Environmental
Water
Initiatives to effectively utilize water resources
The HOYA Group endeavors to effectively utilize water resources by reusing water and reducing water usage on a global scale, in accordance with its Fundamental Environmental Policies.
Water usage reduction targets
The HOYA Group is working to reduce water consumption by setting targets for each business division, taking into consideration the water consumption status of each business unit. In order to further accelerate these efforts, the HOYA Group has set water targets for the Group. We are working to review production processes and improve the water reuse rate by setting individual targets and creating roadmaps, focusing on sites with large water intake volumes and sites with high water stress risk.
HOYA Group water consumption (water intake volume) per-unit target:
16% reduction in water intake per number of products produced* by fiscal 2030 (versus the base year of fiscal 2021). However, we will endeavor to keep total water intake volume below the base year level.
* Number of products produced based on an internally established conversion method to combine operations manufacturing different products
Water stress assessment
Water is one of the important resources in the production activities of the HOYA Group, and in particular, the MD Division (HDD glass substrates) and VC Division (eyeglass lenses) use a large amount of water in their production processes. Based on our basic environmental policy, the HOYA Group is striving to make effective use of water resources by promoting the reuse of water and reduction of water usage on a global basis. Water stress risk was assessed for each production site using the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas. Sites identified as high risk collaborate with the Environment, Health and Safety Department at the head office to formulate countermeasures such as reducing water consumption and focus on implementing these measures.
Water intake
Water intake
Water reuse ratio
Water intake volume is calculated based on the amount of municipal water, industrial water, and groundwater used at production sites using the HOYA Group's common compilation form.
Water intake volume in fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023 have been reduced due to production adjustments in some operations in response to a temporary decrease in customer demand. We assume that total water intake volume will trend upward in the future. The Group will continue its initiatives to achieve the target of water intake per unit of production, while keeping the total volume of water intake below the base year level.
Initiatives to reuse water
Initiatives to effectively utilize water resources are being carried out in each business segment. In the photomask manufacturing process, cleaning is performed by using ultrapure water to remove various chemicals and foreign matter. The used water undergoes a process at an effluent treatment facility to be rendered harmless, some of which is subsequently collected and reused. The ultrapure water recycling facility, which consists of adsorbents and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, makes it possible to reuse water by removing impurities.
Recycling of ultrapure water in photomask manufacturing process