Eco-Manufacturing
Recycling-Based Society
Zero Emission Initiatives
Under its 5th Environmental Plan, the Mitsubishi Electric Group is working toward the goals of reducing waste heading directly to landfills to 0.5% or less of total waste at domestic production sites, and 1% or less at domestic production affiliates.
In fiscal 2008, direct landfill waste as a percentage of total waste came to 0.16% at domestic production sites, making for a sixth consecutive year of results of 1% or less and a fourth consecutive year of results of 0.5% or less. At domestic production affiliates, direct landfill waste for fiscal 2008 came to 1.44%, versus 1.06% for the previous fiscal year.
Going forward, we are aiming to reduce direct landfill waste to zero at both domestic production sites and domestic production affiliates. Toward that end, we are examining measures like the creation of indicators prioritizing recycling methods and the elimination of production byproducts.
At overseas production sites, total waste has increased, but the final disposal percentage has improved by 1.85 percentage points, to 4.95%.
Overcoming Difficulties to Achieve "Perfect Emissions"
Nagasaki Works
Because it manufactures mainly products only in response to individual orders and only in individual units products like Diamond Vision large-scale video displays as well as industrial heating and cooling equipment the Nagasaki Works produces only small amounts of various types of waste, and that made it more difficult to pursue recycling there than at production sites turning out products in large volumes. Nevertheless, the Nagasaki Works embarked on waste reduction activities in fiscal 2002 with its sights set on a target that went beyond eliminating final disposal of waste or achieving zero emissions. It set out to achieve "perfect emissions" the complete elimination of final emissions including those related to intermediate processing which it achieved in fiscal 2007.
As its first step (fiscal 2002-fiscal 2004), the Nagasaki Works took on the challenge of recycling industrial waste. At a time when nearly all industrial waste was either sent to a landfill or incinerated, there were few facilities or waste processing companies doing anything in the area of reycling in Nagasaki Prefecture. The Nagasaki Works, therefore, looked outside the prefecture, and studied advanced recycling technologies and the operation of recycling facilities. They then worked with waste processing companies in the City of Kitakyushu and Yamaguchi Prefecture, found a way to move forward with wide-area recycling, and created an approach for recycling 100% of industrial waste.
As its second step (fiscal 2005-fiscal 2006), the Nagasaki Works focused its attention on recycling general waste. Though legal limitations at the time meant that most general waste was incinerated by local governments, that had become a serious problem for local governments whose aging processing facilities were not up to the task of handling the enormous increases in general waste volume that had already taken place. Given those circumstances, the Nagasaki Works joined forces with waste processing companies eager to pursue recycling and mounted a concerted effort to gain authorization to process general waste. Their efforts paid off with authorizations that opened the door to recycling by allowing several companies to recycle general waste. The goal of "perfect emissions" was achieved in fiscal 2007 and in recognition of that achievement, the City of Nagasaki named the Nagasaki Works the winner of the Chairman's Prize at the Fiscal 2008 Awards Ceremony for Meritorious Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Achievements sponsored by the 3R Promotion Committee.
Aiming to add to its achievements, the Nagasaki Works has, since fiscal 2007, been working to improve recycling quality and lower CO2 emissions from the transport of waste. It is also now working to disseminate the recycling knowledge it has developed to other production sites and production affiliates.
Nagasaki Works Waste and Recycling Volume
Reducing Waste Emissions and Recycling
Waste reduction and recycling involve more than reducing volumes. Proper processing in accordance with the law is required to avoid illegal dumping.
To address that need, Mitsubishi Electric has established a waste and recycling governance working group within its Eco-factory and Eco-office Technology Committee. This working group addresses a wide variety of issues ranging from production site waste management to the effective application of resources by entire operations, from the perspective of avoiding risk related to waste and recycling.
For example, regarding the use of different recycling methods for different types of waste, the working group determines what recycling methods are being used on a site-by-site basis and considers measures like establishing model production sites and creating waste indicators.
To help ensure proper waste processing, the working group pursues risk reduction initiatives by, for example, requesting waste processing companies to complete surveys for gathering information on manifest management, authorization renewals, and other matters.
Promoting the Reuse of Water at Business Sites
In its 5th Environmental Plan the Mitsubishi Electric Group set forth the goal of re-investigating and reconfirming how water is used at each business site and affiliated company, and formulating and promoting measures for more effective water usage. The goal of this initiative is to promote recycling and reuse of public water, industrial water, groundwater, and other precious water resources at production sites.
As a result of ongoing water conservation efforts at production sites and offices, public and industrial water recycling efforts, and other initiatives, Mitsubishi Electric's (parent-only) fiscal 2008 water usage came to 9.14 million m³, with recycled water totaling 2.85 million m³. The recycled water percentage of 31.2% represents an improvement of 2.2 percentage points versus the prior year. Water usage at domestic and overseas affiliates totaled 3.85 million m³, with 1.97 million m³ recycled.
In fiscal 2009, efforts are being made to advance water recycling by reconsidering possibilities for using rainwater and recycled water and by expanding the scope for water usage studies.
