Social Contribution Activities (3) Environmental Education Activities Giving Hope to the Next Generation: Environmental Education Activities

The field known as environmental education is gathering a lot of interest. A change in human consciousness may be a natural consequence of environmental problems. If our consciousness changes, the way we consume will change, and corporate activity is sure to follow.

Beneficial action on behalf of the environment requires effort and the sacrifice of comfort and convenience. But putting up with these sacrifices is a prerequisite to preserving a rich environment, and it will become more and more important for future generations to overcome this inconvenience. At TaKaRa, we want children to understand the importance and difficulty of environmental problems and are promoting activities to accomplish this.

1. Clean CAN Walking and the Clean Globe Strategy: Adults and Children Participating Together

This is the 9th year for the TaKaRa Clean CAN Walking program, which on August 21st saw 1,354 citizens -- including 301 children -- and Takara Shuzo employees take part in a coastal clean-up on the island of Enoshima. In addition, employees and their families participated in the Clean Globe Strategy, sponsored by the Takara Shuzo Labor Union, to clean up the area around workplaces.

1,354 citizens, 120 employees

1,739 employees, 482 family members

2. Returnable Bottle System Field Trips

As part of the Tokyo Environmental Education Activity series, we held an event to demonstrate systems for returning bottles in August, letting students study how bottles are washed and then used again. Children saw first-hand the difficulties -- and importance -- of recycling by observing a used bottle passing carefully from person to person before being reborn into a new bottle.

3. Countryside Experience for Children

We participate in and support the "National Natural Observation 99 Countryside", sponsored by Nature Conservation Society of Japan, and encourage participation by employees and their families. The program promotes observation of our diminishing countryside to recognize anew its importance.

One facet of environmental problems is the common dichotomy between what is good for one person and what is good for society. We will continue support for the program in the hope that interacting with the countryside will instill public spirit and implant environmental consciousness in our children.