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| Honda has long been taking measures to prevent air and water pollution based on the principle of “preventing the generation
of pollutants at the source.” We are preventing air pollution by introducing pollutant removing devices and pollutant emission reducing devices and by switching to cleaner fuels.
At the Hosoe Plant of the Hamamatsu Factory, unique measures are implemented for the conservation of water resources and water quality, including the adoption of a closed system for wastewater.
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In the 1970s, it was regarded as one of the important objectives for companies
to prevent pollution. Accordingly, at Honda’s plants, measures were promoted
to prevent air pollutants such as SOx (sulfur oxides), HC (hydrocarbons), and
NOx (nitrogen oxides) from being generated in the combustion of fuels as a heat
source in the parts manufacturing and heat treatment processes, including the
casting process. Subsequently, measures to reduce dioxins generated at the incineration
of wastes were also implemented. Presently, all plants are making further efforts
to reduce the generation of pollutants and to deal with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) generated in the painting process. Over many years, the plants have been
consistently taking anti-pollution measures based on the principle of “preventing
the generation of pollutants at the source.” Specifically, they are trying
not to generate pollutants but if this is unavoidable, they introduce devices
to control the generation at places near to the polluting sources.
For example, to reduce SOx and NOx emissions, they have switched from heavy
oil to kerosene and to natural gas as fuels for boilers. Further, they have
dramatically reduced pollutants through the use of catalyzers and of more environment-friendly
incinerators. For anti-VOC measures, they have introduced water-based paints
as well as highly efficient painting machines, thereby reducing the amount of
paints used and VOC emissions.
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Honda has introduced incinerators that remarkably reduce dioxins contained in exhaust emissions to some of its factories, including the Suzuka Factory. The factories, however, do not solely depend on these incinerators: they also sort waste that contain chlorine, which can cause the generation of dioxins, before incinerating them. Further, the factories are reducing the use of materials that contain chlorine. For example, in 1998, the Suzuka Factory started to use chlorine-free cutting fluid, instead of that containing chlorine, as a lubricant in the parts cutting process. Because the newly adopted cutting fluid does not disperse in the form of mist compared with the traditional cutting fluid, the environment within the factory was improved, in addition to making recycling easier.
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Honda has been taking water pollution prevention measures also based on the
principle of “prevention at the source.”
Since 1970, we have been introducing general wastewater treatment plants to each of our factories and
have been treating and managing wastewater in a sophisticated manner according
to our voluntary standards, which are actually stricter than those set by laws
and government ordinances. Over this period, we have consistently been trying
to reduce the consumption and waste of water at the source by the circulative
use of water.
For example, the Kumamoto Factory, which started operations in
1976, is reusing 97% of industrial water supplied to the factory. It is making
efforts to further increase the reuse rate and is reducing the amount of ground
water pumped by switching to the use of rainwater. Rainwater contains a smaller
amount of minerals than the ground water that has been traditionally used as
industrial water and the minerals contained in rainwater will not easily concentrate,
even after repeated use. Rainwater can therefore be used longer than ground
water, thus reducing the amount of water that is finally wasted. Towards the
goal of “zero wastewater,” we are putting into practical use the technology
to remove nitrogen and phosphorous concentrated in reused water through the
power of vagetation. |
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Honda factories, attributing importance to “symbiosis with local communities” in their green factory activities, conduct research and monitoring of soil and underground water at the observation wells bored within their premises. The results show that no harmful substances used at the factories have flowed out of the premises. Also, we are increasing the number of survey points and promoting the monitoring and research of soil and underground water even at the places where no harmful substances are used.
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