Environmental Protection

In cooperation with local residents and NPOs (private non-profit organizations), the NTN Group conducts activities to conserve biodiversity, such as tree planting through "Kigyo no Mori" (corporate forest) activities, protection of endangered species in the vicinity of each business site, maintenance of natural parks, etc. Although activities were restricted due to infection prevention measures in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, we will continue to work on our activities while reviewing the contents of our activities.

Protection and Habitat Conservation of Endangered Species and Wildlife

Conservation Activities for the Endangered Reverdin's Blue (Butterfly)

Nagano Works (Japan) has established a sanctuary for the endangered Reverdin's Blue butterfly on its premises under its Biodiversity Conservation Partnership Agreement with Nagano Prefecture and is continuing protection activities. In order to promote the establishment of the Reverdin's Blue, we planted komatsunagi, a larval food plant, and released adult Reverdin's Blue caterpillars in a netted egg-laying area. Although the project did not always go as planned due to the appearance of natural enemies, such as long-tailed locusts and spiders, and weather conditions, such as rain and strong winds, measures were taken such as narrowing the netted egg-laying sites to allow the butterflies to remain in the upper space for a few days. As the result of our efforts, 185 adult Reverdin's Blue butterflies were successfully established in 2021, up from 5 in 2019 and 80 in 2020. We will continue our activities to increase the population in the future.

■Reverdin's Blue Butterfly ♂ (Adult Insect)

Afforestation and Forestry Activities

Nagano Works Receives Forest CO₂ Absorption Certificate from Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Works (Japan) has been maintaining forests in Komakane City as part of Nagano Prefecture's "Forest Foster Parent Promotion Project" since the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. On this occasion, a CO₂ absorption amount of 54.2 tons with respect to an undertaken area of 10.73 ha was certified by Nagano Prefecture in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, and we received a certificate. Although the scale of our activities was reduced in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue our activities in the future.

■Forest CO₂ Absorption Amount Certificate

Cleanup Activities in Water Areas

Maintenance of Nino River and Osa River

NTN Omaezaki Corp. (Japan) participates in Shinseikai (an association to protect the nature of the Nino and Osa Rivers), which consists of the Omaezaki City Office and 22 companies in Omaezaki City, and conducts cleanups and surveys of aquatic life along the Nino and Osa Rivers, picks up trash along National Route 150, and distributes killifish to children's preschools. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, approximately 20 people participated in trash pickup, collecting empty cans and plastic around the rivers. All participants felt that they were able to protect aquatic organisms in the river, which motivates them to continue the cleanup activities.

Compliance with Environmental Regulations

The NTN Group complies with legal and regulatory standards for air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination, noise and vibration, ground subsidence, and foul odors, and is working to further strengthen its compliance with environmental regulations.

Installation of Drain Oil-Water Separator for Compressor

NTN Mie Corp. (Japan) stores factory wastewater from three systems, including drainage from compressors, in an outdoor tank and discharges it outside the plant after oil-water separation. However, the water quality in the final tank after oil-water separation had a possibility of exceeding the in-house standard value. It was found that the drainage water from the compressor contained the most oil. To do deal with this, a drainage oil-water separator was installed in the compressor in February 2022. This device made it possible to remove oil from the drainage water, and the oil content in the compressor drainage water reduced from 29 mg/L to 0.5 mg/L and ensure stable water quality in the final outdoor tank.

■Drain Oil-Water Separator for Compressors (NTN Mie)

Introduction of VOC Exhaust Gas Treatment Equipment and Automatic Monitoring System in the Painting Process

Xiangyang NTN-YULON Drivetrain Co., Ltd. (Xiangyang NTN, China) has installed catalytic oxidation equipment and exhaust gas monitoring equipment to reduce the outflow of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted during the painting process. We achieved a removal rate of over 95% with the equipment. In China, the "Heavy Pollution Weather Key Industry Emergency Emission Reduction Establishment Technical Guidelines" were revised in 2020, requiring stricter treatment of exhaust gas. This equipment combines a filter using zeolite as an adsorbent and a catalytic oxidation system. In addition, the equipment constantly monitors the composition of exhaust gas and uploads the measured results to a network to ensure emission control and information disclosure to the government.

■VOC Exhaust Gas Treatment Equipment (Xiangyang NTN)

Implemented Noise Reduction Measures for Fan Cooling Towers

NTN Driveshaft do Brasil (NDB, Brazil) had been experiencing noise leakage from its outdoor cooling tower, to a level that required countermeasures. To reduce the noise level, a soundproof wall was installed outside the cooling tower. The noise level has been reduced to a satisfactory level.

■Cooling Tower Soundproofing (NDB)

Environmental Contribution to the Community

The NTN Group promotes building good relationships with neighboring residents through various environmental contribution activities, such as cleaning up of areas around our plants and other areas. We will continue to make further efforts to be a company that is willingly supported by local residents and other stakeholders through these activities.

Adopt-a-Highway Program: Bower Road (1km) Cleanup

NTN-BOWER Corp. Macomb Plant (MMF, USA) has been conducting cleanup activities along Bower Road as part of its community contribution activities. Called the Adopt-a-Highway program, employees wear yellow vests every week in spring and summer and clean up the canal and road, picking up trash and other debris. We feel sure that our customers and neighbors have a positive impression of the program, and that it also has a positive impact on the plants and animals along the road.

■Bower Road Cleanup (MMF)