In fiscal 2016, approximately 2 tons of chlorodifluoromethane (R-22), used as a refrigerant, was released at one of the Nichirei Group's worksites. The Group reported this to the Japanese government since the amount exceeded the annual legal limit of 1 ton, as specified in the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register.* Since this breach, the Group has been taking more steps to reduce the amount of chemical substances it releases.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a group of man-made compounds, were previously used as insulating oil in transformers, but their use was banned in the 1970s, after their toxicity became apparent.

In Japan, equipment that has been confirmed to contain PCBs is being appropriately stored in compliance with standards set by law. Currently, disposal is being carried out systematically, based on the capacity of the nation's five government-run PCB disposal plants. Seventeen transformers collected from the Nichirei Group in FY2016 have been disposed of at a one of the government plants.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are said to be among the substances destroying the ozone layer. Their production is being phased out, and management regulations have been put into effect in sequences, starting with freon, which is the most destructive of the ozone layer.

The Nichirei Group uses freon as a refrigerant in the cooling facilities at its food plants and logistics centers. Although appropriate equipment management ensures that the refrigerant, which circulates within sealed cooling equipment, does not leak, we dispose of it as required by law when major equipment repairs are carried out.

Meanwhile, the fact that freon is one of the gases that causes global warming has also become an issue. Since the CO2 of the energy sources used for cooling equipment are also linked to global warming, we are determining the refrigerant we prefer in new equipment based on its energy-saving properties.

The asbestos that was found to have been sprayed on the underside of the roof, and which had the possibility of spreading, was removed and disposed of during an inspection in FY2005. In addition, when demolishing office buildings that have been closed, we do another survey and take legally compliant and appropriate steps to dispose of any building materials containing asbestos.

In addition to fulfilling the appropriate disclosure requirements when selling, buying, or renting land, we do evaluations of soil contamination and carry out the appropriate management.