Through 3R (reduce, reuse, and recycle) promotion efforts, the Otsuka group of companies is helping to build a recycling-oriented society and working to achieve the goal of zero emissions. Otsuka Pharmaceutical is working on material*1 and thermal*2 recycling, wherever possible, for waste emitted from its manufacturing processes. Five out of its seven factories in Japan have achieved zero emissions. The remaining factories have also been working to recycle particulate matter and ash generated by incinerator operation. As a result of these efforts, Otsuka Pharmaceutical has achieved zero emissions status on a company-wide level, based on its internal standards.
In 2009, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory achieved—and continues to maintain—a zero emission status with a recycling rate of 99% or more at all its production plants. The Naruto, Matsushige, Toyama, and Kushiro Factories have also received environmental certification, including model site status, from relevant municipalities. Otsuka Foods also achieved, and has maintained, zero emissions status for all its plants since 2010. The Tokushima Factory sorts manufacturing waste into 39 types and processes and recycles it into 13 kinds of products. In recognition of these efforts, the plant was certified as a Tokushima Prefecture 3R Implementation Site.
The recycling efforts of the Hanamaki Factory of EN Otsuka Pharmaceutical include: providing empty canisters that previously contained raw-material fats and oils to an enterprise for reuse as agricultural product transport containers; and corrugated cardboard and polyethylene bags to recyclers as valuable waste. Otsuka Techno also continues to maintain a recycling rate of 99% or more, through initiatives to improve the recycling rate based on thorough waste sorting as it strives to achieve zero emissions at the plant. The Naruto head office, Naruto Factory and Wajiki Factory have been approved as Tokushima Prefecture Certified 3R Model Sites.

*1: Reusing waste as raw materials for products
*2: Recovering and utilizing the energy generated during the incineration of waste