Environmental and Social Responsibility Report
Fiscal 2009, ended March 31, 2009, saw Komori post unprecedented declines in its
consolidated net sales and operating income, and ordinary income.
Economic activity slowed significantly in developed and emerging regions as subprime loan
problems in the United States triggered a global financial crisis that spilled into the real
economy. The crisis deepened in the second half of the year, when the collapse of Lehman
Brothers caused supplies of essential operating, investment, and trade finance to tighten aroundthe world.
A global recession dampened demand in the printing industry, the prime market for our
products and services. As in other sectors, the printing market shrank globally. Companies in
developed and emerging regions became increasingly reluctant to invest in printing presses and equipment, particularly in the second half of the term. On top of that, the surging yen hit us hard, as we rely heavily on exports.
We responded to this situation by formulating and deploying our Leaning Against the Wind
(LAW) Project in November 2008, which covers January 2009 through March 2010. Key goals include adjusting production to lower inventories, cutting fixed and manufacturing costs, and constraining R&D and capital expenditures.
Despite some rescheduling, we have pushed ahead with third-phase construction at the
Tsukuba Plant and at the Komori Graphic Technology Center. Such expenditure will depress
earnings in the near term amid the worst recession the Group has ever faced. Still, we
concluded that forward investments are essential for us to be more competitive and thus
materialize our long-term vision of becoming the world’s top printing equipment manufacturer.
Prime Minister Taro Aso announced in June 2009 that Japan would seek to cut its
greenhouse gas emissions by 15% from 2005 levels by 2020. That would equate to an 8%
reduction from 1990. Some have complained that this is insufficient, but we take the target
seriously as a business.
A year of preparations started a year before Japan’s revised Energy Conservation Law goes into effect in April 2010. The efforts include an emissions trading trial and a related system of domestic credits for the program, as well as credit purchases under the Kyoto Mechanism. The European Union has revised its directives on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances and on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment while deploying its Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical Substances legislation. The United States has changed direction under President Barack Obama. We are closely monitoring regulatory and other trends while undertaking life cycle assessments and other in-house initiatives to develop environmentally friendly products.
We will continue to progress by focusing on quality, costs, and the environment.
Envitonmental and Sicial Responsibility Report（PDF）
Passed Reports （PDF）
Posted text above is current as of issue.
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