Conserving natural resources | Reducing waste

Reducing and Recycling Waste

The TOTO Group strives to reduce wastes by completing the Global Environmental Action Plan and properly disposing of waste in accordance with the law.
We are proactively working on the 3R activities of reduce, reuse, and recycle at all domestic factories, logistics bases, group manufacturing companies, sales group companies, and overseas group manufacturing companies.

Results in Fiscal 2023

Emissions intensity reduction rate (reduction per unit of production) at manufacturing sites

TOTO Group’s domestic and overseas manufacturing companies are working to reduce the amount of waste generated from their business sites in accordance with their production plans.

Emissions intensity reduction rate  at manufacturing sites

Recycling rate

In Japan, we are continuing to promote activities that increase the reuse rate of sludge (clay) generated through the process of producing sanitary ware by returning it to raw material form, as well as initiatives for waste reduction whereby the reuse rate is increased by reducing the water content of the sludge (clay). In addition, further reduction through measures of yield improvement have progressed in FY 2023. We are continuing our efforts to maintain and improve weight reduction and recycling in overseas countries as well.

Transition of recycling rate

Production bases

We have designated ceramic waste and sludge which accounts for 30% of the total emissions from our domestic manufacturing sites, as a priority item for reduction. We are promoting activities aimed at reducing these emissions at each site. One such initiative is the "Waste Reduction Conference," where domestic manufacturing sites participate, sharing activity results, future promotion plans, issues to be addressed, and information on legal revisions. This conference has contributed to the results of waste reduction.
Most recently, we held a general meeting in January 2024 (via web conference).

Achieving Zero Emissions

In March 2013, all production sites of TOTO Group in Japan achieved "zero emissions." Subsequently, although the number of sites have fluctuated due to transfer of production, zero emission operation is now continuing at 20 sites.

Definition of TOTO Zero Emissions

(Based on ideas put forward by the United Nations University in 1994)

To pursue virtually zero landfill (including simple incineration) of general and industrial waste from our plants.

The "virtually zero waste" means 99% or higher recycling rate.

Recycling of Waste

Status of the development in the use of recycled crushed ceramic ware (scherben)

Sanitary ware ceramic waste is being used in many parts of Japan as aggregate for road and walkway surfacing

Sanitary ware ceramic waste is being used in resin-based surfacing in place of traditional aggregate material to improve visibility, and to reduce the risk of slipping and falling on rainy days when the road or pavement surface is wet; this method has already been used for bicycle paths in Oita City, for roads and children's walkways in several cities in Shiga Prefecture, and in the Moji-ku district of Kitakyushu City (the ceramic waste material is being supplied to construction firms as a certified recycled product by Hara Mining Corp. in Oita City and Kitakyushu City, and by San-Ei Inc. in Shiga Prefecture).

Bicycle path Oita City

The work site

Road in the Koushin neighborhood of Kounan district, Koka City, Shiga

Bicycle parking area, Minakuchi Sports no Mori Park, Koga City, Shiga Prefecture

Children's walkway,

Koshinohara District,

Yasu City,

Shiga Prefecture

The work site(before execution)

Sanitary ware ceramic waste is used as a light pavement aggregate in place of conventional products at the Wakato Tunnel in Kita-kyushu, Fukuoka.

To improve safety when entering the tunnel, under the MLIT's (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's) project, our sanitary ware ceramic waste was adopted as light-colored pavement aggregate utilizing its feature of whiteness and hardness. The use of the sanitary ware ceramic waste is currently considered in a different project.

After work is complete(enlarged)

Sanitary ware ceramic waster has begun to be used as thermal insulation coating material and paint material

Tests have shown that, under certain conditions, the use of sanitary ware ceramic waste particles as aggregate can have a cooling effect. Consideration is being given to using this material for factory roofs, factory passages, school gymnasiums and footpath at pools. Further case studies and test are underway to explore the potential of being used to combat the heat island effect.

Promoting proper waste disposal operations

We verify compliance with waste disposal laws at all production sites, including overseas, and non-production sites in Japan. At production sites, internal audits are conducted within the framework of ISO14001 to continually improve the level of environmental management. At non-production sites in Japan, compliance is maintained through internal audits overseen by the Environmental Management Department and efforts to promote appropriate operations.

Industrial waste reduction efforts at overseas group companies

In promoting overseas business expansion, measures to reduce and recycle waste must be implemented appropriately in response to the varied circumstances overseas.

We will continue to investigate the types of waste, laws of specific countries, the discharge amount by type, the disposal cost and recycling rates in order to ensure our progress in the reduction of industrial waste by overseas group production companies.

In fiscal 2011, we began implementing activities aimed at improving our recycling rate, with a special focus on "ceramic waste, sludge and slag". We will strive to improve the recycling rate and achieve zero emissions in the future, referring to recycling case studies in Japan and the recycling status at other business sites.