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Nikkei Ecology

April 2004 Issue

Cover Story

Facing the era of total CO₂ emission restriction
Impact of the “capped economy”


Capped economy is now in service
Quantitative restriction of CO₂ emission is unavoidable; wisdom of the “nation of artisans” is now challenged

Seiko Epson Corporation and Canon Inc. proceed to the “production revolution”
The leading manufacturers carry out a fundamental reform of their production processes by changing the structure of their factories to face the challenge of the cap policies

Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. and Sagawa Express Co., Ltd. take up the challenge of “fuel shift”
Natural gas with less CO₂ emission is the key for fuel shift in factories and transportation

Mitsubishi Securities Co., Ltd. and J-Power (Electric Power Development Co., Ltd.) build up knowledge and experience in “CDM projects”
The security company creates the emission rights to overcome the cap requirements, while the power company with a high CO₂ emission takes specific measures for the total emission restriction

Nippon Steel Corporation devises “energy stratagems”
The potential capacity of iron mills is fully utilized to develop technologies that take the “hydrogen society” into their vision

Interview with Akio Mimura, president of Nippon Steel Corporation
Draw a map of technological strategies that realizes coexistence of manufacturing and environmental protection under an assumption of security of energy supplies

Report

The real picture of the “environmental exposition” (EXPO2005) is now in sight, showing a new image of humans who can coexist with the environment on the earth

Vice-Rector Itaru Yasui’s “Eco Michelin”
Washer/Dryer in one: The high electricity consumption is not the only cause for the large environmental impact

e!Communication between Corporation and Housewives
Laundry: “The sun is the best cloths dryer. Electric/gas driers cannot be trusted in their environment-friendliness”

Technology Frontline / Products
Gunze Limited’s new underwear can be cleaned better without detergent

Technology Frontline / Elements
Asahi Breweries, Ltd. develops a new variety of sugarcane cultivar to produce automobile fuel

Technology Frontline / Trend
Kyushu Railway Company uses domestic wood materials for the interior of the new, lighter Shinkansen trains

Technology Frontline / Academy
Kiyoshi Otsuka, professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology, stores hydrogen in fine grains of “iron” at a nano-level

This Month’s Company
Yuko Repro is the leading company in Pachinko pinball machine recycling

Actions by Local Governments/ Ask the top management for the next step
Shiro Asano, governor of Aichi Prefecture, prepares the “environmental” conditions of the prefecture to use it as an advantage to attract industries

Environmental dialogue with top management
Masayasu Kitagawa’s “Frontline of Environmental Management,” Part 10
Kazuo Tsukuda, president of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.: “The advantages we have as a comprehensive machinery manufacture can be fully utilized to promote social contribution in environmental conservation”

Trend and News

Environmental policies
Waste Management and Public Cleaning Law is to be revised for two years in a row, while the Basic Guidelines on Measures to Address Global Warming is to be reviewed

Recycling
Hauling companies resell used consumer electronics to the black market instead of recycling; the low level of retailers’ morals are blamed

Recycling
China is to adopt a registration system to block exporters who secretly include “garbage” in the metals for recycling

Environmental labels
Germany’s Blue Angel adopts a new standard for copiers to require a clean indoor environment when the machine is in use

Chemical substance management
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is to come into effect in May; more information should be collected before the new version is discussed

Preventing Global Warming
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government gives up the plan to obligate private sectors for CO₂ reduction, promotes voluntary measures instead

Environmental Seminar

New series: The new tide of ISO. Self declaration of conformity, Part 1
City of Iida chooses the self declaration of conformity, builds its own method to become a model for the local businesses and other governments

Inside-Out

The current situation of genetically modified organisms: the influence on the environment is the focus of argument, Part 1
While rejection of cultivation by local governments continues, prompt development of risk assessment methods is needed to determine the risk on the ecosystem

Reports from Think Tanks Overseas

Environmental Finance
The United States needs policies to attract investment if it desires to further develop the rapid growth of wind power generation

Rocky Mountain Institute
Medical institutions are to do away with hazardous substances on their premise, including PVC-containing plastic items

Sustain Ability
Social entrepreneurs make their presence felt at the Davos Meeting; the next issues are how to provide them with political and economic supports

Wuppertal Institute
Aiming at expanding the use of reusable energy, supporting programs start to promote the leading projects

From WorldWatch
The hidden shame of the world industrial economy, Part 2 / The myth of “growth by development” must be reconsidered

Environmental Seminar

Easy-to-understand Environmental Law - Basic Law on Food Safety / Administration on food safety is fundamentally enforced by risk analysis methods

How to read European Regulations - Specifics of EU Directive / Technical Adaptation Committee (TAC) straightens up the ambiguity

Zero Emission Grade Report - Mizuno Technics / The sport equipment manufacturer achieves three-million-yen cost reduction through recycling wood chips from bat production into soil improvement agent

Global Warming Prevention Measures in Our Company - Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. / CO₂ emission is reduced by 25% per production unit through switching the fuel to natural gas and using bio gas intensively

New Environmental Study - Cost of the nuclear fuel cycle / Reprocessing and other costs are estimated to be 19 trillion yen, causing people’s doubts for its financial soundness before the launch of operation

Environmental Laws Q & A - The Aarhus Convention / Does the international convention require the governments to disclose information on environmental issues?

This Month’s Environmental Law - Law on Special Measures on Industrial Waste / The Minister of Environment agrees on the action plans by Aomori and Iwate Prefectures

Learn from This Environmental Report - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. / Arrow designs show the emission and movement of chemical substances in each factory

Column

Kankan Gakugaku (Active Argument over Environmental Issues) - Ken Noguchi, alpinist: “I want to prove that eco-tourism can be economically viable

Eisuke Ishikawa’s “The Eco Industries in the Edo Period” - The fine craftsmen of the Edo period built the developing towns solely by human power

Takashi Morieda’s Dining Room on Earth - The low self sufficiency of food is seen even in the Japanese traditional seasonings

Fieldwork Japan - Wisdom from the private sectors are gathered to carry out 15 water purification experiments in the Lake Hamana

Pioneer - Mizue Tsukushi is the creator of the first “eco fund” in Japan

On the Cover - A bicycle with “air-hubs” automatically pumps up the air into tires when pedaled