Recent Ecomaterial Developments and Environmental Achievements of Major Industries in Japan

Abstract

The research was made on how ecomaterials have been developed and are used currently in Japan. All the information was obtained from the web-sites 2001-2005 year version environmental reports of over two hundred and sixty companies mainly with more than 5000 employees and listed on Japanese stock markets. The researched ecomaterials were classified into the six categories proposed by Japanese ''Ecomaterials Forum''. The number of ecomaterials nearly doubled between 2001 and 2003, and has been on the yearly increase ever since. Each industry is considered to have its individual problems to tackle and has developed its peculiar ecomaterials in response to such problems and requirements year by year. Moreover, many remarkable achievements in eco-products, eco-systems and ecological techniques utilizing ecomaterials are proudly shown in the environmental reports. The spread of these ecomaterials and eco-products will be quite effective for the saving of energy and also contribute greatly to the improvement of environment. Meanwhile, given the use of a large quantity of resources in these days, it is necessary for us to pay attention to and conduct researches into environmental problems including preventive measures against exhaustion of rare resources from a broader perspective and a bird's-eye view approaches.