- Cogeneration
- A system that supplies more than one energy source, such as electricity, heat, etc., from a single energy resource such as petroleum or gas.
- Dioxins
- These are chlorinated organic compounds as defined by the Law Concerning Special Measures against Dioxins that was promulgated in July 1999. Coplanar PCB and others are well known. Dioxins are formed unintentionally through incineration of a variety of materials. They are highly toxic, carcinogenic and teratogenic.
- EcoAction 21
- This is an environmental management tool that makes it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to advance their environmental preservation efforts. It is being promoted by the Ministry of the Environment in Japan. An environmental management system, an environment performance evaluation and an environmental reporting are incorporated into one package of tools.
- Eco-design (Design for Environment (DfE))
- A method by which design and technical development, etc., are undertaken so as to improve the overall environmental efficiency of the product and its service, over its entire lifecycle. Using this method, aims and objectives include reduced environmental impact, more efficient use of natural resources, improved efficiencies in production processes, and cost reductions.
- Environmental Accounting
- A method of quantitatively evaluating and analyzing the costs and benefits of corporate environmental operations in business activities, and disclosing the results. The objective of environmental accounting is to promote environmental conservation activities effectively and efficiently and continue sustainable development, while maintaining a favorable relationship with the community.
- Environmental Efficiency
- An index that shows environmental impact in units of productive or economic activity (production volumes, sales figures, etc.) or inversely, that shows production or economic activity in units of environmental impact.
- Environmental Reporting Guidelines of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan
- These guidelines, issued by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, identify required items and define preparation procedures to ensure that all environmental reports share common information.
- Expanded Producer's Responsibility (EPR)
- This is a way of thinking under which the producer assumes a defined set of physical and financial responsibilities for the appropriate recycling and/or disposal of products, after they have been used and disposed of by the consumer.
- Expense for Outsourcing Recycling Services
- This term is used in the Container and Packaging Recycling Law, Japan. Recycling is a procedure that begins when paper or plastic container and packaging waste is collected according to the type of material, by municipal governments or other organizations, and is then processed as resources for reuse or recycle. Packaging manufacturers and other related corporations are liable for recycling a certain volume of container and packaging waste according to a calculation method set by the government. The cost incurred by outsourcing recycling services to a designated waste-processing dealer is called an Expense for Outsourcing Recycling Services.
- Forest Certification Systems
- A means of certifying forests to show that they have been managed so as to meet certain fixed standards, with the objective of promoting sustainable forest management. A representative example of a forest certification system is the one operated by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). For example, when procuring paper materials, in addition to the use of recycled paper, by utilizing FSC certified paper for one's needs for virgin paper, it is possible to take forest ecology into consideration in procurement activities.
- Free Riders
- Free riders are those who do not implement measures or who enjoy the benefits without shouldering the costs. For example, a company that uses packaging but does not pay the expense for outsourcing recycling services is called a free rider under the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law.
- Global Warming
- A rise in the average temperature of the earth due to a greenhouse effect caused by an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the air, such as carbon dioxide and methane. Global warming has advanced at a rapid rate due to the industrial production activities since the Industrial Revolution.
- Green Purchasing
- A method of purchasing goods or services considering not only price and quality, but also environmental impact. Under the Green Purchasing Promotion Law, Japan, effective since April 2001, the national and municipal governments are obligated to purchase goods that have less impact on the environment, to the fullest extent possible. Private companies and individuals are also required to comply with the law as much as they are able.
- GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines
- Released by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an international NGO encompassing the United Nations Environment Programme, national environmental organizations, institutional investors, associations of certified public accountants, and private corporations. These guidelines encourage every corporation to prepare a "Sustainability Report" integrating social, economical, and environmental aspects.
- ISO 14001
- ISO is an abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization. ISO 14001 is the international standard for environmental management system. It is a system under which a company aims for improvements by deciding on management goals and continuously implementing a cycle of Plan, Do, Check, Act, Plan... In Japan, ISO 14001 has been laid down as Japanese Industrial Standard JISQ 14001, a translation of ISO 14001. ISO 14001 came into effect in 1996, and this was revised as ISO 14001:2004 in November 2004. (JISQ 14001:2004 was published in December 2004.)
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
- This is a method used to analyze and evaluate the environmental impact of goods and services across their entire life cycle, from procurement of raw materials, through production, transport, actual use, and disposal.
- Manifest
- A control voucher for industrial waste. Each business party that discharges industrial waste has to fill in a legally designated form, including information about the type, quantity, and handling precautions of the waste. Information is added to the form at each stage after discharge: collection, intermediate disposal, and final disposal. The party that discharged the waste then collects the final disposal report to confirm its proper treatment.
- Modal Shift
- This refers to changing the method of transportation of goods on trunk routes from truck-based transportation to a bulk transportation option that has a lower environmental impact, such as rail transport or coastal shipping.
- Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Law
- Under this legislation, each business, such as a plant, is obligated to conduct surveys on the release and transfer (including release into the air, into a river or ocean, or outsourcing to a waste-disposal dealer) of about 400 government-designated hazardous chemical substances, including dioxins, and then report to the national government through the municipal government. The national government will publicly announce the compiled results.
- Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)
- A highly toxic and stable substance that resists decomposition and destruction. This chlorinated organic compound was used widely for various purposes including insulation oil. In 1972, production was prohibited by law in Japan, due to its strong toxicity. Without an effective disposal method, PCB waste had been stored at each company. The PCB Special Measures Law, enacted in April 2001, has provided a plan for its systematic disposal.
- Socially Responsible Investment (SRI)
- This refers to investment which, in addition to the traditional yardsticks for evaluation of stock investments - profitability and growth prospects - involves decisions made following a consideration of the commitment to corporate social responsibility of each candidate company (attitude on the environment, consideration of stakeholders, etc.).
- Soil Contamination Control Law
- This law was enacted May 29, 2002 in Japan, to regulate measures against soil pollution. It includes a clear grasp of the factors leading to this condition as well as measures to protect public health. The law requires landowners who have specific facilities that use identified hazardous substances on their land to survey the level of soil pollution when such facilities are decommissioned. Prefectural governors may order a landowner to remove soil contaminants when public health is at risk.
- Supply Chain
- The entire set of processes (including procurement, development, production, transportation, storage, sale, etc.) from the procurement of raw materials through to the final delivery of the product or service to the consumer. For example, when the producer procures raw materials or parts from a supplier, it gives priority to the selection of materials that take environmental factors into account, in addition to considerations of price and quality (using "green procurement" strategies). It is hoped that the manufacturing industry as a whole will take better care of the environment by taking into consideration the environmental effects of the entire supply chain.
- Sustainable Development
- The thesis proposed in a report entitled "Our Common Future," which was submitted by the World Commission on Environment and Development to the United Nations in 1987, has become the focal point of environmental issues. It represents the belief that development without damaging the environment leads to sustainable growth.
- Zero Emissions Activities
- These activities promote the recycling of waste generated during business activities in an effort to totally eliminate disposal of waste. The Ajinomoto Group promotes Ajinomoto Group Zero Emissions, working toward eliminating not only waste but also environmental impact across all areas of its business operations.
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