Environmental Initiatives
Environmental Initiatives for the Earth, the People, and the Future
Environmental challenges such as global warming and treatment of industrial waste have become
increasingly urgent in the recent years.
At Yamato Steel, we actively contribute to recycling by using scrap iron to manufacture products -
supporting both resource conservation and a circular economy. We remain committed to protecting the
environment from multiple perspectives and will continue to pursue sustainable practices in every
aspect of our operations.
Environmental Policy (ISO 14001)
- Basic Philosophy
Yamamoto Steel recognizes that global environmental conservation is essential for the survival of humankind. We further acknowledge that our production activities as a steel manufacturer have a significant impact on both the global and local environments. In response, we are committed to continuously promoting improvements that harmonize with the global environment and to carrying out activities that actively prevent pollution.
- Basic Policy
- Environmental protection shall be treated as a top management priority and we shall actively implement environmental protection initiatives.
- We shall address environmental aspects of our production activities, products, and services and we shall work on initiatives that reduce environmental impact.
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All of our employees and related personnel shall promote continuous improvement
in environmental protection activities and in the prevention of pollution, focusing on:
- Saving energy and resources
- Promoting recycling
- Reducing waste
- Following eco-friendly business practice
- We shall comply with all environment-related laws and regulations and any relevant protocols which we have voluntarily adopted.
- Taking into account environmental impact assessments, we shall establish action plans to achieve environmental targets, continuously improve environmental activities, and establish a framework to review and revise them.
Initiatives to Save Energy and Resources (Reduce CO² emissions)
In our business activities, Yamato Steel is working to reduce CO² emissions with a long-term view towards
sustainable future.
We promote energy and resource conservation by streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency.
We are actively promoting energy and resource conservation in our manufacturing processes, such as
switching from heavy oil to environmentally friendly natural gas and reviewing production processes,
to create a production system with a low environmental impact.
Initiative to Reduce Waste and Promote Recycling (Building a recycling-oriented society)
We promote the 3Rs and aim for zero emissions for waste generated through our business activities.
1. Recycling in the Manufacturing Process
We use waste iron scrap as the main raw material and recycle the waste such as slag, dust, scale, and other waste generated in the manufacturing process. With regard to the management of slag and slag products, Yamato Steel has established and complies with a management manual in accordance with the “Guidelines for the Management of Steel Slag Products” established by the Japan Steel Slag Association, and is striving to ensure the proper management of steel slag products.
2. Specially Controlled Industrial Waste Disposal and Industrial Waste Disposal
Hospitals and clinics generate various types of medical waste, such as syringes, syringe barrels, and testing equipment. Due to the various problems associated with medical waste, such as risks of hepatitis C, illegal dumping of collected medical waste, and dioxin generation during incineration, safe and reliable disposal is advisable. At Yamato Steel, we conduct safe and complete recycling treatment using electric furnaces.
Environmental Conservation
As a business that has signed an environmental protection agreement with Himeji City, we contribute to environmental protection in various ways.
1. Installation of Soundproof Barriers and Dust Nets
Soundproof barriers and dust nets have been installed to prevent noise and dust generated by the factory from reaching nearby residents.
2. Area Cleanup Activities
Based on an environmental protection agreement with Himeji City, we will continue to regularly implement a campaign to improve cleanliness in the areas surrounding our company.
3. Promote the Greening of Our Factory
Yamato Steel has been working on greening our factory for some time. If these green spaces grow into forests, they will act as a “carbon sink”.
4. Environmental Protection Action Initiatives
| Environmental Protection Activities | Target | Plan/Policy to Achieve Target | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green Purchasing | Increase the rate of green purchasing | Purchase eco-friendly products based on catalogs and other information |
| 2 | Global Warming Preventive Measures (Energy countermeasures) | Reduction of CO2 emissions per unit of production (=fuel consumption rate) | ・Introduce SSP for electric furnaces ・Introduction of low NOX regenerative burners in rolling heating furnaces ・Conversion to city gas as fuel ・Promotion of Non-Fossil Energy Use (Solar Power, Biomass) source |
| 3 | Chemical Substance Controls | Prevention leakage of chemical substances | Proper consignment processing and storage of waste PCB devices |
| Understand and report amount of emitted chemical substances and transfers under the PRTR Law | |||
| Proper management through SDS utilization | |||
| 4 | Environmental Education | Employee training | Employee education about environmental protection |
| 5 | Waste Management Countermeasures | Reduction of generation unit rate | Review of processes to reduce waste generation, promotion of the
3Rs, and promotion of valuable materials Proper Management and Recycling Promotion of Waste Plastics (Including General Waste) |