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NYK
Line has been making every possible effort to protect
the marine environment from exhaust gas emissions
from NYK-operated vessels. This endeavor is exemplified
by NYK's decision to begin using electronically-controlled
diesel engines that are effective in reducing oxides
of nitrogen (NOx) and emissions of particulate matter
(PM). In addition, NYK has begun introducing fuel
additives that help to improve engine combustion,
and the development of a new device using special
compact filters to eliminate high-density soot/smoke
from the exhaust gas of marine diesel engines was
initiated in 2003 as part of our efforts.
This new device (patent
pending) was developed jointly with Daiwa Kogyo
Co., Ltd., a Japanese manufacturer of industrial
machinery, and is suitable for use with up to 800kW
class diesel engines powered by heavy fuel oil.
In February 2004, NYK carried out shipboard performance
tests using a diesel-powered electrical generator
onboard an NYK-operated pure car and truck carrier,
thus completing the world's first onboard test of
a device of this type. The
onboard tests of this device showed that the dust-collecting
effect of the special filters reduced PM in exhaust
gas by 58%. Such a decrease promises to reduce air
pollution both in and out of port while eliminating
the recurring problem of soot deposits on the paint
of new cars being loaded and unloaded in ports around
the world. |
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Mitsubishi Plastics became the
first company to receive a low-interest loan based
on the quality of its environmental contributions.
To promote environment-oriented management
among companies, the Development Bank of Japan,
a 100% government-owned provider of policy-based
financing, has established a scheme under which
borrowers are eligible for reduced interest rates
according to ratings based on their environmental
protection initiatives. It has chosen Mitsubishi
Plastics to become the first company to receive
a loan under this system. During the screening,
Mitsubishi Plastics received the highest rating
(–Especially Progressive”) among applicants to the
scheme.
Mitsubishi
Plastics actively considers the environment in its
activities under –Responsible care,” the philosophy
of the chemical industry. For example, it has reduced
landfill waste at all of its plants to zero. It
has also adopted a unique approach to the planning
of environment-friendly products under strict quantitative
standards. Mitsubishi Plastics will use the loan
for environment-related R&D and facilities,
on which it spends around ¥1.3 billion to ¥1.4
billion annually. |
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Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries is issuing work clothing manufactured
with fiber made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) drink bottles. It is progressively introducing
the new clothing at its various plants, research
centers and other facilities. Just over four 1.5-liter
PET bottles are used in each jacket, and about four
in each pair of trousers. The company plans to supply
around 30,000 sets of clothing to its employees
each year, including uniforms distributed to new
employees as well as replacement sets for existing
employees. Approximately 250,000 PET bottles will
be recycled each year as a result. In
non-production locations, such as offices, work
clothing made from cotton-polyester blends is used.
The recycled PET bottle fiber will be used in the
blended fabric clothing. The fabric will consist
of 35% cotton, 55% recycled PET bottle fiber, and
10% polyester. The company will continue to supply
100% cotton clothing, which is resistant to heat
and other factors, for production activities, which
often include welding. The
company is actively committed to green procurement
as part of its ongoing effort to reduce the environmental
load. The new clothing will help to heighten employees'
awareness of the need to protect the environment.
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