Environmental Reporting in Japan

This chapter examines the history and status of corporate environmental reporting in Japan, and the implications of ISO 14001 and the development of pollutant release inventories for future progress. It seems that ISO 14001 will, to a certain extent, raise the general level of environmental performance measurement in Japanese business, but will have only a limited impact in driving more environmental reporting. Government action commenced in February 1996 when, following an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development recommendation, the Japanese Environment Agency established a review panel for a Pollutant Release and Transfer Register pilot project in October that year. The first detailed survey on the nature and extent of environmental disclosure in Japan was conducted by the Valdez Society in 1995. In 1997, the Valdez Society also conducted an in-depth analysis of reports from the electrical appliance and automobile industries.