Additional Environmental ISO Certification Granted

NKK's Fukuyama Works has been actively working to acquire ISO l400l environmental management system certification. On March 2, the works was granted a formal certificate of registration for ISO 1400l, following assessments conducted by JIC Quality Assurance Ltd., a certification body in Japan. The Keihin Works obtained the certificate in May 1997. As a result, all of NKK's steelworks are now registered under ISO 14001.

The ISO 14001 international standard stipulates voluntary, self-reinforcing environmental management frameworks and implementation methods. Basically, ISO 14001 calls on corporations to not only verify that their activities conform with the standard but that they also make a dedicated effort to further reduce their burden on the environment.

Since forming the Coordinating Committee for Global Environmental Issues in 1991, NKK has directed its energies toward environmental protection activities by devising action guidelines and enacting an environmental charter. Along with these moves, the company has been aggressively pursuing energy and resource recycling business activities in collaboration with municipalities and industry to contribute to the creation of a society that is in harmony with the environment.