[Supplementary Material for Integrated Report 2020]Promoting Resource Recycling

In order to make effective use of limited resources, the KOBELCO Group makes efforts to control waste at its offices and plants. We actively promote recycling by adding value to byproducts created during manufacturing processes and by developing new applications for materials. Additionally, we also promote recycling and reuse during shipping through changes to packaging methods. We’re also working to reduce paper consumption at offices by actively digitizing meeting materials and introducing IT solutions throughout the Group.

Controlling Waste Generation and Promoting Recycling

Amount of byproducts, recycled resources and landfill disposal over the past three years (incl. Group companies in Japan)

FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019*1
Amount of byproducts 4,893,184 t 4,508,559 t 4,118,779 t
Amount of recycled resources 4,703,857 t 4,268,090 t 3,912,532 t
Amount of landfill disposal 154,281 t 160,561 t 180,808 t
Other (volume reduction, etc.) 35,046 t 79,908 t 25,439 t
Recycling ratio of by-products (total)*2 96% 96% 95%
By-product (Steel) recycling ratio*3 more than 99% more than 99% more than 99%
  1. *1The data above covers 99% of the environmental impact of the KOBELCO Group in Japan.
  2. *2Recycling ratio = Amount recycled / Total amount of by-products
  3. *3Recycling ratio is calculated based on the calculation formula of the industry group. This calculation covers slag, dust and sludge generated in the steel manufacturing process at Kobe Steel.
    By-product (Steel) recycling ratio = (Volume of Slag, dust, and sludge generated - Final disposal volume of Slag, dust, and sludge) / Volume of Slag, dust, and sludge generated

Amount of hazardous waste over the past three years* (incl. Group companies in Japan)

FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
Amount of hazardous waste* 511t 598t 652t
  • *Amount of hazardous waste: Transfer and release of substances subject to PRTR reporting outside the premises

Initiatives to Reduce Waste in Collaboration with Outside Entities

Initiative Details
Joint Business for Recycling Steel Mill Dust into Direct Reduced Iron
  • In October 2008, Nippon Steel Corporation and Kobe Steel, Ltd. established a joint venture company, Nittetsu Shinko Metal Refine Co., Ltd., for the purpose of using steel mill dust and iron ore fines from their steel mills as raw materials to recycle iron into direct reduced iron (DRI) and recover zinc.
  • Nittetsu Shinko Metal Refine constructed a recycling plant that utilizes Kobe Steel’s FASTMET® Process. In this process, steel mill dust is heated to a high temperature in a doughnut-shaped Rotary Hearth Furnace (RHF) and quickly undergoes reduction to make DRI, which is then formed into hot briquetted iron (HBI). At the same time, the zinc in the steel mill dust is recovered. As the steel mill dust and zinc are effectively recycled, the DRI can be used as an alternative or supplement to scrap and iron ore as the main raw material, and the recycled zinc can reduce the use of zinc ore. Recycling also promotes zero emissions.
  • Nittetsu Shinko Metal Refine recycles the steel mill dust it receives and uses it to produce DRI. The DRI is supplied to Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel, with a portion also going to Sanyo Special Steel Co., Ltd., a group company of Nippon Steel.

For more information, please see the following:
Initiatives to Effectively Use Underutilized Energy in Local Communities —from turning wastewater sludge into fuel to producing and supplying hydrogen—
  • Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd., which has wastewater sludge treatment technology, and the Kobe Power Plant, which operates coal-fired power plants, plan to turn wastewater sludge into fuel and use it as wastewater biomass fuel at the power plant (an appropriate method for using wastewater sludge biomass in pulverized coal-fired power generation business).
  • We plan to use wastewater sludge biomass fuel as a portion of the fuel for generating electric power to produce hydrogen, which will be supplied to fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs). This initiative will contribute to the spread of FCVs, reduction of CO2 emissions in local communities, and improvement in air quality.

For more information, please see the following:
Research Group to Expand the Use of Steel Slag
  • In a study group established by Hyogo Prefecture (Hyogo Eco-Town Promotion Council), we are conducting research to expand the use of steel slag in industry-government-academia collaboration/cooperation. The KOBELCO Group participates as a member of the following research working groups.
  • The Port Environment Research Working Group is conducting experiments on improving the fishing ground environment and on the effects of environmentally friendly seawalls. The purpose is to contribute to the improvement of the fishing ground environment by using dredged soil and steel slag as materials for the development of seaweed beds, etc., making use of the characteristic of dredged soil to solidify when mixed with steel slag.
  • The Fill Research Working Group aims for the practical utilization of fill mixed with steel slag, which is resistant to heavy rains and earthquakes, and is low cost and safe for the environment. Working towards its actual use, we are conducting on-site verification testing on the performance of the fill when traffic loading acts on it for a long time.

For more information, please see the following:

Major Initiatives in the Business Divisions (Japan)

Business division Examples of initiatives to reduce the generation of byproducts / waste and decrease landfill disposal
Iron & Steel Reduced generation of iron and steel slag, developed new applications
Developed recycling technologies for dusts
Welding Recycled sorted waste flux into roadbed material and cement raw material
Reusable product packaging materials
Aluminum & Copper Recycled arc furnace ash
Reused aluminum scrap generated in the plant
Machinery Reused shipping boxes by strengthening packaging materials
Electric Power Recycled gypsum byproducts from coal ash and flue gas desulfurization equipment
Testing for utilization of sewage sludge fuel

Initiatives at Overseas Group Companies

Company name Examples of initiatives to reduce the generation of waste and decrease landfill disposal
Kobelco Spring Wire (Foshan) Co., Ltd. (KSW) Reused lubricants and sand
Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products, LLC (KAAP) Recycled caustic soda and shot blast
Kobelco Automotive Aluminum Rolled Products (China) Co., Ltd. Reused product pallets
Kobelco Aluminum Products & Extrusions Inc. (KPEX) Recycled nitric acid, caustic soda and waste oil
Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Reused copper scrap
Kobelco & Materials Copper Tube (M) Sdn. Bhd. Reused waste kerosene
Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products (China) Co., Ltd. Reused machining scraps
Hangzhou Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. Reduced waste by compressing waste paint
Kobelco Construction Machinery (China) Co., Ltd. Reduced the amount of waste by extending the life of filters
  1. TOP
  2. Investor Relations
  3. Integrated Report
  4. Integrated Report 2020
  5. Supplementary Material for Integrated Report 2020
  6. [Supplementary Material for Integrated Report 2020]Promoting Resource Recycling