Murata and the Environment

Due to the increasing global population and climate change impacts, the importance of water resources and the demand for taking measures against water risks are growing every year.
Murata recognizes water to be an essential key natural resource in conducting business activities. Through conservation of this limited resource and promoting efficient use, we are making efforts to minimize impact on the local communities.
Based on our corporate philosophy and the concept of our EHS disaster prevention policy, each and every employee will respect harmony with local communities and the environment while continuing to work on proper management of water resources and promote initiatives to pass on these resources in a sound state to the next generation.

Link: Murata Group EHS Disaster Prevention Policy

Based on our environmental management system, we at Murata promote environmental initiatives that include measures to address water risks. As part of our environmental efforts, we identify risks and opportunities related to water resource management and check for legal and other requirements (environmental regulations and industry trends). We also provide education and training, and monitor the state of our operation and management through internal audits and management reviews.
The CSR Management Committee, chaired by the President, and the Environmental Committee, led by the Executive Vice President, each hold meetings twice a year to establish policies on water resource management as well as to report on and review the progress of related initiatives.

Link: Murata’s Corporate Governance System

Based on the EHS disaster prevention policy, all Murata employees promote water resource conservation and efficient use while working to build harmony with local communities through business activities.
To achieve coexistence with the local communities and the environment, Murata has been committed to reducing water consumption and implementing proper wastewater control. We regularly monitor the water usage and discharge in our production activities and continue our business management with a focus on the efficient use of water resources.
As a result, we achieved an 11% reduction per water use unit^*1 (total water use divided by sales) in the last 5 years (fiscal 2020 to 2024) compared to fiscal 2019. We consider this initiative to be a key step toward sustainable business operations.
We also identify locations with high water risks. In such areas, we engage in process improvement, technical development, and strict water management to achieve water reuse and zero wastewater. Furthermore, we are placing more emphasis than ever on ensuring stable operations in order to properly manage the chemical substances used in our manufacturing process and prevent accidental leaks outside our premises.

Link: Responding to environmental incidents

• *1

  : Evaluation is based on the water consumption per unit of sales (1000 m³/JPY 1 billion).

Murata uses globally-recognized tools such as WRI Aqueduct^*2 and Water Risk Filter^*3 to evaluate water risks. Our screening process determined that the majority of our business sites have a low-to-medium water risk.

In order to set CBWTs^*4, which are water management goals based on regional characteristics and catchment context, we evaluated the water supply and demand balance based on factors such as demographics in watershed areas around 11 key business sites accounting for 70% of the water used throughout the entire group, and also took biodiversity into account in evaluating possible impact on key biodiversity areas (KBAs).
As a result, we found relatively high water risk (water stress) at four business sites in Thailand, the Philippines, and Wuxi and Foshan in China. For these four business sites, we establish a risk mitigation policy and are working on risk avoidance.
In addition, when acquiring land for building a new plant, we review water resource availability and check for risks such as effluent regulations.
We will continue our efforts in monitoring water risks in different areas and improving water usage for more efficient water use.

• *2

  : Water risk evaluation tool developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI)

• *3

  : Water risk analysis tool developed and operated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), an international non-governmental organization working on environmental conservation

• *4

  : Context-based Water Target (CBWT)

Murata is working on reducing water intake, using water efficiently, and recycling water at individual business sites. In wastewater management, we conduct risk assessments and set voluntary reference values that are stricter than regulatory limits to prevent the emission of wastewater containing chemicals that exceed legal limits outside the premises.

<Examples of initiatives>

• 2020: Shenzhen Murata Technology returns process effluent to the process 100% for reuse.
• 2020: Izumo Murata Manufacturing practices cyclic use of industrial water to achieve a 50% water recycling rate.
• 2024: Toyama Murata Manufacturing installed water treatment equipment that achieves a 50% water recycling rate.
• 2024: Sendai Murata Manufacturing achieved a 80% year-over-year reduction in water supply costs thanks to the reclaimed water supply service that collects and recycles waste water.

Link: Assurance report by independent third party