1.**Chinese ISO Environmental ISO Certification Status**

1.**Chinese ISO Environmental ISO Certification Status**
- In China, the number of environmental ISO (14001) certifications is rapidly increasing. Certification, previously initiated by the government sector, is now entrusted to private organizations, which are able to respond quickly and flexibly. Certified companies are seeing increased demand for improvement equipment and devices to continuously improve the environmental impact of their business activities.

2. **Recycle business of casting waste sand**.
- A company in Aichi Prefecture has started a business to recycle waste sand generated from casting production. The company has introduced a scheme in which waste sand is treated as an intermediate and reused as a raw material for cement. This has led to a shift from conventional landfill disposal, thereby reducing environmental impact and promoting effective use of resources.

3.**Recovery of Precious Metals from Mobile Phones**.
- The business of recovering precious metals from cell phones and PCs in China is expanding. Since the content of gold in waste is several times higher than that of ore, we have built up a track record in the recycling business and secured a collection route for industrial waste. With this, a foothold for the next phase of business development is being formed.

4.**Measurement equipment for ship exhaust gas**.
- NYK has developed a device to collect particulate matter (PM) emitted from ship diesel engines. This is the first attempt of its kind in the world, and NYK is voluntarily putting the device to practical use in preparation for future stricter regulations. The introduction of this device will not only contribute to environmental preservation, but is also being considered for external sales.

5. **Wind turbine blade transportation business**.
- Nippon Express has introduced new equipment that efficiently transports the blades of wind turbine generators. This new equipment is expected to meet demand for installation in mountainous areas and other locations where installation has been difficult in the past. 2005 sales from wind power generation-related businesses are expected to increase significantly.

6.**Development of ultrafine biodegradable fiber**.
- ITOCHU has established mass production technology for the world's thinnest biodegradable fiber. These fibers are 540 nanometers in diameter and have excellent air permeability and liquid permeability, and are expected to be used in apparel products and as a pharmaceutical material.

7.**Recycle business of waste spray cans**.
- Ryoyo Chemical has launched a business to recycle waste spray cans. It has installed a processing facility that uses nitrogen gas and utilizes the contents of the cans as fuel. This has resulted in the efficient recycling of spray cans and the reuse of resources.

8. **Development of NAS batteries**.
- NAS batteries (sodium-sulfur batteries) are capable of highly efficient power storage and are attracting attention as a complementary facility for distributed power sources and renewable energy generation. These batteries have a long service life, low environmental impact, and excellent safety features.

9. **Okayama Prefecture's Eco Town Plan**.
- Okayama Prefecture has developed a novel eco-town plan. It has enforced an ordinance to support the construction of technologies and systems related to the utilization of recyclable resources in the prefecture, and has proposed specific measures to support environmental businesses. This is expected to lead to the development of environmental industries in each region.

10.**Promotion of Small-scale Hydroelectric Power Generation**.
- The introduction of small-scale hydroelectric power generation using agricultural waterways is being promoted. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has implemented subsidized projects, and power generation facilities are in operation at 19 locations to date. The market is expected to generate approximately 80 billion yen by utilizing agricultural waterways totaling 400,000 km in length.