Home > About Us > Sustainability Management > Sustainability Report > Sustainability Report 2010 > Policy and Framework for Environmental Management

Policy and Framework for Environmental Management

Environmental Management Promotion

Enhancing the Group's environmental capabilities through environmental management initiatives involving all employees

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 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 is in place to address environmental management issues for the entire Group.

Basic Environmental Management Policy

Further Enhancing Enterprise Value through Groupwide Environmental Management
-Improving the Group's Environmental Capabilities-

Aiming to remain 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 efforts to reduce environmental impact 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, the Kobe Steel Group rigorously pursues 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. The Group provides products, technologies and services that help reduce its environmental impact with the full participation of its employees.

Groupwide Environmental Management Initiatives

Group Environmental Management System

Environmental management within the Kobe Steel Group revolves primarily around the Environmental Management Committee. In an effort to reinforce measures to tackle a range of environmental issues, the Global Environment Committee (established in 1992) was reconstituted as the Environmental Management Committee in 2002, since which time it has continued to handle environmental management on behalf of the Kobe Steel Group. Subcommittees have been set up to study specific issues such as action on global warming, and to facilitate a swift and targeted response.

In fiscal 2009, an Environmental Management Promotion Advisory Panel was set up within the Environmental Management Committee to provide a framework through which to seek advice from outside experts as and when necessary.

Environmental Management Committee, September 2009

Environmental Management System of the Group

Company-Wide Environmental Management System

Environmental Administrative Structure of the Group

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 protect 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 fiscal 2009, three more Group companies were certified. All 11 Kobe Steel plants have obtained environmental management system certification, and a total of 48 Group companies have also been certified.

For details please visit this link.

Topics

Tesac Wirerope Co., Ltd.

Having started advance preparations in an effort to secure Eco Action 21 certification in November 2007, Tesac Wirerope completed the registration process and obtained certification in June 2009. The examiners praised the company highly for its all-inclusive approach to environmental initiatives, with all members of staff working as a team.

Tesac Wirerope's Head Office and Nishikihama Plant (Kaizuka, Osaka prefecture) are located in a beautiful seaside environment, looking out over clear blue seas and surrounded by plenty of greenery, even on the works' site. The company is aiming to build on certification to further raise levels of environmental awareness and elevate the works to an even higher level.

In recognition of its ongoing efforts to create green spaces, in October 2009 Tesac Wirerope was also presented with an incentive award by the Japan Greenery Research and Development Center. The company has planted a dogwood tree to commemorate the award and its Eco Action 21 certification.

Tesac Wirerope Co., Ltd.

Shinko Actec Co., Ltd.

In March 2008, Shinko Actec launched a campaign to obtain Eco Action 21 certification at its Hidaka Plant (Toyooka, Hyogo prefecture), with a determined "we can do it!" spirit spearheaded by top management. Having ensured compliance with environmental laws and other requirements and undertaken activities such as reducing CO₂ emissions, waste and water consumption, the company successfully obtained certification in May 2009.

Shinko Actec is characterized by a real sense of family, with all employees working together, and a willingness to take on board suggestions from the shop floor and organizations such as quality control meetings. It intends to keep on implementing companywide initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, with the aim of becoming a fully sustainable company in the future.

Shinko Actec Co., Ltd.

Shinko Kenzai Ltd.

Having got the certification process underway in March 2008, taken care of all the necessary preparations, including an initial environmental review and environmental impact assessment, and established fully functioning systems, Shinko Kenzai successfully obtained Eco Action 21 certification in September 2009. The examiners praised the company highly for its approach, which involves distributing Environmental Pocket Manuals to all employees and clarifying individual targets and objectives.Such activities have given all of the company's employees are renewed awareness that its business activities have an impact on the environment (CO₂ emissions, waste, etc.) and pose inherent environmental risks.

Shinko Kenzai intends to expand its activities in the future and effectively implement the PDCA cycle as part of all systems in an effort to promote environmentally friendly manufacturing with an emphasis on reducing environmental impact.

Shinko Kenzai, Ltd.

VOICE

Director's Message
The Kobe Steel Group will continue to effectively implement environmental management based on a new medium-term plan.

Yutaka Kawata, Senior Managing Director, Kobe Steel, Ltd.
Chairman of the Environmental Management Committee

In addition to the Kobe Steel Group's existing commitment to ensuring compliance with environmental legislation and reestablishing and reinforcing environmental control systems, we need to make more of an effort in areas such as measures to combat global warming and reducing the volume of industrial waste sent to landfill. In terms of combating global warming, we are well aware that we have an important responsibility to harness the Kobe Steel Group's products, technologies and services to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions in general.

In an effort to tackle these issues on a priority basis and enhance the Group's overall corporate value, we have formulated a New Medium-Term Environmental Management Plan (Fiscal 2010-2011).

In my role as Chairman of the Environmental Management Committee, I am determined to achieve the goals set out in our new medium-term plan and to mold the Kobe Steel Group into an enterprise that contributes to society and works hand in hand with members of the local community.