Home > About Us > Corporate Social Responsibility > Sustainability Report > Sustainability Report 2009 > Policy and Framework for Environmental Management

Policy and Framework for Environmental Management

The Kobe Steel Group recognizes that the obligation to protect the global environment is its most urgent task, and therefore, has adopted the mission to pass on a healthy world to future generations. The Kobe Steel Group has formulated a Basic Environmental Management Policy and, accordingly, stepped up efforts to promote environmental management in every facet of its business activities. An Environmental Management Committee has been established to address environmental management issues for the entire Group.

Basic Environmental Management Policy

Enhancing Enterprise Value through Groupwide Environmental Management,
Improving the Group's Environmental Capabilities
Aiming to become an advanced environmental business enterprise, the Kobe Steel Group shall fulfill its corporate social responsibilities, improve its environmental capabilities and raise its corporate value by putting the following three principles into practice:

1.	Reducing the environmental impact from production
2.	Contributing to the environment through environment-friendly products, technologies and services
3.	Maintaining a relationship of trust and collaboration with society at large

To promote Groupwide environmental management, we implement activities based on six principal initiatives.

Adhering to relevant laws and regulations, Kobe Steel is rigorously pursing environment-friendly manufacturing in every aspect of its operations, including the siting and construction of its facilities, the equipment it uses, and procurement, production, distribution and product recycling. Kobe Steel provides products, technologies and services that help reduce its environmental impact with the full participation of its employees.

Groupwide Environmental Management Initiatives

Diagram of Medium-Term Group Environmental Management Policies

Group Environmental Management System

Environmental management in the Kobe Steel Group is currently promoted through the Environmental Management Committee., The Global Environment Committee set up in 1992 was reconstituted as the Environmental Management Committee in 2002, to strengthen efforts to bring a management response to environmental problems. Various endeavors have been carried out under the Kobe Steel Group's environmental management. Subcommittees have been set up to study specific issues such as countermeasures to global warming, and promote activities to make a swift and well-targeted response.

After the air emissions problem came to light in 2006, an Environmental Administrative Committee was created as an advisory body to the Board of Directors to put in place measures that would ensure no repetition and to reorganize the Group management system. Having achieved its objectives, this Committee was disbanded at the end of March 2009, and its functions switched to the Environmental Management Committee. An Environmental Management Promotion Advisory Panel was set up within the Environmental Management Committee as a system through which pertinent advice can be received from experts outside the company.

The Kobe Steel Group holds an Environmental Conference each year to encourage greater sharing of environment-related information and present examples of activities. About 130 delegates attended in 2008.

Environmental Management Committee, August 2008

Kobe Steel Group Environmental Conference, June 2008

Company-Wide Environmental Management System

Company-Wide Environmental Administrative Structure

Building an Environmental Management System

The Kobe Steel Group is continuously and productively engaged in efforts to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations and to enhance the environment. To this end we encourage obtaining certification that includes ISO14001 certification in environment management systems (EMS), the Japanese Ministry of Environment's Eco-Action 21 and the Kobe Environmental Management System (KEMS) of the Kobe Environmental Forum.

In 2008 three more Group companies were certified and the remaining four of our major plants are continuing to work towards certification. All 11 Kobe Steel plants have obtained environmental management certification, and a total of 45 Group companies also have been certified.

For details please visit this link.

	Topics

Ceratechno Co., Ltd.

We started preparation in March 2007 towards EcoAction 21 (EA21) certification, involving 174 employees at the first two of our Akashi, Bizen and Kakogawa plants, which handle refractory products.

In May 2007 environmental policy guidelines were set out for the company as a whole, and an environmental management system based on EA21 guidelines was drawn up, which came into practice throughout the company in June. To implement environmental activities, three-year targets starting in 2007 and implementation plans were drawn up for each plant, division and office. In practice we have cut power consumption and reduced wastes. We have also upgraded or corrected environmental management standards to better manage idle equipment, for example, and to ensure that notifications and other documentation are correct. We were inspected in December 2007 and received certification in April 2008.

In the future we plan to expand our environment management system and continue activities for environmental conservation.

Head Office & Akashi Plant

Bizen Plant

Sanwa Tekko Co., Ltd.

Following Group policy guidelines, we worked towards ISO14001 certification, kicking off in July 2007, by creating a project team. The whole company was involved in implementing the activities, and with the cooperation of affiliate companies, we were certified on 6 November 2008.

Together with ISO9001 measures (June 2002, slitter division) we will continue to actively pursue activities under our quality and environment management systems.

Shinko Aluminum Wire Co., Ltd.

Preparations towards ISO14001 certification were launched in October 2007, involving checking environmental laws and regulations, making preliminary surveys on environmental impact and creating codes and standards. Measures were implemented throughout the whole company after a March 2008 kick-off, and we were awarded certification in February 2009.

One distinctive feature is that we have a system of internal monitors that involves about 20% of our employees. From now on we aim to be a company that manufactures in an environment-friendly way and contributes to our local community.

	VOICE

Director's Message
The Kobe Steel Group is advancing environmental management based on a medium- to long- term vision
Yutaka Kawata, Senior Managing Director, Kobe Steel, Ltd.; Chairman of the Environmental Management Committee

With the completion of the 2006-2008 Medium-Term Environmental Management Plan, we are currently reviewing next-stage medium-term policies and issues.

Under the previous Plan, the entire Kobe Steel Group came together to ensure company-wide awareness of the need for full compliance with all laws and regulations, to strengthen environmental management systems and to expand facilities that protect the environment. However, with growth in output, issues remained in meeting targets in emissions of greenhouse gases and recycling resources.

In making the next medium-term policies, I believe we should set and work towards more precise targets based on these results, keeping focused on our long-term objectives.

In particular, on measures against global warming, we are now in the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, and at all plants and works we will actively seek further ways to save energy. I also believe we must continue contributing to lessening the environmental impact by directing efforts to more technical development for re-using resources, saving energy and developing environment-friendly products, technologies and services such as materials for the auto-industry that lighten vehicle weight.

We will of course continue to take into account the views of all our stakeholders as we aim to contribute to a broader society by advancing environmental management throughout the Kobe Steel Group.