January 2007

Cover Story

Answers to the questions that you somehow failed to ask; thirty questions and answers about environmental issues

[Wastes/recycling]

Why does the distinction between ‘industrial waste’ and ‘general waste from business activities’ still remain?

[Energy/global warming]

What happens if we cannot achieve the targets set in the Kyoto Protocol?

[Management/corporate activities]

Why do companies with ISO 14001 certification face a stalemate in their environmental conservation activities?

[Chemical/toxic substances]

Why does the EU implement rigorous environmental regulations on products?

[Other]

What are common characteristics of eco-products that are popular with housewives?

Report

Carbon Expo Asia: at this first carbon market trade fair in Asia, European countries show their presence, while Japan fails to show much progress

Learn about Technologies

First Step in Technology

[Supercritical water] “Magic water” that breaks down hazardous substances may be used to produce biomass fuel

Products

[Tankless toilet] Toilet bowls made of plastic instead of porcelain realize the highest level of water conservation

Natural Energy

[Bioethanol] Honda and RITE to jointly build a test facility to develop the technology to produce ethanol from grass 

Fuel Cell

[Small-size system for home use] Ebara develops next-generation high-performance demonstration units that are smaller and last longer

“Honor Students” in Recycling

[Construction sludge] A processing company aims to earn 2.4 billion yen annually by using waste tires for fuel to reduce fuel cost to almost zero and securing purchasers for its recycled products

Learn about Environmental Laws

[Revised Law for Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging]

Urging retailers to reduce the use of containers and packaging

Easy-to-Understand Environmental Law

How to Read the Waste Disposal Law - Part 12 (Final)

Environmentally friendly design/extended producers’ responsibility

EU Regulations to Challenge Japanese Corporations - Part 7

REACH - Part 2

Environmental Laws Q & A

Why are voluntary measures considered one of the pillars of VOC control for the period to FY 2010?

This Month’s Environmental Law

Measuring method for auto emission is changed for better assessment accuracy, while wastewater quality standard is strengthened for stricter zinc content standard

Trend and News

Hazardous Substance

Matsushita stops using lead in plasma TV manufacturing as Japanese manufacturers address RoHS directive in advance

Global Warming

Decision on measures to be taken against global warming in 2013 and beyond is postponed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Nairobi

Eco Car

German automaker Volkswagen announces next-generation fuel cell technology

Environmental Case

Japanese government should learn from the Ferosilt cases

Natural Energy

Prime Minister Abe sets target to replace 10% of domestic gasoline fuel with biofuel manufactured in Japan, causing concern in related ministries and industries

Environmental Policies

Will Democrats’ victory in the midterm election trigger enthusiasm for environmental policies?

Stern Review

Former Senior Vice-President of the World Bank asks which direction we wish to take - spend 1% of world GDP for measures against global warming now, or suffer the loss of 20% of world GDP in future?

RoHS Directive

European environmental policies are changing their course to two opposing directions, deregulation and tightened regulation

Asbestos Disaster

Mitsubishi Materials Kenzai, realizing that simply abiding by laws is not enough to protect its corporate brand, begins to listen to victims’ voices

CSR Frontline

Nokia delivers market economy benefits to the destitute through Village Phone Project

SustainAbility: Social entrepreneurs overcome limitations faced by large companies, following the example of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Grameen Bank

Climate Change Policies

Q and A to understand climate change policies

Q: What will the reduction targets be for the period after 2013?

A: Although future reduction targets are unclear, there is strong support for emission rights trading

This month’s emission rights prices

Learn about Environmental Issues

Truth and False of Environmental Science

[Global Warming] Is it going to be colder if deep-water circulation weakens, contrary to our expectations?

Threats Waiting around the Corner

Black particles appearing on melting silver frost reveal air contamination in China

Junko Edahiro’s Eye-opening Facts on Environmental Terms in English

[Carrying capacity]

Column

Kankan Gakugaku (Active Argument over Environmental Issues)

C. W. Nicole, writer

Secret Tips for Environmental Management

How should B-to-B companies communicate with actual consumers of their products?

Cuisines of Japan

Offerings to new-year god show the connection between Kyushu and Tohoku regions

Honest Opinions by the “Eco-Moms”

Things you can do to prevent global warming

Artisanship in repairing

Nanbu ironwork (Kozan Kobo)

The reality of NPOs

[Asaza Fund] Mr. Iijima sticks to determination made during junior-high-school days and establishes fund to make Kasumigaura a model recycling-based society

Report

Inside-Out

[Loopholes of asbestos regulation - Part 1] Who is responsible for derelict buildings?

From BusinessWeek

Global warming: Here come the lawyers

WorldWatch Institute

Icelandic hydrogen society is becoming an illusion as Iceland adheres to 19th century industry model

ECO Seminar

How to Make the Best Use of ISO

[Gakken Co., Ltd.] Efforts to promote environmental activities in the main business spread throughout the company by enhancing departmental cooperation

New Environmental Study

[Environmental reports and CSR reports] Crisis brought about by reduction of disclosed information without due consideration

Quick Guide to Environmental Key Words

“Biodiversity”

World Trend

From EU

Will a deposit system take root in the EU? Member states are divided on how to deal with the deposit system

From UK

Future of JI is becoming foreseeable as Ukraine actively approves JI projects

From USA

People are “eating up” the earth, consuming 23% more than the earth’s ecological carrying capacity

From Germany

Heating demand should be cut more than 10% by 2050 to fight against global warming

From China

Total amount of regenerated metals increases by 20% compared to the previous year as Chinese government attaches high priority to regenerated metals in its 11th five-year plan