Mabuchi thoroughly manages chemical substances to prevent environmental contamination, identifies those used in products, and makes efforts to reduce and eliminate hazardous chemical substances. We also conduct research and analysis of soil and water. If residues of hazardous chemical substances used in the past are found, we take prompt and appropriate measures.

Management of Chemical Substances

Management at the Production Site

Overseas affiliates have introduced vehicles that are used only to transport chemical substances. The vehicles are leak-proof, to minimize environmental contamination in the event of an emergency. To the floors of warehouses in which chemical substances are stored, a special coating is applied to prevent infiltration by liquids and contamination of soil and water in the event of a spill.
Production sites carry out the following measures for storage and management of chemical substances:

• Placement of drum cans on oil pans to contain spills, determination of emergency response emergency, and implementation of periodic emergency drills
• Prevention of contamination by oil spills and management of any such spills according to the treatment procedures for each type of oil

Research and Development Department's Management of Chemical Substances

Mabuchi manages chemicals used for research and development, tests and the like.

• Establishment of procedures for storage and management of chemicals
• Installation required for earthquake-resistant chemical storage
• Assignment of managers responsible for storage of chemicals and for periodic inventory
• Treatment of liquid waste chemicals according to the Manifest System of Industrial Waste

Observance of PRTR Law

We had reported the "Pollutant Release and Transfer Register" since 1998. However, for over 5 years, there were no record of the usage of the subject materials and therefore we had discontinued the report from our 2007 environmental report.

Purification and Remediation of Contaminated Soil

Head Offie in Matsudo

Mabuchi Motor used tetrachloroethylene to degrease and clean parts during the 1950s. Since there were no legal regulations on such cleaning solvents in those days, unlike today, and hazards of their use were not well known, using information currently available we have now identified some cases in which treatment was less than appropriate. Consequently, we conducted soil contamination research at the Head Office site in 2002 and soil where a cleaning room once stood was found to be contaminated. We thus reported the situation to the relevant Matsudo city authorities and started decontamination work. Under the guidance of Matsudo city, soil in the first aquifer, which was significantly contaminated, is being replaced while soil in the second aquifer is being decontaminated using water pumping and aeration/gas extraction methods. To prevent any outflow of contaminants from the premises, barrier wells have been installed downstream as well.

Now-defunct Tatebayashi Factory Site

we investigated for any possible soil contamination at the site of our subsidiary, Mabuchi Precision Industries Ltd., upon the closure of the factory and detected soil contamination. We immediately reported the situation to Gunma prefectural authorities and started decontamination work. In this location, the soil found to have high levels of contamination is being decontaminated completely by employing the oxidation catalytic method. In areas with low contamination concentrations, however, we are continuing decontamination efforts, having installed barrier wells and sheet piles downstream to prevent any outflow of contaminants outside of the premises, in addition to employing groundwater pumping and aeration methods.

In both areas, the contamination concentration level has decreased and decontamination work is progressing well; however, we are undertaking various other efforts to achieve prompt and complete decontamination.
The Mabuchi Group has now switched to cleaning solvents with a low environmental burden and is making efforts to eliminate the cleaning process for all parts.

Prevention of Noise and Vibration Pollution

Head Office and related companies regularly measure noise and vibration levels to confirm compliance with related legislative regulations.
According to the periodic measurement results, there was no violation of noise and vibration regulation limit values, which are relative to their respective locations.

Prevention of Air Pollution in Workplace

Mabuchi Motor regularly measures air quality in workplaces and exhaust air quality outdoors in order to protect employees' health and the immediate environment. In the case of offices, levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)* are measured to examine indoor environment.
Overseas related companies also conduct measurement and implement related measures required under relevant environ-mental regulations.

(*Note) Volatile organic compounds:
substances related to indoor pollution and deemed to potentially cause sick house syndrome including, for example, formaldehyde, vinyl acetate, toluene and xylene.