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Copyright(c)2007 Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All editorial content and graphics on this Web site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the copyright owner. |
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Nikkei Ecology |
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April 2007Cover Story Survey of homemakers reveals the pitfalls of sales strategies The reason why eco-products do not sell well [On the scene] Lifestyle columnist, Izumi Momose, looks into a volume retailer of home electric appliances [Case study] Consumer electronics makers try to attract customers with eco-brands [Case study] Leading retailers focus on solving customers’ concerns [Discussion] Three Eco-Moms discuss how poor companies are at marketing their products [Web survey of 400 homemakers] Dissatisfaction lies mostly in the fact that companies are not making enough effort to get the message across to consumers [Proposal] Ryosuke Yasukawa, a member of the Environmental Advertising Subcommittee, Japan Advertising Agencies Association [Proposal] Mika Takaoka, Associate Professor, College of Business, Rikkyo University Report PVC-bashing tones down Signs of PVC regaining its position, as house manufacturers and electronics makers reassess the material Learn about Technologies First Step in Technology [New nuclear reactor models] “Nuclear power renaissance” heightens competition, pushing manufacturers to pursue both low cost and safety through simpler structure and downsizing Natural Energy [Silicon for solar cells] Plans are ready for construction of mass production plant with annual production capacity of 500 tons, which adopts the pyrometallurgical process to remove phosphorus and boron Fuel Cell [SOFC for households] One of the world’s smallest of its kind, with unit volume reduced by 50% compared to the preceding model 3R’s [Recycling waste liquid generated from metal plating process] Special resin absorbs the nickel contained in the waste liquid “Honor Students” in Recycling [Iron scrap] While gaining monthly revenue of 250 million yen by industrial waste management, the company also manufactures approximately 230 kinds of iron and steel products Learn about Environmental Laws Easy-to-Understand Environmental Law [Amended Fluorocarbons Recovery and Destruction Law] Process management system will be introduced to keep track of and recover fluorocarbons without fail How to Read the Environmental Ordinances – Part 3 Ordinances for waste treatment – Part 2 Restrictions on waste generating companies are tightening, as evidenced by the rules requiring the companies to conduct on-site inspection of contracted treatment facilities Environmental Laws Q & A As new international rules to allow storage of CO2 under the seabed enter into force, will the government promote this CO2 storage by amending the corresponding domestic law, law relating to the prevention of marine pollution and maritime disasters? This Month’s Environmental Law The revised electronic manifest system will be enforced, allowing industrial waste treatment process to be traceable at all times Trend and News Global Warming Will the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report draw a conclusion on the debate over whether human factors are to blame? Chemical Substance Toys”R”Us calls back PVC toys made in China after finding out that they contain a banned additive Preventing Global Warming Emission rights and green electricity will be sold in affordable small quantities to respond to potential demands from small and medium businesses Eco-products Fujitsu adopts plastic parts made from castor-oil plants for its new notebook-sized personal computer Biodiversity With restriction fully implemented, tomato farmers are now tormented with cumbersome bureaucratic control when using introduced bees Preventing Global Warming Industries failing to reduce total CO2 emission are given “grade C”, even if voluntary targets are achieved New Energy Government persuasion behind the scenes pushes power companies to accept the amendment of the RPS Law, which will impose a 31% increase in target CSR Frontline Can advertising and marketing take on a newly evolved role of suppressing consumption? Unilever serves as a leading-edge role model in resources procurement and schemes to reduce poverty Climate Change Policies Q and A to understand climate change policies In China, the government controls unit prices of emission rights, while treating natural energy users favorably through lower tax rates This month’s emission rights prices Learn about Environmental Issues Truth and False of Environmental Science [Heat island] Is it the true culprit of accelerating global warming? Junko Edahiro’s Eye-opening Facts on Environmental Terms in English [tragedy of commons] Threats Waiting around the Corner Mosquito blood-feeding has become potentially dangerous, with higher risk of infection due to expanding habitat of the species caused by global warming Column Kankan Gakugaku (Active Argument over Environmental Issues) Heizo Takenaka, Professor, Keio University Challenge the Environmental Policies! Part 3 Pollution victims yet to be compensated Cuisines of Japan A warm winter without snow, or “letters from heaven” THE ROOTS Japanese environmental technologies [Laundry detergent] Focus shifts from water pollution control to global warming prevention The Reality of NPOs [The Nature Conservation Society of Japan] The long-established NGO takes on the challenge to collaborate with the government and the communities to protect nature close at hand Report Inside-Out Treatment of waste plastic from household – Part 1 Can plastic waste be treated successfully as combustible waste? WorldWatch Institute Small-scale poultry farmers are wrongly blamed for the expansion of bird flu From BusinessWeek Prices are the barrier for eco-house to pick up popularity Itaru Yasui’s “Eco Michelin” “eneloop” (rechargeable batteries) ECO Seminar New Environmental Study [Measure to cope with damage caused by climate change―Adaptation] Using market mechanism is the key New Environmental Study [Biomass energy in Germany] Growing momentum to use non-food grasses and trees as fuel Cure for the Headache of ISO Officers What ISO should do to promote compliance with the law Suggesting Eco-management Strategies to the Top Management - Part 3 “An Inconvenient Truth” and eco-management Key Word Carbon neutral/LED lighting World Trend From EU A fierce dispute over the viability of automobile recycling target set for 2015 From UK Germany accepts EU CO2 emissions cap, targeting at a further 6% reduction beyond 2008 From USA U.S. local governments steadily carry out measures to prevent global warming, such as solar cells installation and eco-house promotion From Germany Increase in environmental efficiency causes a rebound effect, paradoxically resulting in an increase in consumption and environmental impact From China China will sharply expand production of biofuel, targeting to reach 10 million tons in 2020 by focusing on non-grain sources |
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