Under Mitsubishi Electric's 5th Environmental Plan, which went into effect in fiscal 2007, we are working toward the integrated operation of environmental management systems (EMS) at our business sites by sharing the goals stated in the plan with the entire Mitsubishi Chemical Group.
At our head office and branches, we launched integrated EMS operations when updating systems to meet the requirements of ISO 14001:2004. For the environmental management systems at our manufacturing works, plants and research centers, in fiscal 2007 we identified issues pertaining to integrated operations at the head office and manufacturing works and considered solutions. Our goal is to launch integrated operations for these sites by the end of fiscal 2009.
In addition, by extending environmental management to non-production sites, we will manage environment-related work in an integrated manner for all traditional business activities: materials procurement, product design, manufacturing, sales and recycling.
The number of sites in the Mitsubishi Electric Group that have acquired ISO 14001 certification as of January 31, 2008 is as follows.
Mitsubishi Electric: 29Domestic Affiliates: 60
Overseas Affiliates: 28
The Mitsubishi Electric Group has held the Environmental Managers Conference every year since fiscal 1994. Managers in charge of environmental management for Mitsubishi Electric and domestic affiliates come together in one place to communicate information on activities related to the Environmental Plan, report on progress made and share success stories related to environmental initiatives. Regional environmental conferences have also been held overseas every year since fiscal 2005 for the four regions of the Americas, China, Asia and Europe. The conferences are intended to strengthen coordination between activities in Japan and overseas in support of overseas affiliates, and to improve environmental management at overseas sites.
Environmental Managers Conference (June, 14, 2006 & December 12, 2006)
The June conference was attended by some 130 people. Activities and policies for fiscal 2007 were confirmed, findings of environmental audits conducted at Japan sites in fiscal 2006 were reported, reports were made on compliance with environmental regulations for products, projects for contributing to the environment were introduced, and debate took place on eco-factory and eco-office activities. Around 130 people also attended the December meeting, which included a talk by the company president. The findings of domestic environmental audits for the first half of fiscal 2007 were reported, measures and policies to address soil and groundwater contamination were confirmed, trends related to the management of hazardous substance contained in products were introduced along with environmental projects, and a progress report was made on eco-factory and eco-office activities.
Americas Environmental Conference (August 29, 2006)
The conference's participants included representatives from all affiliates in North America and affiliates in Mexico. It was reported that voluntary energy efficiency initiatives (for counteracting global warming) were in the process of being ramped up, and information was exchanged with more advanced parent factories in Japan. In fiscal 2008, we plan to invite South American affiliates to the conference.
China Environmental Conference (September 15, 2006)
Issues related to China RoHS involving manufacturers and distributors were clarified along with how to proceed. It was confirmed that actual implementation of compliance systems would be advanced through coordination between Japan and affiliates in China. Starting in fiscal 2008, we plan to locally train key environmental personnel in order to further raise the level of environmental management at Chinese affiliates.
Asia Environmental Conference (October 27, 2006)
The environmental policies of the Mitsubishi Electric Group were conveyed by Japanese representatives, while Thai affiliates reported highlights of their environmental initiatives. At the same time, discussions were held on region-wide environmental projects. Malaysian affiliates have signaled their desire to participate as well, so starting in fiscal 2008, we plan to invite them to the conference along with affiliates in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Europe Environmental Conference (February 27, 2007)
An expert from the Scottish government gave a talk and environmental initiatives in the region were introduced. Issues connected with Europe's environmental regulations dominated the meeting (regulations on chemical substances contained in products). We reconfirmed our policy of treating products that fall outside the purview of the RoHS Directive, like elevators and escalators, in the same way as products regulated by the directive. REACH, a European Community regulation on chemicals and their safe use (EC 1907/2006), which deals with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances, is a major issue and information related to it will be shared among Europe affiliates in coordination with Japan.
