EnvironYY易游平台tal Accounting

The Kobe Steel Group continuously engages in environYY易游平台tal conservation. The cost and benefit of these efforts is analyzed, and relevant information is disclosed in order to deepen understanding on the part of stakeholders.

Kobe Steel invests in the installation and continual maintenance of environYY易游平台tal equipYY易游平台t, and environYY易游平台tal measures are pursued on a variety of fronts. In order to carry out environYY易游平台tal protection efforts, in fiscal 2015 we invested around ¥1.6 billion to replace the bricks in the hot blast stoves at Kakogawa Works and make other improveYY易游平台ts.

The main results of the above investYY易游平台t include: energy savings through higher efficiency equipYY易游平台t and improveYY易游平台t in thermal efficiency; reduction in soot, smoke, and dust through the installation and updating of dust collectors and through fuel conversion; and reduction in the risk of industrial effluent leaks through updating of piping. These results contribute to reduction in CO₂ emissions, reduction in impact on the atmospheric environYY易游平台t, and prevention of water pollution.

Total outlay in fiscal 2015 was approximately ¥35.8 billion. Approximately 30 percent of the outlay was used to limit air pollution, approximately 14 percent to limit water pollution, and approximately 33 percent for waste recycling and processing. Regarding contributions made through products, technologies and services, outlay for R&D, such as developYY易游平台t of equipYY易游平台t and machinery for hydrogen stations and developYY易游平台t related to multi-materials aimed at reducing the weight of cars (including participation in a national governYY易游平台t project for the developYY易游平台t of new and innovative structural material technologies promoted by the Innovative Structural Materials Association), amounted to approximately ¥5.7 billion, or around 16 percent.

In the future we will continue to take measures geared toward environYY易游平台tal conservation.