
Environment Environmental Management
Basic Approach to Environment & Safety Management
The Group has formulated the Code of Conduct and Environment & Safety Policy, which indicate basic approaches and action guidelines based on the Corporate Behavior Charter and the Declaration of Compliance. We promote activities that consider the environment, safety, and health in line with these guidelines and policies and constantly strive to reduce our environmental impact. In addition, we proactively disclose environmental information to society and promote communication through dialogue with stakeholders. As a member of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group, the MTPC Group is working to realize KAITEKI with goal of improving global environmental and social sustainability by creating a circular economy.
- Code of Conduct for the Environment and Safety
- In conformity with the overriding principle that safety is paramount, we strive to prevent disasters occurring at workplaces and to implement adequate precautions and preparations against all contingencies, including occupational accidents and disasters. We also take continuing steps to reduce the impact of our corporate activities on the natural environment and we are fully committed to community environmental conservation activities.
- Environment & Safety Policy
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Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation and its group companies ("MTPC Group") aim to be global research-driven pharmaceutical companies that are trusted by society, and actively strive to protect global environment and ensure people's safety.
- 1We assess our corporate activities for their environmental impact in order to continuously reduce environmental burden.
- 2We give priority to safety considerations for all of our workers to prevent occurrence of occupational accidents.
- 3We set clear targets for our environmental and safety activities, and we effectively maintain and improve our system to achieve such targets.
- 4We pursue activities in compliance with not only laws and regulations relating to environment and safety, but also more rigorous corporate management standards.
- 5We systematically conduct training to enhance each and every employee's awareness on the environment and safety.
- 6We proactively disclose information relating to environment and safety so that we can deepen communication with society.
- 7By proactively participating in and cooperating with environmental management and disaster reduction activities organized by local communities, we prepare against unforeseen contingencies such as accidents and disasters, to minimize their impact.
SDG Initiatives
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 are shared goals to be achieved by the whole world by 2030. In recent year, many countries and regions, and various companies are accelerating their effort to achieve them.
The Group has set four priority issues in its environmental activities as themes for its Medium-Term Environmental Action Plan (2016-2020) and has positioned them as activities related to goals 6, 7, 12, 13, and 15 of the SDGs.
MTPC Group Environmental Activities (Principal Initiatives) | Environmental SDGs |
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Energy conservation and global warming mitigation
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![]() Goal 7 |
![]() Goal 13 |
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Reduction of waste, effective use of water resources
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![]() Goal 6 |
![]() Goal 12 |
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Pollution prevention and environmental impact reduction
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![]() Goal 6 |
![]() Goal 12 |
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Preservation of biodiversity
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![]() Goal 15 |
Environmental Management Promotion System
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma has established an environmental and occupational safety management system, overseen by the President and CEO. We regularly hold internal meeting including those of the Environment & Safety Committee and Environment & Safety Liaison Council and promote strong environmental management throughout the Group in Japan and overseas.
The Environment & Safety Committee is held within the Executive Committee. We discuss and decide important matters related to the environment and safety, medium- to long-term and annual policies, activity targets, and report the details of our discussions to the Board of Directors.
The Environment & Safety Liaison Council consists of employees in charge of each division and the presidents of affiliated companies. The council promotes appropriate and seamless environmental safety activities by planning and implementing countermeasures for activities and issues relating to the environment and safety.
Furthermore, we established the Environment & Safety Management Office of the Legal & General Affairs Department in the corporate organization as a department that oversees environment and safety for the Group as a whole. Through close ties with management and frontline workers, the division supports strengthened frontline capabilities and the development of a safety culture. In this way, the Company works to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of accidents related to the environment and safety.

ISO 14001 Certifications
Of the Group's seven production bases in Japan and overseas, the five bases have obtained ISO 14001 certification. At production and research bases that have not obtained ISO 14001, we are building our own environment management system in accordance with ISO 14001 and managing appropriately.
Plants with ISO 14001 certification
Company name | Name of base | Year certification first obtained |
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Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Factory | Onoda Plant | 1998 |
Yoshitomi Plant | 2001 | |
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Indonesia | Bandung Plant | 2004 |
Tianjin Tanabe Seiyaku | Head Office Plant | 2010 |
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Korea | Hyangnam Plant | 2014 |
Medium-Term Environmental Action Plan and Results
The table below shows the results of the Medium-Term Environmental Action Plan (2016-2020).
Area | Targets | Principal Initiatives and Results in Fiscal 2019 | Achievement Status |
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Energy conservation and global warming mitigation |
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Reduction of waste, effective use of water resources |
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Chemical substance emissions reductions |
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Preservation of biodiversity |
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Enhancement of environmental management |
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- ◎:Achieved fiscal 2020 targets
- ○:Steady progress towards achieving the fiscal 2020 targets or achieved the targets for a single fiscal year
- ×:Targets unachieved
Environmental Compliance
The Group has declared that “We work actively to protect the global environment and strive to realize the Company’s harmonious co-existence with society” and these compliance activities need to be implemented by all officers and employees.
At production and research bases, in addition to strictly observing environment-related laws and regulations in accordance with environment and safety policies, we have established independent management standards for water and air pollution that are stricter than legal standards, and have promoted environmental management. In addition, we conduct regular environmental audits at each base to confirm the status of environmental compliance. In fiscal 2019, we checked the environmental laws and notified the government of the reorganization of bases including the closure of the Toda Site and the establishment of the Shonan Site.
Environmental Audits
The environment management department periodically conduct environmental audits at production and research bases in Japan and overseas to confirm matters such as the status of environmental management and compliance, and that its environmental conservation activities are conducted legally and appropriately. In these audits, we use check sheets of company regulations to check the status of compliance with internal rules, and the management status of environment-related facilities (waste storage facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, exhaust gas generation facilities, etc.). We ask that they submit an improvement plan and report to address the matters identfied in the audit and confirm their response at the next audit. We ensure the effectiveness of environmental audits at our overseas bases by periodically conducting EHS compliance audits by external specialists who are familiar with the laws and regulations of the countries and regions in which they are located.
In fiscal 2019, environmental audits were conducted at five domestic bases (Yokohama Site, Kashima Site, Shonan Site, Onoda Plant, and Yoshitomi Plant). Overseas, an audit was conducted at one base (Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Indonesia).
Priority items checked in domestic audits
- Management status of fluorocarbons equipment due to change in the Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Law
- Disposal status of equipment that utilizes high-concentration PCBs that have an approaching disposal deadline fiscal 2020 year-end
- Status of climate change measures and water risks, which in recent years have become notable global risks
As a result of the environmental audit in fiscal 2019, certain deficiencies were observed in waste management, fluorocarbons management, and other areas in Japan, and it became apparent that additional investigation of PCBs was necessary. Overseas, we were able to properly respond to the findings of the previous audit, and no new points were identified. Although there were minor requests for improvements at both domestic and overseas bases, there were no findings that could lead to serious legal violations or environmental risks.


Environmental audit at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Indonesia at the Bandung Plant (October 2019)
Environmental Education
Aiming for rigorous environmental compliance, the Group plans and implements environmental education and training in accordance with their level of connection with the environment.
We conduct training on environmental laws and regulations twice a year for employees in charge of environmental management at each base. We also conduct environmental training once a year for new employees. In addition, employees in charge of environmental management work to maintain and improve specialized skills and knowledge about environmental management by proactively obtaining qualifications and taking outside training courses.
Major training conducted in fiscal 2019
Training for people responsible for waste management |
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ESG training |
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E-learning environmental education |
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Status of Environmental Accidents/ Violations of Environmental Laws and Regulations
The table below shows environmental accidents and major violations of environmental laws and regulations. For the third consecutive year, the Group had no environmental accidents and no major violations of environmental-related laws and regulations.
Occurrence of environmental accidents and major violations of environment-related laws and regulations
Fiscal Year | No. of incidents | Description |
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2015 | 1 | Wastewater standard deviation due to outflow of cooking oil from cafeteria |
2016 | 1 | Inappropriate use of genetically modified organisms |
2017 | 0 | - |
2018 | 0 | - |
2019 | 0 | - |
Environmental Accounting
The Group promotes effective and efficient environmental management by monitoring and analyzing the costs and effects of environmental conservation activities (reduction of impact and economic effect).
Environmental conservation costs
Item | Invested (millions of yen) |
Expended (millions of yen) |
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Pollution prevention | 106 | 293 |
Global environmental protection | 2 | 10 |
Recycling and reuse of resources | - | 153 |
Upstream and downstream activities | - | - |
Administrative activities | - | 162 |
Research and development | - | - |
Community activities | - | 1 |
Environmental damage compensation | - | 10 |
Total | 108 | 629 |
Environmental conservation effects
Initiatives | Name of base | Invested (millions of yen) |
Item reduced | Quantity reduced | Economic effect (millions of yen/year) |
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New boiler installed beside a steam-heated building | Yokohama Site | 78 | City gas used | 306 t-CO2/year |
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Energy conservation equipment installed in new building | Onoda Plant | 17 | Electricity used | 61 t-CO2/year |
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Stakeholder Engagement with the Environment
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Group seeks to remain a company trusted by society and to work for fair and appropriate information disclosure and dialogue with its stakeholders.
Opinion Sharing Meeting on ESG Held
On September 27, 2019, an Opinion Sharing Meeting on ESG was held at the Tokyo Head Office (Nihonbashi) to discuss the Group's initiatives to address social issues including environmental problems with institutional investors, securities analysts, and ESG investment professionals.

Endoresment of Parent Company's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD)
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, our parent company, has endorsed the proposal for a Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD*). Based on this proposal, the Group will identify the risks and opportunities that climate change poses to our business and promote appropriate information disclosure.
*TCFD is a task force established by the Financial Stabililty Board (FSB) at the request of the G20 to develop a set of climate-related information disclosures and study financial institutions' response. In June 2017, TCFD released the final recommendations report on how information should be disclosed to encourage companies to voluntarily disclose the effects of climate change-related risks and opportunities on corporate finances.
Response to CDP
In fiscal 2019, we responded for the first time to the CDP* survey. As a result, we received a score of B (management) for climate change and B- (management) for water security.
*CDP is an international NGO that surveys companies' and cities' responses to “climate change,” “water resource management,” and “forest resource management” around the world and discloses the results in order to achieve a sustainable economy.
Industry Group Activities
We partcipate as a member of the Environmental Committee of The Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Associations of Japan and contribute to formulating guidelines and action plans for the industry. We also participate in the low carbon society action plan working group of the federation and are working to achieve the carbon dioxide emissions reduction target based on Japan Business Federation's (Keidanren's) request.
Implementation of CSR Procurement Survey
The Group has conducted a CSR procurement survey for major suppliers. In the 2019 survey, we investigated their efforts concerning greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and water risks.
Interaction with Local Communities
The Group supports local environmental activities as part of its corporate citizenship activities. Toda City in Saitama Prefecture has adopted “environmental communication” into the curriculum of courses certified by citizen's colleges since fiscal 2019, the first of which was held at the Toda Site in November 2019. We introduced our group's environmental initiatives such as global warming measures and chemical substance management, and had a lively exchange of views with citizens.

"The earth is borrowed from the children of the future"
MATSUMOTO Fumiharu
Associate Director, Environment and Safety Management Section
Management Department, Onoda Plant, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Factory
At the Onoda Plant, EHS (Environment, Health, Safety) is viewed as the basis of plant operations. To symbolize this inside and outside the company, we named the new office building completed in 2019 the EHS Center. We also seek to realize a sustainable KAITEKI society by identifying important issues at our plants and setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) linked to the SDG targets.
In the 21st century, the environment that surrrounds humanity has undergone remarkable changes, and a range of problems including climate change due to global warming and frequent abnormal weather have arisen. There is a well-known saying that “the earth is not inherited from our ancestors, but borrowed from the children of the future.” From now on, it is important that we not only focus on economics, but also take action while maintaining an ethical approach to ensure sustainability. In order to protect our rich natural environment, the Onoda Plant will cooperate with a wide range of stakeholders to build a true circular economy.
