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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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[Particulars of Auriga Leader]
Length Overall: 199.99 m Breadth: 32.26 m
Depth: 34.52 m Capacity: 6,200 cars |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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| The zero-emissions i MiEV electric vehicle |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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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