Environmental Performance
Managing Wastes
Waste Reduction and Zero Emissions Initiatives
Under its 4th Environmental Plan (FY2004 FY2006), the Mitsubishi Electric Group defined "zero emission" plants as production facilities with a final waste disposal volume of 1% or less of the total volume of waste generated, and we carried out waste reduction and recycling activities in pursuit of this goal.
Under our 5th Environmental Plan, we are working toward reducing waste completely and have set targets of 0.5% or less at production sites in Japan, and 1% or less at production affiliates in Japan.
In fiscal 2007, our domestic production plants achieved a figure of 0.29%, their fifth straight year of being at 1% or less, and their third consecutive year at 0.5% or less. Our domestic production affiliates improved from 2.4% in the previous year to 1.06%. We will redouble our efforts in the final year of the plan to reach 1% or less.
Overseas business offices reduced both total waste volume and final disposal volume, but unfortunately the final disposal ratio increased by 0.7 percentage points to 6.8%.
Electronic Manifest System and Waste Reduction (Fukuyama Works)
Fukuyama Works produces energy-saving devices such as eco-monitors and eco-servers and has been recognized by outside customers as a model factory in terms of energy efficiency. The facility has actively and progressively reduced and recycled waste and promoted compliance with waste-related laws and regulations, instituting an electronic manifest system at the early date of fiscal 1999, for example.
Fukuyama Works has worked to reduce and recycle waste in a thoroughgoing manner: from plastic mold scraps, wood pallets, rags and packing materials to weeds in the factory grounds. The facility has been a zero emissions plant with a recycling ratio of 100% since fiscal 2005.
Weeds prevented by spreading bark dust between vegetation in the facility grounds.
Using the electronic manifest system, which was started in fiscal 1999.
Effective Water Usage
Under our 5th Environmental Plan, the Mitsubishi Electric Group is re-investigating and reconfirming how water is used at each business site and affiliated company, and is working to formulate and promote measures for more effective water usage. The goal of this initiative is to promote recycling and reuse of precious water resources at production sites, including public water, industrial water and groundwater.
In fiscal 2007, manufacturing plants, research centers and the Corporate Environmental Sustainability Group joined together to conduct water usage surveys at Nagoya Works and Nakatsugawa Works and consider ways to reuse water for toilets and fire prevention. In fiscal 2008, we will consider more specific measures to make this happen and extend the scope of water usage surveys and reuse initiatives to additional production sites.
