Kawasaki City Eco-Town Concept and Zero-Emission Industrial Park - June 1999

Kawasaki City Eco-Town Concept and Zero-Emission Industrial Park - June 1999

Kawasaki City, at the heart of the Keihin Industrial Zone, is a hub for industries such as chemicals, steel, and heavy industries, but it has faced serious problems with pollution and industrial hollowing out. To address these issues, the city launched the "Kawasaki New Era 2010 Plan," aiming to balance the environment and the economy. One of the most notable initiatives under this plan is the development of the Zero-Emission Industrial Park. This project involves industrial clusters where waste from one company is used as a resource by another, aiming for zero waste. A business cooperative was established in January 1999 to manage the park and drive forward efforts to create a recycling-based society.

For example, JFE Steel in Kawasaki recycles slag and dust from its blast furnaces, supplying them to the cement industry. Fujitsu, on the other hand, collects discarded circuit boards from its electronics manufacturing process and collaborates with metal recycling companies to reclaim valuable materials. In the industrial park, small and medium-sized enterprises recycle used plastics into new products, showcasing a cooperative approach where companies mutually benefit by utilizing each other's waste.

The goal of the Zero-Emission initiative is to reduce waste by 20% annually, and by 1999, a 10% reduction had already been achieved. In the Kawasaki Coastal Area, a waste logistics network has been established, efficiently circulating resources, which is a rare feature. The Kawasaki Clean Center, an industrial waste treatment facility, processes up to 100,000 tons of plastic waste annually, ensuring these materials are reused.

Moreover, Kawasaki is committed to reducing CO2 emissions as part of its efforts to combat global warming. The city has introduced energy-efficient systems, such as geothermal and solar heating for air conditioning, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries has developed highly efficient power generation systems to promote sustainable energy use.

Kawasaki's Eco-Town concept is not merely about environmental protection but also revitalizing the regional economy by promoting waste reuse and fostering cooperation between industries. The success of these efforts has been recognized both domestically and internationally.