Top > Corporate Social Responsibility > [Activity Report] Environment > Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing
- [Activity Report] Environment
- Environmental Management
- Promoting Environmental Activities
- Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing
Kodomo Challenge Materials Recycling Project Commenced
In fiscal 2010, Benesse Corporation started a project to recycle the plastic educational materials used for Kodomo Challenge. In the first fiscal year, the Company set up collection booths at the Shimajiro Christmas Concert events held in Kanagawa and Miyagi prefectures. The concerts were attended by 3,433 people and 827 kg of plastic was recovered. Children who helped with the collection received a picture book with the theme of treating objects with care to encourage further discussion about recycling with their parents. The recovered plastic was reformed into recycled planter boxes and donated to kindergartens around Japan who had requested them. Benesse Corporation will step up its recycling activities as part of increasing its efforts to help the environment.
Children put educational materials in the collection box for recycling
Grants for Next — Generation Solar Cell Research
Benesse Holdings and Okayama University have signed an agreement regarding collaboration on research into next-generation environmental technologies. Together they aim to promote academic research and greater application of its results in society.
The research topic is next-generation solar cells. Specifically, under the collaborative agreement, Benesse Holdings is working together with Professor Naoshi Ikeda of the Graduate School of Natural Sciences and Technology, Okayama University, on three themes. The first is the development of next-generation solar cells utilizing green ferrite technology owned by Okayama University. The second is considering the use of the solar cells in Benesse Holdings facilities to contribute to the environment. The third is to explore the potential for utilizing the solar cells in educational tools and materials for children.
Signing ceremony with Okayama University:
Okayama University President Kiyoshi Morita (left),
Benesse Holdings Chairman Soichiro Fukutake (right)
Supporting the Development and Popularization of Electric Vehicles
Benesse Holdings is cooperating with and supporting SIM-Drive Corporation*1 in its bid to develop and popularize electric vehicles with a view to mass production by 2013. Benesse Holdings hopes that its support for this project will help ensure that future generations will inherit a beautiful planet.
From January 2010 to March 2011, SIM-Drive developed SIM-LEI*2, its first prototype vehicle, in a joint effort with 34 organizations planning to enter the electric vehicle business in the future. The limited range of electric vehicles is considered to be their greatest obstacle. The completed prototype achieved a range of 333 km per charge in JC08 mode*3, compared with an initial performance target of 300 km or more. This performance was achieved with a battery capacity of 24.9 kWh, which is almost the same as that of electric vehicle batteries now on the market. SIM-LEI’s alternating current power consumption rate is 77 Wh/km, which is equivalent to a gasoline fuel efficiency of around 70 km per liter.
*1 Professor Hiroshi Shimizu of Keio University founded SIM-Drive in August 2009 with the aim of spreading his unique electric vehicle technologies all over the world. He has developed these technologies over the past 30 years, since his days at the National Institute for Environmental Studies
*2 LEI stands for Leading Efficiency In-wheel motor
*3 A standard driving mode for Japanese city street driving
SIM-Drive’s first prototype vehicle SIM-LEI
Procurement of Eco-Friendly Paper for Printing
Because Benesse Corporation uses a substantial volume of printing paper, it is promoting the procurement and use of eco-friendly paper (i.e., recycled paper, chlorine-free paper, or FSC-certified paper) for its printing needs.
The usage rate of this sort of paper in fiscal 2010 was 99.0%, the same level as in fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008.
Ratio of virgin and eco-friendly paper usage to total paper usage
*February 2010 to January 2011 (Benesse Corporation procurement only)
Introduction of Solar Power Generation Systems
Benesse Corporation has introduced a solar power generation system at the Benesse Logistics Center (Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture), a major logistics base. A total of 3,456 solar cell panels, each measuring 0.9 m × 1.5 m, were installed on the approximately 5,100 m2 roof, making the system one of the largest private-sector private generation systems in the Chugoku and Shikoku region of Japan.
As a result, roughly one-third of the center’s energy is now supplied by solar power. This reduced annual electricity costs by about ¥9 million in fiscal 2010. In addition, the shielding effect of the solar cell panels is expected to prevent indoor temperatures from rising during the summer, improving the work environment and increasing the effectiveness of air conditioning.
Besides contributing to environmental preservation, the center has been designated as a site for communication about environmental activities, and will be used for environmental education, including tours for elementary school students and others.
Solar cell panels at Benesse Logistics Center
Recycling of Stretch-Wrap Film
Stretch-wrap film is compressed and transformed into surveying stakes
Since July 2007, the Benesse Logistics Center, one of Benesse Corporation's distribution bases located in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, has been recycling stretch-wrap film used to prevent cargo from toppling over during delivery. As a result of these activities, the center recycled 39 tons of stretch-wrap film in fiscal 2010.
