Environment

Our zero waste activities reflect our intention to minimize waste destined for landfill disposal, by promoting waste recycling. The Konica Minolta Group believes it essential to give proper consideration to real-world economics while reliably implementing risk management, so as to steadily continue our zero waste activities. In our Level 1 zero waste criteria, therefore, we include targets for recycling and final disposal (landfill) rates, as well as for cost-cutting. We have also established stricter Level 2 zero waste criteria. To reach Level 2, we have to meet the reduction rate targets for externally discarded waste volumes, while also striving for greater reductions in cost and risk. Characteristically, Konica Minolta's zero waste activities are integrated into management, from the perspective of both risk management and economy.

To fulfill our zero waste goals, first we try to avoid unnecessary acquisitions, and to fundamentally reduce waste in both resources and costs. Second we use all acquired resources efficiently, minimize waste generation and try to reduce the volume of externally discarded waste by implementing internal recycling. In terms of waste remaining even after such processes, we promote external recycling so as to reduce landfill volume to the minimum possible.

We implement risk management to ensure that discarded waste is reliably and properly handled. For Group companies in Japan, we have established criteria for selecting waste disposal contractors. Through careful investigation, including preliminary and field surveys, we select reliable contractors who are then registered and managed in a database.

The database also includes a wide range of related information, such as illegal waste disposal, laws and regulations, environmental technologies and other knowledge accumulated within the Group. Such information is managed in an integrated manner, to ensure the most appropriate waste disposal and improve the level of zero waste activities throughout the entire Group.

In pursuing resource recovery, top priority is given to the in-house recycling of leftover materials produced in the manufacturing process. To facilitate this effort, we research and develop new recycling and production technologies.

Regarding landfill disposal, we feel that the handling of secondary residuals, those that remain after energy recovery and other recycling processes, is also the responsibility of waste producers. Accordingly, we are acutely aware of disposal volume. To reduce landfill volume we thoroughly implement waste separation and select an appropriate recycling route after checking the secondary residual volume.

As a result, in fiscal year 2006, the total waste volume from Group manufacturing sites worldwide was 35,681 tons, the volume of recovered resources (the volume recycled in-house and externally) was 34,500 tons and the landfill volume was 662 tons. Thus, the resource recovery rate was 96.7% and the final disposal rate (landfill rate) was 1.9%.

Total waste volume from Group manufacturing sites in Japan for fiscal year 2006 was 26,916 tons, the volume of recovered resources was 26,356 tons, and the landfill volume was 144 tons. Accordingly, the resource recovery rate was 97.9% and the final disposal rate (landfill rate) was 0.5%.

In fiscal 2006, two Chinese sites achieved Level 1 zero waste goal, the first of its kind outside Japan. This news was covered by many newspapers in China and posted on the Internet. Meanwhile, Level 2 zero waste criteria was attained by two additional sites in Japan.

In fiscal 2007, we will further promote zero waste activities on a worldwide scale.