NEWS LINE
LINE
NEWS
Preface: The Spread of LCA in Japan

1

Recent Activities of the JLCA

2Canon’s Approach to the LCA Method

4

Practical Application of a New Standard of Value - “Factor X (Eco-Efﬁciency)”ICT Service LCA

8

ICT Service LCA

11

LCA Activity at Mitsubishi Materials

13

Eco-Efﬁciency Activities Assessment Conducted by the Tokyo Electric Power Company

16

Kyowa Hakko’s Life Cycle Assessment Activities

17

Event Information

19

JLCA News English Edition No.1

Preface: The Spread of LCA in Japan
Chairman of Planning & Information Sub-Committee of JLCA
(Kiyoshi Ueno: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)

The Life Cycle Assessment Society of Japan (JLCA) was

Since 1992 many Japanese businesses have established

formed on October 25, 1995 in order to provide a forum for“Environmental Enhancement” departments. At that time inthose in industry, academia and public research agencies

Japan, a search for information would only yield about 1,000

involved in life cycle assessment (LCA) in Japan to discuss

documents referring to “LCA”. Today, searching on the Web in

data, problems and future trends, as well as to share and ex-

Japan using the keyword “LCA” produces 3,600,000 references.

change information. The secretariat is established in the Japan

LCA seems to have spread thoroughly throughout Japan in justEnvironmental Management Association for Industry (JEMAI).

a little over 10 years. In the social environment reports released

In December that same year the JLCA Newsletter Issue No. 1

by many companies each year it is impossible to ﬁnd a report

was published to provide information on the forum’s activities

that does not mention LCA. This probably means that companies

and the LCA projects implemented in industries. At present, thenot engaging in LCA are unable to gain high reputation. Surely

newsletter has already reached Issue No. 38. The newsletters

it is no exaggeration to say that LCA has become part of the(in Japanese), including back issues, are available for public

vocabulary of the people of Japan.

viewing on the JEMAI web site. The JLCA Planning & Information
Sub-Committee has decided to re-edit the most recent contents

The advanced electrical and electronics industry, automotiveof these newsletters and issue an English version in order toindustry and materials industries in Japan are greatly concerned

make the latest information on LCA in Japan available to theabout the environment. Early on, these industries focused on

global community.

LCA as a tool to assess environmental burden. At many large
companies there is training and development of LCA engineers.

LCA in Japan started from the research stage in the 1970s,

The application to actual products is progressing and theseand universities and government research agencies have continued

activities are spreading to a wide range of industries, including

to advance scientiﬁc research on LCA. At universities there has

the food industry, housing industry, and even recycling industries.

been a rapid increase in specialized ﬁelds of study related to

JEMAI works hard to promote LCA throughout the industrial

the environment, but since LCA researchers come from a wide

world through maintenance and management of the Japan LCA

range of backgrounds, including materials, electrical, mechanicaldatabase, as well as seminars, symposia, training and education,and economics, at the 700 universities and 1700 colleges inand consulting.

the country, the number of students majoring in LCA is increasing, even in ﬁelds other than the environment. According to my

It is hoped that this English Edition of the JLCA Newsletter

estimates, there are more than 1000 students majoring in LCA.

will generate feedback from many readers abroad on the

LCA appeared on the 2001 University Testing Center Examination.

research results and speciﬁc case studies of LCA in Japan.

This means that high school students are required to be awareof LCA before entering college. Today, at many high schools
the signiﬁcance of LCA is being taught.

PAGE 1JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1

Recent Activities of the JLCA
The Life Cycle Assessment Society of Japan (JLCA) was

3. Lists of characterization factors for impact categories, dam-established in October 1995 as a network to distribute infor-

age factors for end-point and weighting factors to derivemation on LCA to interested parties in industry, academia anda single index for a Japanese version of the Life Cycle

government. The JLCA has promoted discussions on the future

Impact Assessment Method based on Endpoint Modelingprogress of LCA in Japan, and released a JLCA report and LCA(LIME)

Policy Statement in June 1997 proposing the construction of an LCA

4. LCA reference literature extract data

background database as well as the development of impact assessment methods that are most suitable for the circumstances(2) Information services

in Japan. Subsequently, in FY1998 the Ministry of Economy,

The latest LCA information in the JLCA Newsletter as well as

Trade and Industry began a 5-year LCA Project, which wascompleted at the end of March 2002 with the constructionof an LCA database. In consideration of the circumstances ofthe project and the provision of data for inclusion in the
database from more than 50 industry organizations, the Ministryof Economy, Trade and Industry decided that it would beappropriate for this database to be managed and operated by
the JLCA, since the group brings together industry, academia
and government.
As a result, since 2003 the JLCA has rebuilt their organization to focus on the primary function of operating and managing
the database, and is proceeding with new activities to start a

information on various types of events is published periodicallyfour times a year and distributed via mail magazine and mailservices. In addition, LCA-related seminars are held (some inconjunction with the Institute of Life Cycle Assessment Japan(ILCAJ)) and efforts are made to provide LCA-related information
to the members.
The 1st seminar in April 2005 focused on “EuP Directive (proposal) Trends” and “Dealing with Globalization in Environmental
Concerns and Plannings, such as RoHS and EuP,” offering
information related to environmental concerns associated with
LCA in Europe. At the second seminar in September there werereports on the progress of the second phase of the LCA Projectcommendation system.
At present, the JLCA conducts activities in the following three(FY2003 ~ FY2005), including “Product LCA,” “Recycling LCA,”“Regional LCA” and “Impact Assessment”. At the third seminar

main areas.

in December the LCA award recipients made presentations and(1) Activities related to the operation, management
and promotion of utilization of the LCA databasethe superior LCA activities being implemented at various companies, etc., were introduced.

JLCA maintains the security system to manage and maintain

During this time in November lectures were co-sponsoredthe data provided by the industry organizations, as well as editing,with the Institute of Life Cycle Assessment Japan on the theme

updating and posting data. At the same time, background dataof “LCA in Daily Life: From the perspective of lifestyle, consum-

is researched and created. Through the continuous posting ofer electrical products and housing,” including discussions on

the latest information the most recent LCA data is provided to“Lifestyle and Energy Consumption – Results of a national survey

members who have obtained an ID and password.

of 4000 households,” “Industry-related Optimization Models andApplications to Housing Policy,” “Whole Household Factor X –The contents of the offered data include:

Factor for energy-consuming products in the home,” and “LCA
1. Representative product inventory data (gate-to-gate)

for Housing / Labeling Tools.” Each session was attended byabout 150 participants.

provided by industry organizations

In addition, an English version website presenting the LCA

2. Project survey inventory data (mining process, disposal
process, etc.)

activities of member organizations and businesses is being offered.

PAGE 2JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
(3) Commendation activities

The 2nd JLCA Awards (2005)

In 2004 the JLCA Awards system was started in order to publicly■ METI Industrial Science & Technology Policy and Environ-recognize superior LCA activities and methods of member

ment Bureau Director-General’s Award

organizations. The awards are announced in December at theCanon Inc., Global Environment Promotion Headquarters

Eco-Products Exhibition.

“LCA practices for business activities and all Canon productgenres, and release of environmental information”

The 1st JLCA Awards (2004)
Chairman’s AwardJLCA Award

Industrial Research Institute of Shiga Prefecture

Toyota Motor Corporation, Environmental Department“LCA promotion activities in Shiga prefecture”“Introduction of LCA activities to the vehicle development
process (Eco-VAS (Eco Vehicle Assessment System))”

Incentive Award
Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Advanced Technology R&D Center,

Incentive Award

Materials Technology Group

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Packaging Development Center“Development of beverage stopper systems and PET bottles“Development and standardization of LCA assessment technology for the Mitsubishi Electric group”

to reduce environmental burdens based on LCA”

Fuji Electric Retail Systems Co. Ltd.

Fujitsu Corporation, Environmental Headquarters“Development of vending machines applying LCA”

“LCA communication activities through the Fujitsu group

Nikkei BP Eco Management Forum

ecology leaﬂets and environment efﬁciency indexes”“Nikkei BP Eco Management Forum LCA Special Research

Plastic Waste Management InstituteGroup”“Collection of LCI data on plastic products and disposal pro-

Hitachi Ltd., IMS Project EFSOT

cesses for used plastics, and education / dissemination of LCA“Life cycle impact assessment for lead-free solder”

methods”
SHINKO Electric Industries Co., Ltd., General Development

Service Award

Department

Yasuo Hosoya (Tokyo Electric Power Co., Consultant)“LCA promotion activities in university education and in industry, government and academia, and introduction of LCA

Isao Iwabuchi (Furukawa-Sky Aluminum Corp., Executive Director)

case studies on IC packages”
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Tech-(4) Member information

nology, Lifecycle Assessment Center“Comprehensive research and development related to LCA”

Currently, the JLCA is operated with member support, includ-Architectural Institute of Japan, LCA Guidelines Sub-Commit-

ing 42 industry associations, 6 other societies, 188 businesses,
61 individuals, and 62 university research organizations. Theretee“Development of LCA methods for buildings and release ofare about 1000 registered users with the ability to access the
database.

calculation software”

Focusing on the activities described above, the JLCA has

Service Award
Nobuhiko Takamatsu (International Iron and Steel Institute /Nippon Steel Corp.)

successfully spread and promoted the use of LCA methods,
particularly in industries.

PAGE 3

JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
Case Study

Canon’s Approach to the LCA Method
1: Introduction and Objective Thereof
Japanese manufacturers specializing in the production ofofﬁce machines, mainly copying machines, began to address

Akiyoshi Ishizuka
LCA Promotion Ofﬁce, Product Environment Technology Promotion
Environment Control/Technical Center
Canon Inc.

2: Actual Effect from Disclosure of Information on theEnvironmental Load
(Disclosure of Type III Environmental Labeling)

environmental problems at a relatively early stage, while theCanon has been developing programs on Type III Envi-related industrial associations have also been following up on

ronmental Labeling, a new international Eco-labeling system

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluations. In such context,

based on LCA, and has begun to disclose information on theCanon Inc., had previously formulated its own “philosophy ofenvironmental load obtained via LCA. Canon judged that it was

coexistence,” and since then, as part of that philosophy, Canonhighly necessary to do so in order to create new and genuine

has been actively working on environmental problems, from thevalue by promoting dialogue with the market by quantitatively

standpoint of harmonizing its business activities in the context

and directly disclosing the environmental load of products toof environmental improvement.

general consumers and users. Canon initially began to disclose

In 1982, Canon adopted new, compact toner-cartridges withType III Environmental Labeling in 1999 for the ﬁrst time in Japan,

photosensitive drums, and toners that could be used for copying

jointly with the Japan Environmental Management Association

machines and printers, which have since been introduced infor Industry (JEMAI), the promotion organization for LCA in Ja-

personal-use copying machines. Hence, Canon made it possible

pan. Canon drew much attention when it announced this at theto practically realize “maintenance-free” copying, enabling every user

ISO-TC207 Rally in Seoul, Korea. Further, after completing trials

to readily copy any document or photograph anywhere. Since

on Versions 1 and 2 of the JEMAI program, for the first timethen, Canon has successfully increased its share dramaticallyin the world, Canon successfully acquired an accreditation forin the ﬁeld of copying machines and printers in Japan and over-system consistency, ranging from data collection to verifica-seas.

tion and disclosure of “Ecoleaf Environmental Labeling,” cor-

Canon recycles used toner-cartridges in its factory in Dalian,

responding to the program of Type III Environmental Labeling

China, and puts them back into actual use. In 1993, when there

promoted by JEMAI in Japan. As of the end of January 2005,

was a debate within Canon concerning the effectiveness of

information for a total of 91 Canon products (17 copying ma-

recycling toner-cartridges for saving resources and energy,

chines, 6 laser printers, 63 ink jet printers and 5 still cameras)

Canon formally introduced LCA, for the ﬁrst time in its history,

had been disclosed via Type III Environmental Labeling including

as a practical means for quantitatively evaluating the environ-

Ecoleaf Environmental Labeling. The products that had been

mental load (the amount of discharge of CO2).

disclosed via such Labeling included the following:
Note that Ecoleaf Environmental Labeling has been disclosed
via the websites of JEMAI and Canon.

Table 1 Serial processes for the introduction of the LCA method and Type III Environmental Labeling achieved by Canon.
JEMAI
The JEMAI began to develop programs of Type III Environmental
Labeling.
(September, 1998 )Canon
OctoberJanuary

1993
1998
1999

May
The JEMAI carried out the ﬁrst trial.
(June, 1999)
The JEMAI carried out the second trial.
(April, 2001)
The JEMAI launched operative programs of EcoLeaf
Environmental Labeling.
(April, 2002)

July
December 2000
January 2001
May
2001
July

2002

January

2003

December 2003

PAGE 4

Canon formally adopted the LCA method for assessing toner- cartridges.
Canon participated in the innovative Label Council.
Canon deﬁned its basic business plan and established the LCA promotion organization.
Canon Demonstrated practical examples of the JEMAI programs at the ISO-TC20
Rally held in Seoul.
Canon released innovative copying machines and bubble jet printers onto the market.
Canon released innovative electrostatic printers onto the market.
Canon released innovative color copying machines onto the market.
Canon released innovative copying machines conforming to Version 2 of the JEMAI program onto the market.
Canon duly acquired accreditation for the EcoLeaf Environmental Labeling System
and made the EcoLeaf Environmental Labeling available for its own copying machines and EP printers.
Canon duly acquired accreditation for the EcoLeaf Environmental Labeling System
and made EcoLeaf Environmental Labeling available for its own bubble jet printers.
Canon duly acquired accreditation for the EcoLeaf Environmental Labeling System
and made the EcoLeaf Environmental Labeling available for its own still cameras.

JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
3: Formation of a scheme for implementing the LCA

was possible to apply the original process-integration type unit

method and related issues:

prepared by the Industrial Environment Control Association as
background data. As a result, it was possible to form a com-

The steps and organized scheme required for execution of
the LCA method adopted by Canon are described below.

plete system capable of implementing the LCA-based assessment via a database different from the “industry-related table”
made available for executing step 1.

Step 1:

Step 3:In regard to the raw materials used for manufacturing products,
there was no actual system for determining the actual data,

Due to the development of software for automatically feeding

required for practicing the LCA method, on the type and mass

design data to be input to the automatic tallying software, itof raw materialse, and thus, it was necessary to collect data on

became possible to collect data linked with the design data.

the component materials for each part in order to collect theThis arrangement is essential due to the needs for dealing withrequired data. The best method for determining the mass per

problems in data collection and the needs for determining thecomponent material was to disassemble the individual products.

required data in the design stage, so as to be able to incorpo-

In the main production processes, including molding, pressing,rate concrete actions for minimizing environmental load, rather

and plating, the actual amount of energy consumed per pro-than merely aiming at determining the result of the LCA-based

cess was determined so as to establish a rule for estimating theassessment. In Fig. 1, this system deals with the portion for in-

actual environmental load.

troducing “3D-CAD data” via the development.

When using the above method, it was imperative to solve avariety of problems as described below.

Systemized arrangement has thus been achieved basedon the above described steps. However, as an issue to be

To collect various data on raw materials used for manufacturingresolved from now on, in order to implement a more compre-

individual products, it was necessary to spend considerable labor

hensive LCA method, it is necessary to develop the database

and time to disassemble each product. A good example is afurther, along the following lines.

copying machine comprising thousands of component parts.

1: Diversiﬁcation of the kinds of raw materials and processing
2: Enhancement of the precision of available data

Although it was possible to precisely determine various datafor processing products by calculating the actual amount of

3: Timely maintenance of the databaseenergy transmitted at the site of product manufacturing, it was

4: Overseas data

not possible to obtain sufﬁcient data on various industries other

Original units prepared for Ecoleaf Environmental Labelingthan Canon.

by the JEMAI are useful as a database for readily implementing
the LCA method. However, from the viewpoint of pursuing

Step 2:“comparative possibility” of environmental load data among

Based on the above data, in order to use the LCA calculation

products, in order to speciﬁcally apply the original units as Typefor Type III Environmental Labeling, by developing automatic

III Environmental Labeling, amid a wide variety of quantitative

tallying software, LCA calculation was automated (the portion

data expected to increase in the future, it is anticipated that thedenoted as the LCA computing program shown in Fig. 1). In

precision of the database will be enhanced and the scope ofterms of the database after the JEMAI program Version 2, it

the database will be expanded further.

Sequential procedure of the LCA assessment system

INPUT(Design data)

Development

3D-CAD data

Material data control system(Parts conﬁguration)(Parts structure)(Expansive attribute data)

Data on the material, mass, and processing work

(Parts conﬁguration)(Parts structure)

Rule ﬁle(Attribute data) LCA materialx

DB

INPUT ofdifferent data

Added with LCA data

Automatic assessment
LCA executing program
LCA original unit
Product processing load
Transportation load
Usage load
Scrapping/recycling load

LCA resultx

OUTPUT (LCA data)

Fig. 1

Inputs LCA data other than the product mass value to the LCA executing program and then outputs the LCA result

PAGE 5JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
4: Result of LCA Execution
Using copying machines as examples, details and features

and the photosensitive drum) consumed during use. Hence, re-of the environmental load generated in Canon products are

duction of the load during the usage stage is most effective fordescribed below.

minimizing the environmental load. As shown in Fig. 2, in theCanon mainly manufactures precision products requiring

case of the innovative product model “iR3300”, by reducing thestep-by-step processing and assembly. Hence, unlike material

power consumption, the load generated during the usage stage

producers, in regard to the dischargeable volume of CO2, it

was drastically reduced to a level equal to the load generated

was identified that the maximum environmental load among

during the material processing stage. Note that the load in thelife stages was not caused by the manufacturing of products inphysical distribution stage shown in Fig. 2 merely refers to theCanon’s factories, but was mostly generated in the usage stage

load generated by domestic physical distribution. Although thefollowed by the environmental load generated during the material

ratio of this load against the total load is quite negligible, in theprocessing stage before completing products.

case of globally distributed products, it is acknowledged that the

The items in the usage stage are the load accompanying theelectric power consumed at the time of use, and the consumption

international physical distribution load stands at a substantial
level that cannot be ignored.

goods (in the case of a copying machine, toner components

Comparison of environmental load between an innovative model and a conventional model ofCanon copying machines

Fig. 2(kg - CO2)

CO2 dischargeable volume

1400
1200

iR33001000

Conventional model

800
600
400
200
0
-200

Material
production

Product
assembly

Physical
distribution

PAGE 6

Consumption
via in usage

Scrapping/recycling

JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
5: Development into an Innovative Business Vision
In conformity with the basic “coexisting philosophy” described

Canon positively urges the practical realization of a scheme forearlier, Canon has established its own principle to maximize

promoting factors of environmental efﬁciency at twice the cur-productive use of resources so as to deal with environmental

rent level throughout the Canon group companies. This factor,

issues. As a concrete index based on the above principle,

applying environmental efﬁciency, is deﬁned below.

Factor =Eco efﬁciency (Target year)
Eco efﬁciency (Bench mark year)

Object: Based on the year 2000, environmental efﬁciency in 2010
must be enhanced by more than double.

Eco =

Value
Gross sales *1=
Environmental load CO2 emissions during through life cycle*2*1: Gross sales according to the audit of all Canon group companies:*2: CO2 emissions through life cycle
CO2 emissions through a full life cycles from the mining of resourcesto the scrapping/recycling of entire
products of the Canon group companies included in the audit.

As an applied form for developing the LCA method per product,

At present, generally, it appears that there are many factors

individual environmental loads corresponding to the dischargeable

involved for targeting a product unit. However, in the case ofvolume of CO2 expressed as a denominator from the Canon

Canon, while studying factors for individual product units, wegroup companies was arithmetically measured. The reasonsconceived that these factors could be used as indexes basedfor citing the dischargeable volume of CO2 of the environmental

on managerial viewpoints, and in accordance with the above

load are described below.

deﬁnition, we calculated factors by including the whole of Canon

1: The dischargeable volume of CO 2 suitably meets thegroup companies as the target. As a feature of this factor, busi-

needs for accommodating the environment in the life cycle

ness activities and the environmental load of the entire set ofof individual products.

Canon group companies are designated by an integrated index

2: Not only energy consumption, but also dischargeable vol-at which the target value is set. Not only is there disclosure ofume of CO2 can be designated as an index, including thethe environmental load reduction target aimed at by Canon by

consumption of resources and recycling.

numeric values, but the above factor also breaks down indi-

3: The dischargeable volume of CO2 is compatible with any
business model.

vidual target values per operational sector and product unit ofCanon against external sources, and further applies the break-down

4: Since assessment of speciﬁc chemical materials has fun-values as the index and the target value for designating the in-damentally been promoted aiming at eventual abolition,

ternal activities to deal with environmental issues inside Canon.

these chemical materials have been excepted as targets
for reduction.

As forthcoming issues related to factors, we intend to seek away to standardize and unify factors into an index (comparative evaluation between individual companies), and at the sametime compile not only CO2, but also other environmental loadfactors with various characteristics to a uniﬁed index, e.g., forcosts, from the viewpoint of integration. Also from the managerial
viewpoint, we perceive that the LCA method will further increase in importance as one of the tools for achieving that goal.

PAGE 7JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
Case Study

Director Taeko Aoe

Planning Group
Practical Application of a New Standard of Value - Environmental
Corporate Environmental Affairs DivisionMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
“Factor X (Eco-Efﬁciency)”

Factor X and Elvis Presley
Factor X was introduced by the Matsushita Group almost

business people and researchers, but there was a clear change

3 years ago. It was ﬁrst announced in 2001 at the Panasonicin the reactions of our company engineers. I felt convinced from

Environment Forum held in Tokyo (Japan) and Freiburg (Ger-their reactions that the “environment” concepts were becomingmany), and has been actively used by the Matsushita Groupsecurely integrated at the design and development sites. —as a green products criterion since fiscal year 2002. Within

Maybe it could be called the “Factor X Effect,” but rather thanthe company, it has been used as an indicator for business“Factor X” itself, it seems that the “environment” has become an

performance evaluation, and outside the company as a Type II

integral part of design and development as a result of “Factor X.”

environmental label to promote and diffuse green products. In— When I told this to a director who helped with the Factor X

addition, Factor X brochures have been published in order tobrochure, let’s just call him “Mr. Dandy,” that director mentioned

spread the Factor X concept (the pink brochure in which a girlElvis Presley, saying that, “When black people sang black mu-

and a boy character appeared started a small boom in popular-sic, the world was not aware of black music. The world (mean-

ity for the issue of this type of pamphlet). Fig. 1 introduces theing society in general) learned about black music when Elvis“Factor X” proposed by the Matsushita Group. We use LCA in

Presley sang it. Factor X, which not only involves the environ-the environmental impact assessment of this global warming

mental aspect, but both the life activity value aspect and theprevention factor. We believe we are the first in the world toenvironmental aspect, may be having an effect like that of Elvis

consider Factor X and LCA as the criteria for green products,

Presley in incorporating environmental values into businessand to practically apply these concepts in the everyday opera-

activities.” Elvis Presley has been signiﬁcant to society, and thetions at the development sites, not in the research departments,

impact of his musical activities has been described as a “social

but in the engineering departments. Since the introduction ofphenomenon” in published books and articles. In any case, thethis indicator, I have spoken about “Factor X” to the engineersinterest shown by operations and planning departments, R&D

and environmental personnel within our company group as welldepartments and advertising departments is ever-increasing.

as people in business, research organizations and even to students

Whether it is “reducing the environmental impact” or “increasingfrom junior high schools to universities. About one month ago

the product/service value while reducing environmental impact,”

I had an opportunity to talk to business people, researchers

ultimately the goal of reducing environmental impact is theand our engineers, consecutively, and I noticed a change atsame, but the reactions are rather different. I also began to noticethat time. There wasn’t anything different in the manner of thethat not just the concept, but also quantiﬁcation is required.

Fig. 1“Factor X” Proposed by the Matsushita Group“Factor X” =Increasing the “ product / service value”
Reducing “ environmental impact”

Global warming

Resource

Global warming prevention factor =Resource factor =The improvement of the “Product performance x Product life cycle”
The reduction of “Greenhouse gas through the life cycle”

The improvement of the “Product performance x Product life cycle”
The reduction of the volume of resources not recycled*2 during through the life cycle*2: Volume of resources not recycled = volume of freshly extracted resources + volume of waste resources

Chemical substances

Phase out of substances designated as hazardous(lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, bromic ﬂame retardant, and vinyl chloride resin)

PAGE 8JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
Not Just a Concept, Quantiﬁcation is Also Required

doesn’t use water or electricity? – of course it wouldn’t get the

Before this indicator was introduced, a green product was deﬁned

clothes clean either,” and “You environmental department people

by the [basic product quality/performance + environmental

don’t consider the business side at all,” I thought about the idea

quality/performance], and both aspects of the product/serviceof this indicator with hope that it will lead to good technology

value and the environment were indicated in the concept. However,and product development, and proposed it to the committee.

there was nothing quantiﬁed and numerical targets were only

We developed the indicator into one that can help evaluate

established for the environmental side. After the introduction ofmatters including product performance in the process of“Factor X,” the concept of “uniﬁcation of the life activity value

quantifying the “Matsushita Product Assessment Ver. 5” con-(product/service value) and the global environment” was pre-ducted by the company at the time, with the aim of assessing

sented. Currently, quantitative assessments of both the lifeand promoting technology advances. In effect, the indicator

activity value (product/service value) and the environmental

coincided with the concept of the Factor X, and resulted in more

aspects are made and target values are set. In other words, theeffective implementation of this concept. We also received thedifference before and after the introduction of “Factor X” is not

beneﬁt of guidance from Professor Yamamoto of Tokyo Univer-the concept, but the inclusion of a quantitative assessment. As

sity.

a result of this quantitative assessment, the “Factor X” concept
was easy to understand and it became easy to incorporate theA “Factor X” Calculation Example“environment” into design and development sites. Rather than a

Due to print limitations, only a brief introduction can be

diffusion of the concept itself, it seems that the idea of “measur-

made, but Fig. 2 shows Factor X of Individual Products, anding” is easier to understand and has spread more easily.

Fig. 3 shows a calculation example for a Household Factor X.
The Household Factor X was ﬁrst introduced at the Panasonic

The Inside Story on “Factor X” Development

Environmental Forum held in Tokyo in 2003, and it is the world’This indicator was developed based on the discussions of as first-ever calculation model of its kind. The 2004 version is“Product Assessment Committee,” which includes the heads ofpresented here, and it is planned to continue the calculations in

the engineering departments and the engineering section chiefs

the future.

among the members. I was the sole representative from the Environmental Department on the committee. As I was showeredwith “kind comments” (pent-up frustration at the environmental
policies?) such as, “You want to conserve energy? – maybe weshould make 3-inch TVs,” “How about a washing machine that

Fig. 2

Factor X of Individual Products

Drum-type
1997
Washer-Dryer

2003

Refrigerator 1997

2002

Lamp
Incandescent bulb

IPD
(Intelligent Power Device)
Conventionalthat reduces
Control IC
standby power consumption

Global warming prevention factor

1.6

Resource Factor

1.7

Global warming prevention factor

5.2

Resource Factor

1.0

Global warming prevention factor

4.1

Bulb-type ﬂuorescent
Resource Factor
lamp

Semiconductor

PAGE 92.2

Global warming prevention factor

5.2

Resource Factor

3.9

JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
Conclusion

the work sites. As a result of the development and application

There are many problems that still need to be solved, butof eco-design products and social systems utilizing Factor X

steady progress is being made, including the establishment ofand LCA by the company design and development personnel,

new guidelines based on actual results. With the introduction

problems would be identiﬁed. Then, these problems would beof these indicators, it became possible to clearly specify targets

solved by the researchers, improving precision and operability.

and manage the efforts to reach them. We have also been able

After that, the designers/developers would use the improved

to create feedback loops to identify issues and reflect results

Factor X and LCA to develop better eco-design products, social

in the guidelines and policies. Looking at the result of practicalsystems, and so on... creating a positive cycle of improvement.

use for 3 years, I learned that the value cannot be understood

This is why Factor X is being implemented at the work sites inwithout trying it, and there are also issues you will understandthe Matsushita group today.

for the ﬁrst time if you try it. Although there are differences in

Last but not least, the two gentlemen in the photo with me on

the level between work sites, at advanced worksites, Factor

page 32 of the Panasonic Report for Sustainability 2004 are the

X and LCA are actively used for design improvements, andsources of some of those “kind comments” (complaints?) men-they even make proposals for speciﬁc indicator improvements.

tioned earlier. Today they are colleagues who are always ready

There is a perception that researchers are engrossed in their

to collaborate no matter how busy they are with other matters.

study, and that business does not use them or their results at

Fig. 3

Household Factor X in 2004
Product volume
Increase by

1.2 times

82

68

1990

2004

Greenhouse gas emissions(t-CO2 eq./year)
Dec

reas

e of

Consumption of non-circulating resources(kg/year)
Dec

reas

35%

8.8

e of

10%

341
5.7

1990

306

1990

2004

2004
Resource factor
1.3

Global warming prevention factor
1.9

PAGE 10JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
Case Study

Shiro Nishi
Environmental Management & Provisioning Project
Information Sharing Laboratory Group
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation

ICT Service LCA

Introduction

Factors that will change the environmental load when using

Since the latter half of the 1990s there has been rapid de-the same video conferencing equipment are the frequency ofvelopment in information communications technology (ICT),the conferences, conference time and conference locations. Of

with a transition from conventional ﬁxed phone lines to mobile

course, the loads at the manufacturing and disposal stages remain

phones, and the widespread use of the Internet. One of thethe same, since these are assessed as one-year units. In thefeatures of ICT services is that it overcomes time and distance.

following part, assessments are made on cases where one ofTasks performed using ICT can be accomplished from remotethe three factors (the frequency of the conferences, conference

locations at any time. A second characteristic is that it not only

time, and the conference locations) is changed.

enables easy access to enormous volumes of data, but it alsoFirstly, an assessment is made when the frequency of thepermits information to be shared between users. This facilitates

video conferences between Tokyo and Nagoya is changed from

evaluation, decision-making, and communication, contributing

once per week to once per month. The results are shown into greater efﬁciency in activities such as manufacturing and dis-the figure on the following page. The electricity consumption oftribution. A third feature is that the digitalization of information

the video conferencing equipment drops to 1/4 of the previous

and use of electronics reduces the need to record informationlevel. The environmental load during use for the communica-

on media such as paper. Thus far, LCA has commonly been

tions equipment is composed of a portion from the continuous

implemented for ICT devices like personal computers and tele-

operation of the subscriber (ﬁxed portion) and a portion thatphones. Recently, however, LCA is being performed with regard

is calculated according to the amount of data or time of use

to ICT services as well as ICT devices. This will be a presentation(variable portion). Therefore, even if the video conferences areof video conference service inventory analysis as a representative

reduced from once per week to once per month, the load during

example of such ICT service.

use does not drop to 1/4, but only to about 47%.
Next, an assessment is made for a conference frequency ofVideo Conference Service Assessment

once per week, but with a change in the length of time of theWe made the following hypothetical assessment. Video

video conference from one hour to two hours each time. The

conferencing was conducted between Tokyo and Nagoya using

results are shown in the ﬁgure on the following page. For the

Phoenix F and 25-inch monitors as the video conferencing

reasons explained above, the environmental load from the com-equipment at both sites. Transmissions were made using busi-

munications equipment does not simply double. Accordingly,

ness type B FLET’S. The carbon dioxide emissions for a one-year

the environmental load during use does not become twice as

period were assessed for the case of one 60-minute conference

large. For the two-hour sessions there is only a 69% increase ineach week. The assessment results are shown in the figurecomparison to the environmental load for one hour of use.

on page 12. The video conference equipment used here is aThis figure shows the results of an assessment with thewidely used model, but these are specialty products that arevideo conference site changed from Nagoya to Fukuoka. Since

only used for video conferences, so the load at the manufacturing

a national average was used for the carbon dioxide emissions

stage is large, accounting for 84% of the total. On the otherequivalents for the electricity, there is no regional difference.

hand, the amount of electricity consumed by the video confer-

Since the B FLET’S system is used, the network environment

encing equipment is comparatively low, accounting for about

load has almost no distance-dependence, so the environmen-

5% of the load during use. The load at the time of disposal istal load during use is nearly identical. If the communication

extremely low in comparison to the manufacturing and usage

method were switched from B FLET’S to ISDN or to analog

stages. The total amount of carbon dioxide emissions is 220 kg,

circuit switching, the environmental load would vary accordingwith the television equipment being the source of about 53% of

to the distance. However, in the case of circuit switching, since thethis amount. With regard to the communications facilities, sinceaccess system environmental load is much larger than the relay

the B FLET’S was evaluated as being exclusively for the video

system environmental load, the distance-dependence of theconferencing, the environmental load was larger.

environmental load is fairly small.

PAGE 11JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
the frequency of the conferences and the number of people.

Comparable Service Evaluation

Furthermore, if travel is from Fukuoka to Tokyo, travel will be

For the purpose of comparison of the video conferenceby airplane, further increasing the environmental load. If one

service a change in the video conferencing equipment is con-person ﬂies once per week, the annual carbon dioxide emission

sidered. If a large-screen TV (video conferencing system forequivalent will be 29 tons. This is 130 times greater than theabout 30 people) is used instead of the Phoenix F, the load at

environmental load from a video conference.

the manufacturing stage for the video conferencing equipment
increases by a factor of 50, and the electricity consumption
increases by a factor of 20. For one-hour video conferences

Conclusion

conducted on a weekly basis between Tokyo and Nagoya, theFor the impact of ICT services on the environment there isannual carbon dioxide emissions equivalent is 6,300 kg, whichmore than simply the assessment of the comparable services

is a 28-times larger environmental load. Since the environmen-

to consider. Ripple effects, such as rebound effects, also needtal load of the communications is not changed, the television

to be evaluated. Takahashi et al., collected questionnaires on

equipment in this case accounts for 98% of the total environmental

activities during transit and activities during the time saved byload.

using video conferencing, and calculated the environmental load

Another comparison service is to send people to meet face-(1). For details, refer to the reference document. The environ-

to-face instead of holding video conferences. Although themental loadof ICT services varies not only in terms of the content“depth of understanding” and “verbal interactions” are not exactlyof the services themselves, but also a great deal according

the same for face-to-face meetings and video conferences,to the behavior of the beneﬁciaries of the services. There arethese are assumed to be equivalent for this calculation. In thismany issues related to LCA of ICT services. An IT solutions

case, the environmental load is considered to be generated

research group has been started in the Japan Eco-Efficiency

from the transportation means used to bring the meeting partici-

Forum, and has begun investigation of common assessment

pants together. For example, for a meeting between Tokyo andmethods.

Nagoya, we consider a model of travel by train from Nagoya toTokyo and a 2 km bus ride to the ﬁnal destination. Assuming that

References:

one person travels once per week, the annual carbon dioxide(1) Takahashi et al, Proc. 2004 IEEE Int. Symp. Electron Env. P 13 (2004)

emission equivalent is 1,500 kg, which is 6.7 times larger thanthe video conferencing scenario. For cases involving movementof people, the environmental load varies in direct proportion to

Carbon dioxide emission for a
one - year period

(kg)

400
300
200

disposal
usage

100

manufacturing

0Tokyo - Nagoya

Tokyo - Nagoya

Tokyo - Nagoya

Tokyo - Nagoya

Once a week

Once a month

Once a week

Once a week

1 hour

1 hour2 hours

1 hour

PAGE 12JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
Case Study

LCA Activity at Mitsubishi Materials
1: Introduction

Yasunari Amami
Management Center
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation Environment

based on our own surveys as well as requests from both inside

Mitsubishi Materials Corporation operates a variety of busi-

and outside the company.

nesses as a comprehensive materials manufacturer. Products

Since 2002, assessments of environmental burden reduction

cover a wide range, including cement, non-ferrous metals (e.g.

effects have been implemented by the “Mitsubishi Materials

copper, precious metals), aluminum cans, tools, and electronicGroup Environmental Recycling Project”.

materials, etc.

Our corporate group has long been conducting environ-

Our company strives to preserve the environment in ourmental and recycling projects using the cement and smelting

business activities. Through efforts to ensure effective use of

infrastructure. For example, in the cement and copper smelting

resources, our goal is to contribute to the construction of recy-

businesses a lot of waste and many by-products are acceptedcling-oriented social systems in harmony with the environment.

for recycling in the production processes. In addition to recycling

To achieve this goal, we are implementing “Green Productivity

used aluminum cans, the reclaimed metal from recycling pro-Management (GPM) activities”.

cesses is used as a raw material in the production process for

LCA is one of the themes of the GPM activities, and efforts

aluminum cans. We also operate household appliance recy-

are being made to reduce the environmental burden related tocling plants. The materials collected from the recycling plants

both production and the products themselves.

are ultimately processed to reclaim materials such as iron, copperand aluminum.

2: LCA Activities at Our Company

The four divisions of cement, copper smelting, aluminumcans and household appliance recycling were selected and(1) Activities to Dateevaluated using LCA methods in the areas of “resource consumption

Our company has been conducting LCA activities since thereduction effect (mineral resources, energy resources),” “final

latter half of the 1990s. The R&D department and various sections

waste disposal reduction effect,” and “CO2 emissions reduction

have been evaluating individual products (railway contact wires,

effect”. The main wastes and materials for recycling obtained inetc.) and the recycling processes for household appliances,each of the four divisions are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Main wastes and materials for recycling from the target divisions – received and processed quantities.quantities.
Division

Received wastes / materials for recycling

Received quantity (*1) /Processed quantity (*2)

Copper production (smelting)

Copper scraps, shredder dust, recycled oils

Approx. 220,000 t (*1)

Cement production

Soot (coal ash and the like), mineral slag
(iron & steel, nonferrous), sludge, waste plastics

Approx. 3,620,000 t (*1)

Aluminum can production / recycling

Used aluminum cans

Approx. 42,000 t (*2)

Household appliances recycling

Four kind of used electric appliances(TV sets, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners)

Approx. 1,190,000 units (*2)*Received quantity and processed quantity values are from FY 2003.

PAGE 13JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
Fig. 1 shows the concepts for the assessment of the en-environmental burden reduction effect.

vironmental burden reduction effects. LCA assessments areThus far, assessments for a three-year period have been

performed for the [current process], which consists of the current

made, starting from the 2001 ﬁscal year. Table 2 shows the

production processes accepting the recycled materials andassessment results for the 2003 ﬁscal year. It can be said thatwastes materials, and the recycling process of the household

our group companies’ environment recycling project is con-appliances and aluminum cans, and for a [comparison process

tributing to the reduction of the burden on the environment,(hypothetical process)], which consists of the production pro-through measures including resource saving and reduction ofcesses using only natural materials and resources, without

wastes. These results are published externally in the company

utilizing waste or recycled materials, and the ﬁnal disposal ofEnvironmental Reports, etc.

wastes. The difference between these two is evaluated as theFig. 1

Concepts for assessment of the environmental burden reduction effectComparison process

Current process
Recycling

Final disposal as waste materials(Household electric appliances, aluminum cans)Comparison

Use of waste and recycled materials in the production process

Use only virgin materials and resources in the production processes(cement, copper, aluminum cans)(no waste or recycled materials used)

Products

Products(cement, copper, aluminum cans, etc.)(cement, copper, aluminum cans, etc.)

Samequantity

Reclaimed materials (iron, copper, aluminum, etc.) from

New materials

recycled consumer electric devices(iron, copper, aluminum, etc.)

Table 2 Environmental burden reduction effect from group companies’ Environment Recycling Project (FY 2003)

Item

Unit

Smelting

CementAluminumHomeappliance
recycling

Total

Mineral resources saving effect1000 t / yr

116

3,819

147

20

4,102

Energy resources saving effect1000 t crude oil / yr

56

132

116

5

309

Mineral resources saving effect1000 t / yr

70

1,439

42

19

1,570

CO2 emissions reduction

1000 t CO2 / yr

59

1,158

322

13

1,552

Production or processing

1000 t/yr
1000 units / yr334

11,30054560(Note) For the group companies, the investment ratio is multiplied to compute the assessment result*1 Items for calculations of the mineral resource conservation effect: Iron ore, copper concentrate, bauxite ore, limestone, clay, silica (only main items evaluated)*2 Produced quantity / processed quantity (product / processing target product) for each division* Smelting: Electrolytic copper production quantity (1000 t /yr)
* Cement: Cement and clinker of other uses production quantity (1000 t / yr)* Aluminum:Aluminum beverage cans production quantity (1000 t / yr)* Home appliance recycling: Number of 4 item processes (1000 units / year)

PAGE 14JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
3: Conclusion(2) Future activities
At present, LCA activities are being promoted as one of theaction items for the GPM activities in order to quantitatively

In the future, efforts for environment-oriented business man-grasp the environmental burden of our products. In the future,agement will be made, not by a single company, but by thein addition to the social contribution of the environment recy-

entire supply chain. In light of such trends in society, we, as acling project, we are investigating the use of LCA to focus oncompany, believe that it is necessary to continue to conduct

reducing the environmental burden of our group companies’

business activities that take the environment into consideration.
LCA is one of the tools for assessing and understanding envi-

business operations themselves.
However, our company encompasses a broad range of productsronmental information and lessening the environmental burden.

and activities, and the circumstances of each of the various

We would like to continue to devise ways to utilize it effectively.

divisions is different. It may not be effective to promote a single
set of standard activities on a corporate-wide basis. We intend
to consider the effects of implementing LCA and to investigate
specific assessment methods, implementation systems andapplications corresponding to the characteristics of each business.
Currently, LCA is assumed to be focused on applications
within the company, but we are considering the disclosure ofenvironmental information externally according to the product.
In fact, for aluminum cans, the certiﬁcation for the Eco Leaf and
EPD Type III environmental labels has been obtained, and the
product environmental burden information is being disclosed tousers and consumers.

PAGE 15JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
Case Study

Mayumi Yokozeki
Environment DivisionTokyo Electric Power Co., Ltd.

Eco-Efﬁciency Activities Assessment Conductedby the Tokyo Electric Power Company
1: Tokyo Electric’s Concept of the Eco-Efﬁciency Index

substances that have a signiﬁcant impact have been selected,

Pursuing efficiency in both aspects of environment andand the Life-cycle Impact Assessment Method based on End-economy is necessary in aiming for sustainable development inpoint Modeling (LIME) has been used to consolidate ﬁgures as

the energy industry. For that purpose, we at Tokyo Electric area single index.

carrying out various activities, including the evaluation of internal

By 2001, the Eco-Efﬁciency Index showed a rising trend, andeconomic effect associated with the costs of environmental

an improvement of over 30% compared to 1990. In 2002 andmeasures, and environmental measures for the establishment

2003, as a result of compensating, with thermal energy, for de-and utilization of an environmental accounting technique.

creased power due to the shutdown of a nuclear power station,

Eco-Efﬁciency established by the World Business Council for

the CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions and fossil fuel consumption

Sustainable Development (WBCSD) describes the link between

increased, and the Eco-Efﬁciency Index dropped to 60% of thatbusiness activities and environmental impact using the followingof 2001. In 2004, while sales increased by 1.9% compared toequation. It aims to help businesses understand the specific2003, the environmental load and fossil fuel consumption both

values, make use of them in managing their performance anddecreased due to the rise of the nuclear power plant usage ratedecision-making, help businesses on a worldwide basis calculate

from 26.3% to 61.7%, and the Eco-Efﬁciency Index increased

the index based on a uniform definition, and present them inby 28% (a 24% increase when environmental load alone isenvironmental reports.

considered), resulting in the same level as 1990. For Tokyo
Electric, the results indicated the signiﬁcance of the impact ofQuantity & price of product or service
Eco-Efﬁciency =nuclear power plants on the Eco-Efﬁciency Index.

Environmental LoadAt Tokyo Electric, we have been working on assessmentsfrom the perspective of Eco-Efﬁciency such as this since 2000,

Index

and we have presented our own estimate of the “Eco-Efﬁciency

3

Index” through our Sustainability Report.
Tokyo Electric’s
Eco-Efﬁciency Index =Trends of major environmental load and net system1)
as Emission
demand (1973SOx
energyCO2 Emission

Fig. 1

2.5

Sales

Net system energy demand

NOx Emission

Net system energy demand

2

Environmental Load that accompanies business activities

1.5

2: Results of Estimating Environmental Load and the
Eco-Efﬁciency Index

NOx Emission

1
SOx Emission

0.5

The trends in the main environmental load and net system

CO2 Emission

50
45

45

40 41

The trends of the Eco-Efﬁciency Index since 1990 are shown

36
35

34

37

28

27

41

33
28

27

20

03

04

20

02

00

99

98

97

96

95

01

20

20

19

19

19

19

19

93

92

91

94

19

19

19

22

19

Eco-Efﬁciency Index=
Total environmental load+Total fossil fuel consumption(Incl. resources)

20

Sales

25

90
19

(consumption) associated with the power generation business,

34

20

in Fig. 2. As for the environmental load and fossil fuel load

27

51

31

30
27

51

40

42
33

30

52

46

41

35

transmission and distribution loss rate.

03

thermal power energy efficiency, and the decrease of power

55

54

50

40

(Year)

Trends of the Eco-Efﬁciency Index
Sales
Eco-efﬁciency index =(Environmental load only) Total environmental load

55

20

through the promotion of nuclear power, the improvement of98

compared to the growth of the net system energy demand60

19

Eco-Efﬁciency Index

88

Fig. 2

hand, CO2 emissions without a cost effective removal measure19

of-pipe fuel and pollution-abatement measures. On the other

However, they have been suppressed to a slow rate of increase

83

78

and NOx have decreased from the 1970’s as a result of end-

have increased with the increase of thermal power volume.

19

energy demand at Tokyo Electric are indicated in Fig. 1. SOx

190(Year)

PAGE 16JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
Case Study
Masayuki Azuma
Environment and Safety Department
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Kyowa Hakko’s Life Cycle Assessment
Activities
1: Background to the Introduction of LCA
At Kyowa Hakko Kogyo, we have introduced LCA in carrying

raw materials of shochu products. Ninety-two percent of total

out ISO14001 from 1999 to 2001. In 2001, we carried out as-

carbon dioxide output was emitted in the production, manufac-

sessments on the material balance and life cycle of shochu

turing and transportation of raw materials, and the remaining

products, which at that time accounted for a signiﬁcant amount

8 percent was used in product distribution (Table 1). When weof end products, and presented the results in the Kyowa Hakko

compared these ﬁndings to with beer, partly due to the differ-

Health, Safety, and the Environment 2001 Report (*We trans-

ence in alcohol concentration (shochu: about 25%; beer: about

ferred our alcoholic drinks business to Asahi Breweries Ltd., in5%), the carbon dioxide output per pure alcohol for a plastic

2002).

bottle of shochu was estimated to be approximately half of that

We have studied energy usage and environmental emis-

for a glass bottle of beer (Table 2).

sions in the production, manufacturing and distribution of theTable 1 Energy Usage and Environmental Emission of Shochu Products (Fossil fuels)
Energy1,000 Mcal

CO2
ton

SOx
ton

NOx
ton

79,89924,144

133.4

37.3

Product distribution

6,988

2,045

3.5

5.6

Total

86,887

26,190

136.9

42.9

Process
Raw Material Production, Manufacturing,Transportation(Overseas + Japan)

Table 2 Assessment of product contents, including product container

Environmental emission of product contents, and containers(Fossil fuels)
Product content

Total incl. container

ShochuOne-way glass

Beer

Plastic Bottle

Bottle 20 times Recycle

400

255

CO2

g/l-ProductSOxg/l-Product

2.21

2.21

0.35

NOx

g/l-Product

0.62

0.62

0.48

CO2

g/l-ProductSOxg/l-Product

NOx

400

655
2.73

g/l-Product

0.84
2600

589

303

2.63

0.46

0.83

0.54

CO2

g/l-Pure alcoholSox

SOx

g/l-Pure alcoholSox

10.9

10.5

10.2

NOx

g/l-Pure alcoholSox

3.4

3.3

12.0

PAGE 17

2400

6700

JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
2: Comparison of the Environmental Impact Index
utilizing the Life-cycle Impact Assessment Method
based on Endpoint modeling (LIME)

xylene and ethyl acetate when they are used as solvents in

The Kyowa Hakko Chemical Co., Ltd., within the Kyowa Hakko

there is a significant difference in the environmental impact

Group produces various solvents as its main products. As partindex (external costs). This means that ethyl acetate paint hasof responsible care practices, quantitatively assessing the various

overall lower environmental costs if the solvent collection ratio

environmental impacts, from manufacturing to disposal of prod-

is low at the time of paint application.

the process of manufacturing paint; assuming the release ofsolvent during paint application as 5 percent, it was found thatucts, is an important element of being a chemical company. In
2003, we estimated the environmental impact of solvents withthe support of the Research Center for Life Cycle Assessment,

3: Future challenges

Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). Typical

As demonstrated above, at Kyowa Hakko, we have justsolvents used in paints, ethyl acetate and xylene, were analyzed

launched collecting data on life cycle assessment, and assessing

and the overall environmental impact load was estimated in

the environmental impact based on that data. We were able

the manufacturing and transporting of solvents, and in theto analyze the comparisons of solvents, even though we are a

manufacturing, transporting and use of paints (environmental

newly established company, due to the disclosure and use ofdischarge), the internal and external costs were also compared.

the LCA database of the LCA Japan Forum, to which we are

Furthermore, we used various suppositions, such as assuming

very grateful.

the solvent usage in paint as 364kg/ton of product in the trial

As well as providing further LCA data on various products

calculation. Please note that the results of the estimation weremainly for our users, at Kyowa Hakko, we are working toward

provisional values for our company’s environmental impact as-

an understanding of the overall environmental load including

sessment.

the LCA data of raw fuel supply, while grasping the entire picture

In addition, volatile organic compounds, such as solvents thatof Kyowa Hakko’s environmental burden, as stated in our 2005

are released into the air, affect human health by changing into

Sustainability Report. When accomplished for the ﬁrst time, we

photochemical oxidants or suspended particulate matter due

hope it can lead to assessment of chemical products in every

to photoreaction. In the comparisons made with protected sub-process from development to manufacturing, distribution, usage,

jects of LIME, human health and primary production were theend consumption and disposal of chemical products, as advo-

key ingredients occupying 40 percent of the total environmental

cated by Responsible Care.

impact respectively. When we see the result of a comprehensive
environmental impact assessment, we can see as shown below that the environmental impact is almost the same for both

1.00E+04

Environmental Impact Index

9.00E+03
8.00E+03
7.00E+03
6.00E+03
5.00E+03
4.00E+03
3.00E+03

Paint application process 5% solvent release

2.00E+03

Manufacturing process Emission

1.00E+03

Manufacturing process Resource consumption

0.00E+00

Ethyl Acetate
Paint

Xylene Paint

PAGE 18JLCA News Letter

JLCA News English Edition No.1
Event Information

2nd International Conference on

Jun. 28 - 30, 2006

Ebara Corporation / CML, Leiden

Quantiﬁed Eco-Efﬁciency Analysis

Egmond aan Zee,

University

for Sustainability

Netherlands

http://www.eco-efﬁciency-conf.org/

Society of Environmental Economics andPolicy Studies (SEEPS)Third World Congress of

Jul 3 - 7, 2006

Environmental and Resource

Kyoto, Japan

Economists

Association of Environmental andhttp://www.worldcongress3.org/

Resource Economists (AERE)
European Association of Environmental
and Resource Economists (EAERE)

Renewable Energy 2006

Oct. 9 - 13, 2006

Renewable Energy 2006 Organizing

Chiba, Japan

Committee

http://www.re2006.org/

The Institute of Life Cycle
Assessment, Japan,
The Society of Non-Traditional
Technology/ECOMATERIALS Forum
National Institute for Agro7th International Conference on

Nov. 14 - 16, 2006

EcoBalance

Tsukuba, Japan

Environmental Sciences

http://www.sntt.or.jp/ecobalance7/

Japan Environmental Management
Association for Industry/
Life Cycle Assessment Society ofJapan
Institute for Building Environment
and Energy Conservation
Center for Environmental Information
Science

PAGE 19JLCA News Letter

The JLCA News Letter is published by the Life Cycle Assessment Society of Japan.

Adddress:

Planning & Information Sub-Committee:
Mr. Kiyoshi UENO

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Life Cycle Assessment Society of Japan (JLCA)

Dr. Norihiro ITSUBO Musashi Institute of Technology

LCA Development Ofﬁce, JEMAI

Mr. Tadashi KOTAKE Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association(Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry)

Mr. Kiyoshi SAITO Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association

2-1, Kajicho 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0044

Dr. Kiyoshi SHIBATA National Maritime Research InstituteTel: +81-3-5209-7708

Mr. Junichi NAKAHASHI Plastic Waste Management InstituteFax: +81-3-5209-7716

Dr. Yasunari MATSUNO University of Tokyo

E-mail: lca-projct@jemai.or.jp

Editors:

Website: http://www.jemai.or.jp/english/

Mr. Ryosuke AOKI JEMAI
Mr. Katsuyuki NAKANO JEMAI