Environmental Policy

The Action Plan for Greening Government Operations - section 1

1. Environmental Considerations Regarding the Purchase and Use of Goods and Services

(1) Selecting goods and raw materials that have minimal environmental impact at the production stage

A. Using recycled paper
Total content of virgin pulp contained in the papers purchased and used shall be reduced to approximately 80% or less of the current level by fiscal 2000. To achieve this goal, recycled paper content in paper for governmental office use shall be increased as much as possible. The use of recycled paper shall also be promoted for other uses, e.g., for printed materials such as reports.
B. Using other recycled products
The selection and use of products and raw materials that have minimal environmental impact at the production stage (e.g., goods made from recycled materials) shall be promoted.

(2) Selecting goods and raw materials that have minimal environmental impact during use

A. Using fuel that has minimal environmental impact
Selection and use of fuel that has minimal environmental impact (e.g., kerosene, LPG, and LAG) shall be promoted.
B. Phasing in energy efficient OA equipment
Replacement of energy inefficient OA equipment and other electric appliances with energy efficient ones shall be promoted; the energy efficient equipment shall be phased in through fiscal 2000 as the older equipment is updated.
C. Phasing in water-saving and other environment-friendly equipment
When replacing washing machines or room air conditioners, water-saving or low noise equipments that have minimal environmental impact shall be selected; the minimal impact equipment shall be phased in through fiscal 2000 as the older equipment is updated.
D. Phasing in low-pollution vehicles
With the goal of increasing to approximately 10% during fiscal 2000 the ratio of low-pollution vehicles in the government-owned fleet used for ordinary administrative work, the feasibility of using low-pollution-emission vehicles as official vehicles shall be investigated, and based on the results, the low-pollution vehicles shall be introduced systematically. Other vehicles that have minimal environmental impact shall also be introduced.
E. Using other goods and raw materials that have minimal environmental impact when used
Use of other goods and raw materials that have minimal environmental impact shall also be promoted.

(3) Selecting other goods and materials that have minimal environmental impact

A. Using goods and materials that have minimal environmental impact
The selection of goods that have minimal environmental impact and contribute to environmental conservation shall be promoted.
B. Adopting a recommendation list for the purchase of goods
A recommendation list pertaining to the specifications and quality of goods with minimal environmental impact shall be discussed and elaborated by the end of fiscal 1996. The recommendation list will guide the purchase of goods for the Ministries and Agencies concerned.

(4) Improving efficiency of resource use to reduce environmental load

A. Reducing the volume of paper used
The volume of paper used shall not be increase from current consumption level during fiscal 2000. Measures shall be promoted to achieve this goal: making concise documents and copying on both sides.
B. Reviewing the number of government vehicles in use
Practical use of government vehicles shall be investigated thoroughly, and the number of vehicle shall be reduced.
C. Using products over a longer term
The use of products shall be prolonged to the extent possible through increasing the use of reusable or refillable goods, etc.

(5) Selecting goods from sales and distribution channels that have minimal environmental impact

A. Reviewing the installation of energy inefficient automatic vending machines
The number of automatic vending machines in the office and the amount of energy they consume shall be reviewed, and efforts shall be made to reduce the number of machines and to increase energy efficiency.
B.Reviewing excessive packaging and wrapping of purchased goods
The purchase of goods with excessive packaging and wrapping shall be avoided.