Stakeholder Dialogue: Reducing the environmental burden of products

Dialogue theme: Dialogue with Experts, What We Have Done So Far to Reduce Environmental Burdens

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The Fujifilm Group has conducted dialogues focused on reducing the environmental burden of products since 2005. For the dialogue in 2008 (held May 15, 2008), we discussed what the Fujifilm Group has done and should do to reduce environmental burdens.
Participants included three external experts, including Mr. Norihiro Itsubo, Associate Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Information Studies, Musashi Institute of Technology; Ms. Mariko Kawaguchi, Senior Analyst, Management Strategy Research Department, Daiwa Institute of Research, Ltd; Mr. Toshihiko Fujii, Consulting Fellow, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI), and seven employees from FUJIFILM Holdings, Fujifilm, and Fuji Xerox. Mr. Hideto Kawakita, CEO of IIHOE (International Institute for Human, Organization, and the Earth), served as the facilitator.

What we have done

Participant comments

Since refining aluminum as the raw material for PS plates requires significant energy, Fujifilm's technology for the closed-loop recycling of waste aluminum is worthy of praise. This will also boost the company's competitiveness.
The progress in reducing environmental burden associated with hardware, including copy machines, is wonderful.

What we should do

Environmental efforts for BtoB (Business to Business) products should be communicated to end-users as well.
Results of environmental efforts for input resources should be presented in a clear and concrete manner.
Actual CO₂ reductions should be indicated by product, not as one total amount.
Actively introduce energy saving mode in accordance with individual usage and mechanisms to reduce misprinting. Also further improve “soft” aspects such as recommending specific ways in which users could reduce environmental burdens and how much the reduction would be.
Disseminating environmentally friendly products requires the concept of “investment” in addition to “cost.”
Companies need to be more actively involved in creating a system for securing advantages for pioneers to contribute to eco-friendliness.
Cultivate human resources to undertake the required negotiations and coordinate strategies.

Conclusion

We have reaffirmed the significance of more actively communicating to society about activities that the Fujifilm Group has been implementing to reduce the environmental burden of its products. We have strengthened cooperation between individual divisions and the CSR division to promote environmentally friendly products from the perspective of management and presented the results to the general public as well as customers.

After the stakeholder dialogue

What advances efforts to the reduce environmental burden of products

[Photo]Mr. Toshihiko Fujii Consulting Fellow, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry

Mr. Toshihiko Fujii
Consulting Fellow, Research Institute of Economy,
Trade and Industry

As efforts to reduce the environmental burden of products move toward full implementation, it is often the case that the problem cannot be solved by just one company. The recycling of aluminum at Fujifilm seems to be one such example. The objective has been achieved in cooperation with alloy manufacturers. The significant efforts in which personnel literally went around everywhere were the key to success. This is always true. However, more efficient progress would be possible with the support of an institutional framework or policy for promoting environmental cooperation beyond the boundaries of companies. Achieving a society with a small environmental burden will signify changing the rules of the game.

After attending the dialogue

[Photo]Mr. Norihiro Itsubo Associate Professor, Faculty of Environmental, and Information Studies, Musashi Institute of Technology

Mr. Norihiro Itsubo
Associate Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Information Studies,
Musashi Institute of Technology

What sets Fujifilm and Fuji Xerox apart is not just the progressive content of their efforts but also their approach to product development and improvement in environmental burden based on product life cycles. I think this is related to basic CSR philosophy. To reduce environmental burden, it is vital to establish consensus with all related parties along with technical improvements. To promote the recycling of aluminum, Fujifilm took the first step to reprocess aluminum on its own and by assuring quality, the company was able to systemize recycling procedures. This is noteworthy.

TOPIC

Continuously holding Environmental Forums
to promote education and information sharing

The Fujifilm Group conducts basic environmental education for all employees, including those overseas. The Group also offers training for specific fields and operations in addition to basic education for operators and administrators who are required to possess specialized knowledge and capabilities. In addition, Environmental Forums have been held annually since 2002, to share and commonly utilize information about various technologies and initiatives related to environmental concerns within the Group. The seventh event, Environmental Forum 2008, was held on March 13, 2008 under the main theme of preventing global warming, a common issue across the world; approximately 400 employees participated.

[Photo]Panel discussion

Panel discussion

[Photo]Poster session

Poster session

Outline of Environmental Forum 2008

Poster Session: Group companies presented 49 cases of environment-related efforts.
Keynote address: Takejiro Sueyoshi, Special Advisor to the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) Finance Initiative, who possesses in-depth knowledge of environmental problems and CSR, delivered the keynote address.
Presentations: Fujifilm Group employees gave four presentations about efforts for stopping global warming and other initiatives.
Panel discussion: Five members from the Fujifilm Group participated in a panel discussion on reducing the environmental burden of our products.