Initiatives for Environment
Environmental Management
Furukawa Electric Group Basic Environmental Policy
Basic PhilosophyW e, 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 and others, 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 impact-causing
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
In April 2013, we underwent organizational
restructuring, transitioning to a strategic business unit

Environmental Education
Environmental Education System andEnvironmental Education Programs

system. We also renamed our highest-level advisory body

Furukawa Electric Group is engaged in a variety ofrelated to environmental management the Furukawa

environmental education activities in order to raise

Electric Group Environment Committee and promoted

environmental awareness among its employees and help

environmental management under a new structure. Thethem to gain information necessary to conduct the“Council of Environmental Managers” was set up underenvironmental activities of the Group.

the Committee in order to promote the smooth

From fiscal 2016, we have been proceeding to train

development of environmental management decision-

ISO14001: 2015 internal environmental auditors, ahead ofmaking, and a variety of special committees were

the deadlines related to the ISO14001: 2015 version

consolidated and merged.

revisions. 51 employees undertook classes for newlyappointed ISO14001 internal environmental auditors, andPromotion Framework

88 employees including those from Group companies took

President

lecture courses at our Head Office for principal internal
environmental auditors at each location, to inform qualified

Furukawa Electric Group
Environment Committee
Committee chair:
General Manager of the MONOZUKURI Innovation 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

including 37 from the Mie Works, 22 from the Copper Tube
Division, 45 from the Hiratsuka Works, and 35 from the
Copper Foil Division participated in training courses.

Council of Environmental
Managers

50

Divisional Environment
Committees

Special Committee

Affiliated Group Companies
in Japan and Overseas

cover the scope of Furukawa Electric in its entirety, a total of
139 internal environmental auditors from individual bases,

Safety and Environmental
Promotion Department

Environment
Committee of Works

staff of the differences between revisions. Also, in order toEnvironmental activity award system
Subcommittee
Meeting

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2017

From fiscal 2010, Furukawa Electric presented
environmental activities awards in the following three fields
with the aims of improving environmental awareness andInitiatives for Environment

raising the level of environmental activities: “sales

Collation is implemented in reference to the Ministry of thepromotion activities for environmentally friendly products”;

Environment’s “Environmental Accounting Guidelines 2005”“global warming prevention activities”; and “Groupand covers Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. and 21 domestic

activities”. However, the award system was combined into

group companies.

a single category in fiscal 2014 under the “environmental

The costs of environmental conservation activities in fiscal

contribution awards”. Furthermore, in order to promote the2016 were 2.88 billion yen in expenses and 1.0 billion yen inhorizontal development of environmental initiatives, ainvestments. This represents a 0.18 billion yen fall inpresentation meeting is held once a year to showcase

expenses and a 0.02 billion yen increase in investments

outstanding examples of environmental activities. An

against the previous fiscal year. Energy costs fell by 1.51

energy conservation project conducted by the Copper Foil

billion yen as a result of consolidating our manufacturing

Division was selected to receive first prize in fiscal 2016.

bases through reforms of the business structure.
Please see P.61 for details of the companies included

Environmental Accounting

in the scope of data collation. Please see below for the

Furukawa Electric Group has introduced environmental

collated results of environmental accounting.

accounting and works hard to promote efficient and effective

CSR

environmental activities through the quantitative identification

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/en/csr/of environmental conservation costs and effects.
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 theGeneral Managers
We are steadily advancing our Group Global
environmental activities.
Tsutomu Fujinuma
General Manager, Safety & Environment Promotion Department,
MONOZUKURI Innovation Division
Furukawa Nikko Power Generation Inc., a member of ourGroup, is carrying out hydroelectric power generation with theresulting clean energy being used for the manufacture ofcopper products at our Nikko Works. In addition, we haveoperated recycling businesses since the 1970s, with Furukawa
Electric Ecotec Co., Ltd. engaged in total recycling of electric
wires and cables, including collection, decomposition, andreclamation. Although our Group has carried out productmanufacturing and recycling businesses while taking great
consideration for the natural environment for some time, inrecent years we have been expanding beyond only considering

the CO2 emissions produced by our Group and are proceedingwith the visualization of CO2 emissions at all product life cycle
stages, including the reduction of CO2 which is emitted when
our products are at the stage of being used. In the future, wewill expand our Group Global environmental activities andadvance our environmental initiatives together with ourbusiness colleagues around the world. We will also take thelead in product development that can contribute toenvironmental conservation as well as environment-friendly
manufacturing, continuing our dedicated efforts to gain thetrust of our stakeholders.

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 201751

Material Flow
Environmental Impact of the Furukawa Electric Group in Fiscal 2016
We tallied data for Furukawa Electric, 33 Group companies in Japan, and 54 Group companies overseas—a total of
88 companies.
Please refer to page 61 for a list of all applicable companies.

INPUT
Category

OUTPUT

Domestic Overseas

Unit

Category

Raw materials
CopperAluminum
Iron
Other metals
Glass
Plastic

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

Water
Industrial water
Groundwater
Tap water

Domestic Overseas

Unit

Waste (note 3)
168.5
7.0
2.5
4.8
32.7

167.6
30.0
11.4
1.1
3.4
40.5

1000t
1000t
1000t
1000t
1000t
1000t

Furukawa Electric
7 works,
33 Group companies
in Japanand
54 Group companies
overseas

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

32.0

18.0

1000t

0.3
30.5

9.2
5.2

1000t
1000t

357
15
55
6

434
-

1000t-CO2
t
t
t

156
277

-

9,095

1,913

1000 m3

8,491
7,684
787
20
604

379
105
0
274
1,534

1000 m3
1000 m3
1000 m3
1000 m3
1000 m3

36
40
25

-

1,118

31,703

Atmospheric emissions

7,449

8,020

TJ

513.8

703.9

GWh

105.1

-

GWh

14
5,815
18.1
5,652

5,048
3.6
903

MWh
1000 m3
1000 tkl

10,2892,611

1000 m3

7,159
2,373
756

58
311
2,242

1000 m3
1000 m3
1000 m3

Public waterways
Rivers
Sea
Other
Sewer

46.4

-

1000t

BOD
COD
SS

3.5

6.6

1000t

Volume of water
recycled and reused

0.11

0.37

1000t

CO2
SOx
NOx
Soot

Chemical substances
Volume emitted
Volume transferred

WastewaterttChemical substances
Volume handled (note 1)ttt

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

52

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2017

1000 m3

Initiatives for Environment

Targets and Performance of Environmental Conservation Activities
Achieved

Activity

Waste

Total generated
amount of wastematerials per sales

Base year

Furukawa Electric Group (Domestic and overseas groups)
Fiscal 2016
Evaluation
Target for fiscal 2017
Targets for fiscal 2016
results
6.8%
reduction

Domestic: At least 2% reduction

Domestic: 0.3% or less0.04%
(achieved)

Domestic: 0.3% or less2015

Domestic and overseas: 1%
reduction

Domestic:
4.1% reduction
Overseas:1.0% reduction

Domestic and overseas: At least 2%
reduction

2013

Domestic: 3% reduction

17.5%
reduction

2015

Overseas: 1% reduction per
sales

1.2%
increase

2013

Domestic: 6% reduction

10.7%
reduction

Domestic: At least 8% reduction

2015

Overseas: 1% reduction

0.2%
reduction

Overseas: At least 2% reduction

Transportation energy
per ton-kilometers

2015

Domestic: 1% reduction

4.6%
reduction

Domestic: At least 2% reduction

Energy consumption
per floor area in office2015

Domestic: 1% reduction

0.6% increase

Domestic: At least 2% reduction

Sales ratio of environmentallyfriendly products: 35% or more

30.5%

35% or more

Contribution of products
avoided CO2 emissions: 60,000
ton-CO2 or more

64,000 tons

70,000 ton-CO2 or more

Water use per sales

Greenhouse gas
emissions

Preventionof global
warming

Not achieved

Domestic: 1% reduction

2015

Zero emission rate
Efficientutilizationof waterPartially achieved

Production energy
per sales

Environmentally friendly design

CDP(note 2) score up (climate change)
Prevention of environmental accidents――

Number of accidents: Zero
Number of small accidents: 3 orlessaccidents 2
small accidents 3

GHG emissions (Scope1, 2) (note 1)-D omestic: At least 4% reduction
 verseas: At least 2% reduction per sales-O
GHG emissions (Scope3) (note 1)- Set target by fiscal 2018―

Score B or more
Number of accidents: Zero
Number of small accidents: 3 or less(note 1) GHG*, Scopes 1, 2, and 3*GHG: Greenhouse Gas
Scope 1: D
 irect emissions from offices caused by the use of fossil fuels, etc.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from outside offices caused by the use of electricity, steam and heat
Scope 3: As other emissions, Indirect emissions from purchased product services, business trips, commuting, and upstream shipping, etc.
(note 2) C DP: C DP 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.

Activities Targets and Performance in Fiscal 2016

will aim to improve our CDP climate change score as a form

Furukawa Electric Group sets out environmentalof external evaluation, and will take action to reduce

conservation activities targets for each fiscal year inemissions of chlorofluorocarbon and other greenhouseaccordance with the three-yearly mid-term environmental

gases through CO2 reduction measures as part of our global

targets. In fiscal 2016, we carried out initiatives to achieve

warming prevention activities.

our targets as the first year in a new three-year plan.
Our activities to prevent global warming included

Midium and long term targets

integrating and consolidating the manufacturing bases of

Furukawa Electric Group has identified threevarious products through business structure reform,“materialities” (greenhouse gas measures, effective use ofachieving a 1.2% reduction in CO2 emissions for our

resources, and conservation of biodiversity), and set

domestic and overseas Groups compared to fiscal 2015.

medium to long-term targets by 2020. The medium to

Activity Targets in Fiscal 2017

long-term target of our global warming prevention
measures is for reductions of at least 50% in CO 2

In fiscal 2017, the second year of our three-year medium-

emissions by 2050, in reference to IPCC AR5, and weterm environmental plan, we will thoroughly implement

are formulating specific medium to long-term reduction

initiatives on a Group-wide basis to achieve our targets. We

plans to reach this goal.
FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 201753

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 (Consolidated)
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)（％）(104 tons-CO

120

50

100

40

80

30

60

20

40

10

20

0
(FY)

0

the categories of materials and parts purchasing and100

manufacture, use, distribution and disposal.

80

42.6

41.6

91

85

60

24.7

24.5

17

25

2012

2013

40
20

The e-friendly mark0

We have created the “e-Friendly” environmental mark

47.4

48.3
106

97

112

30.6

30.5

75

83

24.4
35
2014

2015

2016

to identify such environmentally friendly products. This

promoted “visualization” of CO2 emissions by using life

mark is placed on those products.

cycle assessments (LCA).

Categories of Environmentally Friendly Products
The Group's environmentally friendly products belong
to one of four categories described below.
Environmentally friendly product categories
Category

Content

Prevention of
global warming

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

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.

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.

Expanding Environmentally Friendly Products

and technical materials on CO 2 reduction when our
500

promotion pamphlets, and in research and development
400 environmentally-friendly products of the future.
for the

184

300

74

210

2012

2013

(1,000 tons)

80

60

207

40

62

119

126

128

2014

2015

2016 (FY)indexing,
we are working to visualize the reduction of CO2
0

20

0

which is emitted when our products are at the stage ofbeing used. According to the estimate for fiscal 2016,
there was a total reduction of roughly 64,000 tons-CO2/
year in the domestic market, with aluminum wire harnesses
newly added to our mainstay products consisting ofcopper foil, rectangular magnet wire and semiconductor
lasers. Going forward, we will try to expand sales of eachproduct category and increase the number of contributing
products, so that we can develop our activities to tackle
environmental issues through our products.
Contribution of products avoided CO2 emissions(104 tons-CO2e)on percentage of sales, and confirm our progress and6

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2017

201

100
Based
on
149its track
137record in environmental performance7

environmental performance, Furukawa Electric Group has

194

Initiatives to Reduce CO2 Emissions from200
76during76Use
Products
64

environmentally friendly products. We set targets based

As part of its efforts to create (visualize) indices forGroup companies in Japan

Furukawa Electric(1,000 kℓ)
productsarethe stage
Group atcompanies
overseas of being used, in sales

8

Environmental Performance Indicator “Visualization”(note

The results of these LCAs will be utilized in basic data

We are working to increase our overall percentage ofsuccess on this basis.

54

43.4

aluminum wire harnesses
Copper foil for electrode material of lithium-ion batteries
Rectangular wire for HV motors
Narrow-bandwidth-FBT (tunable wavelength laser)

5
4
3
2
1
0

2014

2015

2016

(FY)

(no

Initiatives for Environment

 Reduction of CO2 emissions through copper

foil for electric car batteries

Reducing CO2 Emissions

Copper foil for electrode material of lithium-ion batteries
Copper foils contribution
to electric cars

Lithium ion battery

Positive
electrode

Negative
electrodeterminal
Separator
Negative
electrodeplate
Separator

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

Preventing Global Warming

Positive
electrodeplate

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

Measures at our factories
The main greenhouse gas emitted by Furukawa ElectricGroup is CO2 that arises from the consumption of energy
sources, such as electricity and fuel. In order to achieve
emissions reductions particularly in our manufacturing
processes, which account for a large percentage of ouremissions, we have implemented energy-saving
measures such as streamlining of the manufacturing
process, switching fuels, upgrading to highly efficientequipment, and insulating high temperature parts ofequipment.
CO2 emissions for the domestic Group in fiscal 2016
were 357,000 tons-CO 2/year. Although this was anincrease of 1.7% against fiscal 2015, it was a reductionof 18.8% against fiscal 2000. CO 2 emissions for theoverseas Group were 434,000 tons-CO 2 /year, a
reduction of 5.0% against fiscal 2015. We will continue towork hard as a group to promote activities that reduce
emissions.

CO2 reduction of enameled extruded rectangular wire
Rectangular wire for HV motors

CO2 emissions
Group companies in Japan
Furukawa ElectricGroup companies overseas(104 tons-CO2e)

100
Extruded resin layer

80
Enamel layer
Rectangular conductor

60
40
20
0

41.8

43.2

45.2

45.6

43.4

15.5

16.5

16.2

13.2

14.0

24.9

24.7

21.8

21.9

21.7

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

(FY)

(note) For the overseas CO2 emission coefficient, the coefficient for each country
according to the IEA (International Energy Agency) is used for purchased
electricity, while the Japanese emission coefficient is used otherwise.

CO2 reduction of aluminum harnesses for automobiles

Energy consumption(1,000 kℓ)

Group companies in Japan
Furukawa ElectricGroup companies overseas

500
400
300

184

194

201

210

207

200

76

76

74

62

64

149

137

119

126

128

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016 (FY)1000

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 201755

Initiatives in Logistics

Measures to disclose environmental information

The entire Furukawa Electric Group transported

Since fiscal 2008, Furukawa Electric Group has

222,000,000 ton-kilometers during fiscal 2016 - ananswered enquiries from CDP, representing ourincrease of 4.0% compared to fiscal 2015. Of this,institutional investors, on climate change since fiscal

Furukawa Electric itself transported 131,000,000 ton-2008 and on water use since fiscal 2013. In fiscal 2016,

kilometers, which was an increase of 7.5% from fiscal

our CDP climate change score was evaluated as B.

2015, and our CO2 emissions were 14,900 tons-CO2, a

In order to support customers participating in CDP

rise of 4.2% compared to fiscal 2015. Specificsupply chain programs and to maintain and improve ourconsumption showed a 2.5% reduction against fiscal

CDP score, we will expand the scope of environmental

2015. We will continue with initiatives to promote modal

data we release from here on and enhance our reliability.

shift, increase loading rates and encourage joint shipping.

We w i l l a l s o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e M i n i s t r y o f t h eEnvironment’s environmental information disclosure
infrastructure development project and will collaborate

Modal shift (note 1) and specific consumption (note 2) (Furukawa Electric)
Specific consumption
Rate of modal shift(MJ/ton-kilometers)

2.0

1.90

1.58

1.64

1.66

(%)

1.71

1.5

0.5

0

7.4

9.1

9.7

Association and the Japan Copper and Brass

20

Association.

15

Greenhouse Gas Emissions in fiscal 2016 (1,000 t-CO2e/year)

1.67
12.0

1.0

with The Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers’

8.8

FY201610

3.6

5

Scope 1 (direct emissions)141

Scope 2 (indirect emissions)649

Scope 3 (other)

2,041

0

2006

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016 (FY)(note 1) Modal shift rate: percentage of total transportation using
railways or shipping(note 2) Base unit: Energy consumption per transportation unit (MJ/t-km)

Furukawa Electric Group has undergone verification by
an independent third party to improve the reliability of ourenvironmental data. In addition to Scope 1 and Scope 2,CO2 emissions related to transportation (Furukawa Electric)

we have now added a portion of the categories for
Scope 3 to our data.

(t-CO2)20,00019,10014,80014,50015,00015,30010,00014,90014,300

5,000

0

2006

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016 (FY)

Verification Statement of Greenhouse Gas Assertions

56

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2017

Initiatives for Environment

Reducing Waste

Water Resources

Waste Reduction Initiatives

Effective Utilization of Water

In 1993 Furukawa Electric Group began its efforts to

Since fiscal 2013, Furukawa Electric Group has

increase waste recycling, and since fiscal 2001 haspromoted effective water use as one of its activities

continued its zero emissions activities with the goal oftargets, and identified water intake and wastewater at

reducing total emissions of industrial waste disposed ineach base. Since fiscal 2015, we have taken action for

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

reductions in base units versus net sales. In fiscal 2016,2014 from 1% to 0.3%).

the water usage base unit by our domestic Group was

In fiscal 2014, we launched activities aimed at reducing

2,300 m3 /100 million yen, a reduction of 4.1% from fiscal

our total waste output, including valuable resources. In

2015. For our overseas Group, the water usage base unit

fiscal 2016, we achieved a reduction of 6.8%, against a

was 1.0% lower than fiscal 2015. Furukawa Electric will

1% reduction in output rate per unit of net sales

continue working hard to save and recycle water, and tocompared to the Japanese Group target for fiscal 2015.

manage water quality, water usage, and wastewater
volumes.
We have gained an understanding of water-relatedrisks at our major bases, so that we can release

Total amount of waste matter generated

information on water resource management for our CDP

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

supply chain program. We will continue with risk

80

management while promoting our Group’s BCM activities.
60

38

31
40

20

0

23

18

18

34

34

34

34

33

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016 (FY)

Volume of water intake (water source)

Inside Furukawa
Electric Group(note) Valuable resources are included in total waste generated forJapan only.

Volume ofrainwater use

Direct landfill disposal(1,000 tons)

Furukawa Electric & Group companies in Japan
Group companies overseas

20

15.3

Volume of recycled water

15

8.6

10

10.3

9.2

5.6
5

0

0.7

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.3

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016 (FY)

Volume of wastewater (drainage)

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 201757

Chemical Substance Management
Green Activities

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

Response to Customer Requests
Furukawa Electric Group has participated in JAMP (note 1)
since 2009, and is implementing simultaneousenvironmental examinations based on the latest
information from the JAMP management target

Furukawa Electric

300

303
107

295
103

200

100

196

192

2012

2013

substance list related to management of chemical
substances contained in products. We also monitor
trends in laws and regulations covering the chemical
substances contained in products and compile andGroup companies

400

0

251
99

304

273

108

100

152

172

196

2014

2015

2016 (FY)(note) Volatile organic compounds are the 118 substances specified by
The Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers’ Association(January 2012 edition).

update data as it becomes available, allowing us torespond promptly to customer requests.
to suppress emissions in our production processes andResponse to overseas regulations and managementof chemical substances contained in products
Furukawa Electric Group establishes a management

other activities.

Appropriate Management of Chemical Substances

system for chemical substances contained in products

At Furukawa Electric Group, we confirm the properties

for major operational bases and affiliated companies,

and applicable laws and regulations regarding all chemical

strengthens the environmental product regulations andsubstances we use during the manufacturing process on

grasps the environmental risk that should be lowered,their Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and administrate them.

a n d i m p l e m e n t s m e a s u re s d e p e n d i n g o n t h e i r

We also monitor the usage volume of chemical

importance. In fiscal 2016, we conducted an

substances listed in the PRTR Law (note 2).

environmental inspection on 173 substances, covering up(note 1) JAMP: Joint Article Management Promotion-consortium(note 2) Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of SpecificChemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of
Improvements to the Management Thereof

to the 16th SVHC list of the EU REACH environmental
product regulations. We are also making appropriate
shifts to chemSHERPA (a scheme that facilitates sharing
information on chemical substances in products) in order
to meet customer demands.

Green Procurement Activities
Items that will be used in our products are purchased

Environmental Risk Management
Preventing Soil and Groundwater Pollution

adequately based on the Green Procurement Guidelines

Furukawa Electric Group conducts regular inspectionsof our operational division, by evaluating the suppliers’of facilities and equipment that handle specific toxic

system on the management of chemical substances

substances to prevent the pollution of soil andcontained in products and its management status as wellgroundwater. We reduce the risk of pollution throughas by confirming the data of chemical substances

measures to prevent leaks of specific toxic substances

contained in products.

and underground seepage, as well as through ongoing
efforts to switch to substitute substances.

Chemical Substance Management Activities
Furukawa Electric Group undertakes voluntary initiatives

58

PCB Management

to reduce emissions of harmful chemical substances. In

Furukawa Electric Group identifies the volume of high-particular, we make every effort to actively reduce

concentration PCB-containing equipment at Furukawa

emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC), one

Electric Co., Ltd.’s works and at the bases of our groupcause of photochemical smog. The emission results forcompanies, and carries out appropriate storage andour domestic Group in fiscal 2016 were on the same level

management. We have been gradually disposing of thisas those for fiscal 2012. We will continue to take action

equipment in accordance with a plan set out by the

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2017

Initiatives for Environment

Japan Environmental Storage & Safety Corporation. We
have carried out analysis and surveys of equipment thathas the potential to contain low concentration PCB, andBiodiversity Conservation
Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives

are proceeding with disposal of this equipment while

Furukawa Electric Group has included biodiversity

taking consideration for storage-related risks. We willconservation measures in our Basic Environment Policy.

continue to dispose of such equipment in a systematic

We have formulated and are applying Furukawa Electricway.

Group comprehensive guidelines in relation to initiatives
aimed at protecting biodiversity.

Compliance with Environmental Laws and Other
Regulations

Initiative for Biodiversity) and are working to deepen our

Furukawa Electric Group regularly confirms

understanding of it, our Group company Furukawa

environmental laws and other regulations to determine

Research Inc. launched activities in fiscal 2015 to

As we have registered with the JBIB (Japan Business

items requiring compliance. We ensure compliance in a

cultivate within the grounds of Furukawa Electric Co.

number of ways, such as by conducting on-site patrols

Ltd.’s Yokohama Works the flower Pulsatilla cernua,

to check the state of compliance. We follow official

which has been designated as an Endangered Species II, as part of efforts to contribute to regional society.

journals and other sources of information to stay updated(note 1)on revisions to environmental legislation and ensure that

Cultivation activities were also started at our Group’s

our response is thorough.

Hiratsuka Works and Chiba Works in fiscal 2016.

We maintain voluntary control limits and manage
operations appropriately to ensure compliance with the Air(note 1) E ndangered Species II is a category of species for which
the danger of extinction is becoming more serious.

Pollution Control Law and the Water Pollution Control Law.
In fiscal 2016, we carried out site inspections once
again at five bases where environmental accidents orabnormal conditions occurred in the past. We willcontinue to carry out appropriate management of harmful
chemical substances.
We also conduct annual checks for conceivable, clear
environmental impact to prevent environmental accidents
or prevent widespread impact in the event of an accident.
According to our survey on the status of our regulatorycompliance, we were not in material violation of any
regulations.

Pulsatilla cernua in bloom at the Hiratsuka Works

Please see the URL below for our response to theasbestos problem, and a list of PRTR compatible materials.

CSR
http://www.furukawa.co.jp/en/csr/risk/

Furukawa Electric Group
Biodiversity Conservation Guidelines
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 climatechange, conserve resources, recycle andreduce environmentally hazardous
substances
3.	Carry out activities in collaboration withlocal communities to conserve biodiversity

FURUKAWA ELECTRIC GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 201759