The member's nature conservation activity - Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Keidanren Nature Conservaition Fund / Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation

Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

The member's nature conservation activity
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

1. Nature conservation (Environment) Measure posture to activity

Sanyo Electric Group aims to achieve a sustainable balance between global environment and human society. Our commitment is embodied in our management philosophy, "We are committed to becoming an indispensable element in the lives of people all over the world", and corporate slogan, "We care for People and the Earth." In July 2005, we announced our new vision "Think GAIA." Sanyo Electric Group strives to become a company that pleases life and the Earth.

Guiding Principles for Ecological Activities

Let's conduct business and our lives in an environmentally sound manner

  1. Treasure ...
  2. Save ...
  3. Use ...
  4. Reduce ...
  5. Participate in ...

2. Cooperation with NGO

  1. Funding NGOs

    2. Sanyo Environmental Fund (see 7-1 for detail) has been financially supporting excellent environmental conservation activities by volunteer organizations and NPOs. The Fund supported following 4 projects in FY2004.

    1. Otsu Environment Forum -- Projects on kitchen garbage recycling, soil improvement, and vegetable quality analysis.
    2. Soni National Nature Children's Center -- Kid's Adventure Club
    3. Gifu Youngsters' Science Festival at the Solar Ark 2004
    4. Gifu Earth Environment School
    * The list of projects supported prior to 2004 is available here (in Japanese).

  1. Dialogue with NGOs

    2. Sanyo Electric Group periodically holds an information-exchange session with NGOs and uses their feedback as a valuable input to our environmental activities. In 2005, we invited 2 members of Asia Volunteer Center (AVC) to discuss our activities based on Sustainability Report 2004.

3. Environmental education and volunteer training (employee)

  1. Employee education

    2. As part of our environmental management system, we offer an environmental education program to all employees in order to raise their awareness for environmental conservation. nbsp; Advanced programs are offered to EMS management representatives and EMS secretariat. The education programs are tailored to meet the needs of the individual departments.

  2. Encouraging employee volunteers

    3. Volunteer vacation: Employees wishing to participate in volunteer or community activities on workdays are allowed to take up to 6 extra paid holidays per year.
    Volunteer temporary leave: Employees planning to participate in long-term volunteer activities are allowed to take temporary leaves for a period from 1 month to less than a year.

  3. Community Gift System

    4. We donate our products or provide financial support for the purchase of equipment to NPOs to which our employees belong.

  4. COCO-chan campaign

    5. Sanyo Labor Union encourages union members and their families to participate in this campaign, which is originally initiated by Japanese Electrical, Electronic & Information Union to promote energy saving at household.

4. Environmental education (exterior)

  1. Solar Lab

    2. Solar Lab
    Solar Lab is a museum of solar energy, located at the center of the Solar Ark. The Lab is a unique place where visitors can gain hands-on experiences in solar energy and global environmental issues through various exhibitions, workshops, and science shows.
    About 3,300 parents and children participated in the workshops in FY2002-2004. Starting in 2004, science shows have been offering contents for both adults and children.


  2. Gifu Earth Environment School

    3. The School was founded in June 2002 with the aim of training leaders in conservation field and raising children's awareness in nature and science. (The School is currently run by a NPO, Nature Science Club.) The School is open to elementary school children and their parents in the Seino district of Gifu prefecture. The program includes lectures, workshops, and site visits. The School offers 12 sessions a year. 37 pairs of parents and children had participated in FY2004.

5. Practical use and preservation of the company-owned ground etc.

  1. Solar Ark

    2. Solar Ark
    This 315m-wide, 37m-tall ark-shaped photovoltaic power generation facility opened in Gifu prefecture in April 2002. Its striking figure had attracted more than 130,000 visitors from 85 countries. Solar Ark, together with Solar Lab, offer a variety of activities to cultivate a better appreciation of solar power generation.


  2. "Beach Cleanup" campaign

    3. This international campaign is intended to survey the quantity and types of garbage left on beaches while cleaning. Its purpose is to formulate environmental protection measures based on the analysis of pollution sources. 972 employees had participated in the campaign on Nishiki-no-hama beach near Sanyo Kaizuka facility by the end of FY2004.

  3. "Eco-commuting" campaign

    4. Sanyo Sumoto facility is running the "eco-commuting" campaign to reduce CO2 emission from employees' vehicles. The increasing number of employees is now commuting by bicycle or Sanyo's electric hybrid bicycle. In order to promote the use of electric hybrid bicycle, the company has built a bicycle lot "Solar Cycle Stop" whose roof is equipped with Sanyo photovoltaic panels. Commuters can charge their electric hybrid bicycles while parking.

6. Woods structure activities of afforestation, silviculture, etc.

  1. Environment for All

    2. Since 1999, SANYO has organized an "Environment for All" campaign based on the key theme of protecting forests and water. The main activity of the campaign is an overseas work camp held in Sarawak, Malaysia. In 2004, 10 employees volunteered to the 5th work camp, and worked with local NGO members to install a water pump system.

  2. Sanyo Forest

    3. Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. had reached an agreement with Gunma prefecture to reserve 2 ha of public forest in Ubuchi village as Sanyo Forest. 40-50 employee volunteers from Sanyo will periodically undertake maintenance activities for the next five years.

7. Others

  1. Sanyo Environment Fund

    2. In conjunction with commissioning the Solar Ark, Sanyo Group founded Sanyo Environment Fund in April 2002. The Fund provides financial support to organizations to promote environmental volunteering activities and the diffusion of renewable energy.

  2. WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development)

    3. Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. became a member of WBCSD in March 2005. WBCSD believes that the pursuit of sustainable development is good for business and business is good for sustainable development. We believe that the mission and goal of WBCSD are in line with Sanyo's management philosophy and environmental policy. We intend to contribute to the formulation of sustainable society through WBCSD as well as to use our experience at WBCSD to improve our global environmental activities.