Recognition of many issues
There are many environmental issues that remain untouched by the constant challenges that surround us.
We derive unique solutions to problems that cannot be solved through combination alone.
Economics
We need a sustainable environmental business that makes economic sense.
Natural Mechanism
We need to create a system that flows naturally without relying on forced support.
Use of Technology
Solid technological backing increases the certainty of a solution to the problem.
Getting Started
We must start from our feet and make small contributions first, rather than dreaming of the distant future.
Excess Waste Tire Problem
Approximately 100 million used tires (about 1 million tons) are generated in Japan each year.
Due to increased logistics, the amount of waste tires generated is not expected to decrease.
Due to the “National Sword” (国門利剣) waste import regulations, China has stopped accepting waste from the world since 2018. This regulation is said to have led to a surplus of waste tires.
The problems surrounding waste tires are becoming more serious, including diversification of waste disposal due to higher tire performance, increased environmental impact due to improper disposal, and a shortage of remaining capacity at final disposal sites.
Decreasing demand for fuel (waste tire chips) from paper manufacturers
Approximately 65% of waste tires have been used as a heat source by paper manufacturers, cement companies, etc.
On the other hand, the demand for waste tires as fuel has declined due to the decrease in production volume by paper manufacturers and the decrease in domestic demand for cement, resulting in a surplus of waste tires.
The Fuji Mill of Nippon Paper Industries has terminated paper production and no longer accepts tire chips. In addition, the Hirohata area of Nippon Steel Setouchi Iron Works terminated operations to recycle waste tires.
As the reorganization and review of domestic plants continues, the use of waste tires as a heat source will enter a phase of decline.
Problem of Waste from Photovoltaic Panels
Solar panels have a product life of approximately 25 to 30 years, and a large amount of waste is expected to be generated from around 2040, when the solar power generation business, which began after the start of the FIT, comes
to an end.
Solar panels must be disposed of properly because they contain hazardous substances such as lead, cadmium, and selenium.
Because solar panels are made up of layers of electrodes and silicon that are tightly bonded together, they are difficult to separate and recycle, so they are landfilled at industrial waste disposal sites.
The problem of illegal dumping of the large amount of waste panels generated and the shortage of disposal sites are looming.
Need for decarbonization in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors
Agriculture, forestry, and other land uses account for 34% of total CO2 emissions.
Emissions from the agricultural sector come from methane emissions from rice paddies, fermentation in the digestive tracts of livestock, and livestock waste management.
Agricultural equipment still uses a lot of diesel fuel, ships also use a lot of fossil fuels, and greenhouse cultivation in plastic greenhouses still uses a lot of fossil fuels.