Feature

Past and Future
Environmental Businesses
While responding to the requests of society, the Furukawa Electric Group has over many years continued
to develop technologies, products and services that contribute to the protection ofthe global environment.
We are today accelerating the pace of new technology development guided by the medium-term
management plan “New Frontier 2012” that positions the creation of new eco businesses as a key priority.
Focus
Focus

1 Developing Easy-to-Recycle Optical Fiber Cables
2 Creating New Eco Businesses That Take
Full Advantage of Material Technologies

7 Furukawa Electric Group CSR Report 2010Focus

1 Developing Easy-to-Recycle Optical Fiber Cables

Responding to Environmental Issues Causedby the Growing Prevalence of Broadband
Networks
Promoting the Recycling of Materials From Discarded Optical Fiber Cables
The installation and renewal of optical fiber cables resultsin considerable waste due to the removal of existing
electric wires and cables, ducts and distribution boards.
Amid explosive growth in broadband networks,
telecommunication carriers and construction companies
are being increasingly confronted by the problem of waste
disposal as one of several key environmental issues.
Playing a leading role in the Group’s recycling businessactivities, Furukawa Electric Ecotec Co., Ltd. (FETEC:
please refer to the column below) serves to address thisproblem by collecting and recycling much of theaforementioned waste.
FETEC currently collects over 1,000 tons of discarded
optical fiber cables each year, all of which is recycled. In
specific terms, approximately 70% is incinerated andrecovered as thermal energy, while around 30% isrecycled as materials. From a recycling-oriented society
perspective, the goal is naturally to secure a material
recycling rate as close to 100% as is possible. Lifting thematerial recycling rate is not of itself a difficult task.
Depending on the method used, however, an unwanted
by-product is the increase in CO2 emissions and theadverse effect of a higher environmental load. With this inmind, Furukawa Electric has developed aneasy-to-recycle optical fiber cable as one initiative to lift
the material recycling rate while at the same time reducing
CO2 emission.

Material Recycling Flow
(Example: Optical Fiber Cables)
RemoveAccumulateCollect andseparate

CollectSeparation
work

Separate
Remove sheathsDismantle
Performance in the Handling ofDiscarded Optical Fiber Cables

Disconnect slots
Strip off binder tape

Stripping
off bindertape

Dismantle slots(Tons)

800775662676

Thermal recycling

600
400

3403562007

2008356

Material recycling

Melt andconvert
intopellets

Remove impurities
Melt
Recycled pellets

Recycledpellets

20002009(Fiscal year)

RecycleColumnRecycling Plant of the Furukawa Electric Group (FETEC)FETEC was established in 1971 as a company specializing in the recycling of
discarded electrical wires. Since acquiring ISO14001 accreditation in 1998
(including the Company’s Chiba Works and the adjoining facilities of affiliatedcompanies), the company has taken steps to promote zero emissions and toreduce the amount of landfill waste generated during the recycling process.
Based on these endeavors, FETEC achieved zero emissions in 2005.
In recent years, calls from customers to collect the duct and distribution
board waste resulting from the removal of electric wires and cables havesteadily increased. Working to address the needs of its customers, FETEC hasacquired the necessary approvals to collect and haul industrial waste from 33
local municipalities, complementing its existing qualification (Chiba and Kyushuplants) as an industrial waste disposal contractor.

Discardeddistributionboards

Discarded electrical ducts(product name: EFLEX)

Furukawa Electric Group CSR Report 20108Focus1 Developing Easy-to-Recycle Optical Fiber Cables

Developing a Breakthrough Optical Fiber Cable That Resolves the Issue of Recycling Costs

Unlike the copper and aluminum used as conductors inboth electrical and telecommunications metal cables,
optical fiber cables do not contain highly valued materials
than can be collected, recycled or sold as items of worth.
Rather than incur the cost of recycling, it was therefore
considered more economical to dispose of industrial waste
via incineration and landfill sites. Commensurate with theshift from metal to optical fiber telecommunication cables,
and the growing incidence of optical fiber cable waste,
however, demand for their recycling steadily increased. In
response, Furukawa Electric in conjunction with Tokyo
Electric Power Company commenced development of therecycling technology. While taking into consideration
dismantling and separation methods, the companies took
steps to review the raw materials that comprise cables aswell as their configuration. Focusing on ease of dismantling,
Furukawa Electric successfully developed aneasy-to-recycle optical fiber cable.
Compared with conventional optical fibers, which use
nylon thread as the base material for binder tapes, thenewly developed product employs the same polyethylenematerial applied to the cable sheath. By using polyethylene
for the binder tape, the sheath and the binder tape melt
together during sheathing as part of the manufacturing
process and become integrated with one another.
Consequently, when the sheath is removed, the cable canbe dismantled with ease as if there were no binder tape. As
a result, dismantling and separation expenditure is reduced
by approximately 50% compared with Furukawa Electric’s
existing products. In resolving the longstanding issue ofrecycling costs, it is possible to dismantle and separate
cables for the same cost as industrial waste disposal via
landfill sites or incineration.
In addition to the bobbin and drum that reel in the cable,
the recycled materials of this optical fiber cable are applied
as materials for such items as the optical closure (theoptical fiber cable connection and diversion box).

A Conventional Optical Fiber Cable

Binder tape (nylon thread)

Slot core(polyethylene)
Moisture barrier tape

Sheath(polyethylene)

Hard to dismantle and separate
Binder tape is threadlike•Tendency
for binder tape to knot when opticalfiber cables are dismantled. This significantly
extends the time required for removal

Binder tape and sheaths use different materials•Separationand treatment are required for reuse

A conventional optical fiber
cable with the sheath removed.
When attempting to pull out thenylon thread, it tangles into a ballmaking removal difficult.

Fine strands of the nylon thread
remain even after the sheath has
been peeled away. This raises
the issue of impurities making
recycling problematic.

Recycling costs are highDismantling and separation require•considerable
effortWith recycling costs high, disposal as industrial
waste is economical

Materials and Products Made From Recycled Optical Fiber Cables
Optical fibers Other waste

Recycled duct protection covers
Recycled materials

Optical fiber cablee.g. ) materials for bollards

Iron

Iron recycling

PE (polyethylene)

Recycled pellets

PE (polyethylene)

Recycled pelletsTension member slots
Sheaths (cable covers)

9 Furukawa Electric Group CSR Report 2010

Feature

Past and Future
EnvironmentalBusinesses

Focusing on Other Recycling andEnvironmental Technologies as well as
Environmentally Sound Products

An Easy-to-Recycle Optical Fiber Cable
Binder tape integrated withthe sheath (polyethylene)

Moisture barrier tape

Sheath (polyethylene)

Easy to dismantle and separate
Binder tape and sheath are integrated•Easyto dismantle. The time required for removal isone-fifth that of the Company’s existing products

The material used in both binder tape and•sheath
are the same polyethylene
Material recycling is simple due to a lack of impurities

An easy-to-recycle optical fibercable. The sheath is peeled back
together with binder tape.

Binder tape adheres to thesheath’s inner surface when
peeled away. Made from the samematerial, easily recycled without
additional treatment or effort.

Recycling costs are low
and separation are easily completed•Dismantling
Material recycling is possible for the same cost as
industrial waste disposal

The Furukawa Electric Group is engaged in other cable
and wire material recycling activities from a wide range ofperspectives.
Reuse of the cross-linked polyethylene XLPE* is a primeexample. Among sheathing materials used for electric
cables, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) werecommonly used due to their ease of recycling. With across-linked structure, the XLPE was considered difficult
to recycle, lacking fluidity even when heated. Utilizing aproprietary technology for thermoplasticity by lowering
molecular weight, Furukawa Electric took successful steps
toward reuse as an insulating material.
Building on this success, the Company has promoted
the application of XLPE beyond its reuse as a sheathingmaterial to develop cable and electric wire-related
products employing plastic waste. The plastic drum,
developed as a replacement for wooden drums inparticular, is attracting high praise for its contributions tothe conservation of forest resources as well as thereduction of waste. Furthermore, plastic troughs aredrawing considerable attention as an alternative to thereinforced concrete cable troughs that are used topreserve the opening and closing cables laid along railway
lines and roadways. Unlike existing products, plastictroughs are lighter, less susceptible to cracking andcorrosion and can be recycled after use.
The Group will continue to emphasize the developmentof recycling technologies. At the same time, we will work
diligently to create new environmental technologies andenvironmentally sound products focusing on the three eco
businesses identified in our medium-term management
plan “New Frontier 2012” announced in April 2010.
* Furukawa Electric has commenced the licensing of its
cross-linked polyethylene waste material recycling technology,
which contributes to the reduction of both CO2 emissions andindustrial waste.

Examples of final products

Recycled bobbin Recycled drum

Recycled optical closure

Furukawa Electric Group CSR Report 201010Focus

New Eco Businesses That Take Full
2 Creating
Advantage of Material Technologies

Toward Realizing a Low-Carbon Society fora Sustainable Global Environment
Next-Generation Vehicles
Material Technologies Contributing to the Advance of Ecology Cars
The Furukawa Electric Group is taking considerable
interest in next-generation vehicles, which areexpected to make substantial contributions toward
resolving transportation equipment-related energy andglobal environmental issues. Driven by a commitment
to achieve specific key concepts including “increased
fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions,” “improvedelectric and hybrid vehicle performance” as well as“the provision of greater safety and comfort,” we aresupporting the further spread of next-generation
vehicles through the development of a wide spectrumof automotive components.
Our high strength, high-heat conductive aluminumalloys, manufactured using metal composition

development and molding process technologies, forvehicle bodies, together with our high conductive, highintensity aluminum wire harnesses reduce the weightof vehicles improving fuel efficiency while reducing
CO2 emissions. The Group’s small-sized, high integrity
magnet wires, manufactured utilizing plastic design
and thinning fabrication technologies, contribute tomore compact, technologically advanced alternators(generators), which in turn improve the performance ofelectric and hybrid vehicles. Furukawa Electric’scompact, high performance antenna technology
provides the backbone for its advanced automobile
communication and ultra-wideband wireless radar,which helps to ensure vehicle safety.

Energy / Smart Grids
Continuing to Support an Energy Efficient Society
The Furukawa Electric Group boasts a long history in thedevelopment of advanced power transmission andtelecommunication technologies that provide the basic
infrastructure for today’s society. In electric power systems,
the Group provides an extensive range of ultra-high voltage
through medium to low voltage cables as well asmechanical parts that contribute to the efficient supply ofelectricity. Amid a renewed awareness toward theimportance of developing a highly efficient cable networkthat includes yttrium superconducting power cables withthe potential to substantially reduce power loss duringtransmission as well as the need for electric power
conditioning utilizing storage cells for increased efficiencies
in energy use, the Group is addressing these requirements
by producing long-life, highly efficient secondary batteries

to the highest global standards. In telecommunications, theGroup delivers a broad menu of products from hardware tosystems including the optical fiber and optical transmission
equipment necessary to realize a high-density,
long-distance fiber-optic telecommunications system.
Through its business activities, the Furukawa ElectricGroup is developing the varied technologies required toensure the effective application of natural energy provided
through photovoltaic and wind power generation. In thismanner, the Group is working to reduce power transmission
loss and to secure a stable supply of power. By providing
the optical fiber cables and optical transmission equipmentthat underpin basic infrastructure, we continue to support
an energy efficient society.

High-Density Optical Telecommunications
Contributing Through Telecommunications and Energy Efficient Technologies
The volume of data traffic is projected to increase at any
annual rate of 40%. Quite naturally this highlights the criticalneed for high-density telecommunication networks that
continue to take full advantage of advances in opticalcommunication technology development. Leveraging its
world-class expertise, Furukawa Electric supplies such
optical parts as optical fiber cables, semiconductor lasers,
waveguides and switches, optical transmission equipment
including optical fiber amplifiers and routers and opticalcommunication systems to realize high-density opticaltelecommunication.
Commensurate with the increase in the amount of data,
the consumption of power by IT devices as a percentage of

11 Furukawa Electric Group CSR Report 2010

Japan’s total power generation is estimated to reach 20%
in 2025. Positioning cutbacks in energy consumption as animportant goal of development, steps are being taken to not
only reduce the size and weight of products as indirect
measures to curtail the use of energy, but also to develop
light emitting elements that efficiently convert electricalenergy into light as well as devices and systems
distinguished by their minimal energy loss. In fields whereenergy consumption can be reduced through thechangeover from existing electric-powered to opticaltransmission, we are pushing forward with efforts toenhance the economic efficiency of transmission devices.

Feature

Past and Future
Environmental
Businesses

Product Development Themes

Major Products

Ultra-wideband RF radar“UWB radar“

Improveperformance

High-strength high-heat conductive aluminum aluminum alloy (for hood and body)

EnsuresafetyEnhanceenergyefficiency
WEB

Please refer to the following
website for more details:

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/english/museum/floor3/03_01.htm

Improve fuel efficiency,
reduce emissions

High-voltage connector for HEV power supply
Aluminum shielded harness for HEV

HV, EVUltra battery
Copper foil for lithium-ion battery

Safety, security

Aerial line

Mega solar (photovoltaic system)

Improveelectricpower
utilization
efficiency

Power electronics equipment

Utilizenaturalenergy

Next-generation automatic meter reading
Radio antennaOffice
StorageHousesElectric vehicle
Information
controlWEB

Please refer to the following
website for more details:

Superconductivity
fault current limiter

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/
english/museum/floor3/04_01.htm

Household photovoltaicsystem
Industrial plants

Power electronics
equipment
Products

Flow of electricity

Flow of information

Long-distance, inter-regional, intra-regional networks

Enhancetransmission
efficiency

Conserve
energyUltra low-loss nonlinear fiber
Holey structured fiber
Pumping semiconductor
lasersThermal generetion
systemConcentrated power supply

Semiconductor lasers for signal
light sources
Optical components for optical
digital coherent transmission

MobileTerrestrial digital delivery system
Optics-wireless integrated system

Cloud computing
WEB

Please refer to thefollowing website for more details:

Individual and multi-dwelling houses, offices

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/
english/museum/floor3/05_01.htm
GE-PON systems
High-performance routers

ProductsInter-regional network

Data Centers
Optical interconnection
High-speed transmission
multimode fiber
High-mounting density optical connector
Storage disk material

Intra-regional network
Furukawa Electric Group CSR Report 201012