### 2. Examples of “Environmental Techniques” in Leisure

“Environmental Techniques” are useful not only in daily life but also in leisure activities.

Different individuals may have different interpretations of ecotourism. The Ministry of the Environment defines “ecotourism” as tourism having the following three elements and aiming at integration and continuous pursuit of these elements: (i) tourism that enhances understanding of the natural and cultural resources unique to the area and that contains educational and descriptive elements to facilitate enjoyment of their appeals; (ii) tourism that implements protection and conservation measures and that gives consideration for environmental load reduction to enable the sustainable use of resources; and (iii) tourism that contributes to revitalization of the local community and its economy. It is hoped that ecotourism will enable local residents to gain a new understanding of the natural and cultural values of their community and give vitality to their regions through exchanges with ecotour participants.

Hotels and Japanese inns are also taking environmentally conscious measures. For example, a Japanese inn in Toba City, Mie Prefecture, uses a facility inside the inn to reprocess the large amount of left over oil from cooking tempura into bio diesel fuel (BDF) and uses it for the bus that transports guests. Raw garbage is made into compost. Waste heat from private power generation is used to heat water for the inn. During the off-season months, the pool is used to collect rainwater for watering plants and washing cars.

Ecotour in Karuizawa

(Courtesy of Japan Travel Bureau Foundation)

CO₂ Emission Intensity by Transport Mode

1. "Private vehicle" and "Commercial vehicle" do not include mini-size vehicles.

2. "Rail" does not include electric tramway and new traffic system.

Sources: Compiled by the Ministry of the Environment based on the Railway Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Annual Report on Rail Statistics, FY 2001; All Japan Air Transport and Service Association Co. Ltd., Annual Report on Air Transport Statistics, 2001; and the Automobile Business Association of Japan, Annual Report of Road Transport Statistics, FY 2001.

The load put on the environment differs substantially depending on the means of transportation selected for traveling. For example, the use of railroads will emit only about 8% of carbon dioxide emitted from motor vehicle use.

### 3. Examples of "Environmental Techniques" in Manufacturing

In the products that we use everyday, there are those that are designed not only to lower environmental load during use but also incorporate environmental considerations throughout the product lifecycle, from its production to disposal.

Measures are being taken to minimize waste at the time when a product is to be disposed of and to make recycling of the product easier. For example, to make scrapping easier, a computer manufacturer has reduced the number of screws used to one-tenth of that used ten years ago. It is said that the time consumed in scrapping is now shorter and the cost of parts is lower.

An iron and steel company has succeeded in cutting down the use of coking coal by replacing some of the coking coal needed in the process of reducing iron ore to pig iron by blowing waste plastics into the blast furnace. Used plastics can be utilized effectively as resources. They can be recycled as raw materials, and waste plastics can be collected and used eventually as blast furnace feed.