A recently accredited Waste Wise Business, Australian Arrow Pty. Ltd. (AAPL) is the largest supplier of Wire Harnesses to the Australian Automotive Industry. AAPL is a specialist supplier of Electronic Modules controlling the modern vehicle's operating systems and uses the latest technology to design and manufacture instrument systems as well as high security systems integrated with the vehicle's immobiliser.

Simon Clay, Industry Advisor, EcoRecycle Victoria and Zoran Dimovski, Business Systems Manager, AAPL at the 'enviro-wall' in the Melbourne AAPL factory.

Yazaki, parent company of Australian Arrow, established the goal of reducing the volume of waste requiring final disposal by 95 percent from the year 2000 level by June 2007.

The Yazaki goal of zero landfill waste (5 percent or less requiring final disposal) was achieved by Susono Factory (Electrical Wire Division) last year, and by five more production sites (Haibara, Ohama, Fuji, Numazu and Shimada factories) by the end of June 2003.

Australian Arrow aim to match the success of the production plants in Japan. Their latest results indicate that they are on the way to zero waste; Arrow achieved 27 per cent reduction in waste to landfill per associate in 2003 compared to 2002. Waste to landfill per associate went from 1.32 m³ to 0.96m³. Currently they recycle 41 percent of their waste stream, reuse 27 percent and landfill 32 percent. In 2004 they aim to further reduce their waste going to landfill by at least 30 percent.

Australian Arrow aims to go well 'beyond EMS' with their various innovative environmental initiatives. They looked at their workplace culture, waste reduction efforts and energy and paper reduction measures and identified a range environmental activities for 2004 and beyond.

A meeting of environmental representatives was formed - where members from all areas of the company attend monthly meetings to discuss environmental initiatives and activities including recycling targets. These meetings have become the driving force behind environmental initiatives within the company:

"The driving force of our environmental initiatives has been our cross-functional environmental team. We meet monthly with excellent attendance rates and enthusiasm because we all have fun in reviewing our progress. It is exciting for our environmental team members as we have many environmental initiatives in progress at any point in time. We have achieved many great things over the past twelve months and look forward to bigger and more innovative environmental projects, educational publications and environment-related events in coming years." Zoran Dimovski, Business Systems/EMS Manager - People and Services Group.

A major focus of environmental activities at Australian Arrow is waste reduction. "Muda" (Japanese for 'no waste') posters are posted on bulletin boards throughout the company and a monthly newsletter is issued to encourage employees throughout the company to reduce waste.

Company-wide initiatives are constantly being promoted for the recycling of various packaging materials, paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, pallets, printed circuit boards, fluorescent tubes, solder waste, batteries, (including mobile phone batteries) and empty printer cartridges.

Other environmental initiatives of Australian Arrow include:

• Annual Tree Planting Day - in 2003, over 150 volunteers planted 450 trees.
• Annual Children's Environmental Art Competition - displayed at their Carrum Downs factory in Melbourne, over 66 entries from employee's children.
• Major sponsors of the Frankston Sea Festival
• EMS awareness training for all associates

Australian Arrow is committed to continuing their success and achieving zero waste through the Japanese principle of 'kaizen', which translates into continuous improvement of current systems.

Future initiatives include EMS tours for local schools of the factory, rain water collection/recycling, designing more environmentally friendly products and developing stronger environmental partnerships with customers, suppliers, Government and industry networks.

For further information on the Waste Wise Business Program contact:
Simon Clay
Ph: 0409 567 121
Email: sclay@ecorecycle.vic.gov.au