Ongoing education and training in environmental issues is provided to all staff of the Kobe Steel Group to heighten environmental awareness and constantly encouraging environment-friendly activities in the workplace. We also promote the sharing of information, in-house awards and acquisition of qualifications related to the environment among our staff.
Raising Employee Awareness of the Environment
Sharing information by Intranet
An "Ecoway Network" has been set up on the Kobe Steel Group Intranet. Information on environmental laws and ordinances, examples of environmental and energy-saving initiatives and environmental business information are posted in a timely way so that they can be used effectively.
Group environmental award system
Improvements that lessen environmental burden related to energy-saving, controlling the generation of wastes, and recycling are implemented on an ongoing basis in the course of daily work. To share these improvements throughout the Group, examples are presented at the annual Kobe Steel Group Environmental Conference, and awards are made in outstanding cases. Examples are also presented and awards are made for environment-friendly products, technologies and services, to raise awareness and to reinforce efforts made throughout the Group to benefit the environment.
Promotion of environmental certification
Kobe Steel is increasing its number of qualified pollution control managers and energy managers, to strengthen environmental management and raise awareness.
Number of staff with environment-related qualifications (Kobe Steel)
Qualification
Number of qualified staff
Pollution control manager (air)
121
Pollution control manager (water)
104
Pollution control manager (noise)
184
Pollution control manager (vibration)
Pollution control manager (dust)
33
Pollution control manager (dioxins)
31
Senior pollution control manager
6
Energy manager
95
Heat management manager
62
Electricity management manager
32
Certified environmental measurer
7
'Individual Environmental Declarations' at Kakogawa Works
We are working to raise environmental awareness by follow-up of the 2006 'Individual Environmental Declarations' campaign and other measures.
Environmental Household Accounting
The Kobe Steel Group is distributing a Kobelco Eco-Life Notebook to all employees' households to keep check of the amount of gas, electricity, etc. used at home. This is to raise awareness among staff of the need to save energy and change lifestyles.
Environmental Education and Training
Kobe Steel is continuing the full-scale environmental training programs started in 2006 for all staff at all levels. The measures taken to handle the emissions problem are being used for education and training as case material in improving environmental management and have also been distributed to all workplaces in the Group.
Kobelco Green Procurement Guidelines
Kobe Steel has formulated Kobelco Green Procurement Guidelines for use when purchasing office supplies, computers and other office equipment. For example stationery and office materials must contain large proportions of recycled material, computers must be low-energy models, must switch automatically to low-energy or sleep modes when not being used, and must contain recycled plastic. Photocopiers must be low-energy models designed for easy re-use of parts and recycling of material when they can no longer be used.
Office Energy-Saving Activities
Kobe Steel Group companies are promoting "eco-office" activities. Summer "Eco Style" campaigns to encourage employees to wear light clothing so that less air conditioning is required, and Winter Energy-Saving campaigns, where the thermostat is set at a lower temperature, are organized to reduce energy consumption. Other efforts include converting lighting, computers, etc. to low-energy equipment.
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