Fujifilm is actively recycling resources by establishing recycling schemes for used products such as QuickSnap cameras, as well as recovering silver and other materials from our products to reuse them.
We have been conducting efforts to use resources effectively and reduce waste through measures which take into account the total lifecycle of a product, by considering the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) in the product design, reducing loss at the manufacturing stage, collecting, reusing and recycling used products, and recycling or converting into valuables.
Following the flow of the transition to a global recycling economy, in FY2024, the Fujifilm Group established its Resource Recycling Policy, “Aim at not using resources from new mines*1.” Based on this policy, we are minimizing the usage of resources from new mines and promoting resource recycling by expanding policy coverage to the entire product life cycle (from materials procurement, manufacturing, and usage, through to disposal) in addition to the current target “waste reduction in manufacturing.”
- *1 Mines for non-renewable oil and mineral resources
（FUJIFILM Corporation Fujinomiya site）
At FUJIFILM Corporation Fujinomiya site, where we conduct research, development, and manufacturing of medical X-ray films and various functional films, a waste reduction project was launched across the entire site in 2020. Over the three years, the amount of waste was reduced by approximately one-third. The project focused on reducing PET (polyethylene terephthalate) related waste, which constitutes a significant portion of the waste generated at the site, by targeting “waste reduction in the PET resin manufacturing process” and “promotion of PET-related waste recycling.”
In the PET resin manufacturing process, we had been purifying and reusing substances that combined unreacted raw materials remaining after the reaction process and impurities generated in the same process. However, solid impurities known as residues could not be reused, and thus had to be treated as waste. This project successfully achieved zero waste by making these solid impurities in water and treating them with activated sludge*2 in the wastewater treatment process.
Additionally, in the PET film manufacturing process, we have been recycling film that did not meet product standards by converting it into chips for reuse as raw material. However, the joining tape used to connect film segments would get mixed into the chips, posing a challenge. By welding the film segments together without using tape, we eliminated the need for the tape removal process, allowing direct conversion into chips and significantly reducing waste.
- *2 This method uses bacteria to break down organic matter in the water, thus purifying the wastewater and rendering it harmless.
Rolled PET film used as a raw material for various functional films
Crushed PET chips
In the Consumer Healthcare business, which provides functional cosmetics and supplements such as the “ASTALIFT” series, we are working to reduce CO2 emissions and waste by reducing the amount of plastic used through measures such as offering refills for containers of the “ASTALIFT” series.
Developed with the concept of “easy to take pictures anytime, anywhere, by anyone, the one-time use camera QuickSnap was released in 1986. More than 30 years have passed since its launch, but it continues to be loved by many due to its unique analog finish, the charm that digital products cannot offer.
QuickSnap is designed with environmental consideration through “thorough reduction of the number of components,” “design of components that can be used in multiple models,” and “product design that does not use screws or adhesives based on the premise of recycling.” Initially, after film development, the remaining body parts were appropriately disposed of or handed over to recycling companies according to the instructions of local governments. However, in 1990, we launched a “Recycling Center” for QuickSnap, and in 1998, we established a circular production system that combined the reuse / recycling process with the production process, promoting the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). This approach to environmentally conscious design is deeply embedded in our business activities.
Outline of the Circular Production System for QuickSnap
