Home > About Us > Sustainability Management > Sustainability Report > Sustainability Report 2010 > Medium-Term Environmental Targets, Results and Evaluation

Medium-Term Environmental Targets, Results and Evaluation

Continuous promotion of environmentally friendly business activities based on a New Medium-Term Environmental Management Plan

As part of its long-term policy, the Kobe Steel Group has set out and is committed to achieving medium-term targets by the end of fiscal 2011. Future activities will focus on thorough risk management, resource recycling measures and the proper control of chemical substances.

Self-evaluation
O: Progressed almost as planned

: Some issues remaining
X: Plan not achieved

Category	Long-term policy	Medium-term targets (to the end of fiscal 2011)	Achievements during fiscal 2009	Future activities	Self- evaluation
Environmental management	To constantly maintain and strengthen environmental management systems in a planned and organized way.	To fulfill legal responsibilities, ordinances and agreements, and continue strengthening management systems throughout the Group.	Completed Environment Management System (EMS) certification at all Kobe Steel plants and obtained Eco Action 21 certification at three companies (namely three locations), taking the total number of EMS certified companies to 48.	Strict compliance with all legislation, agreements, etc. and maintaining environmental management systems throughout the Group.	O
1. Environmentally friendly manufacturing
Measures against global warming	To save energy, reduce CO₂ emissions and help prevent global warming through every aspect of the Group's business activities.	To effectively implement measures aimed at achieving voluntary action plan targets in each sector.	Achieved CO₂ emissions target in the Iron and Steel Sector, with a reduction of 12% compared to fiscal 1990, thanks to operational improvements and reduced production. Reduced CO₂ emissions at the Aluminum and Copper Company but failed to prevent decline in specific energy consumption (expected to achieve target in fiscal 2010). Reviewed action plans in each business sector in an effort to achieve voluntary action plan targets set out by individual industry organizations.	Effectively implementing planned measures in each business sector in order to achieve targets in each industry. Monitoring developments with regard to national medium-term reduction targets and examining how best to respond to any changes to domestic systems.	O
Resource recycling measures	To continue activities aimed at zero landfill waste.	To reduce the volume of waste for final disposal in line with voluntary action plans in each sector, focusing particularly on recycling resources from steel slag in the iron and steel sector.	Continued to systematically implement measures aimed at achieving voluntary action plan targets Reduced the volume of steel slag for final disposal by approximately 25,000 metric tons through initiatives such as switching to operating methods with reduced fluorine content.	Achieving medium-term targets at all sites that failed to achieve target recycling rates set out at the end of fiscal 2008. Continuing to implement activities in line with new target recycling rates for fiscal 2010-11.	O
Proper control of chemical substances	To reduce hazardous substances in accordance with the"Kobe Steel Group Policy on Controlling Hazardous Chemical Substances."	To continue to properly control chemical substances on a Groupwide basis and to make voluntary reductions in the use of chemical substances wherever possible.	Shared information and took appropriate action on a Groupwide basis to ensure compliance with the Act on the Evaluation of Chemical Substances and Regulation of their Manufacture, the revised PRTR Act and REACH regulations. Began proper disposal of electrical equipment containing PCB. Continued to reduce and replace harmful substances as an integral part of waste reduction activities.	Continued efforts on the control of chemical substances throughout the Group. Taking specific action to reduce use of chemical substances considered to pose potential risks for the future.	O
Reducing the environmental impact	To make continuing efforts to reduce the impact on the environment through comprehensive voluntary controls.	To reduce the environmental impact of production activities by upgrading pollution control facilities, etc.	Achieved target dust levels (monitored dust levels at steelworks) every month at the Kakogawa Works as a result of anti-dust measures such as upgrading and reinforcing management of dust collection facilities. Installed VOC removal facilities at the Moka Plant and other sites in order to reduce air emissions.	Reinforcing dust-control measures and achieving target dust levels at the Kakogawa Works. Ensuring the stable operation of newly installed VOC removal facilities. Improving capabilities whilst upgrading pollution control facilities.	O
2. Products, technologies and services to benefit the environment	To make all product development and technical development environmentally accountable, and to create environmentally friendly products and new businesses.	To improve the environmental performance of existing products (contributing to lightweight vehicle development, etc.). To identify long-term priorities with regard to resources and energy, taking into account matters such as legislation and national policies.	Identified products that help prevent global warming and quantified reductions in CO₂ emissions on a Groupwide basis. Received independent environmental award for chromate-free steel sheet initiatives.	Upgrading the eco-friendly aspects of existing products (contributing to reducing vehicle weight, etc.).	O
3. Disclosure of environmental information	To take active steps to disclose environmental information and improve communication among interested parties.	To adequately disclose information to all stakeholders via media such as annual reports and company websites.	Published the Sustainability Report, disclosed environmental information via company websites and showcased Kobe Steel Group environmental products and technologies at numerous exhibitions and events.	Incorporating the opinions of stakeholders (readers' comments, etc.) into the Sustainability Report. Continuing to provide information via company websites, exhibitions and events.	O
4. Cooperation with the local community	To promote harmony with the local community in terms of the environment.	To continue clean-up activities around sites, support environmental activities and encourage environmental volunteers.	Carried out activities to make the areas around our sites cleaner and more beautiful and provided support for community initiatives via the Kobelco Environment Creation Fund and the Kobelco Natural Environment Conservation Charitable Trust Fund.	Continue activities to beautify the environment around sites, support further environmental activities, encourage volunteers, etc.	O
5. Full staff participation	To ensure that every employee of the Kobe Steel Group is constantly aware of the environment.	To continue with Eco Office activities and environmental accounting (Kobelco Eco-Life Notebooks) in order to raise environmental awareness, to make all employees more sensitive to environmental issues through environmental training and education, and to create a climate in which legal compliance is regarded as second nature.	Raised awareness of legal compliance and improved employees' ability to identify risks via Groupwide training at all levels. Organized a campaign to encourage participation in the Kobelco Eco-Life Notebook scheme, with the aim of getting employees to act in a more environmentally aware manner at home.	Continuing to raise levels of awareness and understanding amongst all employees through environmental training and improving employees' ability to identify risks. Introducing an online system to make the Kobelco Eco-Life Notebook scheme more convenient to use.	O
6. Thorough risk management	To direct ceaseless efforts in a systematic and organized way to reduce risks.	Reduce administrative guidance from government authorities and complaints from local residents to zero. To explore the possibility of environmental management in line with domestic practices at overseas locations.	Verified legal compliance at all sites and Group companies via environmental audits and verification surveys and provided support for risk avoidance activities, but were unable to entirely eliminate administrative guidance from government authorities or complaints form local residents. Conducted environmental verification surveys and took steps to minimize risks at eight locations operated by Group companies in China.	Continuing to conduct environmental audits and verification surveys and providing support in conjunction with surveys, covering methods of legal compliance as well as factual information. Conducting environmental verification surveys at Group companies in Southeast Asia.