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Nikkei Ecology

November 2004 Issue

Cover Story 1

Businesses optimize eco-logistics to balance environmental measures with costs

Environmental measures enter a practical stage; companies beat their brains and restrain costs

Supply chain management supported; Fujitsu performs a substantial reform through a tie-up between production and distribution sectors

Third party logistics undertake entire distributions; Meiji Seika Kaisha will reduce CO₂ emissions from logistics by 35%

Eco-driving achieves 20% improvement in gas mileage; Nippon Express aims to reduce annual cost by1 billion yen

Interview with Naohiko Ito, President of Japan Freight Railway; they will increase railway users by enhancing efficiency

Cover Story 2

Specific discussions starts over "environmental tax," while Kyoto Protocol is expected to put into effects

Technology Frontline

Products
[Tri-generation] Utilizes electricity, heat, and CO₂ in emissions

Trend
[Thermal cell] Transforms heat into electricity by semiconductors, and emergent high temperature-resistant type will expand thermal cell applications

Elements
[Solar power generation] Solar power rotates a turbine of 20cm in diameter

Technological People
[Nobuyuki Kawashima at Mitsui Chemicals] Develops poly-L-lactic acid for food containers and building materials

" Honor Students" in Recycling
[Egg shells/egg shell membrane] Reproduced as calcium-containing foods and ingredient in cosmetics


Technology News Clips

Learn about Environmental Law

Easy-to-understand Environmental Law
[Invasive Alien Species Law] Prohibits in principle invasive alien species from imports and rearing, which may cause damage to ecosystems

Environmental Law Q&A
I wonder if compost turned from ordure of cattle will be put to good use

This Month's Environmental Law
State of Enforcement of the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law, 2003

Taro Kono's Report from the Diet
Little progress in a radical discussion on nuclear fuel cycle issues

Trend and News

Measures against global warming
Russia is expected to ratify Kyoto Protocol, while diplomacy between countries has been activated over global warming countermeasures

PCB waste
Ministry of the Environment announces the PCB disposal tariff, in which fees are discounted according to earlier registration

Measures against global warming
Actual target of starting emissions trading led by private sectors is "CDM in Japan"

Energy
Atomic Energy Commission holds heated debate over an alternative of "direct disposal"

Measures against global warming
Challenge of environmental city, Vaxjo, aiming at fossil-free fuel for vehicles using DME

Nature protection
Fully cultivated tuna to the market; why Kinki University leads in development competition

Environmental education
Entire Environmental Conservation and Education Promotion Law enforced; its content is, however, insufficient for enterprises?

Environmental education
Toyota Motor will establish a nature school (new NPO) to provide experience-based education in April 2005

CSR Frontline
GRI seeks views from Japan to develop international guidelines

Interview with vice president of Sony: "the basics of CSR will be unchanged a decade from now"

Eco Interview
Hirokazu Yoshikawa, CEO Chairman of Dowa Mining: Our strength is a comprehensive approach from recovery through landfill


ECO Column

Kankan Gakugaku (Active Argument over Environmental Issues)
Masumi Hattori, author

Takuro Morinaga's Eco Lifestyle
Revive a reuse-culture with low environmental impact

Fieldwork Japan
Completion of "Environment EXPO" is around the corner


Report

Vice-Rector Itaru Yasui's "Eco Michelin"
Transportation IC cards to ride

Achieve the Top Sales with Eco Products!
Askul: Green products

Inside-Out

[Economy of RDF power generation – part 1] RDF power station of Mie Prefecture resumed an operation without any perspective

WorldWatch Institute
Education for women and lifestyles are keys on how to deal with population issues

ECO Seminar

New Trend of ISO
[Ricoh – part 1] Promotes employees' awareness through direct talking with members at each section as part of awareness education

New Environmental Study
[Condition to realize environmental economy – part 1] Toward economy with high resource productivity

Quick Guide to Environmental Key Words
Environmental accounting

Learn from Environmental Reports of Companies Overseas
Royal Philips Electronics (Netherlands) – part 1

World Trend

From U.K.
European Commission makes a judgment on eight countries' National Allocation Plans

From U.S.A.
Drivers are caught in traffic jams for 46 hours a year and their costs increase 4.5 times in 20 years

From Germany
International agreement including developing countries concerning mid- and long-term climate change policies be achieved

From China
Waste plastics, which is exported to China from Japan via Hong Kong, cannot be stopped even by an import ban

Nikkei BP EcoManagement Forum

[Eco graph]
Environmental accounting is effective to reduce costs and raise investment efficiency