Have you ever heard of an "Environmental Report"? As a green consumer you may have had a chance to read some. Companies publish Environmental Reports to let the public know how much they pollute and impact the environment, as well as how they work to protect nature. This month we will look at Environmental Reports.  Are there any benefits to the company in making Environmental Reports?Companies make Environmental Reports because of the tremendous impact they have on the environment. According to the White Paper on the Environment, 90% of the CO2 emissions in Japan, which cause global warming, are produced by the activities of the companies. Therefore, it is necessary for each company to show how much they are contributing to environmental pollution and we, the consumers, have the right to know. From the company's point of view, there may seem to be no great advantage in exposing their impact on the environment and they may be unwilling. But if they do not, they will lose the consumer's trust and acceptance. What do Environmental Reports contain?Although the contents of the reports are different for each company, most follow the same guidelines. Normally, the first few pages present the president's statement, which tell you how the top person of the company consider environmental issues and what the company has done to reduce its negative impact. You will also find the achievements of the previous year and the goals of the year to come. For example, if a company sets a goal to reduce 10% of it's CO2 emissions in 2000, they may try to conserve energy in their factories, reduce their use of vehicles, etc. Besides that, some companies develop products with less impact and some promote recycling to reduce the amount of waste generated. The statistics shown in the report must be accurate, even if the goals were not achieved, so you can get a clear idea of the activities. Now what can you do with Environmental Reports?In the year 2001, about 430 companies produced their own Environmental Reports, this is still very few considering the number of major companies (6000), of which employees are over 500. Just seeing if a company has an Environmental Report is a good way of finding out if they care about environmental issues. To get a copy of a company's Environmental Report, contact their environmental department or access their Website. Being a green consumer, you can read Environmental Reports to find out which companies work hard to save the environment, and support those companies by choosing products and services Translation: Serina Nishioka (Ecology Symphony Feb 2002)
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