Forest conservation activities using eco points

"Brother eco point program" kicks off

In April 2008, Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) launched the "Brother eco point program" to help employees raise environmental awareness. Based on the concept of the Expo Eco-Money Project that was introduced at 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan, this program is designed to give eco points to eco-conscious actions taken by employees and their families. The points are used by BIL to undertake activities for contributing to environmental conservation.

Specifically, eco points are issued to such eco-conscious actions as refusing plastic shopping bags, saving electricity and water, traveling to a destination on foot, by bicycle or public transportation, and participating in local clean-up activities. Points are also added when visitors make "Eco Declarations" to take eco-conscious actions at Brother booths set up at environment-related events or at the Brother Communication Space, or when consumables such as toner cartridges and ink cartridges are collected. Based on the points earned, BIL makes donations to forest development activities, such as planting seedlings and thinning trees. Employees and their families can also join and experience these activities. Thus, this program is intended to reduce CO2 emissions from our daily lives as best as we can by taking eco-conscious actions, while working together to develop forests that serve as a CO2 sink.

Today, businesses are naturally expected to contribute to environmental conservation. The Brother Group's commitment is not limited to financial contributions such as donations. We will continue to encourage personal involvement of each and every employee in the activities to raise their environmental awareness.

Forest conservation activities in the Brother Forests in Gujo

First event to plant seedlings in the Brother Forests in Gujo A commemorative event to plant seedlings The experience of thinning a forest

In June 2008, we initiated forest conservation activities in the Brother Forests (comprising three sites) in Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. These activities were conducted in accordance with a three-party agreement among Gifu Prefecture, Gujo City, and BIL concluded on February 6, 2008.

One of the three forest sites was once a ski hill of about 8 ha. Here, we planted seedlings three times. The first event took place on June 14, 2008. About 120 persons, including group employees and their families as well as concerned local people, planted a total of 200 seedlings of such species as Quercus serrata and Japanese Chestnut. A ceremony was held in commemoration of this "kickoff" event in the presence of BIL's President Toshikazu Koike. A signboard reading "The Brother Forests in Gujo" was unveiled, and participants pledged to contribute to forest conservation activities. At the second event on October 18, about 300 seedlings were planted. The third event, which was held on April 25, 2009, was joined by as many as 126 persons (employees and their families) despite the rainy weather. Participants were able to plant 350 seedlings in total thanks to cooperation rendered by the Gujyo Forestry Association and local citizens.

Two other sites are about 20 ha combined. One of them (8 ha) is an afforested area in Minami-cho, Gujo City where Japanese cypress and Japanese cedar trees grow. Because this forest was no longer being maintained, we thinned part of the forest (2.54 ha) in October 2008. The first thinning activity in the Brother Forests in Gujo was joined by a few employees for the experience. These forest conservation activities were conducted based on points earned through "eco point program."

These activities have just begun. We will expand the scope of activities beyond forest conservation to support and donations for diverse environmental conservation activities. In the meantime, some group companies outside Japan will work on similar activities to embody our commitment on a global basis.

Launching the eco point program in the UK

Motivating employees to work on eco-conscious actions

BIUK employees answering the quiz on the Intranet to earn eco points

Brother Industries (U.K.) (BIUK) launched the eco point program in August 2009 to enhance employees’ environmental awareness.

A monthly “Green Quiz” is held on the Intranet to identify eco-conscious actions taken by employees in the workplace and at home. Points earned by employees are used by BIUK to plant seedlings and work on other actions. Employees who take excellent eco-conscious actions are commended, and the stories about these actions are posted on the Eco-board to share information on a company-wide basis.

BIUK volunteer team members and local children

Eco points are also given to employees who participate in environmental volunteer programs that are hosted in partnership with Business in the Community (BITC), one of the largest CSR promotion organizations in the world with over 800 member companies.｡

Here is a comment by Owen Evans, Wales Director at BITC: “According to a survey, 70% of corporate employees want to reduce CO2 emissions, and expect their companies to offer guidance and support. I believe that BIUK’s eco point program sets an excellent example of corporate efforts to work on climate change issues and motivate employees to fulfill their responsibilities.”

At BIUK, many employees are actively engaged in the eco point program. In fact, 62% of employees decided to join the program at its launch. It seems that employees take various eco-conscious actions at home as well. Eco points earned by employees will be used to donate money to the Millennium Eco Centre (please refer to the article below) for purchasing seedlings. BIUK will continue to support events for planting seedlings. Jason Orme, at the Millennium Eco Centre Manager, expressed words of appreciation, saying: “Thanks to BIUK, we can further expand and develop the scope of our activities as an outdoor environmental education facility for students who will take the leadership role in the future.”
Brother Industries (Slovakia) S.R.O. is expected to launch its eco point program in December 2009.

Unfolding activities for contributing to environmental conservation worldwide

Europe: Extending cooperation to a reforestation project at a former quarry site in the UK

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.

Meanwhile, Brother International Europe Ltd., which is based in the UK, established a partnership with Cool Earth, an NPO working to protect tropical rainforests, in January 2009, and donated money for protecting about four million square meters of tropical rainforests in Peru.

Asia & Oceania: Joining an afforestation campaign in China, and partnering with a marine research group in Australia

Members who joined the afforestation campaign in Shenzhen in FY2009 (April 1, 2009-March 31, 2010) Marine ecosystem research in Australia (c) Peter Fugelli

In China, about 100 employees of Brother Industries (Shenzhen) Ltd. and Brother Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd. participated in an annual "afforestation campaign in Shenzhen" on May 18, 2008, and planted 100 seedlings. Sixty employees of the two companies joined the event on April 26, 2009.

In Australia, Brother International (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. became a partner of Earthwatch, an NPO working on conserving the nation's biodiversity, in November 2008. The employees joined a marine ecosystem research program.

In New Zealand, 10 out of 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 offices in FY2008.

In Thailand, employees of Brother Commercial (Thailand) Ltd. will plant seedlings in FY2009 to protect the mangrove forests that are home to monkeys and many aquatic organisms.