The protection of biodiversity—rich ecosystems living on Earth—is an important theme in environmental activities. The KOBELCO Group has established its own KOBELCO Biodiversity Guidelines, which arrange activities it has been working on as environmental management from the perspective of biodiversity. In line with the guidelines, the Group is promoting contribution to biodiversity through business activities and cooperation with local communities.
We recognize the importance of preserving biodiversity and will carry out activities accordingly based on the following guidelines.
We used IBAT* to evaluate the potential impacts that operations of the Group’s production sites have on locations important to preserving the biodiversity of the surrounding area.
The results found that there are no protected natural areas (including wetlands registered under the Ramsar Convention, UNESCO natural world heritage sites, or sites under IUCN protected area categories 1 [strict nature reserve] to 3 [natural monument or feature]) within a three kilometer radius of our production sites. Furthermore, the results did not find any examples where our operations damaged biodiversity directly.
* IBAT stands for Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool; a tool that can access basic data and the latest information on nature conservation.
The Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) and the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation have formulated the Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren and Action Policy, with the aim of creating a sustainable society by building a society in harmony with nature. Kobe Steel, Ltd. endorsed the declaration in December 2019.
To mitigate impact on biodiversity caused by climate change, we have created a roadmap for reducing CO2 in the steelmaking process and electric power business aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, and we are now carrying out activities under this roadmap.
To lower our dependence on water resources, we are working to reduce our use of water in production processes by optimizing water use, and by reusing and recycling water. Our goal is to maintain a water recycling rate of at least 95%.
We also set targets for water pollution load including COD, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus targeting our business sites located in areas with wastewater risks.
To make effective use of limited resources, we have implemented measures to control waste. Along with these, we are working to add value to by-products created during manufacturing processes, develop and introduce new applications of materials, and actively pursue recycling.
We have set the fiscal 2025 target of achieving a recycling rate of 99% for major by-products (slag, dust, and sludge).
We explain to our business partners our Group’s efforts for production activities that consider biodiversity, such as preventing overexploitation of resources, encompassing our suppliers of raw materials and ask them to take action.
Steel slag has earned a favorable reputation from fishermen, since demonstration testing has shown it to be effective in the restoration of the marine environment, including seaweed flourishing due to the nutrients such as iron and minerals that it contains. As a result, iron and steel slag hydrated matrix was adopted as a material for the construction of submerged breakwaters in the Suma district. Going forward, we will continue to promote the use of steel slag products as materials for marine and port construction, taking advantage of our experience in using these products to improve marine environments.
At Nadahama Science Square (Nada Ward, Kobe City), which is a facility for communication with local residents, we set up biotope and grow Sanguisorba tenuifolia, Pulsatilla cernua, and Synurus excelsus, etc. We work to preserve biodiversity and regularly hold nature observation events for local children through our association with NPO Rokko Nature Learning and specialists. (In fiscal 2021, we canceled the event to prevent the spread of COVID-19.)
We will preserve biotope and contribute to the maintenance of a rich ecosystem.
As an environmental and social contribution activity, we promote forest development activities that contribute to the conservation and promotion of biodiversity, as well as the KOBELCO Forest Fairy Tale Prize, which nurtures children’s love for nature, and environmental education outreach activities at children’s centers.
Since 2011, we have been carrying out forest development activities at two locations in Hyogo Prefecture led by employee volunteers.
At the KOBELCO Forest in Miki City, we participate in the Corporate Forest Creation Project promoted by Hyogoken Ryokka Suishin Kyokai (Public Interest Incorporated Association) and help with activities at the Hyogo Prefectural Mikiyama Forest Park to create more abundant forests.
At the ECOWAY Forest in Kobe’s Nada Ward, we participate in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Rokko Mountain Range Greenbelt Development Project to help prevent landslide disasters, to preserve and nurture diversity in ecosystems and species, and to promote better urban environments and scenic views. These activities are led by the Society for Learning about the Nature of Mt. Rokko, an NGO. Specific activities include forest thinning, underbrush clearing, and tree planting to develop a forest comprised of trees of various ages and species and with a balance of trees of varying heights and underbrush. The activities help to preserve and promote biodiversity.
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