Environmental Communications Back Number (2017)
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Basic Approach
So that as many people as possible may become aware of the MinebeaMitsumi Group's initiatives to preserve the environment, we publicize those initiatives and their results on the Internet and through a variety of means including CSR reports, company brochures, and annual reports. We also actively take part in regional activities and create opportunities to introduce the Minebea Group's environmental initiatives to the public.
Supporting Elementary School Affected by Local Flooding (Thailand)
NMB-Minebea Thai undertook activities to support Ban Nhong Thum Elementary School near Lop Buri Plant after it was affected by local flooding at the end of August 2016. The support was provided as a member of the local region.
We donated tables, chairs and waste receptacles for the cafeteria, which had sustained great damage, and our employees gave lessons on environmental protection and safety and health.
Lessons were given to 120 elementary school children in grade 1 through 6. The lectures used simple language and games to explain the importance of separating waste, how to read traffic signs, and the dangers of drugs (narcotics).
Cleanup of the flooding
Cafeteria after the flooding
New chairs and tables that were donated
Group photograph of NMB-Minebea Thai and the students
Lectures on environmental protection
Environment One-click Fund-raising (Fujisawa Plant)
"Donation" icon for the Fujisawa City Environment One-click Fund-raising initiative
The Fujisawa Plant, located in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, collaborates with local government, enterprises, and residents to carry out Fujisawa City Environment One-click Fund-raising, an initiative created in response to current environmental problems, exemplified by global warming.
The goal of this initiative is to raise local residents' environmental awareness, publicize the social contributions of participating enterprises, and enhance environmental education for children—who will become the next generation of adults. The MinebeaMitsumi Group has participated in this initiative since July 2009.
Fund-raising takes place simply by clicking the "Donation" icon on the participating enterprise's environmental activity-related web page. For each click received, the participating enterprise contributes five yen on behalf of that person. The funds collected go to provide Fujisawa City schools with teaching materials relating to the environment.
During FY2016, a total of 100,000 yen* for 51,093 clicks was contributed on behalf of visitors clicking the fund-raising icon on the Fujisawa Plant's environment-related web page. In addition, with company name change, we renewed our fund-raising page and environmental activity introduction.
* The maximum corporate donation for the Fujisawa City Environment One-click Fund-raising project is ¥10,000 monthly and ¥100,000 annually.
Cleanup campaign (Tama Head Office, Mitsumi Electric)
Garbage collected
In October 2016, a total of 27 people, including 17 managerial staff and 10 regular employees, participated in a cleanup activity (the "Cleanup Campaign") along the roads nearby the Tama head office. We have been conducting this campaign at Tama head office almost every year since 2006, and this was the 10th occasion.
Participants were divided into four groups, with work starting at different points from 7:50 a.m., converging at the end point after approximately 25 minutes. Garbage such as containers and packaging, empty cans, and plastic bottles was found along the nearby roads, and we collected enough garbage to half-fill a 90 liter garbage bag. The amount of garbage is decreasing each time, and was about half the amount compared with the previous year.
As part of its environmental activities, Tama head office has been effective in appealing to local residents and raising awareness of environmental awareness among employees. We will continue to implement the Cleanup Campaign in the future.
The cleanup campaign
Waste Separation Workshops for Local Children (Thailand)
In March 2016, NMB-Minebea Thai hosted a workshop to teach a total of 118 students (52 students from primary school 4th - 6th grade, 66 students from secondary school 1st - 3rd grade) from the nearby Wat Pued Nimit School in Pathumthani Province the ins and outs of sorting waste. The workshop was designed to promote environmental awareness to students and help them learn how to sort waste.
The children were divided into groups, enjoying quizzes and games, while learning the importance of sorting waste.
Together with the children
Waste separation game
The children enjoying games
Activities to raise children's awareness regarding conservation of the natural environment (Thailand)
In November 2016, NMB Minebea Thailand cooperated with local municipalities and carried out activities to "raise awareness about conservation of the natural environment" at the Bangunan Tum school in Lop Buri province. The activity aims to educate children and young people about safety management, and the environment and to increase their understanding.
Over six lessons, talks were given on waste management, hand washing, nutrition and food safety, animals and insect-borne diseases. We also played quiz-type games and deepened our friendship with the children.
Field observation
Lecture classes
Interviewing the children
Participation in Nakaumi and Lake Shinji Cleanup Campaigns (Japan)
In June 2016, thirty-eight Yonago Plant employees pitched in to help with a cleanup campaign aimed at protecting the shores of Lakes Nakaumi and Shinji. As it was a sultry day being the middle of the rainy season, everyone worked up a good sweat for a great cause.
The cleanup campaign, run by Tottori and Shimane Prefectures as well as five lakeshore municipalities in the area (Yonago, Sakaiminato, Matsue, Yasugi, and Izumo), is held every June in order to clean up the lake sites that are included in the Ramsar Convention's* List of Wetlands of International Importance.
About 8,000 people participated this year from the five municipalities. About 1,200 people participated from Yonago, picking up a total of 6.9 tons of trash.
* Ramsar Convention: A treaty protecting wetlands of international importance which serve as waterfowl habitats, etc.
Employees take part in the cleanup campaign
Participation in the 42nd Zao Clean-up Operation (Yamagata Business Division , Mitsumi Electric)
Yamagata Business Division employees
In June 2016, six employees from Mitsumi Electric's Yamagata Business Division participated in the 42nd Zao Cleanup Operation, an activity organized each year by Yamagata City. This was the second time we participated, the first being in 2013 (it was canceled in 2014 and 2015 due to rain).
The Zao mountain range is a national park with abundant natural resources, visited by many mountaineers and tourists throughout the four seasons. The event aims to raise awareness of Zao's precious nature through beautification activities such as collecting garbage and empty cans in the park.
The Mt. Zao area is targeted, and groups are organized to collect garbage along 11 ski runs and mountaineering courses from the summit to the foot. A total of 694 people took part in the clean-up, collecting approximately 70 kg of garbage.
Zao cleanup operations
Cleaning around the plant (Chitose Business Division, Mitsumi Electric)
In June 2016, as part of environmental activities at the Chitose Business Division, we cooperated with the measures of the Chitose City Environment Center to conduct a cleanup campaign around our business division.
We were blessed by the weather, and a total of 30 people participated in the event on the day, including the members of the Environment Promotion Committee special group and the workplace representatives, picking up garbage around the Chitose Business Division.
The industrial park where Chitose Business Division is located is adjacent to natural forest, with large parks scattered within, inhabited by many birds and small animals. In addition to beautification of the site, the activity also helps in conserving biodiversity.
At this time of year, after the snow thaws, the garbage that has been hidden in the snow appears. The participants were surprised to find that so much garbage was carelessly thrown away in the grass along the roadside. Nevertheless, they worked efficiently, separating the garbage into combustibles and incombustibles. By the end of the activity, we had gathered 25 kg of garbage.
The Chitose Business Division will continue to promote activities to preserve the local natural environment and the global environment.
Employees take part in the cleanup campaign
Cleanup campaign around the plant (China)
In November 2016, 11 employees and 4 business partners from the Qingdao Plant, China, conducted a cleanup campaign for the beautification of the export processing zone of the plant grounds and as a contribution to the community, collecting about 20 kg of garbage. The cleaning campaign is conducted from October to November every year.
The cleanup campaign
Support for marathon event, and tree-planting (Thailand)
In December 2016, NMB Minebea Thai supported a marathon event held in Lop Buri Province, where its base is located, providing 3,000 bottles of mineral water to runners.
Other than this, Minebea Thai's 99 employees planted three hundred lagerstroemia trees at the Sufficiency Economy Learning Center where the event was held. Water management of the nearby Pasak River is studied at the Learning Center.
Employees who supported the marathon
Marathon race participants
Handing out bottled water
Tree planting
Wastewater Processing Facilities Tour for Local Residents (Thailand)
In July 2016, NMB-Minebea Thai's Bang Pa-in plant welcomed 18 people from nearby Pattana Community, Pra-Inta Racha Municipality, Ayutthaya Province to understand the plant's wastewater treatment system and water conservation initiatives toured the wastewater and rain water treatment facilities.
By the end of the tour, the participants had formed a better understanding of the plant's wastewater processing and water conservation initiatives, as well as the "Plant Wastewater Zero System" in which plant wastewater is recycled internally to the extent possible. This made for a satisfying event for everyone.
Group photograph of local residents who toured Bang Pa-in Plant's wastewater processing facilities
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