The NOF Group makes efforts for the consumption and management of water resources as well as the appropriate treatment and management of plant discharged water in accordance with the Management Policy Regarding Responsible Care. To this end, each plant and subsidiary is working on the following items.
　

1. Operation and discharged water management of specified facilities based on the Water Pollution Prevention Law
2. Thorough employee education on environment-related laws and regulations
3. Assessment of environmental impact when new facilities are established
4. Monitoring, confirmation, and enhancement of management status through internal audits
5. Disclosure of information through regular community dialogue

In addition, at our business bases, we are working to reduce water consumption and improve efficiency in production. We achieve sustainable water resource management by promoting the effective use of water resources and reducing the burden on the environment.

Within the NOF Group, the RC Committee Chair, appointed by the President, is responsible for these initiatives. Through these efforts, we promote resource recycling and actively work to reduce environmental impact, thereby contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.

NOF has been carrying out the efficient use of water resources by estimating the amount of the water consumption. In FY2025, volume of water newly withdrawn was 7.939 million ㎥, of which 1.380 million ㎥ was groundwater and 1.827 million ㎥ was city water. Water consumption per ¥1 million of net sales was 7,100 ㎥, approximately 10% lower than the 7,900 ㎥ recorded in FY2024, reducing our dependence on water consumption.

For FY2026, we have set a target of keeping water withdrawal at or below the previous fiscal year’s level and will continue our efforts to reduce water withdrawal. Through these efforts, we will review and improve the efficiency of water consumption at each business site while promoting effective use of water resource and reducing environmental impact through employee education and awareness activities, thereby striving to realize sustainable water resource management.

After appropriate treatment of discharged water generated at each production site, the NOF Group discharges approximately 59%, or 3.571 million ㎥, to the sea. In addition, approximately 31%, or 1.863 million ㎥, is discharged to surface water, including rivers, and the remaining approximately 11%, or 662,000 ㎥, to other systems.

1. Water consumption = volume of water newly withdrawn − total volume of discharged water
2. Volume of recycled water = internally circulated water
3. Water recycling rate (%) = volume of recycled water / volume of water withdrawal

In order to promote reductions and efficient improvements in water consumption at our business sites, NOF is circulating cooling water and reviewing manufacturing processes to reduce
water withdrawal.

We are also working to suppress water withdrawal by reusing treated discharged water as cooling water.

We assessed water stress (drought)* at our domestic and overseas production sites using the Aqueduct 4.0 tool of the World Resources Institute (WRI). The assessment showed that some sites in Europe and Southeast Asia were located in regions under water stress in 2024 and are expected to remain in such regions in 2030. By 2050, it is expected that sites in South America will also face a higher risk of water stress. Going forward, we will continue working to reduce water consumption.

Discharged water generated by production activities at plant is properly treated through treatment facilities before being discharged outside the plants. We monitor biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids,* and the like in discharged water. Along with ongoing equipment upgrades, we are improving our water quality management system and operating in compliance with prescribed limits. In addition, there have been no cases of violations of laws and regulations related to water quality.

While implementing measures such as those illustrated below to conserve water resources, we also identify and strengthen the management of associated potential risks. Promoting water reuse can conserve water resources, but deterioration in water quality through repeated use can increase the risk of equipment failure, such as filter clogging. Reducing the frequency of water cleaning for manufacturing facilities and introducing steam cleaning can conserve water resources, but more sophisticated cleaning procedures increase the workload.