Green News
Environment
Konica Minolta's Three Chinese Bases Achieve Level 2 Zero Emissions*
April 30, 2009
The Konica Minolta Group's three production bases in China have earned the company's Level 2 zero emissions designation. The criteria for Level 2 are extremely strict, as the three criteria of Level 1 (*see below) must be maintained and, in addition, the volume of waste per sales unit must be reduced by 30% from fiscal 2001 levels. This waste includes everything output from the production process (other than products), regardless of whether or not recycling is involved.
Konica Minolta's zero emission activities are distinguished by the fact that they also factor in real-world economics and risk management. The company achieved Level 2 zero emissions at all of its domestic production sites in fiscal 2007.
The three Chinese bases that earned Level 2 zero emissions designation are Konica Minolta Business Technologies (Wuxi) Co., Ltd., Konica Minolta Business Technologies (Dongguan) Co., Ltd., and Konica Minolta Optical Products (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. All of the company's other overseas production sites are expected to achieve Level 2 status in fiscal 2009.
The Wuxi facility is a production site for information processing devices such as digital MFPs. To earn Level 2 designation, the company reduced externally discarded waste by 38% through such measures as switching to returnable cardboard boxes for procured parts delivery and using the milled ends of plastic parts (which were previously discarded as waste) to produce rubbish bins. The company donated the bins to the city as a contribution to the community.
The Dongguan facility is a production site for information processing devices such as digital MFPs and laser printers. As in Wuxi, the Dongguan facility reduced cardboard waste by switching to returnable cardboard boxes for procured parts delivery. The company also found a way to re-use the milled ends of plastic parts, in this case making them into moulded parts. Together, these changes reduced externally discarded waste by 33%.
The Shanghai facility is a production site for micro lens units for mobile phones and optical lens units. Here the milled ends of plastic parts are processed into trays used in the lens deposition process. The company also revamped its cleaning methods, in particular finding ways to use cleaning fluids more efficiently. These changes helped the company reduce externally discarded waste by 40%.
Helping to prevent global warming is a top priority at Konica Minolta. With Eco Vision 2050, the company has set in place a progressive environmental plan that looks more than 40 years into the future. Under this long-term plan, by 2050 the company aims to reduce CO2 emissions over the lifecycles of its products by 80% compared with 2005 levels. As a first step, the company has created the Medium-Term Environmental Plan 2015, which sets 2015 as a target date by which the company will reduce externally discarded waste by 50% per sales unit compared with 2005 levels. These zero emission activities are part of the company's ongoing efforts to promote recycling and re-use throughout the communities it serves.
As a manufacturer with global business operations, Konica Minolta encourages all of its employees to work toward conserving resources and reducing environmental impact. The company is committed to remaining an industry leader in environmental protection.
Konica Minolta Business Technologies (Wuxi) Co., Ltd.
Rubbish bins made from the milled ends of plastic parts donated to Wuxi city.
Konica Minolta Business Technologies (Dongguan) Co., Ltd.
A cartridge cover made by effectively utilising the milled ends of plastic parts.
Konica Minolta Optical Products (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Lens vapour-deposition trays made from the milled ends of plastic parts.
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- Konica Minolta has established two levels of zero emissions achievements. To earn Level 1 status, a facility must meet three criteria: maintain a resource recovery rate of 90% or higher; maintain a final disposal rate (including disposal of secondary residues) of 5% or less; and reduce external disposal costs by 90% compared with 1998 levels, or receive more income from recycling than is paid out as external disposal costs. To earn Level 2 status, a facility must meet all Level 1 criteria and additionally reduce the volume of externally discarded waste by 30% per sales unit compared with 2001 levels.
Before applying for Level 1 or Level 2 designation, the facility must continually meet the specified criteria for three months. Konica Minolta then dispatches a team of environmental specialists to conduct an on-site audit. The team leader makes the final decision on whether the facility meets the criteria and merits Level 1 or Level 2 designation.
