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Between December 11?½|13, 2008, some 174,000 people from Japan and overseas flocked to the Tokyo Big Site international exhibition center for Eco-Products 2008, a leading exhibition about environmental technologies. The theme for the three-day event, the 10th since the start in 1999, was: “We Can Do It! Eco-Lifestyle with a 50% CO2 Reduction.”
Naturally, the Mitsubishi Group had a strong presence: |
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| ● Through six zones, Mitsubishi Electric’s exhibit provided a simple yet fascinating introduction to the company’s energy-saving technologies, and products and business activities based on those technologies. |
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| ● Mitsubishi Kakoki Kaisha exhibited its latest technologies contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the recycling of waste. They are the Mega Fuel System, which converts sewage sludge to coal-alternative fuel, the Mitsubishi Biogas Plant process, and the Mitsubishi Vane Decanter Centrifugal Disk Separator. |
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| ● Mitsubishi Materials displayed numerous chemical elements recovered through recycling, and explained the recycling methods used. To encourage participation in a survey, the company pledged to plant one tree for every ten responses—over 1,000 visitors took part! |
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| ● Mitsubishi Motors exhibited its next-generation electric vehicle i MiEV, and a Pajero with a diesel engine that complies with Japan’s new long-term emissions standards. |
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| ● The Mitsubishi Paper Mills Group focused on the Group’s environmental initiatives, including the production of paper from FSC-certified forests and related forest conservation activities. |
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| ● Products displayed by Mitsubishi Plastics included AQSOA, a functional adsorbent material facilitating effective utilization of solar energy and low-temperature factory waste heat, and Hishimetal Ex, a resin film composite material ideal for use in lighting reflectors thanks to excellent reflection diffusion and other properties. |
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| ● Under the dual themes of “Helping to Produce Clean Water” and “Contributing to a Low-Carbon Society,” the Mitsubishi Rayon Group showcased water purification products and chemical recycling activities. |
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| ● Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group showed environmental initiatives based on its financial services and products, and also in the context of its social contribution activities. |
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| ● Nikon offered a variety of activities, including picture-card storytelling about global warming, and nature observations through Nikon Favre Series microscopes. Visitors could also see the processes involved in improving the electrical efficiency of a digital SLR camera. |
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| ● Using various energy-saving technologies in its booth, Nippon Oil’s exhibit included displays on various environmental initiatives, and an exciting activity program designed to encourage children to think about the environment. |
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| ● The NYK Group’s booth, themed “Thinking about the Future from a Maritime Perspective,” included an introduction to the Group’s efforts to protect the marine environment through its Nature Fellowship activities, as well as a models model of a car carrier with solar cells installed. |
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| ● Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance presented information about its environmental activities, such as a mangrove afforestation project and research initiatives on global warming, and also ran environmental education seminars. |
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For a company to be considered carbon neutral, it must achieve zero net carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of CO2 released from business activities with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset by means of afforestation, use of renewable energy, carbon credits and other CO2-absorbing or CO2-reducing activities. As of the end of fiscal 2007 (March 31, 2008), Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance has gone carbon neutral at all of its offices in Japan—the first Japanese financial institution ever to do so with third-party verification. Furthermore, by the end of fiscal 2011, the entire Tokio Marine Group aims to go carbon neutral globally.
The company not only performed its own verification, but also had a third party (Ernst & Young ShinNihon Sustainability Institute Co., Ltd.) verify its greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas absorption by afforestation and carbon credits.
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance will continue to expand these efforts with the aim of reducing actual CO2 emissions, as it works to protect the global environment through its insurance business and its environmental awareness and social action programs. |
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In February 2009, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) began the roll-out of two new
series of room air conditioners, one consisting of four high-performance R-Series models and one with four standard T-Series models. All meet Japan’s 2010 energy efficiency standards, which specify a maximum level of energy consumption for a set level of heating and cooling performance. The excellent energy efficiency of the new models reflects the priority given at the development stage to the reduction of environmental loads, including CO2.
MHI has met the 2010 energy efficiency standard a year ahead of schedule, not only
with these new models, but also with the high-end S-Series models launched in 2008, which were also designed with the emphasis on energy efficiency and comfort.
The units are also compact, which means that users will have |
| greater freedom when selecting installation locations. These new air conditioners not only take
energy efficiency to a new level, they also incorporate many exclusive technologies to enhance comfort, including a “jet stream” system that quickly delivers powerful air conditioning performance, and a “bio-clear” system to break down and reduce pollen, mold, mites, viruses and other undesirables commonly found in indoor air. |
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| The i MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) represents the pinnacle of Mitsubishi Motors’ green technologies. Announced in October 2006, this compact all-electric vehicle will be launched in Japan during the summer of 2009. It is currently involved in testing and promotional activities in Japan, New Zealand, the United States and Europe. To help gauge feasibility ahead of a hoped-for launch in European markets sometime after 2010, Mitsubishi Motors visited the Principality of Monaco. A pre-production i MiEV was shown and tested by |
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a large number of national stakeholders, including governmental bodies, utility companies and support groups.
The highlight of the visit was a test drive through the Principality by HRH Prince Albert II of Monaco. Deeply involved and committed to the preservation of the environment through—amongst other initiatives—the “Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation,” the Prince commented: “This is the future and I am happy that your company is going forward in this direction. The vehicle I drove today is ready for practical use in a city area, the dynamics are very good and the performance suits the need. I would like to see this kind of zero-emission vehicle in Monaco in the near future.” |
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