Shin-Etsu Chemical
Profile
Shin-Etsu is a chemical maker based in Tokyo, Japan, that was founded in 1926 in Nagano prefecture to make nitrogen fertilizer. Later it expanded into other products like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and semiconductor silicon. Shintech, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shin-Etsu, opened a PVC factory in Freeport, Texas, in 1974 and proposed a new plant in Convent, Louisiana, but was defeated in 1998 by environmental justice activists after a massive fight over projected dioxin, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride pollution – all of which are known carcinogens. However, Shintech ultimately won approval of two other plants nearby – in Addis and Plaquemine that were constructed in 2000 and 2008 respectively and then expanded several times.
In 2008, Shintech was ordered to pay total penalties of over $12 million for air pollution in Freeport, and in December 2020, the company was ordered to pay $356,000 for incidents involving thousands of pounds of chemical releases and worker injuries over a dozen years at the Louisiana plants. Eight weeks after the Louisiana settlement, the state approved a $1.3 billion expansion of the company’s facilities in Plaquemine, but environmental justice activists have started to organize to try to stop it. Unfortunately local politicians in Iberville parish have not merely agreed to the Plaquemine expansion but approved a $110 million tax break for the company.
Chemicals, Specialty chemicals, Semiconductor silicon, Electronics and functional materials
Violations
| Top 5 Offense Groups (Groups Defined) | Penalty Total | Number of Records |
|---|---|---|
| environment-related offenses | $14,000,314 | 21 |
| safety-related offenses | $49,908 | 5 |
(September 30, 2022)
Stories
Activism
Environmental groups oppose Shintech's Louisiana expansion over air pollution concerns
Halle Parker | The Advocate | February 2, 2021
Standing in front of the pews of Broadmoor Community Church in New Orleans, environmental advocates gathered Tuesday morning to oppose the $1.25 billion expansion of plastics producer Shintech Louisiana's plant in Iberville Parish, part of Louisiana's growing industrial corridor along the Mississippi River.
Coalition Statement Opposing Shintech Expansion
Louisiana Bucket Brigade | February 1, 2021
On Tuesday, January 26th, Governor John Bel Edwards announced that Shintech is planning a $1.3 billion expansion in Iberville and West Baton Rouge parishes. Governor Edwards’ ongoing support of the construction and expansion of foreign petrochemical companies that use Louisiana as a dumping ground furthers ....
Shintech and Opponents Brace for Another Round
Don Richards | Independent Commodity Intelligence Services | March 22, 1999
Shintech Inc. can expect to face stiff opposition to its proposed $250 million polyvinyl chloride resin project intended to be situated across Choctaw Road from Dow Chemical Company's Plaquemine, La., complex.
- A Community Voice
- Alliance for Affordable Energy
- Climate Reality New Orleans
- Coalition Against Death Alley
- Healthy Gulf
- Justice and Beyond
- Louisiana Bucket Brigade
- Louisiana League of Conscious Voters
- New Orleans Office Sierra Club
- Poor Peoples Campaign
- SouthWings
- Sunrise Movement, New Orleans
- RISE St. James
- 350 New Orleans
& Lawsuits
Shintech expansion follows agreements to pay $356K to settle Louisiana, federal violations
Mark Schleifstein | nola.com | February 1, 2021
The Jan. 26 announcement by state and company officials of a $1.3 billion Shintech plastics expansion in Plaquemine came just eight weeks after the chemical giant agreed to pay $356,500 in state and federal fines for violations dating back a dozen years, incidents that included the release of thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals and the injury of several workers.
PVC producer fined $12 million for environmental damage
Larry Greenemeier | Scientific American | December 2, 2008
The feds yesterday ordered a major U.S. producer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, a known cancer-causing agent, to pay $12 million in fines and to clean up its facilities after determining that it violated antipollution laws.
Environmental Impacts
Double Disaster in Ida's Wake: Will EPA Finally Ensure Industrial Facilities Prepare for Climate Change?
Darya Minova | Center for Progressive Reform | September 9, 2021
On August 29, Hurricane Ida pummeled Louisiana’s coastline with winds as high as 150 miles per hour and a storm surge of up to nine feet, flooding communities and destroying homes.
Opposition Grows Against Shintech’s Petrochemical Plant Expansion in Cancer Alley
Michael Esealuka | Healthy Gulf | February 18, 2021
On Tuesday, January 26th, Governor John Bel Edwards announced that Shintech is planning a $1.3 billion expansion in Iberville and West Baton Rouge parishes.
PERI Pollution Indexes
Based on United States Environmental Protection Agency data ranking the top 100 worst polluters.
& Relations
Chemical plant identifies two dead workers
Josh Auzene | WAFB9 | May 23, 2011
Shintech Louisiana LLC issued a news release naming Tommy Rivet and Tory Sanchez as the two people who died in an accident at the plant Sunday.
Financials
Note: List may not be complete.
Croctail Subsidiary Tool using the CorpWatch API - This API extracts the subsidiary relationship information from Exhibit 21 of companies' 10-K filings with the US SEC.
- CIK numbers link to SEC database (EDGAR)
- Section 21 links to SEC list of companies.
- Shin-Etsu Croctail Profile
Click here for the latest data.
Political Influence
Open Secrets - Tracks corporate lobbying of US politicians.
OpenSecrets.org Profile of Shin-Etsu
Import & Export Data
ImportYeti - Shipping Tracking Tool - Bill of ladings are public information that are too cost prohibitive, challenging to obtain and difficult to use for the average joe. ImportYeti's goal is to solve that problem.
- ImportYeti Profile of Shin-Etsu (USA), Shin-Etsu (Japan)
& Evasion
$110 million in tax breaks approved for plastic-maker Shintech by Iberville Parish
Youseff Rddad | The Advocate | May 26, 2021
Plastic-making giant Shintech Louisiana can skip paying Iberville Parish nearly $110 million in local taxes after a majority of council members approved a sizable tax break for the company.
Shintech expansion follows agreements to pay $356K to settle Louisiana, federal violations
MARK SCHLEIFSTEIN | nola.com | February 1, 2021
The Jan. 26 announcement by state and company officials of a $1.3 billion Shintech plastics expansion in Plaquemine came just eight weeks after the chemical giant agreed to pay $356,500 in state and federal fines for violations dating back a dozen years ...
Shintech plastic manufacturing expansion ‘very disappointing,’ environmentalist says
JC Canicosa | LA Illuminator | January 26, 2021
Shintech Louisiana LLC, the world’s leading manufacturer of a widely produced synthetic plastic polymer called PVC, will invest $1.3 billion to expand manufacturing and packaging facilities in Iberville and West Baton Rouge parishes, Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office announced Tuesday.
Procurement
Shin-Etsu contracts with the U.S. Federal government (via USA Spending)