The Japan Iron and Steel Federation (JISF) has established a plan called the Voluntary Action Program for Environmental Protection by Steelmakers. This program primarily focuses on measures against global warming and to recycle waste materials and, based on data from 1990, also specifies the measures to be implemented by the year 2010 (FY).
Midway through 2000, JISF made a summary of steel industry activities over the preceding decade to protect the environment. JISF hereby presents that summary, together with the results of a follow-up for 2004.
Notably, when compiling and computing data for the follow-up, various improvements were made to enhance the reliability and clarity of the Voluntary Action Program. In addition, with the collaboration of learned individuals in the energy field, representatives of the steel-consuming industries and officials from concerned government agencies, a quantitative LCA (life cycle assessment) study was made of the effect on society of reducing CO2 emissions from iron and steel products.
The steel industry consumes large volumes of coal, as a metallurgical reductant for iron ore in the ironmaking process for which there is no substitute, and in the production of iron and steel generates CO2 emissions. Consequently, in recognition that one of our most critical challenges is to stave off global warming, we have instituted a variety of measures to more effectively utilize energy.
It is the desire of the JISF member companies, by implementing this Voluntary Action Program, to continue producing steel products using the world's most energy efficient methods ,e.g. best available techniques and best practices, and to inflict the least possible burden on the environment. By this means, JISF hopes to contribute to energy savings and to a reduction in the overall environmental load imposed on the entire society, e.g. beyond the boundary of steelworks.
