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Nikkei Ecology

July 2005 Issue

Cover Story 1

How to survive in the waves of the chemical substance regulations; a heavy challenge confronts Japan as the manufacturing power

Trend: How to interpret the crop of regulations

VOC: Existing measures face a large turning point

RoHS: Compliance feasibility is yet to be known

“ Sick houses”: Certification system brings a drastic change for the building material industry

Risk management: The keys to correctly foresee and successfully overcome the risks

Technology

First step in technology <New>
[Plant-based plastics] New materials that do not increase CO₂ in the air

Products
[Kitchen waste composters for home use] Kitchen waste can be reduced to 1/7 or more in volume

New Energy
[Geothermal energy heating/cooling system] Unexploited underground energy can be effectively used for air-conditioning systems

Environmental cleansing
[Nitrogen removing system] Waste water can be quickly purified with the aid of electricity

“ Honor students” in recycling
[Office paper] “Erasable toner” allows repeated use of office paper as often as 10 times

Learn about environmental laws

Easy-to-understand Environmental Law
[Revised Air Pollution Control Law] Applicable facilities, emission standards and other specifics of regulations are about to be settled

Environmental Laws Q & A
How to choose the most energy-saving model of flat-screen TVs

This Month’s Environmental Law
The Diet approves the Plan to Achieve the Targets of the Kyoto Protocol in preparation to fulfill the commitment

Kenichi Mizuno’s Report from the Diet
Keep a close eye on the species designation for the Invasive Alien Species Act from the seat in the Environment Division of the Liberal Democratic Party

Trend and News

Recycling laws
Life Corporation and other companies refuse to pay their share of recycling costs, shaking the foundation of the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law

Low-pollution vehicles
A Nissan executive appeals the promising future of gasoline cars, arguing for the feasibility of 40% improvement in fuel efficiency

Nature conservation
The High Court reverses the previous decision in the Isahaya Bay reclamation case, failing to apply the environmental rights

Domestic trading of emission right
A total of 34 companies participate in CO₂ reduction race with the goal of 21% reduction, using the subsidy as leverage

Low-pollution vehicles
Panasonic launches catalytic agent development for diesel emission gas

Preventing global warming
Two hundred countries exchange their views for the measures in the “post-Kyoto” period

Green procurement
Supporting establishment of an organization in Asia to introduce successful examples of Japan

Environmental management
Toyota lays down a new environmental plan, aiming to become the company with lowest environmental impact in the world

CSR Frontline

Development of the easy-to-use international standards depends on accumulated experience from actual examples

U.N. Millennium Development Goals serve as a new framework for corporate reports

Kyoto Mechanism
Q and A to understand the Kyoto Mechanism
Can Russia sell their 6 billion tons of “hot air” as emission right?

ECO Interview
Kohei Urano, Professor, Yokohama National University: “Regulations alone cannot solve the problems of chemical substance management”


ECO Column

Kankan Gakugaku (Active Argument over Environmental Issues)
Shinichiro Sakurai, auto engineer

Takuro Morinaga’s ECO Lifestyle
Possibilities of “non-profitable banks” that invest in environment-related projects

Fieldwork Japan
Street environment that “deters” illegal parking

Report

Achieve the Top Sales with Eco Products!
Ikeuchi Towel Co., Ltd. / “Wind-woven towels”

Inside-Out
[Is recycling all good? – part 3] Is the “eco cement” truly a savior?

WorldWatch Institute
Does the control of agriculture by seed business companies mean the beginning of another era of feudalism?

ECO Seminar

How to make the best use of ISO
[Fujitsu Limited - part 1] “Green process activities” are introduced, showing achievement in reduction of chemical substances in factories

New Environmental Study
[Sustainable forest management] Learn the knowledge in forest restoration from the FSC forest certificate holders

Quick Guide to Environmental Key Words
Environmental reports

Practical examples of environmental communication <New>
Ito-Yokado Co., Ltd.

World Trend

From EU
The trading market is irritated by the uncertain picture after 2012, while sensitive relationship persists between emission right and post-Kyoto Protocol policies

From UK
Reduction targets and emission right trading should be forcefully defended without any compromise with the Bush administration.

From USA
UK tries to achieve the goal of 60% CO₂ reduction by tearing down inefficient houses

From Germany
Strategies for a sustainable society by local governments include infrastructure improvement and resource-saving management

From China
Private corporations are emerging as ESCO businesses, while preparation of business environment, including guarantee on debt, advances

Nikkei BP EcoManagement Forum

[ECO graph]

[Eco magazine forum] Companies listen to the citizens and change their policies