As awareness of environmental problems grows throughout the world, protection of the environment and limited natural resources has become not only the clear responsibility but also a social mission of every company doing business. As part of our company-wide efforts to make environmental protection a top priority, Ono established an Environmental Management Office in July 1998 and formulated an Environmental Self-regulating Action Plan, which declineates Ono's course of action in environmental protection. Certification of compliance with ISO 14001 environmental management standards has been obtained for both the Fujiyama Plant (November 2002) and the Joto Plant (February 2004). We remain committed to maintaining our environmental management system and engaging in environmental protection throughout our operations.

In compliance with the Environmental Guidelines, we have set specific action plans and targets in 6 areas and strive to achieve these targets. Because we do not conduct any synthesis of pharmaceutical substances at Ono, our discharge volumes of CO2, wastes and chemical substances have been lower than the industry average and are within ranges that do not cause concerns to society. We have never experienced any environment-related accidents or litigations, and have never received any complaints concerning noise, malodor or vibration. 

However, the Kyoto Protocol requires reduction by 2010 of the total volume of CO2, waste and chemical substances down to below 1990 levels: the volumes discharged at Ono are higher than the 1990 levels. This is attributable to the company's growth resulting in the doubling of sales and tripling of R&D expenditures compared to those in 1990. Despite our continued efforts to reduce environmental impact during the period, increase of environmental impact associated with company growth has exceeded the volume that has been reduced. We recognize that future reduction of the environmental impact measured by total volume will continue to be an agenda for Ono to tackle. We will continue our efforts to consider all aspects of environmental action and achieve the targets in volume reduction before 2010.