Environment

Fiscal 2008 Targets and Results (CO₂ emissions at production sites)

Konica Minolta achieved its CO₂ reduction targets at each Group business company through improvements in production efficiency and other measures

Japan

In fiscal 2008, CO₂ emissions from production and R&D sites in Japan were reduced 5.4% compared to the previous fiscal year to 269,000 tons (6.3% above the fiscal 2000 level). As a result, the Group attained its fiscal year target of reducing CO₂ emissions to below 296,000 tons at all production and R&D sites in Japan. This achievement is attributable to the use of the latest energy conservation technologies in the construction of new sites, and efforts to save energy by increasing production efficiency at each business company.

Note: Figures are based on usage results of all sites.
For the emissions coefficient for electricity and natural gas, figures are derived from the results each supplier released for the fiscal year (or the most recent figures available when results have yet to be released). Regarding other fossil fuels, coefficients were used based on Japan's Law Concerning the Promotion of Measures to Cope with Global Warming.

The United States, Europe and Asia

In fiscal 2008, CO₂ emissions from Konica Minolta bases in the U.S., Europe, and Asia totaled 81,000 tons, coming in well below the Group's target of 96,000 tons for the fiscal year, but representing an increase of 12.7% compared with the previous fiscal year (and 5.5% above fiscal 2000 levels).
This increase is mainly attributable to the construction and expansion of hard disk glass substrate production facilities launched in February 2008 at the Group's site in Malacca, Malaysia, as well as to increased production at other sites.
To reduce CO₂ emissions under these circumstances, Konica Minolta focused on the overseas deployment of its Energy Conservation Support Program. The program supports the implementation of measures to reduce energy usage at each site through a detailed analysis and assessment of energy usage by internal experts.

Note: Figures are based on usage results of all sites. For the emissions coefficient for electricity, figures are those disclosed by each respective country in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol (or the most recent figures available when results have yet to be released). Regarding natural gas and other fossil fuels, coefficients disclosed to GHG Protocol were used.

Reduction in CO₂ Emissions

In order to improve production efficiency at each business company, Konica Minolta sets targets for each business to develop and adopt more efficient manufacturing technologies based on basic production units*1. As a result, CO₂ reduction equivalents*2 amounted to 52,000 tons in fiscal 2008.

*1

A basic production unit represents the amount of environmental impact per volume of production.

*2

CO₂ reduction equivalent is calculated as the difference between actual CO₂ emissions and the volume of CO₂ emissions, assuming production levels in fiscal 2004 using basic production units.

To determine effective energy conservation measures, the company plans to expand the scope of material flow cost accounting (MFCA), which helps simulate energy loss, as a method to precisely measure energy usage patterns in each process. Since future expansion of facilities and production may lead to greater CO₂ emissions, Konica Minolta is preparing to obtain emissions rights as a backup measure to supplement its thorough energy conservation initiatives.

Energy Conservation of Facilities and Equipment

Konica Minolta has introduced a variety of measures to help reduce CO₂ emissions at its production sites

Energy Conservation Support Program

Konica Minolta has implemented the Energy Conservation Support Program to reduce CO₂ emissions at its production sites.
The program dispatches internal experts in plant engineering, production line design and energy management to production sites. They check diverse matters, including the status of energy management, utility facilities such as air conditioners or boilers, production equipment, and specifications of equipment and systems. These experts then propose measures adapted to each site for conserving energy usage. The experts and staff at the sites use these proposals to simulate the energy saving effect and draw up plans to implement the ideas.
Initially the program was deployed in Japan, but it expanded its scope to other countries, starting with two sites in China during fiscal 2007. In fiscal 2008, with two more sites in China and one site in the US, the program has been implemented at five sites in total.
The fiscal target [of 1,800 tons] has yet to be met due to the fact that full-fledged implementation of these measures did not begin until the second half of fiscal 2008. The Group is continuing to work on completing the tasks set out in the measures and increasing the number of production sites covered under the program.

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  Konica Minolta Business Technologies (Wuxi) Co., Ltd.
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  Konica Minolta Opto (Dalian) Co., Ltd.

Topics　 New Building at Osakasayama Site Receives Award as an Environmentally Sound Structure

In April 2008, Konica Minolta Opto, Inc. completed the construction of a new building at the Osakasayama Site in Osaka, Japan. It won the second annual Osaka Sustainable Building Special Award for fiscal 2009, which is awarded by the Osaka prefectural government. Konica Minolta uses the latest energy conservation technologies when designing and constructing the new building. The new building at Osakasayama Site has the following environmentally friendly features:

• Best-in-class energy-saving transformers and air conditioners to reduce CO₂ emissions
• Enhanced insulation with sandwich wall insulation panels and double-pane insulating glass in windows that trap air for an extra insulation layer
• Greenery on the roof to counter heat-island effects
• A courtyard on the top floor to let natural light into the building, reducing the electric energy to use for lights.

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  New building at Osakasayama Site
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  Natural light enters from the courtyard on the top floor

Greenery on Rooftops and Walls (Green Curtain)

At its buildings all over Japan, Konica Minolta is adding greenery to the rooftops and walls, as a "Green Curtain." This initiative will result in CO₂ absorption through photosynthesis, and have a cooling effect on the buildings through natural shading and transpiration (by which plants release moisture vapor into the air). In short, it will help prevent global warming and lower the heat island effect.
The company's three business offices in the Tokai region erected Green Curtains of goya (a bitter melon from Okinawa) and Japanese morning glory on the walls of their office buildings. This reduced temperatures by approximately 2°C during strong daylight, saving the equivalent amount of electricity used by air conditioners to achieve the same effect. Goya were harvested from the Green Curtain and given away to employees and people living in the area, with a message of hope for environmental sustainability.

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  Greenery on rooftops at the Itami Site
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  A Green Curtain of morning glory at the Mikawa Site

Using Green Electricity

Located in Tokyo, the Konica Minolta Plaza is the Group's venue for providing the public with various types of information, including environmental, cultural, and artistic exhibits. As of March 2008, Konica Minolta Plaza uses only electricity procured through the green power certification system to cover the electrical requirements of all its exhibitions.
Green power is electricity made from renewable energy sources such as wind and biomass. In addition to the electricity itself, it is beneficial in terms of "environmental added value," which embodies the advantages of green power including reductions in CO₂ emissions and fossil fuel usage. The green power certification system represents this environmental added value in the form of certificates. With these green power certificates, Konica Minolta is recognized as having used green electricity, by purchasing the environmental added-value portion in addition to the regular electricity supplied by power companies.
In fiscal 2008, the Konica Minolta Plaza used approximately 71,000 kWh of electricity for its exhibits. About 90% of this amount was biomass electricity that came almost completely from power stations in Iwate and Tokyo. The remaining 10% came from a wind turbine power facility in Chiba.
The electricity used at the General Meeting of Shareholders was also provided by green power.

Efforts to Conserve Energy in Offices

All employees engage in environmental activities based on ISO 14001 standards

Environmental Activities Based on ISO 14001 Standards

All Konica Minolta employees take part in environmental activities under an environmental management system based on ISO 14001 standards.
Employees strive to understand the impact the company's business activities have on the environment in office settings as well as at production facilities. The employees also aim to continuously improve their daily activities to lessen their impact on the environment, by periodically reviewing plans to achieve and maintain compliance with ISO mandated requirements.

Team Minus 6%

"Team Minus 6%" is the nickname of a national campaign waged in Japan to fight global warming by achieving the 6% reduction commitment stipulated in the Kyoto Protocol. In support of the campaign's objective, Konica Minolta has enrolled as a member of "Team Minus 6%" and is taking the following measures.