Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc.

Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. Environmental Action Report 2007

Promotion of Green Procurement

Tohoku EPCo is promoting green procurement for the purposes of “Reduction in Environmental Impact through Use of Environment-Friendly Products” and “Cooperation in Greening Market.”

Green Procurement and Green Proposal

We have long promoted efforts for greening of purchasing such as purchase of recycled paper, use of recycled paper for business cards and PR brochures, introduction of energy conservation type lighting, etc.

In April 2002, Tohoku EPCo started green procurement of office supplies and fixtures as well as materials and equipment for electric power facilities based on the “Tohoku EPCo Green Procurement Guideline.”

As for materials and equipment for electric power facilities, Tohoku EPCo invited proposals for reduction in environmental impact under the name of “Green Proposal,” and six proposals have already been adopted. Many of the proposals are related to reduction in packing materials. At the same time, the prices of packing materials are also lowered.

An example of Green Proposal is shown below.

  • Company Name: Yazaki Corp.
  • Product Name: 6kV-CVT and others
    Wires and cables covering the whole type employing polyvinylchloride resins as materials
  • Description of Proposal: Reduction of lead compounds contained in insulators and sheaths that are used in wires and cables as a means to reduce environment loading materials.

Figure:Cross-Sectional Views of Wire and Cable

To prevent deterioration of materials, lead stabilizers have been used for polyvinylchloride resins to date.

The Yazaki Group is promoting the reduction of lead as an environment loading substance, and has replaced lead stabilizers of polyvinylchloride resins for wires and cables with highly safe stabilizers that use no lead. In 2003, we started, for the first time in this industry, replacing our all product items with lead-free products, and all product items are lead-free at present, except for certain types of products.

The characteristics of polyvinylchloride resins that use lead-free stabilizers are the same as that of conventional polyvinylchloride resins.
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