Initiatives for Environment
Environmental Management
Furukawa Electric Group Basic Environmental Policy
Basic Philosophy	We, the employees of the Furukawa Electric Group, recognize that conservation of the global environment is aserious issue confronting the international community, and we pledge to contribute to a sustainable future for theworld through technological innovation that utilizes our strength in advanced materials.

Action Guidelines
1.	We shall comply with environmental laws and regulations as well as the demands of our customers andothers, setting ever higher environmental targets as we continuously improve our global environmental
conservation efforts.
2. W
 e shall strive to develop products that are friendly to the Earth, and create new environmental businesses.
3.	We shall strive to reduce environmental risk by incorporating anti-climate change and resource
conservation/recycling considerations, as well as a reduction in the use of environmental impactcausing substances, across the entire product lifecycle.
4.	We shall evaluate the ecological impact of all of our businesses, and strive for the conservation of
biodiversity and sustainable use of resources.
5.	
We will seek harmony with the natural environment and local communities through dialogue with our stakeholders.

Environmental Management Organization

Scope of the Environmental Management

I n A p r i l 2 0 13 , w e u n d e r w e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n a l

F u r u k a w a E l e c t r i c G r o u p ’s e n v i r o n m e n t a l

restructuring, transitioning to a strategic business unit

management covers 34 Group companies in Japan andsystem. We also renamed our highest-level advisory

57 Group companies overseas. One Group company inbody related to environmental management theJapan changed its name to Tohoku Access Cable

Furukawa Electric Group Environment Committee andCompany. One Group company overseas merged withpromoted environmental management under a new

another company in a related industry, while anothers truc ture. We es tablished the ne w Council of

was excluded from the scope of our environmental

Environmental Managers to facilitate smooth decision

management as its stockholding ratio was reduced.

making on environmental management andconsolidated the special committees that have

Please refer to page 59 for a list of all applicable
companies.

performed these functions in past.

Environmental Education

Promotion Framework

Environmental Education System and Environmental

President

Education Programs
Furukawa Electric Group
Environment Committee
Committee chair:
General Manager of the Production Technology Division
Committee members: Management
Organizer: General Manager, Safety & Environment Promotion
Department, Production Technology Division
Technology & Engineering Division
Planning Department Manager

Committee for Development ofEnvironmentally Friendly Products

help them to gain information necessary to conduct theenvironmental activities of the Group.
During fiscal 2014, 40 employees attended ISO14001
internal environmental auditor training, while 25

Council of Environmental
Managers

48

Divisional Environment
Committees

Special Committee

Affiliated Group Companies
in Japan and Overseas

environmental education activities in order to raise
environmental awareness among its employees andSafety and Environmental
Promotion Department

Environment
Committee of Works

Furukawa Electric Group is engaged in a variety of

employees attended FGMS (note) auditor training. Since
Subcommittee
Meeting

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015

fiscal 2013 the Group has conducted environmental
training for newly appointed section managers in order toenhance the education of key managers in each division.

Initiatives for Environment

In fiscal 2014, 41 employees attended this training.

understanding of costs and conduct its environmental(note) Furukawa branding Green products Management System

activities efficiently and effectively. Totals are based on
the “Environmental Accounting Guidelines 2005”

Environmental activity award systempublished by the Ministry of the Environment. GroupIn an attempt to improve environmental awarenesscompany totals were based on 24 Group companies inand enhance our environmental activities, in fiscal 2010

Japan. During fiscal 2014, environmental conservation

Furukawa Electric established environmental awards in

expenses totaled 3.4 billion yen, while a total of 700

three areas: “sales promotion for environmentally friendly

million yen was invested. Compared with the previous

products,” “prevention of global warming,” and “Group

year, this was a decrease of 300 million yen in expenses

activities.” However, the Group revised the award

and an increase of 100 million yen in investments.

system in fiscal 2014, bringing all awards together undera single category (“environmental contribution award”)
and holding a single Excellence in Environmental Activity
Presentation each year.

A dditionally, sno w dama ge c ause d reduc e doperability, and energy costs fell around 1.5 billion yen.
Please refer to page 59 for a list of all applicable
companies. Please see the URL below for environmental
accounting aggregate results.

Environmental Accounting

CSR

Furukawa Electric Group has introduced

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/english/csr/index.htm

environmental accounting to gain a quantitative
Environmental education programs
Category of educational
training

New recruits

Content

Education for new recruits(once a year, mandatory)

General environmental conservation activities

EMS activities (asneeded, mandatory)

Environmental Policy and purpose, goals andgeneral knowledge pertaining to the environment

Generalemployees

Mid-career
employees

Newly appointed
Management
section managers

Training for new recruits

ISO14001-related education Requirements of ISO standards, environment(two-day course)(twice a
regulations, procedures for internal environment
year, voluntary)
audits, various drills
One-day brushup course(once a year, voluntary)
Environmental subjects(as needed, voluntary)

Trends in environmental regulations, various drills
to brush up auditing skills
Environmentally considerate design
Environmental regulations
Control of chemical substances contained in products

Consolidated environmental
Seminars by experts on priority issues
management seminars

Message from the General Managers During fiscal 2014, we once again
Hisashi Iwama
General Manager, Safety & Environment
Promotion Department, Production
Technology Division

worked together with ourcolleagues all over the world topromote environmental preservation
activities in accordance with the
management policies of the Group.
The three main aspects of our basic
environmental activity policy are I.
Social contribution, II. Prevention ofpollution, and III. Energy andresource conservation. The first
aspect means exercising our social
responsibility as a manufacturer toensure that customers can use our
products and services safely andsecurely. This also refers operating
our business in such a way that
customers using our products andservices make overall society“brighter and more enjoyable,” andin a manner that allows us tocontribute to the conservation of
the global environment. In addition
to properly managing chemical
substances and preventing
pollution when we develop andproduce products, the second
aspect means paying consideration
to biodiversity. The third aspectmeans manufacturing in a mannerthat efficiently utilizes our limited
natural resources and energy.
E s p e c i a l l y, N i k k o Wo r k s
manufactures products usinghydroelectric power, which does not
generate greenhouse gases. We
would like to connect all of this with
our environmental management
activities, in order to leave abeautiful environment to future
generations and contribute torealizing a truly abundant society.

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015

49

Initiatives for Environment

Material Flow
Environmental Impact of the Furukawa Electric Group in Fiscal 2014
We tallied data for Furukawa Electric, 34 Group companies in Japan, and 57 Group companies overseas—a total of
92 companies.
Please refer to page 59 for a list of all applicable companies.

INPUT
Category

OUTPUT

Domestic Overseas

Unit

Category

Raw materials
150,189
8,045
2,178
549
27
8
0
936
44
0
37,373

191,730
20,5737,610
3,529
39,529

t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t

Energy

7,376

7,222

TJ

Electricity(purchased electricity)
Electricity(hydroelectric electricity)
Electricity (solar electricity)
City gas
LPG
Heavy fuel oil A
Kerosene
Light oil

537,262

628,032MWh

76,053

26,525

MWh

9
5,845
16,196
7,689
1,939
248

18,554
2,025
287
65
49

MWh
1000 m3
t
kl
kl
kl

Water

20,9832,732

1000 m3

17,377
2,809
797

50
314
2,368

1000 m3
1000 m3
1000 m3

40,593-

Furukawa Electric
7 works,
34 Group companies

Total waste
generated (note 4)
Final waste disposal
Recycling amount

Paper

t

573
1,549
190
53

11,336
831
941

t
t
t
t

60

-

t

(note 1) PRTR-listed substances(note 2) Cardboard, wood, plastic, and paper used in product shipping(note 3) Including valuable resources (Japan)(note 4) Emissions off-site

50

23,424t267
31,141

15,2898,135

t
t451,938
-

t-CO2
t
t
t

2

Chemical substances

Packaging (note 2)
Cardboard
Wood
Plastic
Paper

33,002

Atmospheric emissions
in JapanCO
380,323
and
SOx
28
108
57 Group companies NOx
Soot
4
overseas

Volume emitted
Volume transferred

164
157

-

17,9981,5441000 m3

17,448
16,203
1,218
20
550

608
365
0
243
937

1000 m3
1000 m3
1000 m3
1000 m3
1000 m3

39
30
35

-

t
t
t

Product shipping volume

315,556―t

Product collection volume

8,830

―

t

7,156
705
348
621

-

t
t
t
t

1,126

10,631

Wastewater
Public waterways
Rivers
Sea
Other
Sewer
BOD
COD
SS

Chemical substances
Volume handled (note 1)

Unit

Waste (note 3)

CopperAluminum
Iron
NickelChromium
Manganese
Magnesium
Other metals
RubberGlass
Plastic

Industrial water
Groundwater
Tap water

Domestic Overseas

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015

Type of cable
Plastics
MetalsOther

Volume of water
recycled and reusedtt1000 m3

Initiatives for Environment

Targets and Performance of Environmental Conservation Activities
Targets and Performance (Environment)

Achieved

Partially achieved

Not achieved

Furukawa Electric Group (Japan)
Activity

Fiscal 2015environmental
conservation activity
goals

Fiscal 2014 activity goal

Fiscal 2014
results

Reduction of absoluteamount of waste

2% reduction from fiscal 2012

1.2% increase

3% reduction from fiscal 2012

Decrease zero emissions
rate

0.3% or less

0.13%
(achieved)

Zero emissions rate of 0.3%
or less

Reduction of water
consumption

1% decrease in energy
consumption rate year-on-year

4.2% increase

2% decrease in energy
consumption rate year-on-year

Greenhouse gas emissions

2% reduction from fiscal 2012

6.2%
reduction

3% reduction from fiscal 2012

Energy consumption

2% reduction from fiscal 2012

14.1%
reduction

3% reduction from fiscal 2012

Energy consumption rateduring production (sales)

4% decrease from fiscal 201222.7%
reduction

6% decrease from fiscal 2012

Energy consumption rateduring transport

2% reduction from fiscal 2012

14.6%
increase

3% reduction from fiscal 2012

Energy consumption rate in
offices

2% reduction from fiscal 2012

3.4%
reduction

3% reduction from fiscal 2012

Conservation of biodiversity

Participation in regional
biodiversity conservation

Implemented

Participation in regional
biodiversity conservation

Environmentally friendly design activities

Sales ratio of environmentallyfriendly products
35% or higher
Contribution to reducing
environmental burden
CO2 reduction of 30,000 tons
or higher

Waste reduction
activities
Efficient utilizationof water

Activities for theprevention of
global warming

Activities for the
managementof chemical
substances

Sales ratio of environmentallyfriendly products 30% or
higherContribution to reducing
environmental burden
CO2 reduction of 50,000 tons
or higher

24.2%

59,000 tons

VOC emissions

2% reduction from fiscal 201217.2%
reduction

Products containing
chemical substances

Suitable management

Noabnormalities--

No. of environmental accidents/abnormal incidents

Evaluation

3% reduction from fiscal 2012-

Suitable management of
products containing chemical
substances
0 accidents, 3 or lessabnormal incidents

30 of our overseas Group companies have already obtained ISO14001 certification. These companies have set goals according to their unique circumstances for five
shared environmental conservation activities for fiscal 2014 (reduced waste, reduced water consumption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced energy consumption
rates, and management of chemical substances), and are working toward achieving these goals.

Activities Targets and Performance in Fiscal 2014

Activity Targets in Fiscal 2015

Furukawa Electric Group defines medium-term

During fiscal 2015, we will continue to work toward

environmental targets every three years. Each year, we

reducing our absolute amount of waste and water

establish targets for environmental conservation

consumption rate—two new goals added to those ofactivities based on these plans. We reflect these targets

fiscal 2014. Fiscal 2015 is the final year of the standard

at affiliated companies in Japan and overseas, ensure

three year plan we began in fiscal 2012, so the entire

that targets are consistent throughout the global Group

Group is putting all effort into achieving our goals. In

and work together to achieve them.

fiscal 2015, our overseas Group companies have set as

The entire Group has achieved its goals fortheir goal a reduction of at least 1% (consumption rate)

greenhouse gas emissions in its activities for theover fiscal 2014 with regard to four shared goals

prevention of global warming, through such means as(absolute amount of waste, water consumption,

aggregating its manufacturing bases for each productgreenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption),under the Structural Reform Plan. The snow damage at

toward setting consistent goals throughout the Group

Furukawa Electric’s Nikko Works also had an impact.

inside and outside of Japan, as a part of next term’s

Both Furukawa Electric and the Group have achieved

medium-term management plan.

their energy consumption goals.
FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015

51

Initiatives for Environment

Environmentally Friendly Products
Environmentally Friendly Products and thee-Friendly Accreditation System

Environmentally friendly products as a percentage of sales
Cumulative number of registered items (Furukawa Electric)
Cumulative number of registered items (Group Companies)
Percentage of sales on a single-year basis (Furukawa Electric)
Percentage of sales on a single-year basis (Consolidated)

Furukawa Electric Group certifies and registers asenvironmentally friendly products those products withimproved performance compared to existing products in(No. registered)100

the categories of materials and parts purchasing and80

manufacture, use, distribution and disposal.

60
40

40.0
67
20.9

0

We have created the “e-Friendly” environmental markto identify such environmentally friendly products. This

85
19.7

23.9

42.2

43.1

91

97
24.3

50
40

24.2

30
20

11.3

20

The e-friendly mark

73

40.2

14

16
14

17

2010

2011

2012

25
2013

35

10

2014

0
(FY)

Environmental Performance Indicator “Visualization”
As a part of initiatives to visualize environmental

mark is placed on those products.

performance indices, the Group promotes theCategories of Environmentally Friendly Products
The Group's environmentally friendly products belong
to one of four categories described below.

visualization of CO 2 emissions using life cycle
assessment (LCA).
Based on the consumption unit of CO2 emissions
established for each product by fiscal 2012, we have set
a target to spread the initiative to the affiliatedEnvironmentally friendly product categories

companies in fiscal 2013 and conducted an LCA

Content

calculation of major products at 12 of the 21 subject

Prevention of
global warming

Products with functions that help in the
reduction of emissions as well as theabsorption and stabilizing of greenhouse gases.

companies. We also deploy the results of theseGas (GHG) Protocol (note), as well as technical materials

Zero emission

Products made from recycled materials,
products designed with easyto-recycle
components, products made from materials
or with design facilitating volume reduction
for lowering waste volume, products
designed to share common components
with other products or products designed ascommon components.

Category

Elimination ofmaterials that havean impact on theenvironment

Products that do not lead to an increase in
the use of ozone-depletive substances during
the manufacturing process, do not containharmful substances above regulatory limits
and do not generate harmful substances
above these limits during use or disposal.

Resource savings

Products that result in overall energy savings
by such means as reducing the use of raw
materials and components as well as scarce
resources, featuring enhanced longevity,
allowing easier product and component
maintenance, and reducing the use forresources in packaging.

calculations toward the development of the Greenhouseand sales promotion pamphlets, aiming to make use ofthis information for R&D on future environmentallyfriendly products.
(note) G HG Protocol: An international guidelines for the method of
calculating corporate greenhouse gas emissions

Initiatives to Reduce CO2 Emissions from
Products during Use
B a s e d o n i t s t r a c k re c o rd i n e n v i ro n m e n t a lperformance indexing, we are working to visualize thereduction of CO2 which is emitted when our products
are at the stage of being used. According to theestimate for fiscal 2014, total emission volume in thedomestic market of our mainstay products, copper foil,

Expanding Environmentally Friendly Products

52

rectangular magnet wire and semiconductor laser,
amounted to 59,000 tons - CO2/year. Going forward, we

We are working to increase our overall percentage ofwill try to expand sales of each product category andenvironmentally friendly products. We set targets based

increase the number of contributing products, so thaton percentage of sales, and confirm our progress andwe can develop our activities to tackle environmental

success on this basis.

issues through our products.

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015

Initiatives for Environment

Reduction of CO2 emissions throughCO2 reduction of enameled extruded rectangular wire

copper foil for electric car batteries

Rectangular wire for HV motors

Copper foil for electrode material of lithium-ion batteries

Copper foils contribution to electric cars

Extruded resin layer
Enamel layer
Rectangular conductor

Lithium ion battery
Negative
electrodeterminal

Electrodeposited
copper foil for
lithium-ion battery:“NC-WS”

Separator
Negative
electrode
plate

Preventing Global Warming

Separator
Positive
electrode

Positive
electrode
plate

Reducing CO2 Emissions
Initiatives at Works
The majority of the Group's greenhouse gas emissions
consist of CO2 generated from electricity, fuel and other

CO2 reduction of semiconductor lasers
Narrow-bandwidth-FBT (tunable wavelength laser)

energy sources. As emissions from manufacturing
processes account for a large proportion, we work on
reducing emissions by increasing the efficiency of
production processes, switching fuels, replacing

2600 μm
Tunablewavelength
laser chip

500 μmequipment with more efficient alternatives, insulating hot
areas and other measures.
CO2 emissions for the entire Group in Japan totaled
380,000 tons/year during fiscal 2014—a reduction of
13.4% from fiscal 2000. CO2 emissions for all overseas
Group companies totaled 452,000 tons/year during
fiscal 2014. The entire Group will continue its efforts to
reduce emissions.

30 mm

Tunable wavelength laser assembly(with control circuit)
75 mm

CO2 emissions
Group companies in Japan
Furukawa ElectricGroup companies overseas(104 tons-CO2)

Tunable wavelength laser module30.5 mm

100
80
60
40
20
0

Transponder(optical transceiver)

Wavelength division multiplexing(WDM) transmission system

41.8

43.2

45.2

13.7

13.0

15.5

16.5

16.2

24.6

24.4

24.9

24.7

21.8

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

(FY)

(note) For the overseas CO2 emission coefficient, the coefficient for eachcountry under the GHG Protocol is used for purchased electricity,while the Japanese emission coefficient is used otherwise.

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015

53

Initiatives for Environment

CO2 emissions (Scope 1, Scope 2) (Domestic)(104 tons-CO2)

Scope 1

Scope 2

1.9

40

27.5
27.1

0

31.7

30.2

26.6

29.0

10

9.1

6.6

1.7

3.6

1.6

(%)

9.0

1.90

1.8

20
10

Specific consumption
Rate of modal shift(MJ/ton-kilometers)

50

30

Modal shift (note) and specific consumption (Furukawa Electric)

9.7
8

7.4

6

1.70
1.64

1.64

1.66

4

1.58

16.4
2000

11.2

10.7

10.2

9.5

9.0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014 (FY)

2

1.5

0

1.4

2006

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014 (FY)(note) Modal shift rate: Percentage of total transportation thatuses rail-or ship-based transportation

CO2 emissions (Scope 1, Scope 2) (Overseas)(104 tons-CO2)

Scope 1CO2 emissions related to transportation (Furukawa Electric)

Scope 250

(t-CO2)40

20,00019,100

30

37.9

36.4

20

15,30014,90015,00040.4

15,30014,80014,50010,000

10
0

5.4

5.3

4.8

2012

2013

2014

5,000

(FY)
0

Energy consumption(1,000 kℓ)

2006

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014 (FY)

Environmental disclosure efforts

Group companies in Japan
Furukawa ElectricGroup companies overseas

Furukawa Electric Group responds to requests by

500

e x t er na l ins ti tu tions t o pro v ide e n v ironme n t a l

400

information. Since fiscal 2008, we have answered

300

184

194

76

76

201

inquiries from CDP (note 1), the largest such organization in
the world. Since fiscal 2013 we have also responded to

200

79

100

165

163

149

137

119

2014 we have increased the amount of information we

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014 (FY)collect and continue to enhance the environmental

0

76

74

supply chain program requests from customers in thecommunications and automotive fields. Since fiscal

information management system used throughout
Furukawa Electric Group, with the ultimate goal of
disclosing environmental information throughout theInitiatives in Logistics

Group on a global scale.

The entire Furukawa Electric Group transported
227,000,000 ton-kilometers during fiscal 2014—a

Greenhouse emission burden for CDP disclosure (1,000 t-CO2e/year)

decrease of 4.3% from fiscal 2013. Of this, Furukawa
Electric itself transported 130,000,000 ton-kilometers,

Scope 1 (direct emissions)138

which was a decrease of 4.9% from fiscal 2013. As a

Scope 2 (indirect emissions)

result, we were able to keep CO2 emissions down to

Scope 3 (other)

14,800 tons—3.6% down from fiscal 2013.

(note 1) C DP: CDP is an organization formed from institutional
investors for the purpose of managing a project requiring
companies to disclose their strategies for climate change
and the specific amount of greenhouse gases they generate.
(note 2) Scopes 1, 2, and 3
Scope 1: D
 irect emissions (including SF6, etc.) from offices
caused by the use of fossil fuels, etc.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from outside offices caused by theuse of electricity and steam
Scope 3: Indirect emissions from purchased product services,business trips, commuting, and upstream shipping, etc.

Unfortunately, our output rate rose 5.1% since fiscal
2012, our base year for this goal. We will continue withinitiatives to promote modal shift, increase loading rates
and encourage joint shipping.

54

FY2014(note 2)FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015

694
2,034

Initiatives for Environment

Reducing Waste

Water Resources

Waste Reduction Initiatives

Effective Utilization of Water

In 1993 Furukawa Electric Group began its efforts toFurukawa Electric Group has been making efforts toincrease waste recycling, and since fiscal 2001 has

utilize water effectively since fiscal 2013 by grasping

continued its zero emissions activities with the goal of

the amount of water intake and wastewater and setting

reducing total emissions of industrial waste disposed ina consumption unit reduction target for fiscal 2014.

landfills to less than 0.3% (the base value was cut in

The consumption rate of drawn water throughout the

fiscal 2014 from 1% to 0.3%).

entire Furukawa Electric Group rose to 23 m3/ million

Due to our efforts to thoroughly separate garbage andyen in fiscal 2014, a 4.2% increase from fiscal 2013.

promote recycling, the entire Japanese Group reduced

Our consumption rate of drainage also rose to 19 m3/

its amount of non-recycled waste to 1,324 tons in fiscal

million yen, a slight increase of 0.3% from fiscal 2013.

2014, an 81% reduction from fiscal 2004. The entire

We will continue our water conservation and cyclic

Japanese Group also reduced the amount of waste

usage efforts, and will manage both our water quality

disposed in landfills to 37 tons, a 98% reduction fromand the amount of drainage we generate.

fiscal 2004 (this excludes waste disposal companies
within the Group).
We also began efforts in fiscal 2014 to reduce theVolume of water intake (water source)

total amount of waste we generate (including valuable
resources). However, due to snow damage and theimpact of restructuring, the Japanese Group was unable

Inside Furukawa
Electric Groupto achieve its goal, with a 1.2% increase in contrast with
its goal of a 2% decrease from fiscal 2012—an increase

Volume ofrainwater useof 7.8% across the entire Group, and a decrease of
2.2% for Furukawa Electric (this excludes waste
disposal companies within the Group).

Total amount of waste matter generated
Furukawa Electric & Group companies in Japan
Group companies overseas(1,000 tons)

80

Volume of recycled water

70
60
50

23

32

31

38
23

40
30
20

36

36

39

2004

2010

2011

34

34

34

2012

2013

2014 (FY)100Volume of wastewater (drainage)(note) Valuable resources are included in total waste generated forJapan only.

Consumption unit of water intake and wastewater

Direct landfill disposal(m3/million yen)

Furukawa Electric & Group companies in Japan
Group companies overseas(1,000 tons)

25

20

15.3
15

15

10

7.2
5.1

5

0

20

2.4
2004

0.9
2010

8.6

10

Water intake consumption unit
Reduce by 1% compared to the previous fiscal year

5.6
5

0.9
2011

0.7
2012

0.4

0.3

2013

2014 (FY)0

Wastewater consumption unit
Reduce by 1% compared to the previous fiscal year

2011

2012

2013

2014

(FY)

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015

55

Initiatives for Environment

Chemical Substance Management
Green Activities
Response to Customer Requests
When Furukawa Electric Group receives a request

chemical substances contained in products and its
management status as well as by confirming the data ofchemical substances contained in products.

Chemical Substance Management Activities

from a customer for information concerning chemical

Furukawa Electric Group undertakes voluntary

substances in our products, it conducts a thoroughinitiatives to reduce emissions of harmful chemical

environmental examination. We also monitor trends insubstances. In particular, we make every effort tolaws and regulations covering the chemical substances

actively reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds

contained in products and compile and update data as(VOC), one cause of photochemical smog. In fiscal 2014

it becomes available, allowing us to respond promptly to

we achieved a reduction of 17.2%—far surpassing ourcustomer requests. Furthermore, by collecting

goal of a 2% reduction from fiscal 2012.

information from industrial organizations and conducting
seminars, as well as participating in research groups, we
can monitor environmental regulations and standards
and social issues/items of concern. This enables us toincorporate customer needs in our environmental
conservation targets.

Response to overseas regulations and managementof chemical substances contained in products
Furukawa Electric Group establishes a management
system for chemical substances contained in products
for major operational bases and affiliated companies,
strengthens the environmental product regulations andgrasps the environmental risk that should be lowered,

Emissions of volatile organic compounds(Group Companies in Japan)(tons)

Furukawa ElectricGroup companies

400

300

303

295

107

103

200

100

0

196

192

2012

2013

251
99

152
2014

(FY)

(note) Volatile organic compounds are the 118 substances specified by
The Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers’ Association(January 2012 edition).

and implements measures depending on theirimportance. Each time a new SVHC (Substance of Very

Appropriate Management of Chemical SubstancesHigh Concern) (note 1) is added to the candidate list of an

At Furukawa Electric Group, we confirm the properties

environmental product regulation named the EU REACH

and applicable laws and regulations regarding all

regulation, we investigate the status of its usage. In

chemical substances we use during the manufacturing

fiscal 2014, we conducted an environmental inspection

process on their Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) andon 161 substances, covering up to the 12th SVHC list

administrate them. We also monitor the usage volumeof the REACH regulations.

of chemical substances listed in the PRTR Law (note 2).

(note 1) S ubstance of Very High Concern:U se or marketing of SVHCs requires approval, andmanufacturers are liable to submit notification if an SVHC
exceeds 0.1% weight content.

(note 2) Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of SpecificChemical Substances in the Environment and Promotionof Improvements to the Management Thereof

Expansion of Green Procurement (GeneralPurpose Products) to Group Companies
Furukawa Electric encourage the purchasing of OA
equipment, office supplies and other items that conform

56

Environmental Risk Management
Preventing Soil and Groundwater Pollution

to the Green Purchasing Law. In an effort to spread

Furukawa Electric Group conducts regular inspections

these activities within the Group, 19 affiliated companies

of facilities and equipment that handle specific toxic

designated conforming items in fiscal 2014 andsubstances to prevent the pollution of soil andpurchased them. Also, items that will be used in our

groundwater. We reduce the risk of pollution throughproducts are purchased adequately based on the Greenmeasures to prevent leaks of specific toxic substances

Procurement Guidelines of our operational division, by

and underground seepage, as well as through ongoingevaluating the suppliers’ system on the management ofefforts to switch to substitute substances.

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015

Initiatives for Environment

PCB Management

Biodiversity Conservation

Furukawa Electric Group monitors the amount of highconcentration PCB-containing equipment at each of our

Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives

Works and affiliate company sites, and conducts proper

In April 2011, we began providing information on ourstorage and management. Based on the said information,

website about the biodiversity efforts we are conducting

we have been registered with Japan Environmental

as part of our Basic Environmental Policy. With a view to

Storage & Safety Corporation and started disposing ofspecifying the Group's biodiversity efforts, we compiled

them step by step in accordance with the plan. In

significant targets in fiscal 2013 into the comprehensive

addition, Furukawa Electric analyzes equipment thatguideline of the Furukawa Electric Group concerning

could contain low concentration PCB, and has begun tobiodiversity. We did this in recognition of the fact that

dispose of some of them. We will continue to dispose of

our business, products and services are the result ofsuch devices in an even more systematic manner.

biodiversity, and that our operation has an impact,whether positive or negative, on eco-systems.
Also, following a major organizational reform in fiscal

Compliance with Environmental Laws andOther Regulations

2013, we integrated our biodiversity conservation

F u r u k a w a E l e c t r i c G ro u p re g u l a r l y c o n f i r m s

forward, we will be modeling our regional activities

system into the Environmental Committee. Going

environmental laws and other regulations to determine

centering on land utilization and procurement under theitems requiring compliance. We ensure compliance in a

new structure at each operational unit, in order tonumber of ways, such as by conducting on-site patrols

spread the activities horizontally within our Group. We

to check the state of compliance. We follow official

also use the “Office for the Coexistence of Living Things_

journals and other sources of information to stay

Promotion Guidelines” coordinated by JBIB (note), which

updated on revisions to environmental legislation and

we currently participate in. In fiscal 2014, we took a trial

ensure that our response is thorough.

run of the “land usage report card” in Yokohama Works.

We maintain voluntary control limits and manage
operations appropriately to ensure compliance with the
Air Pollution Control Law and the Water Pollution(note) JBIB : Japan Business Initiative for Biodiversity. 		
F ounded in 2008, the JBIB is a joint effort by Japanesecompanies to act on behalf of biodiversity preservation.

Control Law.
In f is c al 2013, w e c on tinue d t o c onduc t a nenvironmental check-up in our domestic affiliatedFurukawa Electric Group

companies by performing the said check-up at seven

Biodiversity Conservation Guidelines

operational units of the Company while responding to
the revised clean water act.
In fiscal 2014, our Japanese Group companies widely
implemented environmental law inspections (such as fordangerous goods under the Fire Services Act), including
support for the revised Water Pollution Prevention Law.
We also conduct annual checks for conceivable, clear
environmental impact to prevent environmental
accidents or prevent widespread impact in the event ofan accident.
According to our survey on the status of ourregulatory compliance, we were not in material violationof any regulations.

1.	Evaluate the effects that our businessactivities have on the ecosystem, andminimize the harmful effects while
maximizing the beneficial ones
2.	To sustainably use resources and conserve
biodiversity, consider more than ever theneed to carry out measures against
climate change, conserve resources,
recycle and reduce environmentallyhazardous substances
3.	Carry out activities in collaboration withlocal communities to conserve biodiversity

Please see the URL below for our response to theasbestos problem, and a list of PRTR compatible
materials.
CSR
http://www.furukawa.co.jp/english/csr/index.htm
FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 201557