Sustainability - Biodiversity
The Meiden Group relies on the blessings of nature, which has biodiversity at its core, while its activities also have an effect on the natural environment. The Meiden Group aims to minimize this impact, create new symbiotic relationships, and contribute to the creation of a sustainable society.
The Meiden Group understands that the conservation of biodiversity is a major issue to be faced in order to achieve a sustainable society, hence reflects its ethos on biodiversity conservation in the Meiden Group’s “Basic Environmental Philosophy,” “Environmental Policies,” and “Environmental Vision.”
Furthermore, we have drafted guidelines on the conservation of biodiversity in order to clearly state the relationship between our business activities and preserving biodiversity and we are applying them in our business activities.
We understand that our business activities benefit from the blessings of nature and at the same time, give various environmental impacts. We will deepen our people’s understanding of the importance of “Conserving Biodiversity” and contribute to realizing a sustainable society through our products and innovative technologies.
The ThinkPark Tower head office building in Osaki, Shinagawa City, Tokyo, is surrounded by the ThinkPark Forest on a block that is approximately 40% greenery. It is an oasis in the city and provides a relaxing space for employees and the local community.
Also, the Kazenomichi Path, which was designed so that the prevailing wind blows from the Meguro River and Tokyo Bay, provides relief from the heat island effect. ThinkPark Forest has been certified as an “urban oasis” by the Social and Environmental Green Evaluation System (SEGES).*
At each site of the Meiden Group, we are working to conserve biodiversity on the grounds of each site and nearby.
In the head office area of Osaki, Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, we take pictures of the organisms that live in the vicinity of the head office building and post them on the Ikimono Log (Living Nature Log) website operated by the Ministry of the Environment. We hope to create a database with information on the organisms that live in the area.
We provide elementary school students near our head office with opportunities to interact with nature as they search for cicadas living in the area.
At head office and a group company (Meiden Engineering Corporation), we prepared soil in flower beds near Osaki Station, which are managed by Osaki Machi Unei Kyougikai, along with co-sponsors. Going forward, we will continue to actively participate in activities that leave abundant nature for future generations.
The Numazu Works is blessed with the bounty of nature such as a green zone (area = approximately 65,000 m2) and groundwater. We are conducting activities to use these natural resources in a sustainable manner and contribute to the community.
Through the survey of organisms, we discovered Atrocalopteryx atrata dragonflies, which are classified as class II endangered species, at the Numazu Works. We are maintaining a good biotope in the hope that the dragonflies will lay their eggs.
In 2022, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of Meidensha, we donated 125 Japanese black pine trees and had Meiden Group employees plant them at Senbonhama Park in Numazu.
At the Ota Works, we conducted an on-site botanical survey and found more than 30 varieties of trees. We included the results of the survey on the Ota Works Green Zone Map and we will apply the knowledge gained for future utilization of the green zone.
The red pine grove in Kanayama is the most well-known natural landscape in Ota City. Kanayama Castle was created using the natural contours of Kanayama and it is a precious historic site that is listed in the top 100 castles in Japan. The Ota works is registered as part of the “red pine managing owner system” and we work to conserve the red pine grove by participating in activities such as weeding.
The problem of marine pollution caused by plastic waste has spread over a wide area, and there are concerns that it can adversely affect the ecosystem, living environment, fisheries, tourism, etc. The use of plastic bags has been abolished since July 2020 at on-site shops in the Meiden Group's Numazu Works and Ota Works. Shops prepare eco-bags instead of using plastic disposable bags at the checkout. We conducted e-learning for all Meiden Group employees concerning the problem of marine plastic waste, and stopped selling PET bottles from all vending machines at Numazu Works in December 2021. We are reducing plastic waste by eliminating the use of PET bottles, which had previously totaled 500,000 bottles per year.
Meidensha has participated in the Biodiversity Working Group, a group consist of four electrical and electronic industry associations*, since its inception in FY2011. As a member of the industry, we are promoting our biodiversity initiatives through the activities of the working group and enhancing our own efforts.
