quantities of less than one ton per year).As needed, our chemicals departments also notify the relevant authorities of the use classifications and volumes of small-volume and low-volume new chemical substances it manufactures or imports. We will continue to gather information about the volumes and uses of manufactured or imported chemical substances and file proper notifications.

EU: Complying with REACH

Our chemicals departments register chemical substances as required under the EU’s REACH*1 chemical substance management system.

*1 REACH:Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals

South Korea: Complying with K-REACH

Our chemicals departments and Lion Corporation Korea pre-register and register chemical substances under K-REACH.*2

*2 K-REACH:The common name for South Korea’s Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals

3. Production

Going forward, calls for the improvement and reinforcement of chemical substance management will grow. Accordingly, we aim to continue as well as to step up the filing of proper notifications and management of emissions volumes as required under volatile organic compound (VOC) regulations, the Water Pollution Prevention Act and the Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof.

Management of Total PRTR-Designated Substance Emissions

The PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) system is a scheme for collecting, compiling, and publishing data on the degree to which a wide variety of potentially harmful chemical substances are released into the environment from what sources, or are transported off of production sites through waste disposal.

The Company’s emissions of PRTR-designated substances have remained at approximately 2 tons since 2019.

PRTR-Designated Substance Emissions

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Air Quality-Conscious Production Activities

Lion implements initiatives to reduce emissions of chemical substances that cause air pollution, including nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX), particulate matter and VOCs. The Air Pollution Control Law designates emissions standards by type of substance and by type and scale of emitting facility, and many regional governmental bodies have established additional regulations by ordinance. In addition to complying with such laws and ordinances, each plant has formed strict agreements with local municipalities and established strict voluntary standards, in accordance with which we strive to prevent pollution. Furthermore, we are working to reduce emissions by such means as improving the efficiency of production processes and utilizing environmentally friendly equipment, such as nitrogen and sulfur scrubbers.

Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides (NOX), Sulfur Oxides (SOX) and Particulate Matter

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VOC Emissions

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Water Quality-Conscious Production Activities

A maximum limit on COD*1 of 160mg/L (and a daily average of 120 mg/L) has been set by law as a uniform standard within environmental standards related to water pollution per the Water Pollution Prevention Act and Sewerage Act. Lion meticulously complies with these regulations in its business activities. Furthermore, Lion aims for even stricter wastewater quality management, and some of our operating sites have formed agreements with local governments to maintain a COD limit stricter than the uniform standard. By stabilizing the operations of the wastewater treatment facility, performing regular maintenance and improving treatment methods, we are working to further reduce COD in wastewater emissions.

*1 COD
Chemical oxygen demand. An indicator of water contamination. Indicates the amount of oxygen that will be consumed in the oxidization and decomposition of the organic matter content of the water.

Utilizing SDSs

Lion prepares safety data sheets (SDSs)*2 on its chemical products and provides them to its customers. We also receive SDSs on all the raw materials we use from our suppliers. These SDSs are listed in a database to be used effectively.

*2SDSs
Safety data sheets. Documents providing information about the environmental impact of, safety precautions regarding and the appropriate handling of chemical products, aimed at preventing accidents caused by chemical substances.

4. Transportation

Provision of Safety Information during Transportation

In case of an accident during the transportation of raw materials or intermediate products, Lion provides information to carriers about emergency response by distributing and attaching yellow cards and container yellow cards to shipments*

* Yellow cards and container yellow cards
Yellow-colored emergency contact cards providing information about the properties of and emergency response methods regarding chemical substances in case of leaks of other issues during transportation. Yellow cards are for carriers to keep with them during transportation, while container yellow cards are attached to the containers in which chemical substances are stored. Both are prepared based on voluntary industry standards determined by chemical companies.

5. Use and Disposal

Environmental Impact Surveys

After being used, the surfactants in detergents and other products are discharged into the environment. Lion takes part in the Japan Soap and Detergent Association’s environmental monitoring and risk assessment of four types of surfactants in rivers near Tokyo and Osaka, which it conducts four times a year. Furthermore, Lion conducts its own monitoring of the concentrations of the surfactants MEE* in the same watersheds, because this surfactant was developed by Lion. By doing so, we confirm that it has little impact on ecosystems.

* MEE
Methyl ester ethoxylate

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