As reviewing chemical safety progresses across the world, the number of chemicals that newly become subject to legal control is increasing. We have been applying even stricter controls on chemical substances than legal requirements. We also enhanced such anticipatory management by designating priority substances through our own initiatives— even if the chemicals were not legally designated, and are promoting the replacement or reduction of these priority risk management chemical substances.
From the animal welfare viewpoint, the Fujifilm Group is increasingly using alternative methods to animal testing for chemical safety evaluations. ADRA, an alternative test method for skin sensitization tests that Fujifilm developed was adopted in the test guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). We are promoting wider usage of ADRA, along with a designated reagent provided by FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation.
Our core technologies include molecular design capabilities for functional molecules and functional polymers, and their engineering technologies. Based on such core technologies, we are developing new materials and offering them as new value to society. We are also directing our efforts into manufacturing process innovation to improve resource usage efficiency and performance.
Sharing information on chemicals in products and safe handling methods for such chemicals across the supply chain is a basic requirement for sound chemical management. Because the Fujifilm Group operates businesses in all areas of upstream, midstream, and downstream of the supply chain, we aim to contribute to proper chemical management across the supply chain by disseminating our diverse expertise in chemical management.
With the revision of the Industrial Safety and Health Act in 2024 in Japan, it has become mandatory to appoint “Chemical Substance Managers” at worksites where substances subject to mandatory risk assessments are manufactured or handled. In response to this, starting from October 2023, the Fujifilm Group conducted specialized training (lectures and practical exercises) required as a qualification for the appointment of “Chemical Substance Managers” at all 15 applicable domestic worksites, with approximately 400 employees participating. The training was designed with practical examples, incorporating explanations of past workplace accidents and risk cases that occurred within the group and the measures taken to address them.
A scene from the specialized training for Chemical Substance Managers conducted at Fujifilm's Ashigara site.
Fujifilm Group has developed water soluble azo initiators that is easily dissolved in water instead of organic solvents. As a result, it allows for the reduction of organic solvents used throughout the manufacturing process when compared to conventional oil soluble azo initiators. This contributes to the reduction of VOC emissions generated during the use and disposal of organic solvents.