Environmental Management
Environmental Policy
Conducting Corporate Activities in Harmony with People and the Environment, through an Integrated Management System
The Konica Minolta Group conducts all its corporate activities in harmony with people and the environment by integrating environmental, economic and social perspectives into our corporate strategy, as the Environmental Policy of the Konica Minolta Group. To this end, the Group has established a group wide ISO 14001-based management system that ensures economically efficient and effective environmental management.
Under this system all Konica Minolta Group employees are committed to continuous environmental improvement activities, in keeping with the Environmental Policy.
Environmental Activity Promotion Structure
Environmental Measures Comprehensively Supervised by Group Environmental Management Representative Appointed by President and CEO
Central to our environmental activity promotion structure is the Group environmental management representative (environmental executive officer of Konica Minolta Holdings), who is appointed by the President and CEO of Konica Minolta Holdings. The Environmental Management Committee is the highest organ to deliberate on environmental measures, which include the development of our mid-term environmental plans. Led by its Chairman, the Committee comprises environment management officers of business and common function companies, and is empowered to take the initiative in appropriate action throughout the entire Group.
The Environmental Management Representatives' Committee, a subordinate body of the Environmental Management Committee, determines Konica Minolta Group environmental goals for each fiscal year, and on a quarterly basis feeds back the results of evaluation as to how well these goals have been achieved, to ensure that all entities achieve their environmental goals. In line with the ISO 14001 system we have also established interdepartmental specialist committees to address major environmental issues such as global warming and chemical substances management.
United EMS
Acquisition of Multi-site ISO 14001 Certification for All Group Companies in Japan
The Konica Minolta Group operates an ISO 14001-based environmental management system as part of our efforts regarding group-wide environmental activities, which are based on unified criteria, stipulating ISO 14001 acquisition by all manufacturing affiliate companies worldwide as a fundamental Group policy.
To address environmental issues, including the prevention of global warming and working toward a recycling-based society, we should implement measures in consideration of the entire product lifecycle. To accomplish this, the Konica Minolta Group believes that it must operate not only its manufacturing sites, but also its product development, sales and distribution sites, under an integrated management system and in mutual cooperation.
Under this concept, since its merger in August 2003 the Konica Minolta Group has set as an objective the acquisition of multi-site ISO 14001 certification, so that the entire Group can be managed under a single ISO certification. All our business sites in Japan, including product development, sales and distribution, as well as manufacturing sites, have striven to attain this objective.
In fiscal 2004, the scope of multi-site certification was expanded to 61 business sites pertaining to 31 Group companies in Japan. In fiscal 2005 we obtained multi-site ISO 14001 certification for all Group companies in Japan (November 2005). The scope of this certification covers a total of 241 business sites of all the 39 Group companies in Japan, including Konica Minolta Holdings, business companies, common function companies and affiliates, with a total workforce of some 20,600 persons.
Henceforth, we aim to strengthen our overseas management system so as to align our overseas operations with business site management in Japan, in terms of environmental objectives, compliance and internal audit results analysis. We will also discuss expanding the scope of multi-site ISO certification in Japan, so as to include overseas operations in the future.
Results of Multi-site Certification
Effective Environmental Management on a Group-wide Basis, under Standardized Rules
Our acquisition of multi-site certification in Japan has enabled prompt and efficient environmental activities throughout all product lifecycle stages. Under this integrated management system, we are working to reduce environmental impact within society. For instance, we are promoting sales of energy-saving products that help reduce CO2 emissions when our products are in use, and are encouraging the collection of used products. This system is also effective in carrying out our conventional activities toward minimizing environmental load generated directly by our Group companies, such as energy consumption during production, waste generation and paper consumption.
For these activities, we have set up numerical targets. The entire Group periodically evaluates how well these targets are achieved, and evaluation results are fed back to relevant entities to ensure continuous improvement.
Additionally, at least once a year we conduct internal environmental audits based on unified criteria, to ensure that the Group's environmental policy, objectives and targets are properly known to all organizations, and that the management system is functioning efficiently, by identifying any problems and making necessary improvements. In these internal audits, in addition to management system checking, compliance audits are performed using environmental checklists, to ensure that all Group organizations are fully compliant with laws and regulations.
By making maximum use of this integrated management system, the Konica Minolta Group works to ensure compliance, fulfilling its social responsibility by helping resolve urgent environmental issues relating to global warming and zero emissions, and by reducing environmental risks.
Environmental Education for Employees
Promoting Self-development for Improved Awareness via Environmental Education
We offer environmental education and self-development programs to improve the environmental awareness of our employees around the world.
In Japan, all necessary education is provided for all employees. Specifically, environmental courses have been set up as part of our position-based training programs, starting from a training course for newly hired employees. Environmental courses are also included in the curriculum at Konica Minolta College. At Konica Minolta Business Solutions Japan Co., Ltd., and Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic Technosupport Co., Ltd. (both are sales and service companies), we have adopted e-learning throughout Japan to improve the environmental education efficiency of our sales and service staff, for whom integrated education would otherwise be difficult.
Furthermore, we hold annual Environmental Lectures in Japan as a means of encouraging employee self-development. In fiscal 2005, we invited Dr. Tadahiro Mitsuhashi, Professor at Chiba University of Commerce, to present a lecture on the theme “Effectuation of the Kyoto Protocol and Environmental Management: Management Strategies in the Age of Global Limitations.”
Since fiscal 2005, we have also presented the annual Konica Minolta Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Award. Open to all Group employees worldwide, this Award was established as a means of recognizing outstanding achievements in environmental protection, as well as in safety and health. In fiscal 2005 ten awards were presented, further encouraging activities to improve environmental/safety and health activities within the Group.
Using e-learning for environmental education in Japan
Konica Minolta Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Award: Winners at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Denmark a/s., a Danish sales affiliate company
Risk Management
Risk Management Performed under a Strict Audit System in Full Compliance with Laws and Regulations
The Konica Minolta Group strictly adheres to laws and regulations, in terms of both the environmental preservation measures implemented by its business sites and the provision of environmentally sound products and services. To ensure adherence, we collect, analyze and share the latest information on legal stipulations pertaining to business activities throughout the world.
Each business site (primarily manufacturing sites) operates under self-management standards more stringent than legally required. For example, they comply with air/water quality, noise and waste disposal management in line with ISO 14001 system standards, achieving a very high standard of risk management. In terms of product regulations, we also incorporate forward-looking information into our activities-- for example, in order to reduce potentially harmful chemicals in advance of any requirement to do so. Specialized internal auditors periodically review our legal compliance in Japan, an activity that will be expanded to our overseas operations as well.
Countermeasures against Contamination of Soil and Groundwater
Reliable Management of Contaminated Sites through Regular Inspections and Further Purification to Prevent Contamination Spread
We survey our business sites in Japan that have a history of using chemical substances that may have caused soil or groundwater contamination. If any contamination of soil or groundwater is found, we implement regular inspections for more reliable management, so as to prevent identified pollutants from impacting the neighborhood. To facilitate purification of the identified contamination and prevent any further spread, a specialist team is organized. Under the team's supervision, decontamination measures are carried out and the latest technologies are employed to accelerate purification. The outcome of these activities and inspection results are regularly reported to the local government agencies concerned.
| Business Site | Substances | Progress in fiscal 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Hino Site | Mercury, selenium, lead, fluorine | Regarding the two locations where mercury, selenium and lead contamination were detected due to drainage basin damage, after confirming the affected area we completed excavation and removal of the toxic substances. Preparations for fluorine remediation measures are under way, with remediation work to begin in early fiscal 2006 and complete within the year. The above programs and their results are reported at meetings with local residents. |
| Tokyo Hachioji Site | Hexavalent chromium | The pump-and-treat process has been continued, with a lifting pump installed in the contaminated area. We have confirmed that numeric data values at observation wells around the site perimeter are being maintained within environmental standards; therefore noimpact has spread to the surrounding region. |
| Itami Site | Lead, arsenic, boron, cadmium | We have continued periodic inspection of groundwater. Detailed examination was launched to remove boron in groundwater. |
| Sakai Site | TCE, PCE, c-DCE |
Detailed examination of the site disclosed contamination with hexavalent chromium, lead, arsenic and cadmium. We have reported to the local government and residents, and have obtained their understanding that these contaminations are confined within the site, and have not impacted the surrounding region. As for the area contaminated with hexavalent chromium, after confirming that excavation work was possible in terms of building use, we commenced remediation by soil excavation and replacement. Remediation is slated for completion within fiscal 2006. To remove TCE and other hazardous substances, we have continued the pump-and-treat process. |
| Hexavalent chromium, lead, arsenic, cadmium | ||
| Osakasayama site | TCE, PCE, c-DCE |
We have continued remediation measures centering on the pump-and-treat process. To accelerate remediation, we have identified the aquifer containing contaminated groundwater, in preparation for another countermeasure. |
| Nankai Optical Co., Ltd. | TCE, PCE, c-DCE |
Purification via bioremediation, commenced in fiscal 2004, is being implemented smoothly. |
| Toyohashi Precision Products Co., Ltd. | TCE, PCE, c-DCE |
To clean up hexavalent chromium contamination found in fiscal 2004, detailed examination was conducted to identify the affected area. This was followed by implementation of a soil excavation and replacement program for decontamination, which was completed in the first half of fiscal 2005. We have continued the pump-and-treat process to remove TCE and other hazardous substances. |
| Hexavalent chromium | ||
| Konica Minolta Opto Products Co., Ltd. | TCE, PCE, c-DCE |
Measures are under way to keep the contamination from spreading beyond the existing area by installing a penetration response barrier and bio-reactive wells. Detailed examination was conducted to identify the pollution source at the site. To decontaminate the detected area of contamination, we have launched a new remediation program employing gas absorption and the pump-and-treat process. The program is currently under way and on schedule. |
| Konica Minolta Supplies Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | TCE, PCE, c-DCE |
The pump-and-treat process was suspended; purification via bioremediation was commenced in 2004. Status monitoring continues. |
TCE: Trichloroethylene, PCE: Tetrachloroethylene c-DCE: cis-Dichloroethylene (discomposed substance of TCE and PCE)
Green Procurement
Promoting Green Procurement across the Board.
Konica Minolta has been promoting Green Procurement by participating in the Green Procurement Network (GPN) ever since the Network's establishment in Japan. When procuring various items, including stationery, OA equipment, company vehicles and the paper and ink used in our own publications, we continue to select those items that have less environmental impact across the entire product lifecycle.