Corporate Attitudes
toward Environmental Issues
20% of
firms see "favorable impacts" of green innovation
on business
As the "Cool Biz" campaign enters
its sixth year after starting in 2005, the government
and government bodies are promoting it actively and
private companies are adopting it. An increasing number
of companies are considering environmental issues with
a view not only on anti-global warming measures but
also on industrial policy.
TEIKOKU DATABANK conducted a survey on companies' attitudes
toward towards environmental issues..
|
Research Period
:
|
June 21 to 30,
2010
|
| Research
Subject : |
21,924 corporations
across Japan
|
| Valid
Responses : |
11,257 corporations
(response rate 51.3%)
|
* This is the sixth survey on wage trends,
following those conducted annually on June each year
since June 2005.
64.3% expect green innovation to promote
the use of "renewable energy" 20.0% see "favorable
impacts" on their own business
Although a number of companies expect
the advancement of green innovation to help their
business recover, more than 40% of companies remain
unable to measure its impacts on their own business.
The government needs to clearly and extensively communicate
the entire picture of green innovation, which is a
pillar of its new growth strategy.
Outcomes
Expected from Green Innovation
(multiple answers allowed)
|
|
|
%
|
# of firms
|
|
1
|
Widespread
use of renewable energy (incl. sunlight, wind, small
hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal) |
64.3
|
7,236
|
|
2
|
Widespread
use of next-generation lighting technologies such
as LED and organic EL |
44.9
|
5,051
|
|
3
|
Widespread
use of energy-saving household appliances |
39.9
|
4,497
|
|
4
|
Zero-emission
houses and offices utilizing technology of eco-friendly
houses and heat pumps |
32.1
|
3,610
|
|
5
|
Earlier-than-expected
realization of innovative technology development
(incl. high-tech batteries, next-generation vehicles
and highly |
30.9
|
3,475
|
|
6
|
Promotion
of redevelopment, reconstruction, and reform of
office buildings and others that have aging problems
(incl. safety issues and greenhouse gas emissions) |
26.3
|
2,959
|
|
7
|
Reduce
the carbon emissions of urban and regional structures
by promoting use of public transportation systems |
23.1
|
2,599
|
|
8
|
Promote
resource and energy security strategies |
20.7
|
2,331
|
|
9
|
Promote
the development of Japanese smart grid systems |
19.6
|
2,208
|
|
10
|
Promote
investment in and financing for companies with low
carbon emissions |
12.7
|
1,426
|
Note 1: Followed by "Promote
modal shift" (12.3%, 1,385 firms), "Other"
(0.4%, 50 firms),"Don't know" (8.4%, 945
firms)
Note 2: Population parameter:
11,257 firms that made valid responses
Impacts
of Green Innovation on Business
Note1: * refers to "Don't
know" (12.0%, 1,295 firms)
Note2: Population parameter: 10,772 firms made
valid responses
77.7% make actual efforts on environmental
issues, including nearly 90% on energy conservation,
and over 50% reducing or recycling
Although nearly 80% of companies are
making efforts on environmental issues, downturns
in business caused by the economic slowdown following
the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy are making companies
more severe in terms of cost-effectiveness.
Corporate
Response to Environmental Issues
Note: Population parameter:
10,870 firms made valid responses
Approaches
for Environmental Issues
(multiple answers allowed)
|
|
|
%
|
# of firms
|
| 1 |
Energy-saving
(reduction in corporate costs through electricity/water-saving
and such) |
87.4
|
7,646
|
| 2 |
Reduction
of waste generation |
52.2
|
4,564
|
| 3 |
Promotion
of recycling |
50.6
|
4,428
|
| 4 |
Promotion
of reuse of unnecessary items |
34.2
|
2,994
|
| 5 |
Introduction
of hybrid and/or electric cars |
20.9
|
1,827
|
| 6 |
Acquired/will
acquire ISO, eco-test, or eco-action 21 certifications
|
17.5
|
1,534
|
| 7 |
Development
and production of energy-saving products/services |
14.2
|
1,245
|
| 8 |
Tree
plantation, rooftop gardening and the like |
9.8
|
860
|
| 9 |
Utilization
of natural energies such as solar & wind
powers |
6.0
|
526
|
| 10 |
Donation
and support for environmental NGO/NPO |
5.2
|
454
|
Note1: The above is
followed by "Preparation of a report on environmental
CSR" (4.8%, 417 firms),"Implementation
of the carbon offset system" (2.7%, 233 firms),
"Others" (1.1%, 92 firms), "Don't
know" (2.4%, 213 firms)
Note2: Population parameter: 8,750 firms that replied
that they are "actively engaged in" or
"engaged in, but not actively" with regard
to environmental issues
Roughly 40% expect BOJ's new lending
program to help economic growth
Around half of the companies expect
the Bank of Japan's new lending program to lead to
economic growth, while the other half does not.
Will
and To What Extent will The BOJ's New Lending Program
Have on Economic Growth
Note 1: * indicates "Don't
know" (26.2%?2,949 firms)
Note 2: Population parameter: 11,257 firms that made
valid responses
27.7% are concerned about Japanese
industry moving overseas if environmental costs rise
Nearly 30% of companies are concerned
that Japanese industry may move overseas if the government
implements measures that lead to increased environmental
costs, such as those designed to help meet the 2020
goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from
1990 levels.
Likeliness
that Japanese Industry Will Move Overseas If Environmental
Costs Increase
Note 1: * indicates
"Don't know" (33.5%?3,774 firms)
Note2: Population parameter: 11,257 firms that made
valid responses
Three of every four companies said they
were unlikely to move overseas if environmental costs
increased.
Likeliness
that My Own Business Will Move Overseas If Environmental
Costs Increase
Note 1: * indicates "Don't know"
(22.9%, 2,580 firms)
Note2: Population parameter: 11,257 firms that made
valid responses
Companies already doing "Cool
Biz," accounted for 59.1%, 3.4 points higher than
a year earlier, Likely to rise to 70% in summer 2010
Changes
in "Cool Biz" Implementation
Note: The projected final
result in 2010 is based on the initial and final
data in the surveys in 2005 to 2009.