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Nikkei Ecology

October 2005 Issue

Cover Story 1

Read the direction of the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law after its revision


Survival strategies for containers and packaging industries

- What kinds of revision are to be made for the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law?

- Debate: Retailers (Koji Sasaki) vs. municipalities (Kazuo Ishii)

- “Bottle cans” (bottle-shaped aluminum cans) are increasing their share in the market

- “Paper packaging” keeps evolving

- “Glass bottles” and “plastic containers” are becoming lighter

- Drinks “sold by measure” and “returnable containers” are drawing attention

- Charging of “plastic shopping bags” is accelerated

Breaking Story

Asbestos incidents are shaking up the foundation of recycling-based societies
Building wreckers and industrial waste dealers are feeling increasing sense of crisis

Technology

First Step in Technology
[Co-generation] Waste heat from power generation is used to save energy; downsized models are available for household use

Products
[Mercury-free silver oxide battery] Sony and others commercialize silver oxide batteries after the decades of R&D efforts

New Energy
[Gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel] The liquefied fuel from natural gas is being tested for automobiles

Environmental Cleansing
[Small-sized gasification incinerator] Models with dioxin emission control are increasing demand due to the implementation of the Law Concerning the Protection of Personal Information

“Honor Students” in Recycling
[Wooden pallets] Idea to recycle used wooden pallets into charcoal is obtained from the experience in original business; the finished products have market value that is tenfold higher than the used pallets

Learn about environmental laws

Easy-to-Understand Environmental Law
[Revised Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy (Energy Conservation Law) Part 2] The revised law is to obligate use of energy-saving measures for residential buildings as well as notification of large-scaled repair works

Environmental Laws Q&A
Is that true that the law imposes unfair share of burden for package recycling to supermarkets?

This Month’s Environmental Law
Ministries start building information reporting systems for harmful substances contained in products and waste

Trend and News

Environmental Policy
Environmental issues are a hidden but important point of contestation in the election; opinions are greatly divided in environmental taxes and emission rights

Preventing Global Warming
Sony starts using reusable containers for international transportation with an aim to drastically reduce CO₂ emission by the “distribution reform”

Chemical Substance Treatment
Start of treatment of used PCB with low-concentration demonstrates that the balance between safety and economical efficiencies is the key

Preventing Global Warming
Selection of projects for the grant to promote environment-friendly distribution systems is in climax

Preventing Global Warming
Tokyo Metropolitan Government makes genuine efforts to reduce CO₂ emission from public high schools and museums

Fiscal 2006 Budget
Subsidy for solar cells is to change its sponsoring ministry, while emission rights for governments receives budgetary support

Preventing Global Warming
Prices of emission rights in the EU soar and become bipolar

CSR Frontline

Reviewing the effects of the “cool biz” project - the government-led campaign provided a good opportunity to regain the viewpoint of an individual person, not a company person

Transparency and consistency are the key to gain trust for corporations when disclosing their lobbying activities


Kyoto Mechanism
Q and A to understand the Kyoto Mechanism

CDM for natural energies need more promotion by using incentive schemes to ensure business profitability


ECO Column

Kankan Gakugaku (Active Argument over Environmental Issues)
Heita Kawakatsu, professor of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies

Takuro Morinaga’s ECO Lifestyle
Korea takes challenges of environmental issues in various ways — from charged plastic shopping bags to river restoration

Fieldwork Japan
“Roofed final waste disposal facility” is a landfill that can be accepted even in urban areas

Report

Achieve the Top Sales with Eco Products!
Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. / Tanrei Green Label low-malt beer

Inside-Out
[Dismantling of incinerators – part 3] Dismantling of municipally owned incinerators is making only sluggish progress

WorldWatch Institute
Wealthy philanthropists purchase more land in the American Continent to promote environmental conservation

ECO Seminar

How to Make the Best Use of ISO
[Toyota Industries Corporation] Introduction of the “Toyota Production System” reveals flaws in annual routines

New Environmental Study
[Soil pollution survey in the U.S.A. –Part 1] New regulations are to be announced as early as by the end of this year

Quick Guide to Environmental Key Words
Eco Fund

Practical Examples of Environmental Communication
NEC Corporation

World Trend

From EU
Use of biodegradable plastics is to be accelerated in Europe by cooperative efforts between the European Commission and manufactures

From UK
The G8 supports development of clean coal technology and regards its technology transfer to China and India as the top priority

From USA
U.S. corporations are accelerating their measures against global warming; an increasing number of corporations show the balanced emission and reduction of CO₂

From Germany
Japan can learn from the climate policy of Germany in the bilateral working-level discussion to be held in November

From China
The first CDM project in China starts; understanding of the unique properties of the nation’s electric market is the key for Japanese corporations to involve in CDM in China

Nikkei BP EcoManagement Forum

[ECO graph]

[Eco Magazine Forum]“Weak points” of Japanese corporations pointed out by international NGOs