Basic Environmental Policy
The sustainability of the Earth environment is essential to the continuation of our business. We strive to reduce the negative impact on the environment brought about by our business activities, because we recognize that it constitutes a great risk to our business. We established the Basic Environmental Policy and formulated the Environmental Action Plan aiming to improve our environmental management system and minimize the environmental impact.
Basic Environmental Policy
We are aware that the conservation of the global environment is one of the most important management issues, and will act with consideration for environmental conservation in all aspects of our business activities.
- We make efforts to prevent environmental contamination and reduce negative environmental impacts by assessing the impact of our business activities on the environment, including with regard to biodiversity, and setting voluntary standards as necessary, aiming at environmental conservation and economic growth alike to ensure sustainable development of society.
- We work to improve the organizations and systems to promote environmental conservation activities at each site and company of the Mitsui Kinzoku Group.
- We aim to address climate change and reduce the amount of waste and environmental pollutant emissions by setting targets.
- As a commitment to sustainable use of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity, we give proactive consideration to the creation of environmental value with respect to the introduction of technologies, adoption of materials and development of products.
- We strive to continuously improve the environmental management system through regular auditing.
- We provide employee education and training to help all people working for the Mitsui Kinzoku Group fully understand the importance of environmental conservation and increase their awareness. Also, we actively promote information disclosure to stakeholders.
(Revised in April 2022)
Outline of the Environmental Action Plan
| Establishment and improvement of environmental management system |
- Establishment and improvement of environmental management system at each site according to the form and scale of business
|
| Reduction of environmental footprint |
- Prevention of global warming
- Effective resource utilization and waste reduction
- Reduction of emissions of environmental pollutants
- Utilization of renewable energy
- Appropriate utilization and management of water resources
- Biodiversity conservation
- Thorough management of mine & plant closure
|
| Development and provision of environmental contribution products |
- Development of environmental contribution products and market expansion
|
| Emergency measures |
- Preparation of well-organized emergency manuals for disasters and accidents and continuous improvements of them
|
| Education/public relations/social contribution activities |
- Strengthening environmental education
- Disclosure of environmental information
- Dialogue with stakeholders
|
Nature Positive Declaration
Mitsui Kinzoku Group promotes integrated thinking in its management and is committed to sustainable value creation based on the relationship with natural capital. As part of this approach, we support the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and are registered as an Adopter, while further enhancing our information disclosure on nature-related risks and opportunities. In addition, our medium-term management plan identifies reducing and understanding impacts on biodiversity as a material issue, and we are systematically advancing efforts to assess and manage the impacts of our business activities on nature. Based on these initiatives, we present our approach and commitments toward achieving a nature-positive future as follows.
Mitsui Kinzoku Group Nature Positive Declaration
Mitsui Kinzoku Group has, over many years, contributed to the development of society through businesses such as mining, smelting, and materials manufacturing, all of which are deeply connected to natural capital.
For our business, nature is not only something we strive to protect; it is also a critical foundation for our business activities.
Precisely because of these business characteristics, we recognize that achieving “Nature Positive”—halting and reversing nature loss and putting nature on a path to recovery—is a critical management priority that supports the Mitsui Kinzoku Group’s long-term value creation and business resilience.
In line with the Purpose of Mitsui Kinzoku Group— “We promote the well-being of the world through a spirit of exploration and diverse technologies”—and our Basic Environmental Policy, we integrate nature-positive perspectives into our management and business activities, in parallel with initiatives to address climate change.
Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to the realization of a “Nature Positive” society, a goal that has gained global recognition.
Our Commitment to Nature Positive
1. Identifying and Understanding the Relationship Between Business and Nature
Based on the TNFD recommendations, we will utilize the LEAP approach to identify and understand our dependencies on and impacts on natural capital within our own operations and supply chain, as well as associated risks and opportunities.
2. Avoiding and Minimizing Negative Impacts on Nature, and Promoting Conservation and Restoration
With regard to the identified risks and opportunities, we will manage land use, water resources, chemical emissions, and ecosystem impacts, taking into account regional characteristics, including the presence of protected areas, and will continue and strengthen our efforts to conserve and restore biodiversity.
3. Linking Nature-Positive Initiatives to Value Creation
We will link our efforts to address natural capital with exploration of new business opportunities and value creation by leveraging our Group’s technological capabilities and business expertise.
4. Promoting Initiatives Together with our Stakeholders
Through engagement and collaboration with our stakeholders—including local communities and government agencies in the regions where we operate, as well as business partners and experts—we will promote community-based initiatives for coexistence with nature.
Environmental Management System
We have established the Supreme Safety & Environmental Meeting as a place to deliberate and determine the most important matters related to safety and the environment.
Guidelines and action plans determined at the Meeting are spread to each site by the Environmental and Safety Supervisory Manager (General manager of the Environmental and Safety Dept.) under the direction of the Chief Environmental and Safety Officer. Each site that operates under ISO14001 has a chief person that serves as the person responsible for managing environmental safety, and who makes sure that the required actions are being reliably executed.
Environmental Management System
Environmental Audit
Environmental audits are conducted in accordance with ISO 14001 for all production sites in Japan and overseas. Audits are usually conducted at least once a year, and for some small sites, once every three years. We audit in accordance with ISO 14001, collect performance data such as effluent and emission gas measurements, and check for on-site risks, as well as the progress in addressing issues raised during the previous audit.
Environmental Training
Mitsui Kinzoku Group considers that increasing the environmental awareness of all employees is an important factor in encouraging environmental activities. We are therefore working to promote training to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations while advancing our environmental efforts.
Our head office holds training on environmental laws and regulations to all of our sites. We provide a description of 13 environmental laws that are closely related to our business, which include the Act on Waste Management and Public Cleaning, the PRTR Law, the Air Pollution Control Law, and the Water Pollution Prevention Act. Participation in training provided by the head office is also a requirement for promotion to higher positions. At each site, we hold programs that are in line with the actual conditions of operations, considering what legal compliance is required at the site. In this way, we promote a better understanding of environmental laws and regulations and increase the effectiveness of implementation.