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Environment BACK ISSUES

June 2013

Asahi Glass subsidiary AGC Flat Glass (Thailand) Public (AFT) began planting mangroves, releasing young fish and initiating other programs in 2003 to promote awareness about biodiversity and climate change.
In 2010, AFT began supporting the Learning Center of Sufficiency Economy in Kanjanaburi Province by donating over 1,000 trees, which AFT employees have helped to plant. Working with other Thai glass manufacturers, in 2011 AFT planted some 500 mangrove trees to help prevent land deterioration in the Samut Prakan, Chonburi and Rayong districts, where three AFT plants are located. The company has also begun planting herbs and rare trees for educational and public amenity purposes. Most of the trees are native species but were not considered economically useful and the planting program is aimed to keep them from extinction.

caption: Employees who helped in the planting

April 2013

Environmental Activities vol.39 Mitsubishi Plastics Environmental Leadership Award for Commitment to Environmental Practices

Mitsubishi Polyester Film, Inc. (MFA), an affiliate of Mitsubishi Plastics, has garnered the 2012 TLMI Environmental Leadership Award presented annually by the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute of the United States in recognition of its strong commitment to good environmental practices. While the use of PET film as the dispensing liner in the label market has increased in recent years, there has been growing concern in the industry about spent liner disposition. In its selection, MFA’s Reprocess™ Sustainable Liner Recovery Program, which provides a sustainable reuse solution to the challenge of spent liner disposition, received special mention. In 2011 MFA used the Reprocess™ program to recover 1,600 tons of spent liner, reducing CO2 emissions by an amount equivalent to the exhaust from 900 automobiles.

caption: MFA CEO Dennis Trice receives the TLMI award.

february 2013

Mitsubishi Estate became the first company in the world to integrate intelligent LED lighting and radiant air conditioning systems when it installed them in Ecozzeria’s¹ “Next Generation Office Experiment Lab” in the Shin-Marunouchi Building. The LED system optimizes lighting levels for individual work areas while the radiant air conditioning eliminates uncomfortable temperature variations. While providing a comfortable working environment, the integrated system realizes a significant 30 percent saving in energy use. Its effectiveness was recognized in August 2012 when it was awarded the “Minister of the Environment Prize” in the Cabinet Office-sponsored 10th annual Merit Awards for Industry-Academia- Government Collaboration.²

Note 1: A facility established on the 10th floor of Mitsubishi Estate’s Shin-Marunouchi Building in May 2007 as a environmental strategy monitoring center for the OMY (Otemachi, Marunouchi, Yurakucho) district in central Tokyo.

Note 2: Awards granted in recognition of noteworthy successes in, and significant contributions to the promotion of, industry-academia-government collaboration.

December 2012

Mitsubishi Corporation initiated its Global Coral Reef Conservation Project in 2005. On August 31, 2012, the company hosted an international symposium in Tokyo on the theme of “Coral Reef Conservation and Biodiversity / Coexistence between Coral & Sea Life: What We Can Do to Help.” The symposium was aimed at encouraging awareness about the need for research into coral reefs and ocean life and sharing the results obtained to date. At the symposium, coral reef researchers, biologists and project members held panel discussions and talk shows. Each talked from their own perspective about the current state of coral reefs and the problems our oceans face as well as how we should go about conserving the environment. The symposium was attended by an audience of some 500 people who listened to the proceedings with great interest.

October 2012

The development of an all-electric, battery-powered prototype bus by a consortium consisting of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the Government of Manitoba, New Flyer Industries Inc., Red River College and Manitoba Hydro, has been completed and was unveiled in Winnipeg, Canada, on June 1, 2012. The 40-foot prototype employing New Flyer’s Xcelsior bus-platform is powered by MHI lithium-ion rechargeable battery packs, which offer superior charge retention performance. Going forward, the bus will undergo an operational testing program on the streets of Winnipeg over the next two years. This demonstration is the first project being implemented under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Renewable Energy Development signed in December 2010 between the Government of Manitoba and MHI, under which the two parties agreed to collaborate towards realizing an advanced low-carbon society.

August 2012

vol.35 Tokyo Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co.,Ltd
Participation in `Ten-Year Restoration Project of the Coastal Forests of Tohoku Region`

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance is supporting the “Ten-Year Restoration Project of the Coastal Forests of Tohoku Region,” promoted by the international NGO OISCA. The project aims to reforest the seashores in Miyagi Prefecture that were devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and to promote regional development by helping to restore agricultural land and create job opportunities. Tokio Marine & Nichido is committed to the project because its goals are in line with the company’s principles of “conserve nature” and “contribute to society,” as also manifested in the Mangrove Planting Project which it started in 1999. The company will provide financial and human support by donating 10 million yen and through employee volunteer activities. At the “Green Gift Concert” staged by the company in Tokyo in March, the company collected donations for the restoration project.

June 2012

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation subsidiary Mitsubishi Motors Thailand Co., Ltd. (MMTh) signed a memorandum on February 14 this year with Thailand’s Natural Energy Development Co., Ltd (NED) on testing the commercial viability of the i-MiEV new-generation electric vehicle. NED is currently building a 73 megawatt solar power plant at Lopburi in central Thailand which will be the largest solar power plant in the world when it is completed. MMTh and the Thai government agreed in December 2010 to work together in testing the i-MiEV, and the company is already conducting similar testing with Thai power and oil companies. The memorandum signed with NED will see MMTh pushing further ahead with testing aimed at putting more EVs on the road in Thailand, a country which is currently actively promoting the use of new energy technologies.

April 2012

Kirin Holdings ranked top of Japan’s 500 largest companies, as defined by market value, for the quality and completeness of the information the company disclosed about its climate-change management and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to the Japan 500 Report 2011 published by the Carbon Disclosure Project.*¹ In 2011, the CDP published a report and score card on the world’s 6,000 leading corporations, 500 of which were Japanese companies. Kirin Holdings scored 96 points out of a possible 100 in the CDP’s Carbon Disclosure Score to rank top among the 500 Japanese companies. The company’s placement at the top recognizes its ongoing and proactive efforts to become a low-carbon corporate group and to make public the performance of its environmental management and stewardship.

*¹: The CDP is a project initiated by a United Kingdom-based nonprofit organization of the same name established in 2000. Representing 551 institutional investors and financial institutions with a combined $71 trillion under management, the CDP collects information from the world’s largest companies about their GHG emissions and the actions they take to mitigate the risks of climate change. After analyzing the information the CDP awards companies a score out of 100 and discloses this information to investors.

Caption: Kirin Holdings Managing Director Hajime Nakajima accepting the honor of being ranked top in the Carbon Disclosure Score at the CDP 2011 Japan Conference (November 7, 2011, Tokyo)

Feburary 2012

Nikon has been co-sponsoring the International Children’s Painting Competition with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE) and Bayer AG to foster environmental conservation awareness among children. In the painting children are called upon to send a message to urge conservation of the earth to people all over the world using the lingua franca of artwork which transcends the boundaries of race and language. To mark the United Nations International Year of Forests in 2011, the competition’s theme was “Life in the Forests (Biodiversity).” This year was the 20th edition of the competition; 606,996 entries from 99 countries were submitted and 63 prize winners were chosen. The top seven winners were invited to the award ceremony. The theme of the 21st is “Green Communities.” Nikon will continue appealing the importance of conserving global environment with the messages from children’s paintings.”

Caption: The award ceremony was held in Bandung, Indonesia on September 27, 2011

December 2011

vol.31 1. NYK Trading Corporation
First Award from Port of Los Angeles for Reducing Air Pollutant Emissions

NYK received its first Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) award¹ from the Port of Los Angeles, California, in 2011. NYK was recognized for its “significant early action to reduce air pollutant emissions” through its early compliance with California Air Pollution Control laws. In 2010, NYK containerships were able to reduce nitrous oxide and particulate matter emissions by 24 percent² through the use of shoreside electric power³ while at berth. Yusen Terminals Inc. (YTI), a container terminal operator and wholly owned subsidiary of NYK, was recognized with its third CAAP award, this one for its “innovative operations that improve air quality.”

Photo: NYK Atlas using shoreside electric power at YTI terminal.

Note 1: The CAAP Air Quality Awards Program is an annual program that permits the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles the opportunity to acknowledge achievements of port tenants and operators who demonstrate a strong commitment to improving air quality at facilities within the ports.

Note 2: Percentage calculated by the California Air Resource Board.

Note 3: Makes it possible to reduce air pollutant emissions by allowing a vessel to shut down onboard diesel power generators and receive needed electricity from shore while at berth.

October 2011

Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) started its first experimental project in tropical forest regeneration in 1990. To date the company has extended these activities to tropical forest regions in Malaysia, Brazil and Kenya and has recently announced that it will launch a 5-year project in Indonesia starting this year with the international NGO, OISCA. The project goal is to regenerate the forest in an area of 10 hectares in a national park and an area of 40 hectares of public land cultivated by the people of Sukamaju Village, Kadudampit, Sukabumi Regency in West Java with the aim of conserving water resources and alleviating flooding, landslides and other natural disasters. The project also aims to strengthen the economic base of those living in the region by empowering local farmers; to raise awareness about environmental conservation among adults and schoolchildren through education programs, and to create an environment in which the local community and forest can coexist.

August 2011

Mitsubishi Chemical and Mitsubishi Plastics in April 2011 launched the ALPOLIC®/gioa® range of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) that combine thin film solar cells with ALPOLIC aluminum composite panels. The BIPVs are formed by laminating amorphous silicon thin film solar cells onto ALPOLIC building panels. Solar cell modules for buildings have traditionally been mounted on flat roof tops and other horizontal surfaces but the ALPOLIC panels allow ALPOLIC/gioa BIPVs to be installed on most parts of the building envelope, including walls and other vertical surfaces. This offers cost advantages over the use of non-integrated systems in new buildings by reducing the amount spent on building materials and labor.

Note1 : ALPOLIC and gioa are registered trademarks of Mitsubishi Plastics and Mitsubishi Chemical respectively.

June 2011

In collaboration with the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan, three MUFG Group companies (The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities ) and The Mitsubishi UFJ Environment Foundation in 2008 started the 5-year “Save Our Common Treasures of the Earth” project directed primarily at elementary schoolchildren. To encourage children to commune with nature, and to learn the beauty and importance of nature, the Project annually hosts the Midori-no-e¹ Concour, attracting paintings of natural subjects from nearly 30,000 children. For every 10 paintings submitted, the Project plants one tree in the area surrounding the World Heritage-listed Shirakami-Sanchi² in Northern Japan. The Project also invites those children whose paintings have been awarded a Grand Prize in the Concour on a tour of the area.

Note1: Literally, “Paintings of Greenery” but extended to include all aspects of the natural world.
Note2: Inscribed because it is the last virgin remains of the cool-temperate forest of Siebold's beech trees.

April 2011

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation(MMC) and the government of Thailand have agreed to start joint study for fleet testing of electric vehicles (EV) in that country. Working with its local producer and distributor Mitsubishi Motors Thailand, MMC will start laying the path for the launch of the i-MiEV new-generation EV on the Thai market.
For its part, the Thai government will move forward with its Electric Vehicle Project, creating an integrated organization with related ministries and government agencies under the direction of the Ministry of Industry.The agreement means the Thai Ministry of Industry will use the i-MiEV in conducting feasibility studies directed toward popularizing the use of EVs in Thailand. These studies will cover such areas as consumer acceptance and marketability of EVs, user support systems and the establishment of the necessary infrastructure for charging the batteries used to power EVs.

February 2011

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has completed the conceptual design of a New Panamax¹ class container vessel that is expected to make a significant contribution in the fight against global warming. The new ship uses the company's proprietary Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System (MALS) that pumps air along the bottom of the hull to produce air bubbles which reduce drag between the hull and seawater. The MALS system, together with the vesselfs cutting-edge performance hull design and propulsion system, is expected to realize a 35 percent reductionin CO2 emissions over container ships of conventional design. The MALS-14000CS name of the new class derives from the shipfs use of the MALS system and from its 14,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) container capacity.

Note 1: The maximum dimensions of ships that will be allowed to transit the Panama Canal after expansion work which is slated to be completed in 2014. The dimensions are: Overall length of 366.0 meters (currently 295.0 m), beam of 48.8 meters (32.2 m) and tropical fresh water draft of 15.2 meters (12.0 m).

December 2010

vol.25 JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation JX Holdings, Inc. Cultivate Environmental Action Program Leaders! Implementation of the "ENEOS Environmental Leader Volunteers Training Program" -

Many JX Nippon Oil & Energy employees and their families are voluntarily participating in the local environmental conservation of forests, mountains, and flowerbeds.
In order to help train the people who voluntarily participate and lead others in these activities, we implemented the "ENEOS Environmental Leader Volunteers Training Program" at Kiyosato Highlands in Yamanashi prefecture. 16 people participated in this program which was held from September 11(Sat) to 12(Sun). After a lecture on the meaning of forest preservation by environmental education professionals, the participants participated in a training session in the forest which covered topics such as nature observation, thinning of trees to sustain the forests, and effective utilization of thinned trees for the creation of sidewalk fences.
This program marked our 18th successful training program, and so far, a total of 286 people have participated.

October 2010

vol.24 MITSUBISHI ESTATE CO., LTD. Spraying Road with Recycled Water to Mitigate Heat Island Effect in Tokyo Summer

Mitsubishi Estate and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Construction are working together in an initiative that uses recycled water to spray roads and limit rises in road surface temperature in order to tackle the heat island effect in summer.
Starting in June, the initiative uses recycled water from the Marunouchi Building in central Tokyo to spray the Gyoko-dori Avenue that runs from Tokyo Station's Marunouchi Entrance to Hibiya-dori Avenue. The water is stored in a special water-holding layer in the road surface and as the air temperature rises the water is transformed into vapor. Also known as "vaporative cooling," this process uses heat energy contained in the water molecules and thus causes a drop in temperature in its surroundings.

August 2010

With higher year-round efficiency than conventional chillers, centrifugal chillers are expected to attract increased attention as wide-ranging businesses begin to emphasize energy conservation in light of growing environmental concerns. In addition to striving to improve the performance of centrifugal chillers, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has also been working to realize greater energy savings by maximizing the overall efficiency of air-conditioning systems, which include peripheral equipment such as cooling water pumps, chilling water pumps and cooling towers. These efforts have culminated in the development of an integrated air-conditioning control system called the Ene-Conductor, which is now poised to become a powerful ally for businesses as they seek to rein in energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions.

June 2010

Toyo Engineering Works has leveraged the Company's extensive research and experimentation on refrigeration technology to become a global leader in the commercialization of artificial snow equipment. This equipment currently helps Gota the polar bear feel at home at the Oga Aquarium in Akita, Japan. The similar equipment, installed at Hong Kong's popular Ocean Park, allows giant pandas to frolic in the snow, just as they do in their natural habit, high in the mountains of China. Spectators take delight in seeing these animals cavort about in their own winter wonderlands.
This equipment is close to the original habitat of the animal playing field, helping to prevent animal designated an endangered species from stress and weariness of summer.
Toyo Engineering Works has also developed cooling systems that use the natural refrigerants of CO2 and ammonia, in place of chlorofluorocarbons such as Freon. One of the Company's environmentally friendly cooling systems was even used to preserve the frozen wooly mammoth that became a hit at the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, Japan.

April 2010

Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation (MAL) is a company that strives to provide comprehensive solutions to its customers in the area of auto leasing. In light of the growing importance of environmental issues, MAL has begun to promote “eco-friendly driving” through a program developed for its corporate clients. The program seeks to help corporate clients to incorporate environmental measures, reduce the costs of fleet management and tackle other emerging challenges by capitalizing on knowledge from across diverse fields. MAL will endeavor to further expand its efforts to promote eco-friendly driving through this program in the years ahead..

February 2010

Mitsubishi Plastics developed unique zeolitic adsorbent “AQSOA,” which contributes to saving energy consumptions and reduction of CO2 emissions.
      With AQSOA Adsorption Heat Pump, low temperature waste heat can be converted to chilled water. By utilizing waste heat, AQSOA Dessicant Air-Conditioner can control humidity with lower energy consumptions than conventional ones.
      Depending on the temperature and other comparative conditions, power consumption can generally be reduced by 30 to 40%, resulting in reduced CO2 emissions.
      Mitsubishi Plastics will contribute to reduction of CO2 emissions and creating of a comfortable society by permeating AQSOA.

December 2009

Air pollution continues to be a serious problem in many urban areas.
Mitsubishi Materials and Tokyo Hoso Kogyo Corporation have made great strides in addressing this problem with their joint development of a new construction method.
The partners have devised a technique for the photocatalytic paving of roadways that can withstand the friction of vehicular traffic while also demonstrating an outstanding capacity for sustaining air purification functions. The construction method can be applied to various types of pavement. With this new technology, it appears cities will soon be on the road to achiving better air quality.

October 2009

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. was awarded the Energy Conservation Center Chairman’s Prize for its large route bus, “Aero Star Eco Hybrid” which employs a series-type hybrid system, as part of the 19th Energy Conservation Prize Awards.
The awards program is sponsored by the Energy Conservation Center, in association with the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, which is a part of METI. It aims at creating an energy-conserving society by supporting the development and promotion of equipment, materials and systems with excellent energy conservation performance. It also strives to promote effective usage of resources and energy, and to reduce greenhouse gases such as CO2.

August 2009

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (MCHC) has established the KAITEKI Institute, Inc., a global research institute focused on meeting 21st century challenges in energy, the environment and healthcare on April 1, 2009. “Kaiteki,” which traditionally means “comfort” or “ease” in Japanese, was chosen for the institute’s name to represent the global quality of life that will be made possible through sustainable technologies such as artificial photosynthesis, which could solve both environmental and energy problems, and through breakthrough scientific advances in human healthcare. The Institute will help make society healthier and more affluent by supporting long-term MCHC Group research activities and business activities, while taking advantage of a global scientific and information network.

June 2009

To promote conservation of global environment, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. is recommending its clients to adopt a method for perusing general contractual conditions through their web site (called “web contract”) instead of receiving a “contractual pamphlet.” For each one unit of insurance contract in which the contractor agrees with their activities leading to paper saving and newly chooses the web contract, the company contributes an amount equivalent to two seedlings of mangrove to an NGO or similar organization engaging in reforestation. The contractors’ understanding will help replenish mangroves in Southeastern Asian countries.

April 2009

Limoneira Company, a California-based grower and seller of lemons and other fruit, has chosen Mitsubishi Electric to supply photovoltaic modules for use in its orchards. Mitsubishi Electric has worked to develop photovoltaic modules using lead-free solder to further enhance the modules’ environmental benefits, and the lead-free solder was a deciding factor in the purchase.
The 6,400 modules, capable of generating 1.2 MW, cover some 22,260 m² and will meet about one-third of Limoneira’s energy needs. Surrounding vegetation helps to prevent surface dust from building up and diminishing power output. Sheep graze on the vegetation, keeping it low so that it does not block the sunlight.

February 2009

      On December 19, 2008, Auriga Leader (60,213 gross tons), which is a solar-power-assisted car carrier installed with a system developed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and Nippon Oil Corporation (Nippon Oil), sailed from Kobe port.
      Before sailing, the system starting ceremony was held to mark the first transition to solar electric power by pushing the starting button for the 328 sheets of solar panels and confirmed that the system started generating solar-powered electricity.
      NYK Line and Nippon Oil will conduct field experiments to verify that the electric power supply can maintain stable propelling in the hard conditions of actual navigation. And for another two years the system will be checked for its endurance against saltwater damage, wind pressure, and constant vibrations, and for its mix of solar power and ship-generated power. NYK Line aims at realizing a solar-powered ship.

[Particulars of Auriga Leader]
Length Overall: 199.99 m Breadth: 32.26 m
Depth: 34.52 m Capacity: 6,200 cars

December 2008

To promote recycling of waste PET bottles, Kirin Beverage is engaged in the purchase of materials made by recycling PET bottles and expanding their applications, including business-use uniforms for sales staff, neckties with logos, empty bottle-collecting boxes and business cards. Since June 2003, Kirin has used beverage display trays 95% recycled from PET bottles. Advances in molding technology have made it possible to use PET bottle material in the production of strong trays that can be used in mass sales stores throughout Japan.

October 2008

vol.12 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Drive@earth The zero-emissions i MiEV electric vehicle

Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) sets “Drive@earth” as its global tagline. The tagline expresses their concern for environment while underscoring their commitment to providing the utmost driving pleasure to customers in every part of the world.
MMC is accelerating the final stages of development in preparation for bringing the i MiEV, which emits no drive-time CO₂, to market in 2009.

The zero-emissions i MiEV electric vehicle

August 2008

vol.11 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Mitsubishi Electric's SOCIO-ROOTS Fund contributes to the OISCA Children's Forest Program in Malaysia

Mitsubishi Electric established the Mitsubishi Electric SOCIO-ROOTS Fund in 1992, a gift program in which the Company matches any donation made by an employee, thus doubling the goodwill of the gift.
In October 2007, some of the Company’s employees volunteered to donate their achievement awards from the president to the Children’s Forest Program in Malaysia, which is an activity organized by OISCA, an international NGO engaged in agricultural development and environmental protection activities. Mitsubishi Electric matched the gift to double the donation to 8.4 million yen.
The employees in Japan and Malaysia also visited the Children’s Forest in April 2008 to participate in a tree-planting activity to support children suffering from forest fires.
Looking ahead, Mitsubishi Electric will continue to make steady efforts to develop activities rooted in local communities while respecting employees’ goodwill.

June 2008

Pure water is indispensable in the production of Kirin’s beer, whisky, soft drink and other commodities. Since 1999, the Kirin Group has continued plant forests around its production facilities at 13 locations in Japan and remains active in efforts to conserve fresh water supplies on Yakushima Island and the Shimanto River. Kirin employees participate in various conservation activities, and through these efforts, in conjunction with local citizens have planted approximately 1,000 hectares of forest throughout Japan.

April 2008

In 2006, MC provided 84,000 dollars to fund an ecotourism project in the Ibera wetland, a nature preserve in Corrientes, Argentina.
The Ibera wetland covers 1.3 million hectares, serving as a reservoir and also as a rich environment that is home to more than 1,400 species of plants and 600 species of wildlife. The project will install 3 visitors centers within the wetlands, designed and developed by environmental experts at Fundacion Naturaleza para el Futuro (FUNAFU), in conjunction with the state government. Audio/visual programs will introduce visitors to the natural environment, culture and history of the region.

February 2008

Nippon Oil is involved in a CO₂ reduction project at the Rang Dong Oil Field off the coast of southern Vietnam. At the start of commercial production in 1998, the Company flared and disposed of exhaust gas, a by-product of crude oil production, at sea. A system was subsequently built to utilize the gas as a fuel source for generating electricity by recovering and sending it to power plants on the mainland through an undersea pipeline. With this world-first recovery system in place, the consumption of other fuels for power generation has fallen substantially, reducing CO₂ emissions by 680,000 tons annually, a world record.

December 2007

vol.7 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Preserving Native Forests-the Pajero Forest & Local Mountain Restoration Initiative

In October 2006, Mitsubishi Motors announced the Pajero Forest & Local Mountain Restoration Initiative to commemorate the launch of a completely new version of its best-selling Pajero SUV, famous for its participation in the Dakar Rally. The initiative aims at conserving and cultivating a three-hectare area of the Pajero Forest, located at the foot of the Japanese Southern Alps. The project is a collaboration among Mitsubishi Motors, OISCA International, an environmental conservation group, and Yamanashi Prefecture. The reforestation effort is at the center of a national environmental awareness campaign in Japan, and has highlighted the need for collaboration and cooperation in achieving the sustainable preservation of our natural resources.

October 2007

vol.6 Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha "NYK Nature Fellowship" enhances our knowledge of the sea through oceanographic investigation and cross-cultural collaboration.

As the focus on the global environment intensifies, NYK has implemented its NYK Nature Fellowship, since 2006, in collaboration with Earthwatch Japan, a recognized nonprofit organization. This program dispatches university students and employees of NYK group companies to sites of oceanographic environmental investigation and research throughout the world, giving participants the opportunity to observe ongoing investigations for one or two weeks at a time. During these visits, participants learn from world-renowned scientists, while supporting their investigation and research activities, and enjoying the exposure to other participants from around the world. To date, nine programs have been carried out with a total of ten participants.

August 2007

Mitsubishi Corporation launched its Global Coral Reef Conservation Project in 2005 to promote the conservation of coral reefs around the world.
The Project consists of three research studies in Okinawa, the Midway Atoll in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in the US, and the Seychelles, and is implemented through collaboration between industry, academia and NGOs. Marine scientists conduct research into fragile reef ecosystems and methods for their conservation and volunteers from the company staff and from the public assist the scientific research, and in the process learn more about environmental conservation and coral reefs.

June 2007

vol.4 THE ASAHI GLASS FOUNDATION Earth's beauty for future generations International Environmental Award "The Blue Planet Prize"

The Blue Planet Prize is an international award given in recognition to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions in solving global environment through scientific research and its applications.
The prize was established in 1992 to express our sincere appreciation to the recipients, and also in hope of raising awareness towards environmental problems and promoting environmental conservation efforts by people of all nations and generations.
The name “Blue Planet” symbolizes our determination to preserve our blue planet, this shared heritage of humanity, for future generations.

April 2007

Mitsubishi Paper Mills was among the first to introduce FSC-certified paper in Japan. Since 2001 it has obtained CoC certification for three mills in Japan and in 2002 it gained certification for forests that it owns in Chile. It is expected that the more certified papers are chosen by consumers, the more forests are well managed.
* FSC(Forest Stewardship Council; Germany) is a non governmental organization, established in 1993 to promote well-managed forests.

February 2007

Mitsubishi Corporation has been implementing the Tropical Forest Regeneration Experimental Project since 1990 as part of its social contribution activities. The project itself is based on a theory developed by Dr. Akira Miyawaki, Professor Emeritus of Yokohama National University, which involves densely planting numerous species of trees that are indigenous to the reforestation area. Although tropical forest regeneration is said to normally take 300 to 500 years, this project aims at accomplishing reforestation in as little as 40 to 50 years. Since the project was initiated over 10 years ago, trees through this method have already reached heights of 20 meter and natural ecosystems are also returning to the surroundingarea.

December 2006

In 1999, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire started planting mangroves in five countries in South East Asia and by the end of March 2004 , the Company had attained forestation for 3,444 hectares, an area of mangrove forests large enough to absorb CO2 it emits in our day-to-day business activities. Mangroves also serve as effective buffers against floods from a tsunami, as proved in the tragic Indian Ocean Tsunami case in 2004. The current project has been expanded into the South Pacific area, and the Company is going to plant mangrove saplings in an additional area of 2000 hectares (5000 hectares in total) by March 2009.

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