April 2006
Cover Story
Real effect of “reducing”
New products are born by reducing waste and creating value
Trend
Create new value while cutting costs
Case Study
Servicising: a new business model to sell product functions instead of the products themselves
Canon Inc. cuts material input at manufacturing sites to half
A new type of washing machine launched on the market, achieving a water savings by 80% compared to conventional washing machines
Light cars designed exclusively for the Japanese market start entering the global market
Charging for garbage collection may be the last resort to reduce household garbage in this affluent age
Challenge
Expectations for the second chapter of the revolution triggered by reducing wastes
Report
Are Toyota and Honda truly front-runners in manufacturing eco cars?
American and European automakers’ hybrid car strategies
Learn about Technologies
First Step in Technology
[CO2 recovery and storage] CO2 is separated from large emission sources and contained deep in the underground or the sea
Products
[Fluorescent lamps that look exactly like conventional light bulbs] They come in almost the same shape, prompting consumers to replace incandescent lamps with fluorescent lamps
New Energy
[Hot spring power generation] Japan’s first large-scale power generation system utilizing heat energy from hot springs is under development, with a capacity to supply power to half of all households in Kusatsu
Energy Conservation
[Smart idling stop system for direct-injection engines] New system uses no electric motor to restart engine
“Honor Students” in Recycling
[Exterior wall tile]Clever use of waste tiles helps INAX cut cost by nearly 20 million yen a month, saving its factory from closure
Learn about Environmental Laws
Easy-to-Understand Environmental Law
[New asbestos law] How industries bear compensation costs is closely looked at, while criticism over the low level of compensation benefits is mounting
How to Read the Waste Disposal Law
Part 3. Classification of waste changes according to the social situation, causing problems in the treatment of general waste from businesses
Environmental Laws Q & A
Do recycled ink cartridges infringe on an ink cartridge manufacturer’s patent?
This Month’s Environmental Law
To actively utilize the Kyoto Mechanism, the Cabinet decides upon a bill to revise the Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming
Trend and News
Chemical Substance Control
Implementation of China’s RoHS regulation is to be postponed until 2007, and white goods are likely to be exempted from the regulation
Preventing Global Warming
Matsushita Electric attempts to earn emission rights through CDM by investing in its own manufacturing subsidiary in Malaysia
Soil Contamination
The court rules against Mitsubishi Gas Chemical in a lawsuit over the soil remediation cost, a negative legacy that the company has inherited
Hazardous Substance
Yashima Kogyo opens “Asbestos School” to help companies starting in the asbestos removal business improve their skills
Energy
Does US President George Bush really mean it when he calls for an end to oil dependency in his State of the Union Address?
New Energy
Showa Shell Sekiyu test-markets natural gas-derived kerosene in the Kanto area and enjoys good sales
Fuel Cell
Proving its quality in Honda’s fuel-cell cars, JSR’s electrolyte membrane is ready for mass production
CSR Frontline
How to read the new GRI guidelines that underscore the processes before disclosure
Environmental issue becomes a major topic of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2006
Kyoto Mechanism
Q and A to understand the Kyoto Mechanism
Q: What is a methane recovery project?
A: It is a CDM project in which biogenic methane is captured and used for power generation/cogeneration
Learn about Environmental Issues
True and false of environmental science
[Biodiversity] What is the definition of alien species, and to what extent should they be eliminated?
Threats waiting around the corner
Mushrooms that grow on cherry trees and cause the tree trunks to rot are spreading nationwide
Junko Edahiro’s eye-opening facts on environmental terms in English
[Reduce, reuse, recycle]
Column
Kankan Gakugaku (Active Argument over Environmental Issues)
Maki Yanai, radio DJ
Secret tips for environmental management
Corporations need to take another step and implement environmental activities in their main business
Cuisines of Japan
Wise eating of pickles supports life in northern Japan that is suffering from heavy snow
Honest opinions by the “eco-moms”
How much recognition do environmental labels win from eco-moms?
Artisanship in repairing
Schoolchild’s satchel manufactured by Kyowa Corporation.
The reality of NPOs
[Greenpeace Japan] The vanguard of nature conservation still has difficulty in establishing collaborative relationships with private corporations
Report
Inside-Out
[Asbestos waste management Part 4] Hurry up and tighten regulations for asbestos waste to ensure safe treatment
From BusinessWeek
A shadow falls on the bright future of solar batteries
WorldWatch Institute
Innovative technologies may prevent oil depletion in the immediate future but in turn slow the shift to alternative energy sources
ECO Seminar
How to Make the Best Use of ISO
[Mos Food Services, Inc. Part 2] With a little ingenuity added to auditor training, internal audits can be a fine tool for environmental education
New Environmental Study
[System thinking Part 2] Find a leverage point that brings desirable changes
Quick Guide to Environmental Key Words
Forest certification
World Trend
From EU
The reason why European automakers welcome more stringent auto emission control
From UK
As the EU prepares for the second phase of EU ETS, purchased emission rights are found insufficient to achieve targets set by the Kyoto Protocol
From USA
Snow melts and frozen soil softens due to global warming, giving the recreation industry a hard time
From Germany
NRW State, the largest industrial area in Germany, draws up a hydrogen energy strategy covering the period up to 2100
From China
The National People’s Congress begins deliberations on the next Five-Year Plan, whose energy policy is geared toward energy conservation
