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Environmental Management Sustainability Report 2006 |
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Environmental Management |
Basic Policy for Environmental Management & Implementation Priorities |
The preservation of the global environment is the most important issue shared by all living creatures, and it is our responsibility to ensure that a healthy environment is passed down to future generations. To protect our irreplaceable planet, the Kobe Steel Group has formulated a Basic Policy for Environmental Management designed to help us promote the environmentally responsible management of all of our business operations. In response to the emissions problems recently discovered at our steelworks, we reorganized and strengthened our environmental management system. |
Basic Policy for Environmental Management: Increasing Corporate Value Through the Implementation of Sound Group Environmental Management | |
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Environmental Goals | |
The Environmental Management Committee decides which specific steps are taken to promote environmentally responsible management for the entire Group. Currently, the Committee has identified six areas to focus on: 1) thorough pursuit of risk management; 2) thorough commitment to environmentally friendly manufacturing practices; 3) contributing to the environment through our products, technologies and services; 4) disclosing environmental information; 5) coexisting and harmonizing with society; and 6) achieving participation of all employees in environmental programs. The Environmental Management Committee is also pushing forward to implement countermeasures in response to the emissions problem recently discovered at our steelworks. |
Environmental Management Committee |
Diagram of Medium-Term Group Environmental Management Policies |
Current Status and Evaluation of Medium- and Long-Term Environmental Goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Self-evaluation O: Progressing essentially as planned : Some issues still to be resolved X: Plan not achieved |
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Group Environmental Management System | |
In the past, the Kobe Steel Group promoted its environmental operations through the Environmental Management Committee. In response to the recent emissions incident, however, we have reorganized and strengthened our environmental management system by establishing a new Environmental Administration Committee, which is dedicated to preventing similar lapses from happening again. The Environmental Administration Committee includes experts from outside the Group and is charged with ensuring environmental safety by studying the formulation, implementation and management of environmental policie and providing reports and recommendations to the Board of Directors. Meanwhile, the Environmental Management Committee maintains close contact with the activities of the Environmental Administration Committee. It creates subcommittees dedicated to efficiently studying different designated themes as part of active efforts to promote environmentally responsible corporate operations. |
Company-Wide Environmental Management System |
Composition of the Environmental Administration Committee | |
Committee for Following Up Measures To ensure that no further lapses occur, we established five new subcommittees. The Committee for Following Up Measures is in charge of making sure that each subcommittee makes progress in its assigned tasks.
Environmental Administration Committee Works with operating locations to restructure the environmental administration system and improve the level of administration. Environmental Audit Committee Being partly comprised of outside consultants, this section conducts environmental audits in conjunction with the Environmental Control & Disaster Prevention Department and the Audit Department. |
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Environmental Management Based on ISO14001 | |
The Kobe Steel Group has obtained ISO14001 certification, as well as certification through the Japanese Ministry of Environment's Eco-Action 21 program*1 and the Kobe Environmental Management System (KEMS)*2 of the Kobe Environmental Forum. As such, we are engaged in continuous and effective efforts to improve the environment. In fiscal 2004, we succeeded in establishing our environmental management system in all of Kobe Steel's manufacturing locations. In February 2005, the Kobe Office of Kobelco Logistics, Ltd. received KEMS certification, followed by ISO14001 certification for its Marine Transport Department in February 2006. This company has been especially effective in cutting distribution costs and raising environmental awareness. Similarly, the Head Office of The Kansai Coke and Chemicals Co., Ltd., received Eco-Action 21 certification in November 2005. Because of the excessive emissions discovered at our Kakogawa Works and Kobe Works, certification at these two facilities was temporarily suspended on May 24, 2006, but was later reinstated on November 16, 2006.
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Operating Locations That Have Received Environmental Management System Certification | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*1. | In 2002, Takasago Works received expanded certification. |
*2. | Received Eco-Action 21 certification. |
Group Companies That Have Received Environmental Management Certification | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*1. | In 2002, Takasago Works received expanded certification. |
*2. | Received Eco-Action 21 certification. |