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Nikon strives to reduce the cost for packaging materials and distribution procedures while takes effective measures against reduction of environmental loading according to the Environment Action Plan.
Pallet transport
Nikon defined its "Environmental Policy Regarding Packaging Materials" in May 1998, and revised it in June 2000. This policy has seven main points:
·Elimination of hazardous substances ·Reduction in volume and content ·Recyclability ·Safety and ease of separation of materials ·Use of recycled resources ·Reusability ·Marking regarding packaging materials and handling precautions
Reduction in package size of digital SLR cameras
Based on this policy, Nikon has been engaging in various efforts to boost the loading efficiency of physical distribution. Packaging can be further downsized by reviewing the size of product boxes that can be efficiently loaded onto delivery trucks, making user manuals less bulky, and switching from conventional containers to pallets to eliminate the need for outer packaging.
In addition, Nikon strives to use recycled resources efficiently. For example, the company employs a type of insertion packaging that enables the cushioning material and cardboard box to be easily separated, and uses molded pulp for cushioning in the packaging of some products.
Nikon Business Service, which is in charge of the Nikon Group's physical distribution, installed digital tachometers on all large-cargo vehicles it owns. It aims to further improve efficiency as well as drivers' safety awareness by recording, managing and assessing each vehicle's distribution routes, arrival and departure times, maximum speed on ordinary roads and express ways, number of times a vehicle makes a sudden start, sudden stop, and sudden acceleration, and the length of time drivers take for breaks. In addition, Nikon Business Service conducts training on eco-friendly driving methods and environmental awareness activities for outsourcing transportation firms.
Externally powered vehicle
When transporting IC steppers and scanners and other devices, strict control of the cargo room temperature is necessary. Conventional vehicles needed to keep their engines running while stopped in order to keep heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment running. Nikon has now become able to stop the idling of transport vehicles because of a new system in which the HVAC equipment is powered by an external source from within the Nikon plant compound.
The Instruments Company is shifting from truck deliveries to railway transport, which causes lower environmental impact. Currently, we are gradually shifting to environmentally friendly modes of transportation for as many goods as possible. In the future, we plan to actively engage in modal shifts with orders that meet conditions.
Natural-gas-fueled bus at Kumagaya Plant
Three natural-gas-fueled buses were introduced at the Kumagaya Plant as commuter buses in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions.
Additionally, a phased plan has been established to replace the trucks operated by Nikon Business Services Co., Ltd. with vehicles offering low fuel consumption