Since FY2011, we have been developing the “Econoa” series, in which our existing condominium buildings are renovated. These are environmentally friendly homes for sale that utilize existing homes and improve their functionality, performance, and value. The condominium also offers the peace of mind that only the Nishitetsu brand can provide, such as issuance of the R1 Residence Conformity Status Report, which certifies the quality of the renovated residence.
Through the Econoa series, which has a low environmental impact, we will promote the effective use of housing resources and long-lasting housing.
All of our custom-built and for-sale detached houses are certified as long-life quality housing.
Long-life quality housing is outstanding housing with measures taken to ensure that it will stay in good condition for many years to come.
Some of the houses are also equipped with solar power generation systems and EneFarm, and ZEH (*1)-certified homes are also offered.
We will continue to provide safe, high-quality, eco-friendly housing to our customers.
*1 ZEH (Net-Zero Energy House): By significantly improving the insulation performance of the outer skin, etc., and by introducing a high-efficiency equipment system, the quality of the indoor environment is maintained and significant energy savings are achieved, and by introducing renewable energy, etc., the balance of annual primary energy consumption (i.e., the amount of energy used per year) is reduced to zero.
The Group is committed to the proper disposal of waste.
At the Nishitetsu head office, waste is separated into eight categories: confidential documents, copy paper, newspapers, other paper, plastic bottles, cardboard, burnable garbage, and non-burnable garbage. Separation boxes are placed on each floor, and thorough separation contributes to the effective use of resources.
Burnable garbage and confidential documents
Copy paper, newspaper, other paper (recyclable)
Burnable garbage, plastic bottles (recyclable), and non-burnable garbage
Our rail vehicles and buses undergo regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs. Rail vehicles are used for approximately 50 to 60 years, general-route buses for up to 25 years, and highway buses for 12 years, and those that have served their purpose are dismantled and recycled, or those in good condition are fully maintained and reused by Group companies.
Number of vehicles recycled and reused
| FY2015 | FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | ||
| Buses | Recycled | 98 | 171 | 146 | 158 | 85 | 173 | 77 | 73 |
| Reused | 8 | － | － | － | － | － | － | － | |
| Rail cars | Recycled | 12 | 12 | 22 | 1 | 11 | － | 4 | 14 |
A clothing collection event took place at Solaria Plaza, one of our commercial facilities. After the collected clothes are sorted, those that can be worn are sold as used clothing and “re-worn” or exported to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other countries. Unwearable items are “reused” by being processed into other products such as industrial felts and cleaning rags, and are also “recycled” for use as insulation and cushioning materials. We will continue to do so and contribute to the effective use of resources, reduction of CO2 emissions, and achievement of the SDGs goals through our clothing collection efforts.
Tenjin Cleaning Day took place in March 2023, including a Kids’ Flea Market at Kego Park and an Upcycle Marché and clothing collection at Solaria Plaza Zephyr.
The Kids’ Flea Market was an opportunity for children to learn the importance of material goods and money as a “hands-on learning place” where they could buy and sell items alone, and to feel the essence of recycling through the experience of having their unused items go into the hands of others.
In addition, we were able to promote the SDGs and upcycling (*1) to visitors to the city through events such as the Upcycle Marché and clothing collection.
*1 Upcycling refers to the process of giving new value to a product that would otherwise be discarded.
Nishitetsu Kurume Station Building (Emax Kurume, Nishitetsu Kurume Station, and Nishitetsu Kurume Bus Center) have joined forces to conduct a food drive initiative in cooperation with the support group Bon Appetit.
Food that cannot be consumed at home is collected and donated to welfare organizations and food banks, and provided to facilities and families in need.
Through this initiative, we also contribute to the achievement of the SDGs goals by helping to reduce food loss.
Nishitetsu Hotels Co., Ltd. is working to reduce food loss in restaurants and banquet halls with the cooperation of customers through the installation of information POPs and other means.
In addition, food residues from the Nishitetsu Grand Hotel are recycled into pig feed, and those from the Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Fukuoka are recycled into compost, which is used as organic fertilizer for rice and vegetable farming, creating a circular recycling of food resources.
Lawson Nishitetsu Fukuoka Tenjin Station and Lawson Nishitetsu Fukuoka Tenjin Station ticket gate store operated by Nishitetsu Station Service Co., Ltd. are working to reduce and recycle food waste. Waste is reduced by optimizing product assortments and the number of orders placed.
In addition, we produce as little waste as possible by selling unsold products at a discount to reduce unsold products, such as medium-sized food products with short expiry dates. For food that must be disposed of, Nishitetsu Building Management Co., Ltd. is commissioned to convert food waste into animal feed and fertilizer.
Nishitetsu Store Inc. and its stores have set up collection boxes for used food trays in their stores (except some stores), and use recycled trays made from collected used food trays, striving for effective use of resources.
Nishitetsu Store's Uncle Yume Ichiba Yayoigaoka store has been using the G-box waste paper collection system since September 2013.
By putting old newspapers, magazines, etc. into the measuring device at the store, customers earn points that can be exchanged for shopping coupons and more. The system also displays the amount of CO2 reduced along with the points.
Spina Co., Ltd has been collecting and recycling used paper throughout the company as a general SDG initiative since July 2023. Paper that was previously disposed of as waste is now separated into four types at the head office and each business site: general office paper and magazines, shredded paper, corrugated cardboard, and newspapers. This paper is collected using internal communication services and transported by the Company to recycling businesses. We will continue to help use resources effectively.
Separated into four types
In-house collection and delivery
●Vehicle recycling (ASR recycling business)
Kyushu Metal Industry Co., Ltd. has been certified by vehicle manufacturers as an ASR* recycling business operator and began operations on October 1, 2012. By developing our existing ELV recycling business (shredding, etc.), we have established one of the most advanced sorting technologies in Japan, recovering almost all metals contained in ASR and converting them into products and recycled resources.
In addition, after recovering metals from ASRs, all dust is used by cement companies as fuel and cement raw materials, and 100% of the end-of-life vehicles handled are recycled.
*ASR (Automobile Shredder Residue): Waste (shredder dust) remaining after end-of-life vehicles are shredded and metals are recovered.
●Home appliance recycling
In 2001, the Act on Recycling of Specified Kinds of Home Appliances (Home Appliance Recycling Act) was enacted, requiring recycling of four items: TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines. Since its establishment, Kyushu Metal Industry Co., Ltd. has been certified as a “designated pick-up location,” “secondary distribution,” and “recycling facility” for waste home appliances, and has been picking up and transporting them. Especially for TVs, air conditioners, and washing machines, we recycle waste home appliances in the northern Kyushu and Yamaguchi areas through manual dismantling and sorting work, and are committed to thorough recycling.
We will continue to make full use of our technological capabilities to help reduce the environmental impact of the region.
Mixed metal continuous sorting machine
Iron after crushing scrapped cars
Regarding waste PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) used as insulating material at railroad substations, high-voltage power receiving and transforming equipment for buildings, and ballasts for lighting fixtures, etc., high-concentration PCB waste (capacitors and transformers) was first treated by JESCO (Japan Environmental Storage & Safety Corporation) in FY2006 to render it harmless, and in FY2020, the treatment was completed. However, since the waste was newly discovered at our facility, we conducted a re-inspection and are now properly treating and storing it.
In addition, we began detoxification treatment of low-concentration PCB waste in FY2016 and are systematically disposing of it by the statutory deadline.
In August 2020, Kyushu Metal Industry Co., Ltd. was certified as an authorized processor by Kitakyushu City under the Kitakyushu City Industrial Waste Discharger and Processor Certification System for FY2019. This certification system selects both waste dischargers and waste processors that have made particularly outstanding efforts in reducing, recycling, and properly disposing of industrial waste, and have achieved excellent results. It encourages them by presenting them with business awards, giving them titles as certified operators, and promoting and publicizing their efforts.
We have been continuously certified since 2005.
As a company that conducts sustainable resource recycling, we will continue to actively work to help preserve the global environment.
Nishitetsu-unyu Co., Ltd. supports the realization of a resource-recycling society by collecting and transporting home appliances (air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines) discharged by general consumers and businesses as an authorized operator under the Home Appliance Recycling Law. We are also licensed to collect and transport polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste, which is considered a hazardous substance, and safely transport it to PCB disposal facilities in accordance with the Ministry of the Environment's guidelines.
In addition, we are also involved in collecting waste documents (confidential documents) from offices and waste bottles from restaurants for the purpose of recycling them. As a truck transportation company, we will continue to leverage our mobility to contribute to environmental conservation and the activities of a recycling-oriented society.
