Initiatives for the Environment
The Furukawa Electric Group is striving to reduce its environmental impact throughout
the product lifecycle.
18

Environmental Management

19

Environmental Education

20

Material Flow

21

Targets and Performance(Environment)

22

Environmentally Sound
Products

23

Environmentally Conscious
Production

24

Chemical SubstanceManagement

25

Environmental Risk
Management

26

Biodiversity Preservation

List of companies participating in the liaison meeting for consolidated
environmental management (Fiscal 2012)
Access Cable Company
Asahi Electric Works Co., Ltd.
Inoue Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
NTEC Ltd.
FCM Co., Ltd.
Okano Electric Wire Co., Ltd.
Okumura Metals Co., Ltd.
Kyowa Electric Wire Co., Ltd.
Furukawa Electric Ecotec Co., Ltd.
Shodensha Co., Ltd.
Seiwa Giken Inc.
Totoku Electric Co., Ltd.
FITEC Corporation
Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc.
Furukawa Sangyo Kaisha Ltd.
Furukawa C&B Co., Ltd.
Furukawa Industrial Plastics Co., Ltd.
Furukawa-Sky Aluminum Corporation

Detailed data is provided in our CSR Data Book (PDF).

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

17

Furukawa Electric Group Sustainability Report 2012

Furukawa Precision Engineering Co., Ltd.
Furukawa Techno Material Co., Ltd.
Furukawa Electric Advanced
Engineering Service Co., Ltd.
Furukawa Electric Industrial Cable Co., Ltd.
The Furukawa Battery Co., Ltd.
Furukawa Logistics Corporation
Furukawa Life Service Inc.
Miharu Communications Inc.
Riken Electric Wire Co., Ltd.
Furukawa Magnet Wire Co., Ltd.

Initiatives for the Environment

Environmental Management
The Furukawa Electric Group conducts its environmental protection activities to achieve the objectives set forth in its
2012 Medium-Term Plan for Environmental Preservation Activities, in accordance with the Basic Philosophy and Action
Guidelines of its Basic Environmental Policy.

Furukawa Electric Basic Environmental Policy
Basic Philosophy
We, the employees of the Furukawa Electric Group, recognize that preservation 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. W
 e 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. W
 e 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, acrossthe entire product lifecycle.
4. W
 e shall evaluate the ecological impact of all of our businesses, and strive for the preservation of biodiversity andsustainable use of resources.
5. W
 e will seek harmony with the natural environment and local communities through dialogue with our stakeholders.

Environmental Management Promotion
Organization
Management Organization
The Furukawa Electric Group’s Central Committee forEnvironmental Management, headed by the chief social
responsibility officer (CSRO) and answering directly to thepresident, meets quarterly to formulate Group environmental
management targets and follow up on their status. To
reinforce Group environmental management, in April 2011
we inaugurated the Environmental Committee. Targeting
Environmental management promotion organization
PresidentGroup companies in Japan, this committee integrates thetwice-yearly Liaison Meeting for Consolidated Environmental
Management and the Committee for Consolidated
Environmental and Green Product Management. This
committee is working to promote environmental activities
throughout the Group in accordance with consistentenvironmental targets.
Fiscal 2013 will be the final year for the Furukawa ElectricGroup’s 2012 environmental protection targets. Therefore, inFebruary 2012 we set up the Working Group for Sustainability
Planning, a cross-company organization chaired by the
CSRO. The aim of this working group is to formulate amedium- to long-term environmental management plan.

Receiving Third-Party Verification

CSRO:Chairperson

Central Committee forEnvironmental Management
Committee for Reductionof GHG Emissions
Working Group for Reducing
GHG Emissions

Environment Committeeof Works

Committee for Development ofEnvironmentally Sound Products

Our seven manufacturing works and all domestic affiliates
participating in consolidated environmental management are
acquiring ISO 14001 certification. Our overseas affiliates arecollecting data and constructing management systems tothis end.

Working Group for
Sustainability Planning

Safety and Environment Promotion Department, CSR Division

Environmental Accounting

Environment
Committees
of companies andbusiness divisions

The Furukawa Electric Group conducts environmental
accounting in conformance with the environmental
accounting guidelines published by the Ministry of theEnvironment. The Furukawa Electric Group’s overall
environmental conservation costs in fiscal 2012 came to¥1.6 billion in investment and ¥6.1 billion in expenses.

Energy Conservation
Liaison Meeting forCommittee,
Domestic andWaste Committee,
Overseas Group
Chemical SubstanceAffiliates
Committee,
Other Expert Committees

Environmental Personnel Meeting
Transport Energy Reduction Committee
Committee for Green Product Management
Group Environmental Committee
Working Group for the Promotion ofEnvironmental Performance IndicesWEB

Environmental Accounting

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/english/csr/enviroment/accounts.htm

Furukawa Electric Group Sustainability Report 201218

Initiatives for the Environment

Environmental Education
The Furukawa Electric Group focuses on education and other activities to raise groupwide environmental awareness inaccordance with its Basic Environmental Policy.

Environmental Education System andEnvironmental Education Programs
The Furukawa Electric Group conducts various types ofenvironmental education to cultivate among employees theunderstanding that is necessary to conduct environmental
activities and raise their environmental consciousness.
In fiscal 2012, 45 employees attended our ISO 14001
Internal Environmental Auditor Course, 34 attended ourFGMS* Auditor Course, and 16 participated in our EMS
Upgrade Seminar.
* Furukawa branding Green products Management System

Environmental education programs
Category ofeducational
training

Content

Education for new
General environmental
recruits (once a
protection activities
year, mandatory)
EMS activities(as needed,
mandatory)

New
Generalrecruits employees

MidManagecareer
ment
employees

Training for
new recruits

Environmental Policy andpurpose, goals and generalknowledge pertaining to theenvironment

Requirements of ISO
ISO14001-related
standards, environmental
education (two-day
regulations, procedures forcourse) (twice ainternal environmental audits,
year, voluntary)
various drills
One-day brushup course (once a
year, mandatory)

Trends in environmental
regulations, various drills tobrush up auditing skills
Environmentallysound design

Environmental
Environmental regulations
subjects (asneeded, voluntary) Control of chemical
substances contained in
products
Consolidated
environmental
management
seminars

Seminars by experts onpriority issues

Environmental Awards System
To ramp up our environmental activities, in fiscal 2011 we
introduced an environmental awards system. There are three
award categories for Furukawa Electric on a standalone basis:
expanding sales of environmentally sound products, global
warming prevention activities, and group activities. Affiliatedcompanies are awarded for overall environmental activities.

Award for Efforts to Increase Sales ofEnvironmentally Sound Products
We provide the Award for Expanding Sales of Environmentally
Sound Products to further promote sales of environmentallysound products. Each company is ranked by number of19

Furukawa Electric Group Sustainability Report 2012

registrations and its percentage sales of environmentallysound products, with the top companies receiving awards.
In fiscal 2012, the Superior Excellence Award was given
to the Energy & Industrial Products Company.

Global Warming Prevention Activity Award
To promote activities at the business divisions to prevent
global warming, we have initiated the Global Warming
Prevention Activity Award. This award is given to divisions
that take superior initiative, and is tied to the improvement inmotivation.
There were 14 entries for this award in the current fiscal
year, six more than in the preceding year. In addition to three
initiatives in the preceding year, including the development
and commercialization of superior environmental
technologies and internal production process improvements
leading to reduced CO2 emissions, we received reports on
11 ongoing projects. These included such measures asproper operation of a compressor, updates to high-efficiency
lighting equipment, reducing standby power and thermal
insulation processing.
As a result of the judging, the Copper Foil Division won
the Superior Excellence Award for its process improvement
measures that contribute to the substantial reduction ofelectricity used in the manufacturing process. In addition, we
have granted two Excellence Awards and six Effort Awards.

Environmental Group Activity
Presentation Meetings
We began holding our Environmental Group Activity
Presentation Meetings in 2010 to promote a variety ofenvironmental activities. At this event, each recommendedgroup announces the content and results of environmental
activities. Committee members review outstanding activities,
with a focus on initiatives that are innovative and can be
deployed groupwide.
The second of these meetings was held at corporate
headquarters in September 2011, and presentations weremade by seven teams recommended by each Works.
Following strictly impartial judging by 10 committee
members, including the CSRO, the Hiratsuka Works’“Energy Conservation Activities
Related to MCPET Production”
was selected for the Superior
Excellence Award. Initiatives
by the Copper Tube Divisionand the Yokohama Works also Environmental Group Activity
Presentation Meeting
received Excellence Awards.

Initiatives for the Environment

Material Flow
The Furukawa Electric Group strives to reduce various kinds of environmental impact, resource use and energy
consumption in the course of conducting business.

Environmental Impact of the Furukawa Electric Group in Fiscal 2012
Data has been compiled for Furukawa Electric, its 28 affiliated companies in Japan and 44 affiliated companies overseas.

INPUT
Category

Domestic

OUTPUT
Overseas

Category

Unit

Furukawa ElectricRaw materials

Domestic Overseas

Unit

Waste

Copper155,258

164,397

tons

Seven works,

Total waste generated

64,73032,460 tons

Aluminum

280,542

40,681

tons

Final waste disposal

1,014

7,170 tons

Iron

4,515

10,826tons

28 domestic
affiliated companies

Recycling amount

59,70917,201 tons

Nickel

568

—

tons

and

Chromium

165

—

tons

Manganese

1,507

—

tons

44 overseas
affiliates

CO2819,835

393,108 tons-CO2

132— tonsAtmospheric emissions

Magnesium

4,943

—

tons

SOx

Other metals

40,700

—

tons

XOx

736

— tons

46

—

tons

Soot

35

— tonsVolume emitted

151— tonsVolume transferred304— tonsRubber
Glass

132

1,493

tons

Plastic

46,87846,999tons

Energy17,918

6,589

TJElectricity (purchased electricity)

1,076,320

526,321

MWh

Electricity (hydroelectric power)

147,835

22,840MWh

Wastewater

24,065

1,261 1,000 m3

Electricity (solar power)

15

—

MWh

Public waterways

22,855510 1,000 m3

21,298218 1,000 m3

Chemical substances

City gas

40,9444,319

1,000 m3

RiversLPG

40,118

2,325

tons

Sea

1,554

0 1,000 m3

Heavy fuel oil A

11,223

1,042

kl

Other

2,783

292 1,000 m3

Sewer

1,210

751 1,000 m3

Kerosene

14,5007

kl

Light oil

789

109

kl

BOD

69

— tonsWater

26,9382,148

1,000 m3

COD

71

— tonsIndustrial water

20,16574

1,000 m3

SS

53

— tonsGroundwater

5,575

327

1,000 m3

Tap water

1,198

1,747

1,000 m3

Product shipping volume924,927— tons57,329—Product collection volume

5,483— tonsType of cable

4,963— tonsPlastics

438— tons

Metals82— tons115,017659,871 tons

Chemical substances
Volume handled*1

tons

Packaging*2
Cardboard

900

—

tons

Wood

37,15674,405tons

Plastic

1,079

3,883

tons

Paper

601

557

tons

1,084

—

tons

Paper

*3

Volume of water
recycled and reused*1 PRTR-listed substances*2 Cardboard, wood, plastic, and paper used in product shipping*3 OA paper, copy paper, etc. used at plants and offices

Furukawa Electric Group Sustainability Report 201220

Initiatives for the Environment

Targets and Performance (Environment)
The Furukawa Electric Group is proceeding with environmental conservation activities against medium-term targets in its
2012 Medium-Term Plan for Environmental Preservation Activities and the annual plan based upon it.

Activity Targets and Performance in Fiscal 2012
The Furukawa Electric Group defines medium-term targets
every three years. (For fiscal 2012, these were in the form of
the 2012 Medium-Term Plan for Environmental Preservation
Activities.) Each year, we establish targets for environmental
protection activities based on these plans. In addition todeveloping these activities at all of the Furukawa ElectricWorks, we are also making progress in consolidating theoverall Group targets and activities by reflecting them in theenvironmental targets at each affiliate through the efforts ofActivities
Waste reduction activities

Activities to prevent
global warming

Chemical substancemanagement activities
Green activities
Eco-design activities
Biodiversity preservation

the Group Environmental Committee.
In fiscal 2012, we reached many of our targets in the
categories of reducing emission of gases that cause global
warming and lowering VOC emissions. However, we fell
short of our targets in a number of activities. In fiscal 2013,
we will redouble our efforts to do so from fiscal 2012 on,with the goal of fulfilling our 2012 Medium-Term Plan forEnvironmental Preservation Activities for the Group overall.

Performance in fiscal 2012
Furukawa Electric
RatingAffiliated companies

Rating

―18.8% reduction
11.8% reduction

○
―
○
○

89.2%
74%
20.5% reduction
12.6% reduction

×
×
○
○

Achieved at 7/21 Divisions

×

Achieved at 12/17 Works×13.8% reduction○

Achieved at 8/12 Works

×27.7% reduction

○

―

―

―

―

58.9% reduction○

Achieved at 6 companies○○

Environmental preservation activity targets for fiscal 2012
97% or more recycling rate (95% or more for affiliates)
Affiliates zero emissions achievement ratio: 80%
14% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with fiscal 2001 level
4% reduction in energy consumption compared with fiscal 2008 level
1% reduction in specific energy consumption for manufacturing compared withthe previous fiscal year
5% reduction in specific energy consumption for transportation compared withfiscal 2007 level (1% reduction at affiliates compared to the previous fiscal year)
Furukawa Electric: 10% reduction in emissions of volatile organic compounds
compared with fiscal 2008 level*1
Affiliated companies: 42% reduction in emissions of volatile organic compounds
compared with fiscal 2005 level*2
Procurement rate for 52 general-purpose products: 100%
Expand to Group companies
Sales ratio for environmentally sound products: 25% or greater (Furukawa
Electric only)
Establish biodiversity impact guideline
Examine models for biodiversity action

97%

100%
○
Expanded to 15 Group companies
40.0%

○

―

Evaluation of risk and determination of issues with regard to biodiversity―△*1 Revised by adding hydrocarbon-based detergent (Subject: All VOCs)*2 As has been the case up to now, mainly two substances (toluene and xylene)

Fiscal 2013 Activity Targets
As fiscal 2013 will the last year for the 2012 MediumTerm Plan for Environmental Preservation Activities, we will
intensify groupwide efforts to achieve the plan’s final goals.
With regard to chemical substance management
Activities
Waste reduction
activities

Activities to prevent
global warming

Chemical substancemanagement activities

Recycling rate
Group zero emissions achievement ratio
Greenhouse gas emissions
Energy consumption
Specific energy consumption for
production
Specific energy consumption fortransportation
VOC emissions volume

Green activities

Eco-design activities

activities, we have revised affiliated companies’ targets for
reducing VOC emissions. As for Furukawa Electric on astandalone basis, their new management target is all VOCs.

Environmental preservation activity targets for fiscal 2013
99% or more (97% or more for affiliates)
Affiliates zero emissions achievement ratio: 90%
Reduce by 15% compared to fiscal 2001
Reduce by 5% compared to fiscal 2008
Reduce by 1% compared to the previous fiscal year
Reduce by 6% compared to fiscal 2007 (Furukawa Electric only)
Furukawa Electric: Reduce by 15% compared to fiscal 2008
Affiliated companies: Reduce by 1% compared to the previous fiscal year*1
Procurement rate for 52 general-purpose products: 100%
Expand to affiliates
Sales ratio for environmentally sound products: 45% or greater (Furukawa
Electric only)
Conduct of LCA for all important products:100%

Biodiversity preservation*1: Targets all surveyed VOCs

21

Furukawa Electric Group Sustainability Report 2012

Formulation of biodiversity guidelines and creation of structures2012 Medium-Term Plan forEnvironmental Preservation Activities
99% or more recycling rate
Affiliates zero emissions achievement ratio: 90%
Reduce by 15% compared to fiscal 2001
Reduce by 5% compared to fiscal 2008
Reduce by 1% compared to the previous fiscal
year
Reduce by 6% compared to fiscal 2007
(standalone only)
Optimal management of the quantity of chemical
substances consumed
Expansion of general purpose green products
Increase in the development and sale ofenvironmentally sound products
Improvement in product environmental
performance indices and increase in sales
Formulation of guidelines and establishments ofsystems

Initiatives for the Environment

Environmentally Sound Products
The Furukawa Electric Group certifies and registers low-environmental impact products as “environmentally soundproducts,” and promotes their use.

Environmentally Sound Products andthe e-Friendly Accreditation System

Environmental Performance Index(“Visualization”)

The Furukawa Electric Group certifies and registers asenvironmentally sound products those products withimproved performance compared to existing productsin the categories of materials and parts purchasing andmanufacture, use, distribution and disposal.
We have created the “e-Friendly” environmental mark to
identify such environmentallysound products. This markis placed on those products,
The e-Friendly markas well as in catalogs.

In order to create environmental performance indicators for
major product lines, the Furukawa Electric Group is using
life-cycle assessment (LCA) to “visualize” CO2 emissions.
In fiscal 2012, we performed LCAs on 22 additional
product lines and created Product Category Rules (PCR)
guidelines. This effort brought the total number of productlines up to 40, allowing us to use environmental performanceindicators for products accounting for approximately 50% of
total net sales.
In fiscal 2013, we will implement LCA evaluation targets
for all major production lines. We will use the results of ourcalculations to define numerical targets for our next mediumterm plan and employ them on research and development
on environmentally sound products.

Environmentally sound product categories
Category

Content

Prevention of global Products with functions that help in the reduction of emissions as well
warmingas the absorption and stabilizing of greenhouse gases
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 as common components.

Implementation of LCA evaluations on product lines
Energy and Industrial Products Company

45

Elimination ofmaterials that havean impact on
the environment

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

Telecommunication Company

911Electronics and Automotive Systems Company

4

3

Metals Company

1

3

Total

18

22

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 for resources in packaging.

Zero emission

Company Business Division

Expanding Environmentally Sound
Products
We are working to increase our overall percentage ofenvironmentally sound products. We set targets based on
percentage of sales, and confirm our progress and successon this basis.
In fiscal 2012, on a standalone basis Furukawa Electricreached its target for environmentally sound products of
40.0% of total sales, surpassing its goal of 25% or more. (Thegroupwide result was 19.7%) For fiscal 2013, we have raised
this target to 45% or more, and we will continue with efforts
accordingly.

2011

2012

Examples of Degree of Social Contribution (NC-WS
Electrodeposited Copper Foil)

For one product on which LCA has been calculated, NCWS electrodeposited copper foil, we calculated the degreeof contribution to CO2 reduction if the product were actuallyused in the lithium-ion batteries of electric vehicles.
At Eco-Products 2011, we introduced the results of thesecalculations and the degree of social contribution made by
NC-WS.

Environmentally sound products as a percentage of sales
Cumulative number of registered items (non-consolidated)
Cumulative number of registered items (affiliated companies)
Percentage of sales on a single-year basis (non-consolidated)
Percentage of sales on a single-year basis (Group companies)(No. registered)

100

2mm

40.0

80
14.4

40
20
0

50

6.0
8

8

2009

44

12

2010

11.3

19.7

5mm

100

The use of Furukawa Electric’s
copper foil would result in an
estimated savings of 1.28 million
tons per year by 2020.

30
20

73

14

16

10

2011

2012

0

67

単年売上高比率
（単体）
（件）

1mm

40
20.9

60

累積登録件数（単体）(%)

Poster displayed at Eco-Products 2011
Furukawa Electric Group Sustainability Report 201222

Initiatives for the Environment

Environmentally Conscious Production/
Chemical Substance Management
The Furukawa Electric Group to enhance sustainability by reducing the environmental impact of production anddistribution processes and appropriately managing chemical substances.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Initiatives at Works
The majority of the Group’s greenhouse gas emissions
consist of CO2 generated from electricity, fuel and otherenergy sources. As emissions from manufacturing
processes account for a large proportion, we work on
reducing emissions by increasing the efficiency of production
processes, switching fuels, replacing equipment withmore efficient alternatives, insulating hot areas and othermeasures.
Total Group GHG emissions came to 820,000 tons of
CO2 in fiscal 2012, a reduction of 20.0% against fiscal 2001
levels, and energy consumption was down 12.3% comparedwith fiscal 2008 levels. On a non-consolidated basis, weachieved an equivalent of 244,000 tons of CO2, a reductionof 18.8% compared to fiscal 2001. CSR Data Book
Greenhouse gas emissions
Furukawa Electric

Affiliated companies(104 tons CO2)

120
90
60
30
0

72.5

70.6

69.6

66.9

65.7

61.6

60.0

57.6

30.0

28.7

28.2

27.1

26.5

25.9

24.6

24.4

2001

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

enhancements in loading rates. In addition, Furukawa Electricachieved a reduction of 13.8% in specific consumption fromfiscal 2007. Despite such factors as a decrease in longdistance shipping and a downward trend in the modal shift
rate, we will continue to promote modal shifts, increased
loading rates, joint shipping and similar measures todecrease the energy used in shipping. CSR Data Book

Reducing Waste
The Furukawa Electric Group began taking action to reduce
outsourced waste disposal in fiscal 1994, and launchedzero emission efforts in fiscal 2002 for reducing the volume
of final disposal to less than 1% of the total volume of waste
by directly transporting waste from each works to final
disposal sites.
As a result of our efforts to meticulously sort waste
and recycle waste acid and sludge into useful resources,
the overall level of outsourced waste (which was notrecycled) disposal for the Group for fiscal 2012 fell by 66.1%
compared with fiscal 2005 to 5,021 tons. Also, the volume
of waste directly sent to landfills fell by 78.1% (to 1,014 tons)
in comparison to fiscal 2005 for Group companies in Japan,
disposal for Furukawa Electric alone was zero.
Non-recyclable waste volumes(FY)*1 The emissions coefficients of the respective power companies are used toconvert power use volumes.
*2 CO2 emissions attributable to hydroelectric power are deemed to be zero.

Furukawa Electric

15,00010,000Initiatives in Logistics

Affiliated companies(Tons)

10,9979,041

In fiscal 2012, total transportation volume for the Furukawa
Electric Group decreased 3.2% year-on-year to 460 million
ton-kilometers. Of this total, Furukawa Electric alone accounts
for 133 million ton-kilometers, down 1.0% compared withfiscal 2011. The Company decreased CO2 emissions
by 2.6% year-on-year to 14,900 tons, due largely to

Direct landfill disposal

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

7,951

3,816
0

2005

2,119
2006

Furukawa Electric

Specific consumption

1.9

(%)

1.869
8.5

10.7

1.7
0

9.9

1.833

1.8

9.0

2009

4,903

4,272

1,552 1,839 1,160 1,252
863
749
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012 (FY)

Affiliated companies

2010

4,000
3,000

8.0

6.6
1.698

3.6
2008

5,753

12.0

1.742

2007

7,824

5,000

Rate of modal shift(MJ/ton-kilometers)

1.897

8,573

5,000

2011

1.636

2012

4.0
(FY)

0

4,121
3,113

2,000
1,000

2,254

古河電工

関係会社

（万トン-CO504 2）

120
0 2005

176
2006

177
2007

2,124

1,818

271
2008

258
2009

1,619
164
2010

1,355
1,014
4
0
2011
2012 (FY)90

23

Furukawa Electric Group Sustainability Report 201260
30

72.5 67.6 70.4 73.3 75.6 70.6 69.6 66.9 65.7 61.6 60.0 57.6

Also, in fiscal 2012, the target waste recycling rate (theratio of recycled waste compared to total waste volume) was
95% or more for affiliated companies and 97% or more for
Furukawa Electric on a standalone basis. Furukawa Electric
met this objective, at 97.0%, but affiliated companies fell
below their target, reaching 89.2%. CSR Data Book

Green Activities
Response to Customer Requests
When the Group receives a request from a customer
for information concerning chemical substances in our
products, it conducts a thorough environmental examination.
We also monitor trends in laws and regulations covering thechemical substances contained in products and compile andupdate data as it becomes available, allowing us to respondpromptly to customer requests. Furthermore, by collecting
information from industrial organizations and conducting
seminars, as well as participating in research groups, we canmonitor environmental regulations and standards and social
issues/items of concern. This enables us to incorporate
customer needs in our environmental conservation targets.

Response to Overseas Regulations(REACH Regulations, RoHS Directive)

affiliated companies, in fiscal 2012 we designed items forconformance at 15 affiliated companies. We continue topurchase conforming items.
Also, purchases of items for use in our products are
made based on our Green Procurement Guidelines, withthe selection of appropriate items based on the FGMS
system at the supplier and confirmation of data on chemical
substances contained in the products. We continue to
implement Green Procurement in regard to our main
suppliers and products purchased, and henceforth aim to
expand it for application to all components.

Chemical Substance Management
Activities
The Group works to reduce emissions of harmful chemical
substances. In particular, we make every effort to actively
reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds, one causeof photochemical smog. CSR Data Book
Overall Group emissions (of toluene and xylene) in fiscal
2012 were down 58.3% compared to fiscal 2005.
Among Group companies in Japan, there remains
one that uses organic chlorine compounds, and we areconsidering the phasing out of their use at this company.

Substances of very high concern (SVHCs)* that are includedin the Candidate List under the REACH regulations are
updated twice each year. Each time additional SVHCs are
published, the Furukawa Electric Group researches thestatus of its use of such substances. As of the end of fiscal
2012, we had conducted checks on 73 substances.

Emissions of volatile organic compounds		
(Group total: toluene and xylene)* Substance of Very High Concern. Use or marketing of SVHCs requires
approval, and manufacturers are liable to submit notification if an SVHC
exceeds 0.1% weight content.

100(Tons)

300

241

237

206

200

0

Regular Auditing under the Furukawa Branding
Green Products Management System (FGMS)

261

2005

2006

2007

2008

138

122

127

2009

2010

2011

109

2012

(FY)

Appropriate Management of Chemical Substances

Our FGMS Regular Auditing in fiscal 2012 was conducted
through self-checking and auditing at a Works of Furukawa
Electric, four factories of affiliate companies, and two
factories of affiliates’ suppliers. To control chemical
substances contained in products, we will continue tomonitor environmental risks, and expand and implement
auditing according to degree of importance.

At the Furukawa Electric Group, we confirm the properties
and applicable laws and regulations regarding all chemical
substances we use during the manufacturing process ontheir Material Safety Data Sheets and administrate them.
We also monitor the usage volume of chemical
substances listed in the PRTR Law*. CSR Data Book

Expansion of Green Procurement (GeneralPurpose Products) to Group Companies

Reducing Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds

We encourage the purchasing of OA equipment, officesupplies and other items that conform to the Green
Purchasing Law. Extending these activities to include* Law Concerning Reporting, Etc. of Releases to the Environment of SpecificChemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management

We are voluntarily working to reduce emissions of VOCs. The
main targets are toluene, acetone and n-decane.
In fiscal 2012, we reduced emissions 27.7% against
fiscal 2008 levels, surpassing our target of a 10% reduction.

Furukawa Electric Group Sustainability Report 201224

Initiatives for the Environment

Environmental Risk Management
The Furukawa Electric Group recognizes the potential risks of environmental impact resulting from its business activities
and formulates countermeasures for each type of risk.

Preventing Soil and Groundwater
Pollution

Response to Asbestos Concerns

The Furukawa Electric Group engages in the management ofspecific toxic substances and conducts regular inspections
for leaks to prevent the pollution of soil and groundwater innearby communities. We reduce the risk of pollution throughmeasures to prevent leaks and through ongoing efforts toswitch to substitute substances.
In fiscal 2012, we continued proper disposal of the slag
stored in the Oyama area (a site of the former Furukawa
Magnesium Co., Ltd.). Soil remediation through excavation
and removal has been conducted at locations where siteexaminations have found contamination. We will confirm
our plans as we continue with this work. Also, groundwatermeasures conducted in the previous fiscal year wereongoing at the site of the former Ibaraki Factory of Aoyama
Kinsho Co., Ltd.

Although our company does not currently produce or importany products containing asbestos, some of the industrialuse products we made and sold in the past did containasbestos. These include electrical wiring for ships, and fireresistant products for constructing telecommunications andelectrical power facilities, etc. For details please visit our
homepage.
In addition, we are currently examining the buildings andplants of Furukawa Electric and our affiliates to determine
if asbestos-containing building materials have been used.
Inspections for asbestos dispersal in buildings in whichspray-on materials had been used have confirmed thepresence of asbestos, and removal work or containment
measures have been taken to prevent future dispersal. We
have also proceeded to replace equipment and fixtures inwhich asbestos insulation has been used so as to prevent
dispersal, with planned replacements of all items which are
currently not dispersing asbestos with items not containing
it. For other items, we conduct regular inspections andintroduce alternates during facility renewals.

Effort to Prevent Atmospheric andWastewater Pollution
At each of the Furukawa Electric Group’s works andthe business bases of affiliated companies, we maintainvoluntary control limits and manage operations to avoid
exceeding regulatory limits, such as those prescribed by the
Air Pollution Control Law and Water Pollution Control Law.
Atmospheric and wastewater quality data was all within
regulatory limits at each works in fiscal 2012.
WEB

Management status at works

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/english/csr/enviroment/risk.htm

PCB Management
The Furukawa Electric Group monitors the amount of
PCB-containing equipment at each of our Works andaffiliate company sites, and conducts proper storage andmanagement. Based on this information, we register with
the Japan Environmental Safety Corporation and entrust
waste processing in accordance with plans. In fiscal 2012,
processing of managed substances commenced at the
Mie Works and the Copper Tube Division. Also, condensers
and transformers removed from our facilities are examined
for PCB content on a case-by-case basis. We are also
proceeding with planned analyses of equipment containing
even small amounts of PCB, with all examinations slated forcompletion by fiscal 2013.
WEB

25

Number of instruments containing PCB

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/english/csr/enviroment/risk.htm

Furukawa Electric Group Sustainability Report 2012

WEB

Response to Asbestos Concerns (Details)

http://www.furukawa.co.jp/english/csr/enviroment/risk.htm

Environmental Accident Response
At the Furukawa Electric Group, we conduct annual checks
for conceivable, clear environmental impact so as to prevent
environmental accidents or prevent widespread impact in theevent of an accident. We also conduct simulation drills that
presuppose post-accident responses.
We regularly confirm environmental laws and otherregulations to determine items requiring compliance, and
we endeavor to comply accordingly. According to our fiscal
2012 survey on the status of our regulatory compliance, wewere not in material violation of any regulations.

Initiatives for the Environment

Biodiversity Preservation
Based on the three points of emphasis that the Furukawa Electric Group established in 2011, we conducted initiatives tominimize the impact of our business activities on biodiversity.

Three Important Biodiversity Effort
Categories
We established the following three important biodiversity
categories to specify Group biodiversity efforts, in recognitionof the fact that our business, products and services are theresult of biodiversity, and of our impact, whether positive or
negative, on eco-systems.

Biodiversity Preservation:			Three Important Categories
1. Assess the impact of business practices on eco-systems,
and work to minimize the negative impact and maximize
the positive.
2. Promote sustainable resource use in consideration of
biodiversity preservation through anti-climate change
measures, resource conservation, and resource re-use, as
well increasing efforts to reduce the use of environmental
impact-causing substances.
3. By raising the consciousness of each individual, we actively
promote biodiversity preservation in tandem with society.

Evaluating Relationships between Operations
and Biodiversity and Analyzing Risks
Between August 24 and November 11, 2011, the Furukawa
Electric Group worked extensively to determine all thebusiness risks related to biodiversity, and we began taking
part in a project to clarify outstanding issues. We recognizedthat to develop specific actions related to biodiversity
preservation, we first needed to determine the current
status. We outsourced the consulting on this project to a
Project Implementation Flow
Kick-off
meeting• Sharethe objectives of risk analysis
• Explainbasic information related to companies
and biodiversity

Hearings at
individual
divisionsand organize each division’s risks• Determine• Helpeach person in charge understand therelationship between their work and biodiversity

Internal
workshopshearing results• Share• Reconfirmrisks• Identify
major risks• Determine
the ideal state to reach by 2020

specialist in this field,
Response Ability,
Inc., which analyzed
and evaluated therelationships between
the Group’s overallbusinesses andbiodiversity.

Holding internal workshops as one aspect ofthe project

Project Outcomes
Through this project, we recognized the existence of
biodiversity-related risks at all stages of recycling Furukawa
Electric Group products. Based on this knowledge, we
ascertained seven management issues involving themanagement of individual risks that should lead to Furukawa
Electric’s increased competitiveness.
Environmental Management Issues and Action Plans
• Establish
long-term vision and long-term targets forenvironmental management
• Createan organizational structure to support long-term
environmental activities
Seven• Promoteenvironmentally conscious research andEnvironmental development
Issues• Shift
to sustainable energy• Formulate
guidelines (raw materials, land use, water, etc.)• Promotethe 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle)• Communicate
with multiple stakeholders

Action Plans• Createa long-term plan for sustainability• Incorporate
biodiversity into R&D policy• Takeaction in individual biodiversity-related themesthat will have a rapid effect• Establish
working group to create a long-term plan forsustainability• Formulate
the next medium-term plan and organize aworking group for individual themes

Of these, we identified the creation of a long-term vision
for environmental management as a priority. We gatheredpeople from related divisions to formulate a working
group (the Sustainability Plan Working Group) to create amedium- to long-term plan on environmental management.
To ensure a fit between this long-term vision and the next
medium-term plan, we will share information and encouragecommunication among all related teams.
From fiscal 2013, to make our biodiversity preservation
initiatives more concrete, we will draw up guidelines related
to land use, procurement and other items.

Furukawa Electric Group Sustainability Report 201226