Major Japanese Companies Make Commitments to Environment Ministry under Eco-First Program

2008.11.19 Wed

On April 15, 2008, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOE) announced the establishment of a new program to allow companies to use its Eco-First logo. The program aims to encourage further environmental efforts by companies, under which they assure the Minister of Environment of their environmental commitments and are then allowed to use its program logo.

After the MOE's announcement, Bic Camera Inc., one of Japan's major consumer-electronics retailers, made a promise on April 16, 2008, to reduce its use of plastic shopping bags and to recycle packaging materials. twenty other major companies followed suit by making their own environmental commitments, and thereby received approval to use the Eco-First logo by Nobember 11, 2008. The companies include Uny Co., Sekisui House Ltd., INAX Corp., Lion Corp., Kirin Brewery Co., NEC Personal Products Ltd., Biwako Bank Ltd., Shiga Bank Ltd., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., and Nissan Motor Co., Kinki Environmental Industry Co., Sanyo shoji Co., Sumitomo Chemical Co., All Nippon Airways Co., Sompo Japan Insurance Inc., Daikin Industries, Takeei. Co., Dentsu Inc., Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., and NIPPONKOA Insurance Company.

The companies approved under the Eco-First program are required to specify their plans to achieve their environmental conservation goals and act as role models in their respective industries with innovative and unique objectives and initiatives attainable by the top leaders. The companies must also establish a system to monitor the progress of their initiatives and release or report the results to the MOE. Failing to fulfill their commitments can result in revocation of government approval.

- "Eco-First Commitments" by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Shiga Bank, Ltd., Biwako Bank, Ltd. and NEC Personal Products, Ltd.
http://www.env.go.jp/en/headline/headline.php?serial=832

Posted: 2008/11/19 04:46:16 PM