Our activities for reducing the environmental burden

Reducing environmental burden by installing solar power system

In 2021, we installed solar power system at our newly built Yoshii Logistics Warehouse, reducing CO2 emissions by 110 tons per year, and we are expanding the use of renewable energy throughout the Group, including the introduction of a solar power system at our third plant in Thailand, which started operation in March 2023.

Changing to LED Lights for Domestic Offices

The MAX Group is actively promoting the use of LED lighting. LED lighting accounts for about 75% of the total number of light bulbs in our domestic offices. Moving forward, we will continue to promote LED lighting and strive to decrease CO2 emissions by reducing power consumption.

Introduction of Hybrid Vehicles

Hybrid vehicles comprise approximately 50% of all vehicles at the MAX Group's domestic offices. In the future, we will work to reduce CO2 emissions by switching to hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles as we replace vehicles.

Promotion of environmentally friendly initiatives

Use of biomass materials

We have developed “Biomass Plastic Staple” and “Biomass CONI-CLIP” containing biomass materials as dedicated consumables for our “AIR PACKNER” and “CONI-CLIPPER” bag closing tools. Previously, we used petroleum-derived plastics, but we are now working to reduce our environmental impact by incorporating a mix of plant-derived biomass material. Biomass plastic containing biomass material has been drawing attention for its ability to curb emissions of greenhouse gases compared with petroleum-derived plastics.

Paper tape and biodegradable tape for “TAPENER” agricultural tape binding tool

Amid increased interest in the SDGs, agricultural producers are also showing greater environmental awareness.
Tape that has been used previously did not decompose, so it was either incinerated together with discarded branches and stems or used tape was collected and put in the trash. In recent years, however, an increasing number of regions have been restricting incineration and there is resistance to burying used tape in the ground for environmental reasons, placing the burden of collecting and disposing of used tape on producers.
“Paper tape,” made of paper, decomposes in soil in roughly three months, and when “biodegradable tape,” made with biodegradable resin, is buried in the ground, microbes break it down to finally become water and carbon dioxide. Using these tapes reduces the environmental impact and also the work of gathering used tape from the land. We have also begun using paper and biomass ink* that take forestry preservation into consideration in our packaging materials.
MAX will continue to work proactively to use environmentally friendly materials to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.

* Biomass ink is ink made with a portion of the raw materials derived from plant resources, and the raw material plants absorb carbon dioxide as they grow.

Switching from plastic packaging to cardboard

We launched a sustainable stationery series called “Re:max.” With this series, we will contribute to the environment by developing stationery that moves away from plastic items and packaging and uses environmentally friendly materials. Our first initiative is the renewal of the “HD-10TL” stapler, changing from plastic packaging to cardboard.

Energy conservation

The result was 100.7% against the fiscal 2024 target of curbing energy consumption per basic unit to 99.0% or less compared to that of the previous fiscal year.

Resource Saving / Recycling

The result was 105.5%, meeting the fiscal 2024 target of curbing total emissions per basic unit to 99.0% or less compared to that of the previous fiscal year.

Recycling Rate

The result was 95.8% against the fiscal 2024 target of a recycling rate of 93.8% or more.

Emissions of industrial waste from plastic-using products, etc.

The result was 156 tons in fiscal year 2024, emissions of industrial waste from plastic-using products, etc.

Substances Subject to the PRTR Law

The handling, transfer, and emission amount of substances at MAX subject to the PRTR Law (Class 1 Designated Chemical Substances) are as follows.

Site Name
[Notification Date]
Chemical Substance Name
Handling Amount
(kg)
Emissions Amount
(kg)
Transfer Amount
(kg)
Emission Details
Transfer Details
Waste Disposal Method
Types of Waste
Tamamura (5) Ethylbenzene 1,178 1,200 79 Atmosphere Incineration/melting Sludge, waste oil
Xylene 2,173 2,200 0 Atmosphere Incineration/melting Sludge, waste oil
Vinyl acetate 1,423 1,100 310 Atmosphere Incineration/melting Waste oil, waste plastics
Toluene 11,358 9,400 1,900 Atmosphere Incineration/melting Sludge, waste oil, waste plastics
Formaldehyde 301 300 0 - Incineration/melting Sludge
Fujioka (6) Zinc water-soluble compound 51,000 180 0 Public water area - -
Ethylbenzene 1,900 670 1,300 Atmosphere Others Waste oil
Xylene 2,500 890 1,600 Atmosphere Others Waste oil
Toluene 7,800 6,100 1,700 Atmosphere Others Waste oil
Normal hexane 6,200 3,000 780 Atmosphere Others Waste oil
Methylnaphthalene 2,400 12 0 Atmosphere - -
Joban (2) Toluene 280 240 40 Atmosphere Incineration/melting Waste oil
Naphthalene (liquid) 2.6 2.2 0.4 Atmosphere Incineration/melting Waste oil

Conservation of Water Resources

Each factory is located in a region where the risk of drought is low. City water (tap water) and groundwater are used as appropriate depending on the situation in each region.
None of MAX's production processes use a large amount of water. Instead, water is used for limited purposes such as indirect cooling of the plating process in the production of consumables such as staples and wires for rebar tying tools at the Fujioka Factory. Wastewater is properly treated and then discharged to public water areas. Moreover, some of the water is reused in processes such as cooling. However, in the future, we will further improve the reuse rate and replace it with city water in consideration of risks such as restrictions on the intake of groundwater.