To hold down environmental impact, the Dowa Group was quick to implement efficient materials recovery and take measures to prevent environmental pollution caused by mining. The Group is developing its metal recycling, soil remediation, and waste processing businesses through the application of this technology to its environmental management business. Introduced here are some of the activities in which Dowa is engaged with the intent of contributing to an environmentally conscious society.

■ Developing the Environmental Management & Recycling Business in China A resource-recycling network that spans the oceans Detailed information Materials recycling and environmental conservation have become important issues in China, which is undergoing rapid economic growth. To contribute to the future emergence of an international substance recycling society, the Dowa Group is developing its materials recycling business in China.
■ Developing Environmentally Friendly Materials The world’s first mass production of zinc powder Detailed information Dowa succeeded in establishing the world’s first mass production of zinc powder for mercury-free silver oxide button batteries, which was formerly difficult to produce.		■ Resource Recycling through Afforestation Contributing to the emergence of a recycling-oriented society through the cultivation of forests Detailed information Using the resources available in the area, manure from pig farming is used to make fertilizer for the soil of the forest, another effort to recycle.
■ Developing an Extremely-low Energy Heat Treatment Furnace Dowa developed a gas superheating endothermic gas metamorphic furnace as an energy-saving heat treatment furnace, which offers 1.43 times the endothermic gas output and a 50% reduction in CO2 output in comparison with an endothermic gas furnace. It also achieves reductions in costs.		■ Joint Industry-Academia-Government Infomatics Project Since 2005 Dowa has been engaged in the development and nationwide deployment of a geoenvironmental infomatics system, in cooperation with the Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).
■ Zinc Recycling Japan’s domestic zinc recycling rate is only 20%, but Dowa has succeeded in commercializing the recycling of zinc from cupola dust.		■ Promoting Energy Conservation in the Office Energy conservation has been realized by introducing systematic lighting and climate control, and paper consumption has been reduced, thanks to the increasing use of AV equipment in meeting rooms and teleconferencing.