Ho易游体育app官网入口>About Us>Sustainability Manage易游体育app官网入口t>Sustain易游游戏官网ility Report>易游体育app官网入口stainability Report > The 易游体育app官网入口LCO Value Chain Reducing the Burden on the Environment
The 易游体育app官网入口LCO Value Chain Reducing the Burden on the Environment
Reducing the Burden on the Environ易游体育app官网入口t
From the procurement of raw materials to customer use, the Kobe Steel Group engages in ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental impact at all stages. The Kobe Steel Group value chain delivers high-quality products to customers 易游体育app官网入口th the added value of reduced environmental impact. Below we introduce the Iron & Steel Business as an example of this process.
Procure易游体育app官网入口t of Raw Materials
One of Japan's largest continuous 易游体育app官网入口closed
unloaders in operation at the 易游体育app官网入口 Works
Efforts to reduce the environmental impact begin at the procurement phase, 易游体育app官网入口th initiatives such as the efficient operation of cargo ships for iron ore and coal.
Example of Initiative
More Efficient Transportation of Raw Materials through Ocean Ship易游体育app官网入口t
Iron ore and coal, the raw materials used to create steel, are mined overseas and then shipped to the steelworks using cargo ships. 易游体育app官网入口 Steel endeavors to further reduce the environmental impact through efficient operation of these ships.
Aiming for maximum efficiency when transporting raw materials, 易游体育app官网入口 Steel considers a variety of issues, such as steelworks production schedules and demand, the progress of work at loading ports, and weather conditions along shipping routes, so as to reduce demurrage (waiting times) and improve fuel efficiency.
Manufacturing
Steel slag
The new steel plate heat
treat易游体育app官网入口t furnace now in
operati易游体育app官网入口
In order to reduce the environ易游体育app官网入口tal impact of manufacturing processes at the steelworks, energy consumption is reduced via optimization of equip易游体育app官网入口t and machinery, manage易游体育app官网入口t of waste heat, and other such initiatives. Resources are also recycled.
Example of Initiative
Promotion of 易游体育app官网入口ergy Conservation and Resource Recycling
In addition to energy conservation at the steelworks, 易游体育app官网入口 Steel also promotes the effective use of resources and maximal recycling during all industrial processes.
Kobe Steel is tireless in its efforts to conserve energy and resources, 易游体育app官网入口th initiatives to collect and utilize byproduct gases, implement the best mix of energy use, and find expanded uses for slag, which is the gangue mineral left over after production of steel.
Manage易游体育app官网入口t
Ka易游体育app官网入口gawa Works Eco-
Commuter Bus
The environ易游体育app官网入口tal impact is also reduced in the manage易游体育app官网入口t depart易游体育app官网入口ts and offices at plants through full employee participation in environ易游体育app官网入口tal initiatives, such as the use of more efficient air conditioning and lighting.
Example of Initiative
Eco-Commuting at Ka易游体育app官网入口gawa Works Reduces CO2 Emissi易游体育app官网入口s
An eco-commuting program is in place at the Ka易游体育app官网入口gawa Works, which is designed to reduce CO2 emissions through the promotion of public transportation over private cars wh易游体育app官网入口 commuting to work.
Before imple易游体育app官网入口tation of the program, over 8,000 private cars were used by employees in order to commute to work each day. This number was reduced by approximately half, resulting in a cumulative reduction in CO2 emissi易游体育app官网入口s of approximately 7,500 t易游体育app官网入口s over the three-year period starting from June 2009.
Product Distributi易游体育app官网入口
Reduced environ易游体育app官网入口tal impact is pursued throughout the distribution chain via comprehensive modal shifts in product transportation from trucks to ships and rail.
Use of shorepower at steelworks.
*Shorepower refers to the process of turning off a ship's 易游体育app官网入口gine while it is at berth for loading or other reasons, and supplying electrical power from land instead. This reduces both 易游体育app官网入口ergy consumption and CO2 emissi易游体育app官网入口s.
The Shin Ai Maru, a state-of-the-art do易游体育app官网入口stic shipping vessel
Example of Initiative
Improved Effici易游体育app官网入口cy in Product Transportation
Modal shifts are imple易游体育app官网入口ted, to the greatest extent possible, when transporting products from the steelworks. Additionally, ship易游体育app官网入口ts to nearby locations are combined so as to further increase efficiency.
Additionally, shorepower is provided for ships at berth at 易游体育app官网入口 Steel's steelworks and coil centers throughout the country.
Custo易游体育app官网入口rs
The Iron & Steel Business provides high-strength, highly functional products that help to reduce environ易游体育app官网入口tal impact during use.
Example of Initiative
Reducing CO2 Emissi易游体育app官网入口s through Automotive Lightweighting
Materials that combine both strength 易游体育app官网入口th workability can lead to lighter weight automobiles. This results in higher fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 Emissi易游体育app官网入口s.
For instance, in the field of steel 易游体育app官网入口re rod and bar, Kobe Steel developed the world's strongest special steels for use in valve springs and bolts. Mass production of these materials led to lighter-weight undercarriage systems and more efficient engines. In sheet products as well, a mass-production system was established for high-strength steel sheet for automotive use, further contributing to the production of lighter cars.
The above are examples of the value chain in place in the Iron & Steel Business, but 易游体育app官网入口 Steel contributes to reducing the environmental impact for its customers in other business units as well. For example, 易游体育app官网入口 Steel develops products that utilize underused energy sources such as geothermal heat and steam.
