Message from the Chief Officer Responsible for Companywide Environmental Management

The Kobelco Group aims to increase its corporate value through environmental management.

Our Group envisions a world in which people, now and in the future, can fulfill their hopes and dreams while enjoying safe, secure, and prosperous lives, as stated in KOBELCO’s View of the Future. With that view in mind, we have formulated the Basic Environmental Management Policy based on three core approaches: pursuing environmentally friendly manufacturing; contributing to the environment through technologies, products, and services; and coexisting and cooperating with society. In line with these principles, we will strive to enhance our corporate value by setting long-term policies and goals and practicing environmental management with the highest sense of ethics and professionalism.

In terms of CO₂ reduction, we are working to achieve targets for 2030 and taking on the challenge of realizing carbon neutrality by 2050. We will contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions by extending our reduction efforts beyond our manufacturing process, while leveraging our strength that enables the integration of our Group's diverse technologies and products.

In addition, we have set water recycling rate targets for water resource conservation, water pollution load, and resource recycling. We are working actively to achieve and maintain these targets. As of fiscal 2023, we maintain a high level of water recycling rate at approximately 96% and resource recycling rate of 99.1% (for slag, dust, and slurry).

In September 2023, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) announced recommendations urging companies to analyze and assess their dependencies and impacts on nature through their direct operations and supply chains, as well as disclose information about business opportunities that capitalize on their strengths. In accordance with the TNFD guidelines, we are investigating and examining the environmental impact of our business operations, and will disclose the results in due course.

Environmental compliance is the fundamental premise of environmental management. In light of the continuous enactment of new laws and the tightening of regulations both in Japan and overseas, we will implement thorough responses, while managing and mitigating environmental risks through the identification and improvement of risk factors, information sharing within the Group, and internal environmental audits.

Executive Officer, and Chief Officer
Responsible for Companywide
Environmental Management
Yasushi Okano