Santen manufactures around 400 million bottles of eye drops per year, mainly at two bases of operations in Japan (Noto and Shiga) and one base overseas (Suzhou). Business activities on this scale will inevitably have negative environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation. To engage in sustainable business growth while fulfilling our social responsibility to protect the global environment, we endeavor in two areas across all countries and regions where we do business: (1) measures against climate change and (2) environmental load reduction. Here, we highlight the efforts of the Shiga Product Supply Center ("Shiga PSC") to reduce environmental load.
A Dilemma: Raising Production Capacity Also Increases Waste Volume
We continue to strengthen our product supply system to meet the increasing demand for ophthalmic care, which is driven by population growth and aging. Our product supply system must also deal with the growing diversification of treatment needs and products. One response is the completion of a new building (Third Building) on the Shiga PSC in October 2022, which increased our production capacity. With the operation of this new building, the plant's annual production capacity of medical ophthalmic solutions approximately doubled to 170 million units (5mL unit equivalent) at initial operation.
On the other hand, the production base generates waste used in prototypes to ensure quality and line cleaning. Since the volume of this waste increases in proportion to production, we must take measures in response, if we are to build a sustainable foundation for our business. Therefore, we added a new recycling building at Shiga PSC after completing construction on the new production building. We pursue waste management activities to reduce emissions further and recycle.
Utilizing Waste as a Resource
Conducting assessments is the foundation of waste management. Periodically, a specialist identifies the waste generated in each production process and analyzes the increase or decrease, as well as the underlying causes. Based on the results, we research and devise the most efficient ways and the best timing to recycle or reduce waste.
For example, we analyze the manufacturing process to assess plastic waste arising in eye-drop container production, a major source of such waste. We classify the waste in detail according to the adhesion of pharmaceutical materials, whether the plastic is colored, the shape of the plastic, and other factors. We then consider what form and timing is most efficient for collection and determine the treatment format—recycling as is, separation and sorting, or crushing. Establishing an optimal treatment method for material allows us to recycle all waste plastics. Similarly for other waste, we continue to review and implement methods for recycling and emissions reduction.
Creating Value Together With Stakeholders
Recycling is not an initiative that can be performed entirely by Santen alone. The process is only possible with the cooperation of waste disposal service providers that actually recycle waste as a resource. We work together with these parties to develop transportation methods and work processes for more efficient recycling. Based on the needs and suggestions of these business partners, we now carefully separate waste and use better collection methods that allow us to sell certain waste products as valuable resources. Metal scraps generated during building renovations are assessed at a fair price after separating into their respective metal types. These efforts also contribute to cost reductions and support sustainable production systems.
We continue to work with stakeholders to devise ways to utilize waste as a resource, to achieve sustainable growth for business and society, and to contribute to global environmental conservation.
Recycling building at the Shiga PSC
Eye drop bottles pulverized for disposal
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