Mitsubishi 2002 Annual Report Download - page 28

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ENVIRONMENT
Overview of eco-sustainability initiative
Sustainable development is now a key concept for all
corporations. MMC aims to supply people with attrac-
tive vehicles while simultaneously preserving the envi-
ronment for future generations. Such actions promise
to contribute to the development of a society based on
the ideas of recycling and sustainability. MMC’s eco-
sustainability initiative, dubbed the “Environmental
Sustainability Plan,” comprises action programs under
four main headings—environmental management, re-
cycling, global warming prevention, and pollution pre-
vention. The company has set a variety of medium-term
performance targets in each of these areas.
Environmental management
Design for Environment (DfE):
eco-conscious product design
MMC is establishing a DfE system at the design stage
to ensure effective reductions in the environmental im-
pact of its products over their entire life cycle. The new
structure will become effective by March 2003. The DfE
framework is being designed to function as part of the
Quality Gate system.
Environmental management
All MMC manufacturing sites in Japan achieved ISO
14001 certification by 1999. Efforts have since broad-
ened in scope and now major overseas manufacturing
subsidiaries are similarly certified. MMC plans to en-
courage the ISO 14001 certification of all its suppliers
worldwide by March 2005. Similar environmental man-
agement systems are also being developed at MMC
sales companies.
Environment-related disclosure
MMC has publicly released details of its environmental
activities each year since 1999 in the form of an envi-
MMC is striving to take environmental considerations into account at each stage of vehicle life cycles—from
development and production to sale, use and recycling. In June 2002, MMC unveiled a five-year action plan
designed to achieve sustainable development within its operations.
ronmental report. These reports include details of
MMC’s environmental accounting practices, which aim
to measure the financial costs and benefits of the
company’s environmental protection activities. Besides
disclosing environmental data on the Internet, on each
of its vehicles, since 2000, MMC has also included such
data in its sales catalogs. The company plans to con-
tinue its policy of active disclosure of environmental
information through the Internet, press releases and
other media.
Recycling
Establishment of department to promote recycling
In part to respond to the prospect of new automobile
recycling legislation in Japan and Europe, in March
2002, MMC established a separate department to pro-
mote recycling initiatives throughout the company.
Achievement of 95% recycling ratio
MMC is implementing a variety of measures to achieve
a recycling ratio of 95% for its products. These include:
active participation in the creation of automobile recy-
cling systems in Japan in cooperation with central and
local government bodies and other concerned parties;
moves to promote the easier recycling of MMC prod-
ucts; and programs to eliminate the use of substances
designated as being harmful to the environment (such
as lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and cadmium).
Greater recycling of auto parts and materials
Since 1997, MMC has collected and recycled bumpers
made from polypropylene and related plastics whenever
such parts are replaced at MMC repair outlets. The ma-
terials recycled from such parts are incorporated into
new car components, such as battery sheets and wheel
housing covers. MMC also strives to make effective use
of recycled materials in vehicle production—for instance,