FENC continues to optimize waste management at all production sites. The Company increases the efficiency of production resources with avoidance and reuse while promoting waste classification and recycling to create circular utilization of resources. The Company chooses licensed waste management companies to ensure the recycling and reuse of valuable waste, and that valueless waste is properly disposed of to prevent pollution. About upstream waste management mechanism, suppliers are monitored through inspections and the signing of Supplier Corporate Social Responsibility Statement. There were no waste leakage occurrences at FENC in 2022.
FENC’s production waste management aims for boosting the recycling and remanufacturing rates of production waste and for reducing waste through avoidance. Waste treatment and declaration are completed in accordance with regulatory mandates and waste disposal is performed by qualified companies. The principle governing waste management is “classification to reduction; waste to earnings; earnings to valuables.” Production units must strictly adhere to the implementation of waste classification. Waste materials with value shall be sold through procurement units as well as recycled and reused through external organizations or suppliers. Waste without values will be processed through qualified waste management companies. Waste treatment at FENC sites posed no significant impacts to the environment.
 

Waste Management Guidelines and Measures

Compared with 2021, total waste dropped by 9% in 2022 and the reuse and recycling rate reached 92%, which is up by 1% from the previous year. Total waste generated per unit of production also went up by 1% mainly due to the decrease in production. Total production waste decreased by 7% and total domestic waste increased by 5% in 2022. However, the reuse and recycling rate of this category jumped by 8%. FENC will stay the course on establishing waste reduction and improvement plans, committing to waste reduction and resource circulation through avoidance, recycling and reuse. 

Waste Volume per Unit Production

Waste Generated in 2022

Waste Generated

Data of Waste

Unit: metric tons

Waste Classification and Impact Assessment

Waste materials generated from the business activities at FENC can be broken down into 94% regular industrial waste and 6% hazardous industrial waste. The hazardous industrial waste includes used chemical bottles for testing, lubricant/oil and light tube/electrical batteries, which are processed by qualified waste management companies. To reinforce the requirement on hazardous waste management, the Company tracks the type, quantity, destination, storage, usage and treatment of the waste processed through these companies to ensure regulatory compliance. Due to customer demand, toxic chemicals were used to perform assays at Plant 1 of OPTC in 2022. The waste liquids were deemed as hazardous industrial waste, and therefore, the handling and reporting of the chemicals must be conducted in accordance with the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances Control Act. The plant filed an amendment to the business waste disposal plan at the EPA and added the code for the disposal of hazardous industrial waste. Waste storage, disposal and treatment are carried out in accordance with the Waste Disposal Act. The plant also sent staff to undergo training and obtain the qualification for Emergency Responders of the Toxic and Concerned Chemical Substances at the awareness level. The permit for handling toxic chemical substances was obtained on September 27, 2022.

Management Procedure for Waste Disposal Suppliers

Waste Treatment Process Flow

Incorporation of Innovative Technology and Equipment

OGM produces rPET from waste PET bottles. However, the non-PET parts such as bottle caps and plastic films are left out of this recycling and reuse cycle. After meeting with the production units and discussing the standards, OGM made gradual improvements on the equipment and provided classification training. The plant forms partnerships with suppliers on recycling and reuse, turning non-PET waste into refuse derived fuel (RDF). In 2022, 4,000 metric tons of non-PET waste were recycled, saving approximately NT$28 million in waste disposal fees and avoiding 1,464 tCO2e in carbon emissions.
 

Value Chain Collaboration

1. Organic sludge and sludge mixtures are considered industrial waste monitored by the authority in Taiwan and should be processed by professional waste treatment plants. OPTC conducts annual site inspections to examine the environmental protection measures implemented at these waste treatment plants, including waste declaration; on-site environmental protection, prevention and control measures for air pollution and water resources; management of waste storage to ensure supplier compliance.
2. The management and production teams at FIGP audit three waste removal and treatment suppliers each year to ensure compliance in all waste treatment conducts associated with FIGP. In 2022, the plant conducted on-site inspections targeting the sludge and waste plastic treatment suppliers and found no violations.
3. FEIS conducts two training sessions each year for employees from waste treatment suppliers. A total of eight suppliers took part in the 2022 training. Kuanyin Chemical Fiber Plant conducted site inspections at seven waste treatment suppliers in the same year.
4. OTIZ provided safety training to general waste treatment suppliers in 2022. The training includes safety precautions during waste loading and plant security management system.
5. OPSC commissioned new waste treatment suppliers to process general industrial waste and waste heat insulation cotton in 2022. Prior to commencing the waste treatment operation, OPSC conducted site inspections to assess the supplier’s capability and ensure compliance. Once the contract was awarded, OPSC provided environmental safety and plant operation training for the truck drivers and carrier staff. Site audits were also conducted immediately after waste disposal to ensure proper waste management. 

Avid Support for Governmental Policies

Waste management is strictly regulated in Japan under Waste Management Act. FIGP’s environmental management system has been certified to the ISO 14001 standards. The plant manages all suppliers through a waste contract management table, ensuring that all required permits are valid. The plant also uses an electronic management system to ensure that waste disposal and treatment are completed by suppliers within the mandated periods. FIGP submitted the waste treatment plan to the authority in Ibaraki Prefecture in June 2022, and the total waste generated at FIGP in 2022 is 22% less than the target set for the year.