Contents/Editorial Policy

Message from the President＞ Environmental Strategy

Nikon Group Profile

Nikon’s Sustainability＞ Environmental Management Promotion System

Business Activity

Environment＞ Promoting a Decarbonized Society

Society/Labor

Governance＞ Promoting Resource Circulation

Corporate Citizenship Activities＞ Preventing Pollution and Conserving Ecosystems

Materiality 4

Promoting Resource Circulation● Environmental Action Plan Fiscal Year 2022 Results [Overview]
Targets for Fiscal Year 2030

What Nikon Needs to Do

RelatedSDGs• Achieve the following zero emissions levels at
all manufacturing companies:
Japan: Level S
Group manufacturing companies in China:
Level 1Other locations: Levels determined individually• Reduce total amount of waste generated by
10% or more compared to fiscal year 2018
• Reduce freshwater consumption by 5%compared to fiscal year 2018
• Reduce waste by extending product life,
reducing size and weight, etc.
• Reduce the amount of plastic packaging
materials used by 10% compared to fiscal year2022
• Promote the reuse and recycling of products,
parts, materials, and related packaging materials• Reduce waste through streamlining processes
from development to manufacturing

Self-evaluation ○ : Achieved △ : Measures started but not yet achieved
Scope

Targets for Fiscal Year 2022

Results for fiscal year 2022

SelfEvaluation

Nikon andGroup
manufacturing
companies• Nikon and Group manufacturing companies in Japan: Maintain level S• Group manufacturing companies in China: Maintain level 1• Group manufacturing companies outside Japan: Implement initiatives in linewith conditions in each respective country• Nikon and Group manufacturing companies in Japan: Achieved level S (final
landfill disposal rate of 0.06%)• Group manufacturing companies in China: Achieved level 1 (final landfill
disposal rate of 0.49%)• Group manufacturing companies outside Japan: Conducted disposal inaccordance with respective national laws and regulations○

Nikon andGroup
manufacturing
companies• Reduce total waste emissions from business activities by 2% or more compared • Reduced total waste emissions from business activities by 20% compared toto fiscal year 2018 (total waste emissions: 7,616 tons or less)fiscal year 2018○

Nikon andGroup
manufacturing
companies• Reduce freshwater consumption by at least 2% compared to fiscal year 2018
(freshwater consumption in fiscal year 2018: 1,877,000 m3• Improve water reuse rate compared with the previous fiscal year

• Freshwater consumption: Reduced by 7.4% compared to fiscal year 2018
• Water reuse rate: Goal not achieved; -1.7% compared to the previous year△

Nikon andGroup
manufacturing
companies• Undertake the development of technologies to achieve a 70% or higher
abrasive recycling rate

• Technical considerations increased due to a change in the target abrasive
material type.
Reform systems through team members who have the necessary knowledge
and skills; begin considering ways to reduce the amount of abrasives used△

Nikon Group• Reduce the environmental impact from products• Promote the reuse of products, parts and materials• Promote the use of recycled materials in products• Continued sales of used semiconductor lithography systems• Refreshed and upgraded FPD lithography systems• Promote use of recycled materials for imaging products and packaging
materials○• Minimize the amount of abrasive agents used
• Promote the 3Rs of water (reduce water
consumption, and recycle and reuse water)• Take into account the impacts that products
have on the environment from the initialplanning phase onwards and promote the 3Rs
throughout the product lifecycle

6,11,12• Use at least 5% recycled materials in products• Ensure at least 10% of plastic packaging
materials are recycled or biomass plastics

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Contents/Editorial Policy

Message from the President＞ Environmental Strategy

Nikon Group Profile

Nikon’s Sustainability＞ Environmental Management Promotion System

Business Activity

Environment＞ Promoting a Decarbonized Society

Society/Labor

Governance＞ Promoting Resource Circulation

Corporate Citizenship Activities＞ Preventing Pollution and Conserving Ecosystems

3R Initiatives for Products and Packaging
Sales of Refurbished Semiconductor
Lithography Systems andReuse of Projection Lenses
The Nikon Group has commercialized a service for collecting
and reconditioning used Nikon semiconductor lithographysystems from customers, where it replaces and reconfiguresparts and installs the refurbished systems for new customers
in and outside Japan. This business activity is an example of
the Nikon Groupʼs practice of reusing its own products within
the Group. As of fiscal year 2022, the Nikon Group had sold acumulative total of 449 refurbished products.
The Nikon Group is also working on extending the life oflithography systems by using Nikonʼs latest technology toreuse and replace projection lenses which have deteriorated
from long-term use and cannot maintain basic exposure
performance.

● Sales Trends of Refurbished Semiconductor Lithography

Systems (for ICs)

(units sold)
40
391

402

413

431

20

18

11

（24.4%）

Recyclable battery markEU recycling symbol

18（52.9%）

11200（40.7%）

10
0* JBRC: The Japan Portable Rechargeable Battery Recycling Center
An organization that promotes recycling of small rechargeable batteries inaccordance with the Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources.

Under the WEEE Directive*1, European countries have been
establishing national laws in relation to the collection andrecycling of used electrical and electronic equipment. In
response to these laws, the Nikon Group has been working
to fulfill its responsibility for the collection and recycling of
Nikon digital cameras and other products.
The Nikon Group has registered with local collection
organizations in more than 30 countries, establishingcollection and recycling networks in each of these. We arealso implementing product assessments at their design
stages to promote easy-to-disassemble designs, reductionsin the types of raw materials used, and extensive utilizationof recycled resources, to comply with the provisions of the
Act on Promotion of Recycling of Small Waste Electrical andElectronic Equipment*2 in Japan.
As to reuse, part of our services includes accepting digital
cameras returned from customers, repairing them, and thenselling them as refurbished cameras in and outside Japan.

(cumulative
units sold)400
300（66.7%）In Japan, the Nikon Group has been collecting and recycling
end-of-life rechargeable batteries used in Nikon digital
cameras from users via the JBRC*.

Recycling and Reuse of
Used Nikon Products

449

30
20
（48.8%）

Battery Recycling

100

FY2018FY2019FY2020

Units soldCumulative total* Figures in parentheses indicate share of total units soldFY2021

FY20220*1 WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive: Legislation enacted
in the EU in 2003 (and revised in 2012) requiring EU Member States to collect andrecycle waste electrical and electronic equipment.
*2 Act on Promotion of Recycling of Small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment:
Enacted on April 1, 2013. This legislation stipulates the responsibilities of various
entities, including national and local public bodies, business operators andmanufacturers, with respect to the promotion of recycling of small waste electricaland electronic equipment such as digital cameras and game devices.

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Contents/Editorial Policy

Message from the President＞ Environmental Strategy

Nikon Group Profile

Nikon’s Sustainability＞ Environmental Management Promotion System

Recycling of Packaging Materials
The Nikon Group promotes the recycling of packaging
materials for Nikon products including digital cameras inJapan by outsourcing the task to the Japan Containers andPackaging Recycling Association.
In Europe, under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste
Directive, each country has established a packaging waste
recovery and recycling system in accordance with its nationallaws. In the EU, the Nikon Group pays recovery and recycling
fees to recycling organizations in each country, cooperating
in promoting the collection and recycling of containers andpackaging materials in various countries. In addition, we
facilitate sorted collection by providing recycling marks andmaterial indications on product containers and packaging
materials as specified in each country.

Business Activity

Environment＞ Promoting a Decarbonized Society

Governance＞ Promoting Resource Circulation

Reducing Resource Usage in Relation
to Packaging and Instruction Manuals
Saving Resources by Downsizing
Packaging Boxes
The Nikon Group is working to reduce the amount ofmaterials it uses, such as paper and plastic, by reducing thesize of individual packaging boxes.
For the AX/AX R confocal microscope system, in addition to
reducing the size of its packaging box in keeping with theminiaturization of the product itself, the Group was able toreduce the overall volume of the packaging box by 20% andthe weight of packaging materials by 35% by changing thebottom pallet of the packaging box from steel to paper. The
use of paper pallets has also greatly reduced environmental
impact on disposal.

Reducing Plastics in Packaging

Examples of recycling marks in each country

Society/LaborIn recent years, marine pollution from plastic waste has
become a global problem. In response, the Nikon Group
implements a number of measures that include reducing theamount of disposable plastics used in product packaging andat production sites, using paper-based materials instead ofplastics, etc.
For example, the Nikon Group began using recycled PP bands
made from recycled materials as transportation packaging
between production sites in Japan.

Corporate Citizenship Activities＞ Preventing Pollution and Conserving Ecosystems

Reducing the Amount of Paper Usedfor Userʼs Manuals
The Nikon Group is working to save resources in the userʼsmanuals packaged with Nikon products.
For example, in recent years, the amount of paper used foruserʼs manuals for mirrorless cameras has tended to increaseas the range of functions that these cameras provide hasgrown, thus requiring more pages in these manuals. Paper
use has also increased with the need to provide replacement
manuals or supplementary materials when upgrading
firmware. In response to this situation, we have been
taking steps to substantially simplify userʼs manuals
provided with our cameras, while providing more detailed
information in a timely manner through the Nikon website.
Customers now access the latest information wheneverthey need it using their preferred device, whether it betheir laptop, tablet computer or smartphone. This helps toenhance customer convenience. Further, this initiative not
only helps with reducing paper usage, but also contributes
to cutting CO2 emissions associated with printing andproduct transportation.

NIKON SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023

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Contents/Editorial Policy

Message from the President＞ Environmental Strategy

Nikon Group Profile

Nikon’s Sustainability＞ Environmental Management Promotion System

Business Activity

Environment＞ Promoting a Decarbonized Society

Society/Labor

Governance＞ Promoting Resource Circulation

Corporate Citizenship Activities＞ Preventing Pollution and Conserving Ecosystems

Initiatives Aimed at Reducing Waste, Etc.
Towards Zero Emissions

Waste Reduction Performance

The Nikon Group has introduced level-specific targets into its
zero emissions* initiatives.
Nikon and Group manufacturing companies in Japan
maintain level S status. In fiscal year 2022, Nikon X-Tek
Systems Ltd. (UK) and Hikari Glass (Changzhou) Optics Co.,
Ltd. (China) achieved level S status.
In addition, Optos Plc (UK) and Nanjing Nikon Jiangnan
Optical Instrument Co., Ltd. (China) achieved level 1 status,
while other Group manufacturing companies are making
further efforts to achieving Level 1 by fiscal year 2030.

The amount of waste (excluding valuable resources)
generated by the Nikon Group in Japan and by the Group
manufacturing companies outside Japan during fiscal year
2022 was 6,194 tons. This figure represented a reduction of
20% (1,577 tons), achieving the Group target of reducing
the total waste generated from operations by at least 2%
compared to fiscal year 2018 (7,616 tons or less in total
waste). The total amount of final landfill waste generated was
547 tons ◆ , with 5,647 tons of waste recycled (not including
valuable resources).
In fiscal year 2023, we will continue our efforts to reduce total
waste generated.

*Zero emissions: First advocated by the United Nations University in 1994.
It embodies an approach that seeks to reduce waste from the whole of society tozero by recycling waste from one industry for use as a resource in other industries.

Zero Emission Level-Specific Targets
Level S: Final landfill disposal rate of less than 0.5%
Level 1: Final landfill disposal rate of less than 1%
Level 2: Final landfill disposal rate of less than 5%
Level 3: Final landfill disposal rate of less than 10%
Level 4: Final landfill disposal rate of less than 20%*1 Final landfill disposal rate = Final landfill amount / (waste + valuable resources )*2 The final landfill amount is the amount of waste disposed of by landfill at the final
disposal site.

◆：Values in Data Index assured by third party● Waste Generated by the Nikon Group in Japan

and Group Manufacturing Companies Outside Japan(Waste + Valuable Resources)(tons)
10,000
8,000

Waste

1,444

Valuable resources
◆

2,265
2,012

1,478

1,766

5,989

5,803

6,194

FY2020

FY2021

FY2022

6,000
4,000

7,771

7,089

FY2018FY20192,000
0* Added Nikon (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and X-Tek Systems Ltd. in fiscal year 2018, andNikon CeLL innovation Co., Ltd., Nikon Lao Co., Ltd., Optos, Inc., and Optos Plc in
fiscal year 2019.
◆：Values in Data Index assured by third party● Breakdown by Category of Waste (Waste + Valuable

Resources) Generated by the Nikon Group in Japan(Fiscal Year 2022)
Wood
3.2%

Acids
5.7%

Kitchen Waste
0.1%

Oil
4.3%
Alkalis6.5%

General Refuse/Fiber
0.1%
Other
0.1%

Amount ofwaste generated

Paper
7.2%

4,550

Plastics
10.1%

Sludge30.6%

tons

Glass/Concrete/Ceramics(Debris)15.4%

Metals
16.6%

汚泥
金属くず
ガラス・コンクリート・陶磁器くず（がれき類）
廃プラスティック
紙類
廃アルカ
廃油
廃酸
木くず
厨芥類
一般ごみ、繊維くずその他

NIKON SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023

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Contents/Editorial Policy

Message from the President＞ Environmental Strategy

Nikon Group Profile

Nikon’s Sustainability＞ Environmental Management Promotion System

Business Activity

Environment＞ Promoting a Decarbonized Society

Society/Labor

Governance＞ Promoting Resource Circulation

Corporate Citizenship Activities＞ Preventing Pollution and Conserving Ecosystems

Waste Reduction andResource Circulation Measures
Initiatives in the Manufacturing Process
Abrasive agents used to polish optical glass are discarded
as abrasive sludge after use. Abrasive sludge accounts foraround 19% of waste discharged by the Nikon Group in
Japan. During fiscal year 2018, the Nikon Group established amethod to reuse these abrasives, achieving a 45% reduction
in abrasive sludge waste at the Nikon Shonan Branch, which
produces photomask substrates. The Nikon Group is currently
rolling out this method to the entire Nikon Group in an effort
to further reduce abrasive sludge waste.
At Sendai Nikon Corporation, we are taking actions torecycle resources. For example, plastic waste is sorted bymaterial and color, gate parts from molded products arecrushed, and heating is used to reduce the volume of
extruded polystyrene foam. With regard to metal waste, oil
is separated from metal shavings by centrifugal separation,
thereby enhancing the value of recycled valuable resources.

Paper Resource Initiatives
The Nikon Group is working to reduce document printing
by digitizing meeting materials and encouraging the useof computers and tablets to confirm engineering drawings
and forms. We are also working to reduce paper usage bychanging the settings on multifunction printers and installing
software to reduce accidental or unnecessary copying.

NIKON SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023

079

Contents/Editorial Policy

Message from the President＞ Environmental Strategy

Nikon Group Profile

Nikon’s Sustainability＞ Environmental Management Promotion System

Business Activity

Environment＞ Promoting a Decarbonized Society

Society/Labor

Governance＞ Promoting Resource Circulation

Corporate Citizenship Activities＞ Preventing Pollution and Conserving Ecosystems

Protection of Water Resources
Water Resource
Conservation Measures
Large quantities of water are used in the production
processes for optical lenses, part of Nikonʼs main productcategory, and for the quartz glass used in these lenses.
For example, during the optical lens polishing process, water
has to be added frequently in order to keep the polishing
agent at the right consistency. Similarly, in the quartz glass
production process, our waste gas purification devices
require water to remove acid components from waste gases.
To conserve water resources, the Nikon group monitors theamount of water withdrawal, discharge, and reuse, proactively
implementing initiatives for effective water use. Beginning infiscal year 2021, the Group also introduced a new freshwater
consumption indicator*, as we believe it is important thatwater used should be returned at an equal or better quality
than when it was withdrawn. The Nikon Group believes that
reducing freshwater consumption will lead to reduced water
withdrawal load in each region.
For fiscal year 2022, the Nikon Group water withdrawal was
1,738,000 m3, achieving the Environmental Action Plan goal
for the fiscal year to reduce water withdrawal by at least 2%
compared with fiscal year 2022. We did not achieve our fiscal
year 2022 target for water reuse rate, which called for an
improvement compared to the previous fiscal year.

Water Risk Assessments

Appropriate Wastewater Treatment

The term water risk is used to refer to the impact that issues
relating to water conservation, water-related natural disasters,
water pollution, etc., can have on a business enterpriseʼs
activities. For the Nikon Group, which requires large quantities
of water in the manufacturing processes for its opticalparts, etc., a proper understanding and awareness of waterrisk is vitally important. Therefore, we carry out water risk
assessments at each facility and strive to monitor the situation
effectively.
In 2019, we conducted a water risk assessment based on
Aqueduct*1 for 16 domestic and international businessfacilities having high water withdrawal levels. As a result,
we confirmed that there are no significantly high water
stress*2 areas in the regions where the Nikon Group conducts
business activities.
During fiscal year 2022, we continued to address water
risk, conducting water risk surveys that targeted the 31
Group facilities in and outside Japan identified in our
survey conducted during fiscal year 2020. Specifically, we
incorporated these procedures into medium- and long-term
repair plans for locations in which we identified risk leaks due
to aging facilities and equipment.

The Nikon Group uses large amounts of water in its
manufacturing processes. When discharging water used, theGroup applies appropriate wastewater treatment to minimize
the environmental impact on waterways in each region.
Specifically, we have established voluntary standards thatare even stricter than discharge standards found in eachregion, and we conduct wastewater treatment in accordancewith these levels alongside, with regular monitoring of thewastewater discharge situation.

*1 Aqueduct: A world map and information tool showing global water risks, provided free of charge
by the World Resources Institute.
*2 Water stress: A condition in which demand for water exceeds supply.

* Freshwater consumption: Sum of withdrawal volumes A, B, and C, minus returned water
volume D (A+B+C-D).
A: Water withdrawal from municipal water supply facilities (tap water, industrial water, etc.)
B: Water withdrawal from surface water (lakes, rivers, etc.)
C: Water withdrawal from groundwater
D: Return water of equal or better quality than the withdrawal source (applicable to B and C
only)

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Contents/Editorial Policy

Message from the President＞ Environmental Strategy

Nikon Group Profile

Nikon’s Sustainability＞ Environmental Management Promotion System

Water Withdrawal and Discharge
Nikon Group water withdrawal for fiscal year 2022 was
3,689,000 m3 (Nikon Group in Japan accounting for 2,384,000
m3, and Group manufacturing companies outside Japanaccounting for 1,306,000 m3). Wastewater discharge volume
amounted to 3,307,000 m3 (Nikon Group in Japan accountingfor 2,262,000 m3, and Group manufacturing companies
outside Japan accounting for 1,045,000 m3). Freshwater
consumption totaled 1,738,000 m3, and we achieved ourtarget of reducing freshwater consumption by at least 2%
compared to fiscal year 2018 (7.4% reduction).
In addition, at the business facilities and the Group
manufacturing companies that make use of considerable
amounts of water, we pay special attention to ensuring thatwastewater generated in manufacturing processes is properly
treated, and endeavor to reuse as much water as possible.
Nikon Group water reuse rate for fiscal year 2022 was
7.0%, falling short of our target to increase water reuserate compared to the previous year (down 1.7%). The main
reason for this result was that the amount of water reusedat the Nikon Shonan Branch, where wastewater from thecleaning process is reused as supply water for the pure waterproduction equipment, decreased 58% compared to fiscal
year 2021. This decrease was due to a suspension of purewater supply to conserve water when cleaning equipment is
not used.
The Nikon Group will continue efforts to reduce freshwater
consumption further and improve recycling rates.

Business Activity

Environment＞ Promoting a Decarbonized Society

4,000

1,132

3,000
2,000

0

1,119

3,640

3,546

3,689

1,031

1,249

1,306

2,297

2,384

FY2018FY2019FY2020

FY2021

FY20220m³

Industrial waterLess than 0.1%

● Breakdown of Water Discharge (Fiscal Year 2022) ◆

3,547

◆

3,297

900

889

2,548

2,657

2,474

FY2018FY2019FY2020

822

3,154
999

3,307
1,045

2,000
1,000

Tap water
36.7%

Water withdrawal

Group manufacturing companies outside Japan● Changes in Water Discharge

3,000

Groundwater
63.2%

3,689,000

2,609(thousands of m3)
4,000
3,448

＞ Preventing Pollution and Conserving Ecosystems

◆

3,985

2,866

Nikon Group in Japan

Corporate Citizenship Activities● Breakdown of Water Withdrawal (Fiscal Year 2022) ◆

3,091

1,000

Governance＞ Promoting Resource Circulation● Changes in Water Withdrawal(thousands of m3)
5,000
4,223

Society/Labor

Sewage systems
62.6%

Water discharge

3,307,000

Rivers, etc.
37.4%

m³

Nikon Group in Japan

2,155

2,262

FY2021

FY2022

Group manufacturing companies outside Japan◆：Values in Data Index assured by third party● Changes in Freshwater Consumption(thousands of m3)
1,948
2,000
1,500

977

1,924

1,003

◆

1,723

1,738

1,048

1,083

793

675

655

FY2020

FY2021

FY2022

1,706
912

1,000
500
0

972

922

FY2018FY2019

Nikon Group in Japan

Group manufacturing companies outside JapanNIKON SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023

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Contents/Editorial Policy

Message from the President＞ Environmental Strategy

Nikon Group Profile

Nikon’s Sustainability＞ Environmental Management Promotion System

Water Reuse Measures
Case Example of Wastewater Reuse(Nikon Shonan Branch)
When manufacturing photomask substrates, the Nikon
Shonan Branch uses a large amount of water resources
during the polishing and cleaning processes. Accordingly,
during fiscal year 2018, the Nikon Shonan Branch
implemented a mechanism to reuse the wastewater from thecleaning process as supply water for pure water production
equipment. As a result, over the course of fiscal year 2022,
the Nikon Shonan Branch reused approximately 6,000 m3 ofwater discharge for the year, reducing water withdrawal 5%compared with the period prior to adoption.

Business Activity

Environment＞ Promoting a Decarbonized Society

Society/Labor

Governance＞ Promoting Resource Circulation

towers. This reused water accounted for approximately 14%of the total water withdrawal at the Nikon Kumagaya Plant.

Corporate Citizenship Activities＞ Preventing Pollution and Conserving Ecosystems● Changes in Water Reuse at the Nikon Group in Japan

and Group Manufacturing Companies Outside Japan（thousands of m³）

Reuse of Domestic Wastewater and Treated
Water (Nikon Lao Co., Ltd.)
Nikon Lao Co., Ltd. (Laos) is located in a district with only
basic water supply infrastructure, and has been actively
implementing measures to improve water resource efficiency.
From April 2017, the company has been purifying domestic
wastewater and reusing it for flushing toilets and for theirgarden sprinkler system. Since February 2018, they have also
been using treated water as coolant.

400

7.2
6.5

6.4

6.6

◆

7.0

300

8.0
6.0

200

4.0
249

245

197

216

227

100
0

（%）

2.0
38

31

59

57

52

FY2018FY2019FY2020

FY2021

FY2022

Nikon Group in Japan

0Group manufacturing companies outside Japan

Rate of water reuse◆：Values in Data Index assured by third party

Effective Use of Concentrated Water(Nikon Kumagaya Plant)
Nikon Kumagaya Plant manufactures semiconductor
lithography systems, a process requiring a large amount of
ultrapure water. In order to produce ultrapure water, tap water
is first fed into the ultrapure water system and separated into
pure water and concentrated water by the RO membrane.
The pure water is treated further to produce ultrapure water.
However, the concentrated water had previously beendischarged as wastewater. In fiscal year 2018, Nikon adopted
a process to reuse this concentrated water effectively tosupplement water used in cooling towers. In addition, we
have been increasing the number of cooling towers reusing
this concentrated water since October 2020.
As a result, over the course of fiscal year 2022, the Nikon
Kumagaya Plant reused approximately 43,000 m3 ofconcentrated water as supplementary water for cooling

Wastewater treatment system at Nikon Lao Co., Ltd.

NIKON SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2023082