We are placing particular emphasis on the reduction of emissions in China, which accounts for around 50% of the total CO2 emissions of the Olympus Group.
Increased Production in China Reflected in Higher CO2 Emissions
The Shenzhen Factory and Pan Yu Factory in China's Guangdong Province are key production facilities for Olympus imaging and information products. They manufacture digital camera parts and IC recorders and assemble finished products.
The Shenzhen Factory was opened in 1991. It is equipped with a variety of advanced systems, including sophisticated control systems for lighting and air conditioning, and maintenance programs that give priority to energy conservation. In 2007 it received an environmental excellence award from the municipal government of Shenzhen City.
Like the Shenzhen Factory, the Pan Yu Factory is designed for energy efficiency, and there have been sustained efforts to reduce energy consumption since the facility was opened in 1990. Production has increased dramatically at both factories, leading to substantial increase in CO2 emissions.
Shenzhen Factory– Advanced Energy Management
Makio Yamada, acting deputy section manager of the QA & Environmental Compliance Department of Olympus Imaging Corp., visited the Shenzhen and Pan Yu Factories in January 2006 to check facilities and engage in dialog with those working at the sites. "I found that both factories were implementing advanced energy conservation measures, but that they had reached the limits of what could be achieved locally and would need information and support from Japan. They are now achieving further reductions in CO2 emissions in collaboration with Olympus Imaging, which administers both factories, and the Environmental Development Department, which is responsible for reducing CO2 emissions across the entire Olympus Group. In November 2006, representatives of Olympus Imaging and the Environmental Development Department of Olympus Corporation went to China to meet with factory representatives. After monitoring the operation of facilities at the sites, they were able to introduce CO2 reduction activities similar to those implemented in Japan.
However, it was not possible to achieve dramatic reductions. In July 2007, a Japanese consulting firm conducted an energy conservation diagnosis of the Shenzhen Factory with view to achieving further improvements.
Yukinori Fujii, an energy conservation diagnosis and analysis manager in the Environmental Development Department of Olympus Corporation, recalls the collaborative efforts of factory managers and officials from his department and Olympus Imaging to facilitate the two-day on-site inspection by the consultants. "We made thorough preparations, including the collection and analysis of detailed data over a three-month period." The diagnosis by outside experts confirmed that facilities at the Shenzhen Factory were being operated at an extremely high standard.
The results indicated that further major improvements would require detailed improvements to production processes, including a search for production conditions that would yield better energy efficiency. "We were very pleased when the experts recognized the sustained efforts that those working at the two sites have made with regard to facility management," says Kazuya Abe, head of human resource and general administration for Olympus Hong Kong and China Limited, who is responsible for environmental management at both facilities.
Closer China-Japan Collaboration on CO2 Reduction Initiatives
In July 2007, Olympus began to gather data using a newly installed electric power monitoring system at the Pan Yu Factory. Information from Japan, including data analysis case studies and proposed countermeasures, is used to implement specific measures.
In October these efforts were beginning to yield reductions in CO2 emissions. According to Du Fei, head of environmental and safety administration of Olympus (Guangzhou) Industry Ltd., which runs the Pan Yu Factory, up-to-date information from China was not previously reaching Japan.
"Frequent contacts with our colleagues in Japan allowed us to overcome the barriers of language and culture, and they were able to understand the situation here. Access to Japanese experience and knowledge heightened our awareness of the need for group-level efforts." All elements of the Olympus Group will continue to work closely together to find solutions to the complex problem of global warming.
CO2 Emissions of the Olympus Group and the Two Sites in China
Detailed and further information can be found at Global Warming Prevention : Activities in FY2007.
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