Mitsubishi 2005 Annual Report Download - page 36

Annual Report 2005
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MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION
Environmental Sustainability Plan
MMC formulated the Environmental Sustainability Plan as
a medium-term program of action for environmental
protection activities to ensure that the environmental
policy would not be a mere verbal philosophy. The plan
lays out goals for a five-year period that began in 2002
and contains a variety of measures aimed at promoting
environmental conservation. It sets specific performance
objectives in four main categories: environmental manage-
ment, recycling, prevention of global warming and
prevention of environmental pollution. Progress against
the plan is continuously monitored in all these areas.
The sharp deterioration in our business conditions
during fiscal 2004 necessitated major changes in product
development plans, which in turn led us to extend the
deadlines for achievement of some performance targets
contained in the Environmental Sustainability Plan.
■Environmental Management
MMC is promoting DfE (Design for Environment), a system
designed to ensure that a reduced environmental impact
is built into new products at the earliest concept stages.
This includes efforts to increase recyclability and reduce
weight. The goal is to minimize the environmental impact
of products over the entire life cycle so that the MMC
development process generates eco-conscious vehicles.
MMC initiated a green procurement program as part of
its environmental protection activities in November 2000.
As part of this program, MMC requires that all its materi-
als and parts suppliers obtain ISO 14001 certification for
their environmental management systems. As of March
31, 2005, the certification rate of suppliers was 93.3%.
MMC also stresses communication. In addition to
publishing an annual social and environmental report,
MMC communicates its environmental activities by issuing
a pamphlet titled
The Environment and Manufacturing
Automobiles
. Other means of communication include
providing support for environmental education by dis-
patching teachers to schools, a web site created specifi-
cally for schoolchildren, and an automobile information
consulting service.
Environmental Activities
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Environmental Policy
Mitsubishi Motors recognizes that protection of the
global environment is a priority for humanity and as
such makes the following pledges:
1. Taking a global perspective, we are committed to
harnessing all our resources to achieve continuous
reductions in the environmental impact of all our
corporate activities, spanning development,
procurement, production, sales, and after-sale
servicing of vehicles.
2. As a good corporate citizen, we are committed to take
actions that protect the environment at the level of
local communities and of society as a whole.
Behavioral Standards
1. We will endeavor to protect the environment by
forecasting and assessing the environmental impact
of our products at all stages in their life cycle.
Priority is given to the following areas:
•Prevention of global warming by reducing emissions
of greenhouse gases
•Prevention of pollution by restricting emissions of
substances harmful to the environment
•Reduction of waste and maximizing efficient use of
resources by promoting conservation of resources
and recycling
2. We will endeavor to improve our environment
management practices as part of ongoing efforts to
ameliorate the impact on the environment.
3. We will comply with environmental regulations and
agreements, and will work to protect the environ-
ment by establishing voluntary management targets.
4. We will encourage our affiliates and suppliers, both
in Japan and abroad, to cooperate in working to
protect the environment.
5. We will actively disclose environment-related
information and will seek the understanding of local
communities and of society at large.
As a 21st century corporation, MMC believes that environmental activities are just as crucial a part
of operations as economic and social activities. Based on this belief, MMC will use its full capabili-
ties in environmental activities and other societal pursuits while at the same time ensuring the
success of its revitalization plan.
Environmental Policy
MMC formulated an Environmental Policy in 1999 that
clarifies measures for protecting the environment within
the context of management of the company.