The Oiles Group operates according to the Management of Chemical Substances in Products and strives for proper management of chemical substances to comply with laws and regulations as well as customer requirements while working to protect the global environment.
The volumes of chemical substances generated, handled, released, and transferred from each establishment and plant in Japan are managed in accordance with the law concerning the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register/PRTR (Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof).
In April 2020, we disposed of the PCBs at the Fujisawa Plant, the only plant in Japan that stores them. We eliminated all PCB oil-impregnated equipment stored within our domestic group.
Moreover, we are tirelessly working to abolish the use of substances of concern in bearings, the Group’s core product. We are in full compliance with regulations that restrict the use of hazardous substances, such as “Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment*1” (RoHS) and the “Directive on End-of Life Vehicles*2” (ELV Directive) enforced in the EU. All plastic and multi-layer bearings products are lead-free, and standard metal bearings, excluding special purpose bearings, conform to the RoHS and ELV Directives.
Concerning RoHS 2 regulations (additional regulations for RoHS) that went into force in July 2019, we have surveyed the included substances and have completed the response.
*1 The RoHS 2 Directive restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment within the European Union (EU). This directive aims to minimize environmental impact and harm to the human body in the product lifecycle, from production to disposal. With the RoHS 2 Directive, products that include more than a certain amount of certain hazardous substances cannot be sold within the European Union (EU) from July 2019.
*2 The ELV Directive restricts the use of certain hazardous substances in vehicles such as passenger cars, buses, and trucks registered in the EU market. This directive aims to encourage the recycling of the parts used in automobiles to prevent environmental pollution caused by the waste generated from used automobiles. With the ELV Directive, it is mandatory for automobile manufacturers to comply with these regulations in new vehicles sold from January 2003.
