| Abstract: | Life cycle assessments to protect global environment and to control waste in the polymer industry are reviewed. It focused on 1) the environmentally sound technology, 2) the energy conservation, and 3) recycling of industrial products. The competitiveness of a nation depends on how to balance between economic development of sustainable growth and responsible care of global environment in borderless economy. It fully depends on the development of both the environmentally sound manufacturing and the effective products recycling technologies. Current environmental issues of the Japanese chemical industries as well as Toray's performance and new products development for environment business are reviewed; 1) Energy conservation and technology of Japanese manufacturing industry. 2) Development of environmentally sound technology. 3) Effective products recycling technologies, and 4) Sustainable growth of the new chemical age. The future issues of life cycle assessment and environmental protection in manufacturing industries are discussed. |
