We upgraded the gas hot water supply and related equipment in the employee canteen at the Togoshi Head Office in May 2010. We selected high-efficiency Eco-Jozu models for this upgrade, due to our approval of the "Eco-Jozu 2013" initiative of organizations, including the Japan Industrial Association of Gas and Kerosene Appliances. We also chose dishwashers fitted with special nozzles enabling a two-thirds reduction in the amount of water used. As a result, our monthly average gas use has been reduced by 15%, or 169m³/month, against the previous fiscal year. This corresponds to a saving of 4.6t in CO2 emissions per year. Our gas charges have also been reduced by approximately 170,000 yen per year.

The Toyama Group has made preventing global warming a target, and each department has been pushing ahead with activities to promote the conservation of energy. In June, Environment Month, the departments were particularly busy conducting activities, including tests of the set pressure of compressors and checks for air leaks in compressors, and conducting Energy Conservation Patrols for production equipment. As a result, they have reduced the set pressure of compressors and have repaired air leaks, in addition to revising the air supply and discharge method in order to increase heating and cooling efficiency, resulting in savings of 80,240 yen per year in electricity fees and a reduction in CO2 emissions of 2.2t/year.

The Environment Team at SMK Mexico held a workshop for employees' children to help deepen their awareness of environmental activities during the winter vacation period at local schools. Following an explanation of the meaning and importance of the 3Rs, the workshop participants discussed how normal (non-toxic) waste found in and around our homes could actually be used. The children also tried making things, producing ornaments and toys. We hope that these activities left an impression on the 45 children of widely varying ages who took part, and that they will develop the ability in future to make correct decisions regarding environmental problems.

SMK Malaysia replaced all 14 of the sodium lamps it used for exterior illumination at night with LED lamps as a fiscal 2010 initiative to reduce the use of electric power. As a result, the amount of electricity used per day by the lights (which are lit for 10 hours) declined by 64%, from 35kWh to 12.6kWh. This represents a reduction of 5.7t in annual CO2 emissions. In the future, SMK Malaysia intends to continue its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, for example through initiatives involving its air conditioning system and the lighting in its warehouse.

SMK Philippines expanded its factories in fiscal 2010. The company selected and installed equipment and fittings with its greatest focus on realizing a more environmentally friendly factory. As a result, in comparison to figures for the previous fittings, the company reduced CO2 emissions by 442t/year through the use of energy-saving air conditioning and other measures, and 3.6t/year through the use of LED lighting. The company reduced electricity charges by 14.4 million yen per year. The company intends to continue to work in future towards the realization of its target of a zero-emissions factory.

The SMK Dongguan Gaobu Factory studied the potential for reuse of the large quantities of solder-oxide residue produced by its soldering equipment, and introduced solder recovery equipment able to separate from the residue and recycle solder of quality equivalent to that in the solder tank. This resulted in a high-efficiency reuse of solder, with a recovery rate of between 38% and 62%, which contributed to a reduction in the amount of industrial waste discharged by the Factory. The introduction of the equipment has resulted in a significant reduction in running costs: 3,253 kg of solder were recovered in fiscal 2010, representing a figure of HK$960,735 in purchased solder.