Environmental Management System for Small and Medium sized Enterprises

Towards the Realization of a Sustainable Economic System

Environmental Management System
for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises
(Japan’s Eco-Action 21 Guidelines )

Ⅰ. Needs for Environmental Management
Ⅱ. Eco-Action 21

Oct. 6, 2012 in Hanoi

Ⅲ. Overview of Certification & Registration

Institute for Promoting Sustainable Societies (IPSuS)

System

Toshihiko Goto
Chief Executive Sustainability Forum Japan

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Ⅰ. Needs for
Environmental Management
g

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What is required  in order to improve the corporate value 
?

Linkage between environmental and managerial information

To reduce costs and increase productivity
（ Analysis between the inputs and outputs of business activities ）

Materials

Products

Fuel
Cost

Water
Cost

XXX Co.,Ltd
X

Cost

• The amount of CO2
• The amount of waste

• Total discharged
g water
• Emissions of chemical
substances
• Noise, vibration,
offensive odor

Sales amount

CO2, etc
Cost

Information
conversion

Sewage
Cost

Understanding of the
environmental loads

Wastage

office supplies
Cost

Cases

Managgerial
inform

mation

Output

Environmental
inform
mation

Input

Improvement of the
status of initiatives

Cases

“Light, heat and water
expenses”
• Electricity charges
• Gas Rates
• Gasoline
• Water and sewage
• Other
"Materials and
consumables”
• Metals
•Cardboards
• Plastics
• Chemicals, other
“Waste treatment costs"
"Complaints and

requests"

Cost
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Business Activities and Environmental
Impacts/Environmental Burdens
Input     

„ Energy
• Electricity, gas,
fuel oil, etc.
„ Resources
• Photocopy
paper, stationery,
etc.
„ Water
„ Chemical
substances
„ Green
purchasing
„ Traveling
(commuting,

business trips)

Activities

Office
activities
Facility/
F t
Factory
operations

Research
activities
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Measures to improve the eco
Measures to improve the eco‐‐efficiency
Now,
we have to implement better corporate activities with less 
resources and energy consumption, and waste discharge 
(Improvement of eco‐efficiency)

Output

„ Greenhouse gases, etc.
• CO2
• NOx, SOx, etc.
„ Waste
{ Business waste
• Burnables, unburnables

• Bottles, cans, PET
bottles,, paper,
p p , etc.
{ Industrial waste
• Waste plastics,
fluorescent bulbs, etc.
„ Waste water, water
pollutants
• Waste water from daily
activities
• BOD, others
„ Chemical substances
• Substances subject to
PRTR

■ Reduce the amount of resources and energy input
■ Reduce the amount of waste g
generated
■ Improve the function and quality of products and services

■ Improve the productivity
■ Improve the yield
■ Produce higher value‐added products
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7

Fulfillment of social responsibility leads us to

a great step for the new development

EMS for the improvement of eco‐
EMS for the improvement of eco‐efficiency
■ Review the input & output of business activities
■ Find a cause of producing wastes in business place
■ Raise awareness of the employees
■ Set targets and Assess the progress
■ Clarify who takes the responsibility
■ Find the true cause of the case can not be done
■ Make
M k continuous
ti
and
d steady
t d efforts
ff t

Pride to the 
organization

¾ CSR in the organization covers up products & services, its related
companies, how to sell, how to carry, and even how to advertise.
¾ This is because a corporate value is determined by the integral of the
company.
¾ Now, a corporate value depends on environmental and CSR activities.

・Build and Operate an EMS
・Focus on making your business more efficient and streamlined
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Every one of us is asked for taking
environmental measures
In modern era, our convenient and comfortable life is
being supported by social system depending on the
massive production, consumption, wastage.
As a result
result, environmental degradation such
as global warming has been augmenting and
will threaten the survival of humankind

Every one of us is required to take a proactive 
action towards environmental conservation
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Social responsibility: 
Management with consciousness 
Company Brand
of CSR(Reliability)
Inward
Outward Corporate value

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Challenges of ISO14001
ISO 14001 focuses on rather large-scale organizations and manufacturing sectors.
It is difficult for SMEs to follow the same scheme.
SMEs do not know what kind of actions should be done
due to limited resources, such as insufficient knowledge and technologies etc.
There are cases where necessary activities are not implemented properly
due to cafeteria certification or cherry-picking. The meaning is “Green washing”
Information about environmental activities has to be disclosed to the public if required.
However, there were quite limited cases where the information has been disclosed.
Consulting and certification fees are too high for SMEs

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A new system which can be easily implemented by SMEs is necessary.


Eco-Action 21: EMS for SMEs
„ simplify environmental evaluation, and
internal/external audit system in order to reduce
various burdens to SMEs.
„ specify activities for environmental conservation
to understand current situation and evaluate the
activities
ti iti easily
il
„ specify reduction targets such as CO2 emission
and water consumption
„ specify contents of environmental reports
in order to reduce the burden for reporting.

„ set certification fee reasonable to SMEs.

Ⅱ. Eco-Action 21

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Overview of EcoAction 21 guidelines

Environmental Management Systems (1)

･ the Eco-Action 21 guidelines were created to support all organizations -whether
corporations, schools , or public agencies - in carrying out environmental initiatives
efficiently and effectively. They provide methods for setting up, operating, and
maintaining environmental management systems to set environmental targets, to carry
out initiatives and to evaluate the results. They also offer methods for communicating
with society about environmental issues

Point #1：Environmental management system set up to incorporate the 13 key items

EMS are set up to incorporate 13 key items, and are based on the PDCA cycle:
Plan (formulate a plan), Do (implement the plan), Check (review and evaluate the status of initiatives),
and Act (evaluate and revise the entire process).
Repeating the steps of the PDCA cycle allows organizations to keep improving their EMS and
boost the effectiveness of their environmental initiatives. The cumulative effect of this process aims for
continual improvement of environmental initiatives and EMS.

･ Eco-Action 21 also features a ―certification and registration programԡ to certify and
register those institutions that are properly carrying out environmental initiatives; setting
up, operating, maintaining systems for environmental management; and carrying out
environmental communication

Point #2：Requirements stipulated for each of the 13 key items

･ The overall aim of the Eco-Action 21 guidelines and certification/registration systems is
to encourage organizations to carry out environmental initiatives, thereby contributing to
the achievement of a sustainable economy and society.

¾The

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15

Environmental Management Systems (2)

The specific requirements for environmental management system are the “Do X” or “Implement X”
instructions given in the bold-outlined box under each key item.
Organizations that wish to receive certification and registration must set up, operate, and manage their
environmental management system so that it meets all of the requirements given in these boxes.

instructions listed are the ―MUSTԡ items. Their implementation is required for certification and
registration.
operating in an industry for which there are industry-specific guidelines must set up,
operate, and maintain their environmental management system in line with these specific guidelines.

¾Organizations

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„ Clarification of the targeted organization and activities

Point #3: Requirements explained for each of the 13 key items

Explanations are provided for each key item requirement so that organizations know exactly what
actions they must take.
It is important that organizations understand fully these explanations before setting up, operating,
and maintaining their EMS.

Point #4: Recommendations also provided to promote more proactive initiatives

Recommendations are not requirements,
requirements but it is hoped that organizations will implement them if
the sector, category, and size of their business allows.
Note that there are certain recommendations that are required for larger organizations*. These are
listed in boxes entitled “Recommendations for larger organizations”.
Also note that in order to ensure more effective operation and maintenance of EMS, organizations
that have been implementing Eco-Action 21 for several years will be asked to implement some
recommendations as requirements during their audits.
Other organizations are expected to carry out recommendations to demonstrate that they are
taking a proactive role in implementing environmental initiatives.
*Larger organizations are generally considered those with 100 employees or more.
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･ Since the main objective of Eco-Action 21 is to encourage
business operators to carry out “ environmental initiatives”,
any actions aimed for a perfunctory certification
acquisition are simply unmatched with its original objective
･ Therefore,
Therefore a requirement
requirement, in which all organizations and
activities must follow Eco-Action 21, has been added
･ However, stepwise expansion of the targeted organization
would be authorized according to some conditions.

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Chapter 3 : Environmental Management System

„ ”Green purchasing” and” Voluntary producing, selling, providing environmentallyconscious products and services” as requirements for environmental targets.

1. Clarify Affected Organizations and Activities
2. Formulate Environmental Policy
3. Identifying and Evaluating Environmental Burden and the Status of
Environmental Initiatives
4. Keeping Track of Environmental Regulations
5. Setting Environmental Targets and Formulating an Environmental Activity
Plan

6 Setting up an Implementation Structure
6.
7. Providing Education and Training
8. Engaging in Environmental Communication
9. Implementing Plans and Operating Systems
10.Preparing for and Handling Environmental Emergencies
11.Creating and Managing Environmental Documents and Records
12.Checking the Status of Initiatives and Correcting/Preventing Problems
13.Overall Evaluation and Review by the Organization’s Representative

EMS initiatives have been focusing mainly on reduction of environmental burdens
produced by business facilities and factories.

･

･ Speaking in the extreme, as long as those business facilities and factories were taking
actions for reducing the environmental loads, no mater what products/services were
manufactured and sold (even though those generate the high environmental loads),
they have been authorized.
Moreover, even though actions for recycling wastes are taken
taken, purchasing the reworked
･ Moreover
products from those wastes and products with low environmental loads were not
addressed sufficiently
･ It is required hereafter that not only business operator become environmentally
conscious, but also their products/services be environmentally friendly so as to double
the effect to environment.
･ Besides, if manufactures produce and sell green products, they also should proactively
purchase such green products
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Chapter 4: Environmental Activity Reports

Chapter 5. Self‐‐Checking Environmental Burdens
Chapter 5. Self

I. Creating an Environmental Activity Report
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Check the environmental burdens of selected items using a check sheet
Æ • Provide a simple conversion factor for an item which needs conversion
• Calculate the environmental burdens by inserting the numbers on the sheet

Organization overview (name of business establishment(s), location(s)/address(es),
business overview, scale of operations)
Target operations (certified/registered operations, period of time covered by the report
and date issued)
Environmental policy

Environmental targets
Environmental activity plan
Environmental target progress/achievement
Evaluation/results of implementing the environmental action plan, initiatives planned for
the upcoming fiscal year
Status of compliance with environmental laws and regulation (confirmation, evaluation
of results, violations), any legal action or lawsuits
results of overall evaluation and review by the company representative (top executive)

Environmental Burden Checklist (Extracted Example)
Fiscal year:
(1)
energy input (MJ)
① Total
総エネルギー投入量（MJ）
年（from / 年(YY/MM)
月 ～to

使用量・ エネルギー
Unit
単位 Amount Energy
Percentag
割合
consume
(MJ)
消費量 content
量(MJ)
e (%)
(%)
d (A)

x B)
（A） (A （A×B）
Electricity
購入電力 purchased

Disclosure of an Environmental Activity Report

Kerosene
灯油

Fossil fuels

All environmental activity reports of certified/registered organizations are available at the
central office’s website where those are searchable by their category of business, scale
of operations and regions.
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/ 年
(YY/MM)
月）

Total
(year)
合計（年）

化石燃料

II.

20

21

Fuel
重油oil
City
gas
都市ガス
Liquefied
natural gas (LNG)
液化天然ガス(LNG)
Liquefied
petroleum gas
液化石油ガス(LPG)
(LPG)

Calorific
単位発熱量
value
per
（B）
unit (B)

ｋＷｈ

9.83 (MJ/kWh)

Ｌ
Ｌ
Nm3

ｋｇ
ｋｇ

36.7 (MJ/l)
39.1 (MJ/l)
41.1 (MJ/Nm3)
54.5 (MJ/kg)
50.2 (MJ/kg)
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Chapter 6. Self‐‐Checking Environmental Initiatives
Chapter 6. Self

Action Process

Check environmental initiatives that are relevant to the selected items using a check 
sheet
Æ • List the initiatives that are thought to be necessary for each item
• Check the items by putting down the evaluation ({, U, ¯, etc.) in
accordance with the achievement levels of the initiatives

Examination and determination of implementation system

Self-checklist of environmental initiatives
Initiative

Score
-

Utilization of solar energy as electricity using solar cells

-

Utilization of natural gas

-

Introduction of cogeneration systems (utilization of waste heat from power generation)

-

Utilization of solar energy for water heating and space heating using a district heating
and cooling system, a district heat supply system, solar water heaters, etc.

-

Promotion of energy conservation using insulation, etc. for water heaters

-

Proactive introduction of energy saving air conditioners

-

Utilization of waste heat generated from waste incineration, etc.

-

Checking the energy efficiency of OA equipment such as copying machines, PCs and

printers and proactively introducing equipment with high energy efficiency

-

Formulation of environment policy
Establishment of environmental objectives
and environmental activities plan

Implementation of plan（Ｄｏ）
Check/evaluation of performance（Ｃｈｅｃｋ）

Establishment
of Plan
（Ｐｌａｎ）

Min.3
mont
hs
sustai
ned
use

Overall evaluation and review（Ａｃｔｉｏｎ）
Preparation and publication of
Environmental activities report

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Environmental management

System creation/use of

Revisiion

Importance

Introduction of new energy such as wind power, hydroelectricity, geothermal power,
fuel cells, etc.

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Study of items to be
understood and evaluated
and two self-checklists are
performed in the initial
environmental review

Self-checklist of environmental burden

Self‐Checking Environmental Initiatives (Extracted Example)
1) Energy Conservation, Increasing the Utilization of New Energy

Representative
(management) will decide
for entire organization to
act

Decision to Take Actions to EcoAction 21

Continual

Improvement
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Why do we need EcoAction 21?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

11) Effects Following EcoAction 21 Operation

EA21 serves a dual purpose to achieve cost management and
reduction of environmental burdens
EA21 manages and avoids the environmental risks
EA21 enables you to check up the compliance with laws and
regulations, and optimizes the management plan
EA21 expands your trading partners (corresponding to supply chain
management of the EMS )
EA21 increases your business reliability through environmental
communication
EA21 enhances the chance of your successful environmental
business

(Cases)

Cost reductions
Reduction of environmental burden

Greater environmental awareness

Smoother communications ((external))

Smoother communications (internal)

Greater external confidence
No merit

Other

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EcoAction 21 Target Achievements (Carbon Dioxide)
Unknown
8 cases 6%

26

EcoAction 21 Reduction in Total Emission Quantity of Carbon Dioxide

Other
5 cases, 4%

Unknown

10 cases, 7%

Other
2 cases, 1%

Increase
29 cases, 22%
Targets not achieved
49 cases, 36%

Targets achieved
73 cases 54%

Reduction
76 cases, 57%

Flattening out
18 cases 13%

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■ Eco-Action 21 Certification and Registration System
Purpose
•

Ⅲ. Overview of Eco‐Action 21
Certification and Registration System
•

•

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In order to promote the implementation of Eco-Action 21 among organizations and to ensure
that the quality of their efforts will continue to improve, it is essential to set up a framework to
provide necessary instructions and advice based on the suitable evaluation of organizations’
environmental initiatives. Furthermore, the framework should provide organizations with an
opportunity to gain social evaluation and community trust through third-party certification, which will
signal that organizations carrying out good environmental initiatives are doing so in accordance with
Eco-Action
Eco
Action 21 guidelines.
guidelines
The Eco-Action 21 Certification and Registration System was launched in October 2004. The
program sends Eco-Action 21 auditors, who are accredited under Eco-Action 21 guidelines issued
by the Ministry of Environment, to review organizations and see whether they are carrying out
environmental initiatives in line with Eco-Action 21 guidelines. Those found to be in accordance with
are then certified and registered.
The Eco-Action also requests certified/registered organizations to publish Environmental Activity
Reports and offers guidance during the auditing process when needed.
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Proportion of certificated and registered 
organizations based on scale of operation
(the total number of employees) 

Number of Certifications and Registrations
From the start of business in 2004, number of certifications and 
registrations has increased steadily. And now, about 7,000 business 
operators have obtained certifications and registrations of EcoAction 
21.

Organizations with less than 30 employees accounted for 68.7% of the
whole. While, ones with less than 100 employees accounted for 91.9% of the
whole, indicating that Eco-Action 21, which primarily targeted at SMEs, have
achieved some positive results.
More than  301, 
1.7%
101 to 300, 
101
300
6.5%
Less than 10, 
30.7%

31 to 100,
23.2%

11 to 30,

38.0%

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the proportion based on 
categories of business
Other Service  Other Service 
Suppliers, 2.3% Suppliers, 8.1%
Printing and 
Publishing, 1.5%
Automobile 
Maintenance, 
6.9%

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Benefits gained by certification and registration
・ The Central Secretariat adds the certified and registered organization to 
their online list of certified and registered organizations and publishes its 
Environmental Activity Report.

・
Yearly audits that support continual improvement of their EMS (auditors 
p
g
)
can provide them with instructions and advices during the audit) 
・

・
Possibility of low‐interest loans from financial institutions and/or meeting 
the requirements for bidding on public works projects 

October 2011

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Advantages of Eco‐Action 21
A．Reduction of energy-related expenses and other costs
Since EMS promotes specific programmes for energy conservation
and waste separation & recycling, expenses for energy, gasoline and
water utilisation can be reduced.
◇ According to a questionnaire survey on enterprises certified under Eco-Action 21,
about 70% respondents answered that their costs had been reduced. (2006 survey)

B. Lower Cost for Audit and Certification
Compared to ISO14001, the cost required for audit and certification under 
Eco‐Action 21 is quite low.

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C．Higher Management Efficiency and Lower Management Cost
PDCA process under Eco-Action 21 requires less labor time, cost and
documentation.
In general, implementation of PDCA leads to higher efficiency in overall

management, lower costs, and higher productivity.

D．Eligibility for Low-Interest Loans
Financial institutions which offer special loans with low interest rates to companies
certified under Eco-Action 21 or ISO14001 are increasing.
increasing
◇ For example, such loans are provided by Shoko Chukin Bank, Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ
Bank, Mitsui Sumitomo Bank, Mizuho Bank, and others.

E．Increase in Business Partners and Clients
Certification under Eco-Action 21 is not only a criterion for qualification as an
“environmentally friendly business”, but also the outreach of “Environmental Activities
Report” helps to obtain new business partners and clients.

◇ Example of cost for audit and certification/registration (plus consumption tax）
Audit cost Certification/Registration Total
10 Employees
100,000 yen 50,000 yen
150,000 yen
300 Employees
300,000 yen 100,000 yen
400,000 yen
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Ability to work on greening supply chains 

・
Greater trust from stakeholders and improved corporate image and brand 
strength through the creation and publication of Environmental Activity Report. 

Manufacturing, 
23.9%

Waste treatment 
and Recycling, 
15.7%

32

・
Certified and registered organizations are able to add the Eco‐Action 21 
logo to their corporate brochures and business cards

① Construction   
24.5%

Wholesale and 
Wholesale
and
Retail, 8.0%
Finance and 
Insuarance,
9.0%

October
2011

35

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F. ”Green Tenders” “Subsidy system by local governments”
Some administrative agencies accept only the companies certified under Eco-Action 21
or ISO14001 (”Green Tenders”) for tender process.
◇ ”Green Tenders” were introduced by Kyoto Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture in
December 2005. Government agencies are also considering “green tenders.”
Also many local governments establish subsidy systems for SMEs to apply the 
audit and certification/registration of Eco‐Action21 .

H. One of requirements for Being Judged
an Outstanding Industrial Waste Management Company
◇ Purposes of the evaluation system
－To foster good industrial waste management companies
－to make waste emitters to choose the good companies for waste management
◇ Evaluation system
－For companies that conform to the evaluation criteria, prefectural governors can expand
the permission period and may omit some of the application documents submitted for
renewal permit, etc.
－At the time of the permit application, the prefectural governor states on the permit
certificate that conformance with evaluation criteria has been confirmed.

G. Advice of Auditors
Eco-Action 21 auditors not only conduct audits, but also provide advice and suggestions
concerning environmental measures and improvement of EMS during the time between
document audits and on-site audits and after completion of audits.

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◇ Three viewpoints for evaluation
－Compliance with laws
－Information disclosure
－Efforts for environmental conservation

37

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Certification/ registration and Logo

I. Green Tax Reductions
On March 23, 2006, the Nagano Prefectural Assembly approved a revision of “Bill
concerning exceptions to prefectural taxes supported by prefectural citizens to bring safety,
security and stability to the Shinshu region.”
As “support to companies with concern for environmental action” as stated in the bill, the
business tax of SMEs that have obtained certification under Eco-Action 21 or ISO14001 will
be reduced by one-half (up to 100,000 yen) for the fiscal year of certification.
This measure is effective from April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2009.

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Once your certification 
and registration are 
issued, the logo of the 
EcoAction 21 can be 
used.

39

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40

Certification period, etc.
◆
◆
◆
◆
◆
◆

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Certification and registration cover a two‐year period
(The fee is required every 2 years).
Required to undergo “Registration examination“ when 
certifying and registering.
Required to undergo “Intermediate review” roughly 
about one year after the certification and registration.
R
Required to undergo “Update audit”  two years after 
i dt
d

“U d t
dit” t
ft
certification and registration
Afterward, “Intermediate review” and “Update audit 
"must be undergone every year.
As a principle, Environmental Activity Report is prepared 
annually.

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Total

150,000 yen

Conformity

•・The
overall
business
activities
must
when
mmm
事 company’s
業活動の
全体

を踏ま
えて、
対 be
象taken
組 織into
と account
範囲が
決
deciding
on て
the い
scope
for れ
certification
(organizations
and the activities).
定 され
なけ
ばならな
い

Content
organizations
and 囲
activities
subject
certification
事 of業the者company's
の対象
組 織 と範

（活 動
） のto 内
容

整合

Auditing fees
100,000 yen
+Certification/registration fees 50,000 yen

Business
activities
the業
company
business)
事業
者 のof事
活 動(type
（ 業of種
）

Conformity

• Organization with 10 employees or less, service industries, etc.

コ EcoAction
ア ク シ ョ ン21
２ １Certification
認 証 ・ 登 録and
に当

たっての 原 則
Principlesエfor
Registration
整合

Basic 
Requirements for 
Certification and 
Registration

Costs for Auditing and Certification/Registration (Example)

•・The
対 main
象 組environmental
織 の 行 っ burdens
て い るderived
活 動 from
に 伴activities
う 主 要that
な are
環 conducted
境負荷
握 さorganizations
れ て い な must
け れbeば
ならない
byが
the把
subject

identified.

Content環
of 境
the self-check
へ の 負for
荷environmental
の 自 己 チburdens
ェックの
Conformity

整合

• Organization with 300 employees or less, manufacturing industries, etc.
Auditing fees
300,000 yen

= Important 
Important
points for 
Internal Audit

Establish
it based
ofェthe
環境へ
の 取on
組the
の results
自己チ

ッ
ク の 結for
果environmental
も踏まえて作
成
self-check
burdens.

Content of the
environmental
polic
環 en
境ironmental
方 針 のpolicy
内容
Conformity

整合

+Certification/registration fees 100,000 yen
Total
400,000 yen

内容

•・An
which
is appropriate
forェthe
環environmental

境 方 針 は policy
、環 境
負荷
の自己チ
ッbusiness
ク の 結activities
果を踏
must
the見
results
ま be
え established
て 、 事 業based
活 動onに
合 っofたtheもself-check
の が 作for
成environmental
され てい
burdens.
なければならない

•・Environmental
must
(initiatives)
stipulated
in the
環 境 方 針 targets
に記載
さ be
れset

たfor
項the
目 items
（取 組
）が 、環
境目標
environmental
policy.
として展 開
されていなければならない

Content of the
targets
環environmental
境目標の
内容
Conformity

整合

•・An
activity
must
which
have
環environmental
境目標を策
定 しplan
た項
目beのdeveloped

環 境 活for動items
計画
が策
定a
setさenvironmental
れ て い な target.
ければならない

Content of環
the境
environmental
activity
plan容
活動計画
の内

上記
の内容が、
適 切must
に環
活動レ
ポー
The
above-mentioned
content
be 境
accurately
stated
in ト
the environmental

report.
に 記 載 さactivity
れてい
なければ ならない
EcoAction
2
エ コ ア ク21
シ Central
ョ ン ２ １Secretariat
中央事務
Content
the活
environmental
activity
環of境
動レポー
ト のreport
内容 局
Describe
適切に
accurately

IPSuS/EA21

43

IPSuS/EA21

エ コ アCriteria
ク シ ョforンEcoAction

２１認 証
・登 録 （判
）に 当 た
ての基準
21 Certification
and定
Registration
(forっDetermination)
ＹＥＳ

ＮＯ

書再提出

環 境 活 動 レ ポ ー トに 、二 酸 化 炭 素 排 出 量 、廃 棄 物 排 出 量
及 び 総 排 水 量 （ 水 使 用 量 ）が 適 切 に 記 載 さ れ て い る

The environmental activity report accurately states the amount of carbon dioxide discharged, waste generated and total water drainage (water used).

Conformity concerning 
the establishment and 
operation of EMS
Conformity to specified 
procedures and rules
Conformity to specified 
environmental   
initiatives

ＮＯ

ＹＥＳ

審 査 報 告 書 に 、記 載 され て い な い 理 由 を

In the audit report, the auditor confirms the reasons why the
確 認 しisたnot旨included.
の記述
あ りare
、そ
の 内legitimate.
容が
information
Theが
reasons
deemed

ＮＯ

the environmental
環Resubmit
境活動
レポート及び
activity report and the audit report.
審
査報告書再提出

ＮＯ

the environmental
環Resubmit

境活動
レポート及び
activity
and書
the 再
audit提
report.
審
査report
報告
出

正 当 と判 断 できる

ＹＥＳ
環environmental
境 活 動 レactivity
ポ ーreport
ト に accurately
、記 載 し
てい
い理
The
states
theな
reasons
why
The
由the
がinformation

適 切 に is記not載included.
され て
おreasons
り 、 そare
のdeemed
内容
legitimate.
が 正 当 と判 断 できる

ＹＥＳ
環the境
活動
ート
に initiatives
、 省 エforネ
ルギ
ー 、 廃waste
棄物
削 減(recycling)
（ リ サand
イ water
ク ルsaving.
）、
The environmental activity plan accurately states
targets
and レ
the ポ
content
of the
energy

conservation,
reduction
節 水の目 標及び 取 組内 容が適 切に記 載され てい る
ＮＯ

ＹＥＳ

審 査 報 告 書 に 、記 載 され て い な い 理 由 を

In the audit report, the auditor confirms the reasons why the
確 認 しisたnot旨included.
の記述
あ りare
、そ
の 内legitimate.
容が
information
Theが
reasons
deemed

ＮＯ

正 当 と判 断 できる

the environmental
環Resubmit
境活動
レポート及び
activity report and the audit report.

審
査報告書再提出

ＹＥＳ
環environmental
境 活 動 レactivity
ポ ーreport
ト に accurately
、記 載 し
てい
い理
The
states
theな
reasons
why
The
由the
がinformation
適 切 に is記not載included.
され て
おreasons
り 、 そare
のdeemed
内容
legitimate.

ＮＯ

が 正 当 と判 断 できる

the environmental
環Resubmit
境活動
レポート及び
activity report and the audit report.
審
査報告書再提出

44

Effectiveness of 
initiatives

Conformity to
the guidelines

認 証 ・ 登 録 の 範 囲 （ 組 織 ・サ イ ト 、 活 動 ） が 事 業 活 動 及 び 環 境 活 動 レ ポ ー ト と 整 合 し て い る

The scope (organizations, sites, activities) for certification and registration is consistent with the business activities and the content of the environmental activity report.
Resubmit環
the 境
environmental
andび
the審
audit査
report.
活 動 レactivity
ポ ーreport
ト及

報告

記載

The effectiveness of the 
formulated policy, 
targets and plan (in 
principle, the company 
decides whether or not 
th
they were effective)
ff ti )
Effectiveness of the 
results (performance)

ＹＥＳ

ＹＥＳ

The environmental activity report accurately states
the results
of the
環 the
境 evaluation
活 動 レof ポ
ートに
、initiatives.
取組結果の

評価が 適 切に記 載 され てい る

ＮＯ
Resubmit the環
environmental
and及
theび
audit
境 活 動activity
レ ポreport
ート
審report.
査報告

The environmental activity report accurately states the
of compliance
環status
境活
動 レ ポwith
ーenvironmental
ト に 、 環 legislation.
境法規の

Evaluation of the content 
and achievement levels of 
initiatives may vary depending 
on an individual’s point of view.

The audit tends to become 
superficial or focus on too 
much detail

ＮＯ

Ｙ ＥＳ
Certification and registration

書再提出

遵 守 状 況 が 適 切 に 記 載 され て い る

環Resubmit
境 活 the
動environmental
ポ ト及び
activity report and the audit report.
IPSuS/EA21

45

IPSuS/EA21

45

46

2 programs to expand Eco‐Action 21 
(from 2006)

Image of the programs
As an industry

group

(1) Eco‐Action21 Supply chain （Related enterprises) greening 
program
The enterprises on the supply chain of the central company challenge Eco‐
Action 21 program all together to reduce the entire environmental burden on 
the supply chain or the group. The consultant fee is free for the participants (at 
EA21 C
EA21 Central Secretariats expense). The central company can use this program 
lS
i
) Th
l
hi
as a mean of supply chain management (SCM).

組合員
member

On the supply chain
Material 
supplier

組合員
meberm

Greening of the
related companies

member

組合員

member
組合員

IPSuS/EA21

47

Waste
Retailer
canter company) Disposer

Achieve a large reduction of the environmental
burden

中核団体
Central
company

(2) Eco‐Action21 Local government initiative program
The local governments call on enterprises in their area to challenge Eco‐
Action 21 all together. The consultant fee is free for the participants (at EA21 
Central Secretariats expense). The local government can use this program as a 
environmental policy, as a large reduction of environmental burden is 
expected in the area.

manufacture Logistics

組合員

member

member
組合員

member
組合員

Central company

中核企業

取引先A

supplier

supplier

supplier

supplier

supplier

・Reduction of the environmental
burden as a industry group.
・Share the industry’s particular
policy and actions .

IPSuS/EA21

48

44


A common misconception for Eco-Action 21

4. We are renting a business office.
Do we need to understand the amount of CO2 emissions in this case ?
If you rent a room in the office building, it may be difficult to understand the amount of electricity and water usage you have used because those fees
are included in the common expenses. In such a case, understanding of those usages is not necessarily requested. As an alternative way, you can set
goals regarding to energy saving and water conservation activities and make appropriate initiatives to meet the goals.

1. Is it authorized in Eco-Action 21 no matter what initiatives organizations perform,
as far as related to energy, resource and water saving ?
The most important thing regarding Eco-Action 21 Initiatives of business operators is that "business operators must notice the relationship
between their business activities and the environment. Moreover, in order to reduce the environmental loads produced by the business
activities, they must set the goals, make efforts according to the plan, evaluate and review the results, and implement these efforts, and
perform continual improvement for the environmental management system and appropriate environmental initiatives.“ Therefore, the following
items must meet the guidelines of Eco-Action 21: the details of business activities, scope of the target organizations, and contents of
environmental burdens, environmental initiatives, the environmental activity plans, targets, and policies, and Environmental Activity Reports.
For instance, business operators in manufacturing industry are required to provide information concerning environmental burden reduction of
products, development and sales of products that contribute to environmental conservation, and green purchasing. Whereas, in the retail
sector, sales of products that contribute to environmental conservation, reduction of packaging, and information provision to consumers are
required

2. Isn't it difficult for SMEs to obtain Eco-Action 21 certification ?
No. About 20 % of business operators that obtained Eco-Action 21 certification have less than less than 10 employees in fact. 38 % of
business operators have less than 30 employees. Since Eco-Action 21 ask for the business operators to formulate and operate the initiatives

and the environmental management depending on the scale and category of their business, SMEs and even smaller business operators are
able to make their initiatives with no sacrifices.

3. Is Eco-Action 21 a simplified version of ISO14001 ?
No. Eco-Action 21 covers all elements necessary for an environmental management system. Thus, Eco-Action 21 is not a simplified
version of ISO14001. EMS itself is not a goal but a method to make appropriate initiatives. Eco-Action21 focuses on formulating the most
effective and efficient management system depending on scale and category of business, and does not expect pointless and perfunctory
routine works. Moreover, Eco-Action 21 asks for business operators to make appropriate initiatives depending on scale and category of
business, to figure out CO2 emissions, waste emissions, and water usage, to reduce those environmental loads, to prepare an Environmental
Activity Report, and to disclose the related environmental information.
Therefore, Eco-Action 21 can be said to be stricter than ISO14001.
IPSuS/EA21

49

Ｔｈａｎｋ ｙｏｕ
ｆｏｒ ｙｏｕｒ
kind listening！
g

IPSuS/EA21

51

5. Our business partner has asked us to obtain Eco-Action 21.
Is it possible to obtain the certification only for the departments concerned?
No. In the Eco-Action 21, there is a basic rule that the certification must be taken on a company/organization-wide level. However, you may be able to
start the initiatives from some departments and step-wisely spread it over the entire company. In such a case, you must clearly state the future plan of
expanding the target organizations in your Environmental Activity Report and commence the initiatives from departments which produce environmental
burdens at larger extent.

6. Although we have made initiatives based the guidelines,
we can't tell whether the initiatives were really good or not.
In Eco-Action 21, the auditor instructs and advises business operators about the environmental management system according
to scale and category of their business, and a way of how they make environmental initiatives. This is designed for business
operator to conduct better initiatives. Please consult the auditor without hesitation. Auditor is a professional who has passed the
most rigorous testing related environmental concerns in Japan.

7. Do we have to apply for an audit and inquire all things concerned with Eco-Action 21 to the Central
Secretariat in Tokyo ? Will the auditor visit us from Tokyo ?
No. There are many regional offices nationwide in Japan.
Each regional office can receive an audit application, proceed judgments on the audit result, accept your inquiries, and carry out
dissemination and enlightenment activities such as seminars. All procedures related to Eco-Action 21 are available in the nearest
regional office. In addition, there are more than 800 accredited auditors across the country, so you can apply for an audit to the
nearest auditor. A regime of Eco-Action 21 is basically decentralized rather than centralized.
IPSuS/EA21

IPSuS-EA21

50