Under the Alps Group environmental philosophy, as a member of the global community, and in order to contribute to sustainable development, the Communication Devices Division’s Soma Plant (Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture) had established its own environmental policy in 1998 and has taken on rigid environmental action ever since.
One of these initiatives is called “zero emissions.”
Zero emissions is a system that promotes a recycling-oriented society by eliminating discharge of all kinds of wastes and using them effectively as raw materials. The Soma Plant attained zero emissions status in 2005 through various activities, and has continued to recycle 99.8%*¹ of its wastes.
With the catch phrase, “separating makes resources, mixing makes trash,” the Plant has created a recycling atmosphere by placing waste collection containers throughout working areas, and has transformed its “trash depository” into an “eco-station.” As a result, the Plant now separates its regular, industrial and specially controlled industrial wastes into 81 categories.
As an example of recycling and reuse, shredded paper litter is mixed with straw and horse manure, while waste from the cafeteria is churned in a processing unit to produce compost, which is then used as fertilizer for local vegetable fields, as well as plants and trees within the compound.
Indirect departments have also vastly reduced their use of paper by switching to a “free address” layout where employees no longer have their own desk but must carry their laptop computers and necessary materials to their seat for that day. This has encouraged employees to distribute and store material in its electronic form only.
The continual efforts of the Plant and its employees were rewarded in January 2008 when the Plant was selected for the Supreme Award in the businesses category of the Fukushima Zero Emissions Contest. The contest evaluated activity sustainability, individuality, effectiveness and how well it had gained popularity.
