We Return the Water We Use |
| . |
. |
In addition to energy, the manufacture of semiconductor
devices uses large amounts of water.
CCD and CMOS sensors are representative of
the devices manufactured at the Kumamoto
Technology Center. We depend on the excellent
quality groundwater created by nature in the Aso region for the large amounts of water
needed for cleaning and other steps in the manufacturing
process.
Since this water is also used as the water for
daily life by the one million residents in the
Kumamoto City region, the Kumamoto
Technology Center, in a partnership with environmental
NGO and other groups, and with the
cooperation of local farmers, continues to carry
out a groundwater recharging project. (See photograph
2.)
In this effort, we fill with water both rice fields
that are out of season and rice fields that were
converted to other crops in association with
government rice production reduction policies
so that water seeps into the aquifer. In 2006 we
were able to return about 1.91 million tons of
water to the aquifer. This greatly exceeded the
amount of water used at the Kumamoto
Technology Center that year.
This activity was recognized, and Sony was
awarded the fifth “Japan Environmental
Management Prize Collaboration Prize” sponsored
by Mie Prefecture and the fourth “Asahi
Corporate Citizen Award” sponsored by the
Asahi Shimbun Company. (See photographs 3
and 4.) |
|
|
Aiming for Environmentally Harmonious
Factories Rich in Green |
| . |
. |
At Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation,
our efforts do not stop with reducing the direct
environmental burdens related to semiconductor
device manufacturing, but we are also actively
working with the theme of “harmony with
the earth's natural environment.” At the Oita
Technology Center, which overlooks the
Setonaikai National Park, since the factory was
founded in 1984, we have been promoting continuing
green activities that take advantage of
the diversity of living things to take the greatest
possible advantage of the rich forest within
the grounds.
In 2003, we completed a “Sony Shionoka Park”
that is completely open to local residents. (See
photograph 5.) Also, in February 2007, we were
accredited as “Excellent Stage 3” for having
an extremely high level of environmental contribution
to society through our green space
under the Social and Environmental Green
Evaluation System (SEGES). (See photograph 6.)
Photograph 5 Sony Shionoka Park (Oita Technology Center)
|
|
 Regional Natural Environment Protection
Activities
|
See
all articles with figures and tables.  |
|
Vol.51 |
|
