November 2005

Cover Story 1

The real competency of biomass energy is drawing attention amid the oil price hike and CO² emission control


- Uncover those untapped, massive resources!

- Expectation and reality of bio-fueled automobiles
Report from Germany: Production of 200,000 tons/year of bio-diesel is planned
Report from Sweden: Aim is set at lumber-based society

- Woody biomass power generation using waste lumber is thriving

- Wet biomass including livestock manure seeks its way for self-sufficient use

Breaking Story

The new national guidelines strongly back local governments’ orders to remove the illegally dumped industrial waste

Technology

First Step in Technology
[Photocatalyst] Systems to degrade toxic substances with photo energy are being commercialized with support from new innovation to overcome the disadvantages

Products
[Hybrid light commercial vehicles] By adding a motor, the surprisingly low fuel efficiency of commercial vehicles can be improved by 30%

New Energy
[CIS thin film solar cells] Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. is to build a new factory to manufacture solar cells from new materials

Environmental Cleansing
[Charcoal coating] Original technology of a venture enterprise develops a VOC-absorbing wall coating with charcoal

“Honor Students” in Recycling
[Metal-mixed waste] Sales as high as 1 billion yen is expected from various sources, including the gold and silver residue in used office automation equipment

Learn about environmental laws

Easy-to-Understand Environmental Law
[Tokyo Metropolitan Environment Protection Ordinance] The Tokyo Metropolitan Government leads in measures for global warming, obliging large businesses to set a CO² reduction target

Environmental Laws Q&A
Is the environmental function labeling for condominium buildings in Tokyo useful when making decision for purchase?

This Month’s Environmental Law
Revised Waste Management and Public Cleaning Law (2005) is implemented to tighten manifest operation obligation

Trend and News

Environmental Policy
Obligations for the shippers under the revised Energy Conservation Law are settled to require 2,000 companies to submit their plans and reports

Environmental Business
GE, a leader of manufacturers, becomes serious in environmental business to seek opportunities for growth in energy, water and energy-saving technologies

Hybrid Cars
Honda’s new Civic aims to be a popular model of hybrid cars

Recycling
Scrap iron is listed on the futures market for the first time in the world to promote stable domestic distribution

Reuse
Trial bottle returning system for shochu (Japanese distilled spirit) bottles in Kyushu resulted in 40% returns

Energy
Natural gas hydrates (NGH) draw attention as an LNG substitute owning to its easier transportation

Hybrid Cars
A motor show in Germany envisions the future of German cars with focus on hybrid cars and synthetic fuel

Environmental Management
Henkel ranks top for its CSR activities among German corporations; what are the “three pillars of the management philosophy”? 

CSR Frontline

Top management of the world shared common values at WBCSD Nagoya

“No to bodily trespass of toxic chemicals” -- European NGOs demand more stringent regulations


Kyoto Mechanism
Q and A to understand the Kyoto Mechanism

Q: When and by whom are emission rights going to be purchased?
A: Japanese government is requesting 9.2 billion yen for the purchase


ECO Interview
Yoichi Kaya, Director-General of Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth: “We need a G8-led framework for global warming measures”


ECO Column

Kankan Gakugaku (Active Argument over Environmental Issues)
Kenichi Horie, yachtsman

Takuro Morinaga’s ECO Lifestyle
It took some time to gain understanding for environment-friendly concrete “free frames,” a construction method to prevent landslide on the roadside

Fieldwork Japan
“Miniature Earth” is a biosphere where people share the habitat with animals and plants to study material cycles

Report

Achieve the Top Sales with Eco Products!
YKK AP Inc. / “Rewood” Deck

Inside-Out
[Soil pollution] Fundamental measures start at Osaka Amenity Park (OAP)

WorldWatch Institute
Traditional life of Inuit hunters is endangered by global warming in the Arctic

ECO Seminar

How to Make the Best Use of ISO
[Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.] Workshop inspires the procurement staff to relate their environmental actions to the corporation’s main businesses

New Environmental Study
[Soil pollution survey in the U.S.A. – part 2] Requirements and responsibility of environmental professionals are strengthened

Quick Guide to Environmental Key Words
Eco money

Practical Examples of Environmental Communication
Kubota Corporation

World Trend

From EU
Major impact of asbestos is yet to come with a possible estimation of 20,000 fatalities in Germany

From UK
Are the financial institutions with an aim at CSR financing going to change the “Equator Principles”?

From USA
“Green burial” is becoming popular in the Western countries as a way to contribute to resource- and energy-saving even after death

From Germany
Biogas, the promising clean energy, can be supplied to end users through the natural gas distribution network

From China
China resumes import of waste plastics from Japan as a strategy for active use of the globally circulated resources

Nikkei BP EcoManagement Forum

[ECO graph]

[Eco Magazine Forum] What can we foresee in REACH, the new chemical legislation by the EU?