 Brother Industries, Ltd. [Japan]
Restoring and conserving forests through the eco point program
Planting seedlings in the Brother Forests in Gujo
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Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) has been promoting an eco point program, under which points are collected for the following actions, and the company uses these points to conduct environmental actions such as planting seedlings.
- •Actions taken by employees and their families to help environmental conservation
- •"Eco Declarations" (to take eco-conscious actions) made by visitors at environmental events such as Eco-Products exhibitions
- •Return of used printer consumables
In February 2008, a three-party agreement was concluded among Gifu Prefecture, Gujo City, and BIL to designate three forest sites in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture as "the Brother Forests in Gujo." At one of the three sites, which was once a ski hill of 8 ha., we will plant 7,400 seedlings over the period of 10 years to restore forests. At the two other sites (20 ha. in total), we thin the forest to promote healthy growth of trees. The eco point program will be launched on a global scale.
In January 2009, BIL became a member of the Japan Business Initiative for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (JBIB), comprised of companies that are actively engaged in biodiversity conservation.
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Brother Sales, Ltd. [Japan]
Promoting collection of used printer consumables
Brother Sales, Ltd. earns eco points for collected used consumables, and plants seedlings in the Brother Forests in Gujo in proportion to the earned points. Of the 350 seedlings planted in the third event in April 2009, 78 were purchased with eco points earned by collecting consumables in the period from October 2008 through March 2009.
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Brother Industries (U.K.) Ltd. [Europe]
Contributing to reforestation at a former quarry site
Planting seedlings at the Millennium Eco Centre |
In FY2008 (April 1, 2008-March 31, 2009), Brother Industries (U.K.) Ltd. donated money for purchasing 375 seedlings to the Millennium Eco Centre, an environmental education facility for students. The seedlings were planted by students to restore forests at a former quarry site on the premises of the center. The 200 seedlings that were planted back in 2006 have grown well to the height of about one meter.
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Brother International Europe Ltd. [Europe]
Protecting tropical rainforests in Peru
In January 2009, Brother International Europe Ltd. established a partnership with Cool Earth, an NPO working to protect tropical rainforests, and donated money for protecting about four million square meters of tropical rainforests in Peru.
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Brother Industries (Shenzhen) Ltd.
Brother Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd. [Asia / Oceania]
Joining an afforestation campaign in Shenzhen, China
FY2008 afforestation campaign in Shenzhen |
Employees of Brother Industries (Shenzhen) Ltd. and Brother Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd. voluntarily joined an afforestation campaign in Shenzhen in FY2008, following their participation in FY2007 (April 1, 2007-March 31, 2008). A total of 100 employees planted 100 seedlings in Longcheng Park. Also, in FY2009 (April 1, 2009-March 31, 2010), a total of 60 employees joined the event to plant 50 seedlings in the park.
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Brother Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd. [Asia/Oceania]
Cleaning up the area and digging up weed
Removing Mikania micrantha at Qiushuishan Park |
On June 7, 2009, 35 employees of Brother Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd. (BTSL) volunteered to join cleanup activities around the manufacturing facility. After the cleanup, they picked up trash on their way to nearby Qiushuishan Park where they removed Mikania micrantha, a weed designated as one of the "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species." The total weight of the weed, which was pulled up by the roots, was about 700 kg.
Mikania micrantha |
Native to Central and South America, Mikania micrantha is now seen in tropical and subtropical areas in Asia. This species was first identified in Shenzhen in 1984. Mikania micrantha has a serious impact on local ecosystems because this highly adaptable, fast-growing plant covers native trees and plants, hindering photosynthesis while depriving them of water and nutrition, and thus causing withering and death. In Shenzhen City, many companies (including BTSL) and volunteer groups have been continually working to remove the plant from parks and other public areas.
BTSL remains committed to eliminating this invasive species to maintain local ecosystems and to raise the environmental awareness of employees.
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Brother (China) Ltd. [Asia / Oceania]
Promoting greening activities under its own eco point program
Brother (China) Ltd. launched its own eco point program on June 5, 2008, which falls on World Environment Day, in an effort to raise awareness amongst all its employees to protect the environment. This program involves personal activities such as "refusing plastic shopping bags" and "refraining from using disposable tableware" as well as group activities to "distribute eco-bags" and "clean up roads and parks." The points earned will be used for greening activities.
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Brother Commercial (Thailand) Ltd. [Asia / Oceania]
In FY2009, employees of Brother Commercial (Thailand) Ltd. will volunteer to plant seedlings to protect the mangrove forests that are home to monkeys and many aquatic organisms.
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Brother International (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. [Asia / Oceania]
Employees joining marine ecosystem conservation activities
Participants of beach cleanup activities holding plastic waste
(c) Peter Fugelli |
In November 2008, Brother International (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. became a partner of Earthwatch, an NPO working on conserving the nation's biodiversity. The employees volunteered for a marine ecosystem research program.
Ten employees of the Brisbane office took part in a program to investigate the cause of death of sea turtles. They worked in two teams: one assisting in the autopsy of dead sea turtles, and the other cleaning up the beach. Plastic and other wastes collected were brought back to see if the waste is related to the materials removed from the digestive tract of dead sea turtles.
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Brother International (NZ) Ltd. [Asia / Oceania]
Planting seedlings to protect the dune ecosystem on a beach in the vicinity of Wellington offices
Planting seedlings on Island Bay |
In FY2008, 10 out of the 43 employees working at two offices in the Wellington area under the jurisdiction of Brother International (NZ) Ltd. volunteered to plant seedlings of Spinifex and Pingao, which are suited for sand fixation, to conserve the dune ecosystem of the Island Bay in the vicinity of the Wellington offices.
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Brother Industries, Ltd.
