Environmental Report 2013

(2)Environmental education (Akishima's Musashino Elementary School)
As part of its curriculum, Akishima's Musashino Elementary School, which is near the Akishima Plant, requested that the plant to teach its students about the environment in an integrated study period. In October 2012, the plant taught Class 3 six graders about environmental problems and the company's response to them, focusing on specific activities, including saving power, as part of its measures against climate change and environmental problems.

(1)"Bika-pika" activity
To express its gratitude to Kita Watoku Kogyo Danchi, the industrial complex where HAE is located, and National Route 7, as well as to deepen interest and understanding concerning environmental preservation, the company has been carrying out environmental volunteer activities ("Bika-pika" movement) each year since 1999. On June 5, 2012, 57 people took part, the most ever, collecting some 28 kg of trash. About 7 kg of empty cans and plastic bottles were collected and recycled, with the proceeds going to purchase wheelchairs that the company donated to a welfare organization. This activity was covered by a local newspaper, and activities from the past five years including this year are posted on the website of the Hirosaki National Highway Maintenance Branch Office, Aomori Office of River and National Highway, Tohoku Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The website also includes a statement from the head of the Hirosaki-shi Citizens' Environmental Department, thanking the company for its efforts.

(2)Wheelchair donation activities
As part of social contributions, the company collects empty cans and plastic bottles from the cafeteria vending machines and employee homes, and exchanges the proceeds for wheelchairs. In FY 2012, the company was able to donate ten wheelchairs to the Hirosaki City Council of Social Welfare. These wheelchairs were placed at the volunteer waiting areas during the Hirosaki Sakura Festival and the Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Maple Festival, where they were lent out to physically disabled tourists. They were also used by elementary school children to see what it is like being physically disabled. On November 22, 2012, the Hirosaki City Social Welfare Tournament hosted by the Hirosaki City Council of Social Welfare was held at the Hirosaki Civic Auditorium's large hall, and there a letter of thanks was presented to the company for its social contributions.

(3)Iwaki River riverside cleanup
On September 15, 2012, the second annual Iwaki riverside cleanup was held. This cleanup is carried out to express the company's gratitude for the use of the sports ground in its softball tournament and for the Iwaki River itself, which brings many blessings to our daily lives. It also is meant to deepen employee interest and understanding concerning environmental preservation. Twenty-six employees spent about one and a half hours collecting some 50 kg of trash, including empty cans and plastic bottles, over a 1 km area around the sports grounds. This activity was introduced on the Iwaki River Volunteer Patrol page on the website of the Fujisaki Branch Office, Aomori Office of River and National Highway, Tohoku Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

(1)"cleanup activity"
On June 23, 2012, the JAE Yamagata Labor Union-sponsored cleanup effort at Yokoneyama Industrial Park was held once again. Similar to last year, the cleanup was carried out in a light rain, but a strong force of about 80 people, including company employees, managed to gather. A year had passed since the previous cleanup, but it was unfortunate to see how much trash still remained. With everyone's help, the collected trash was separated and properly disposed.

(2)Higashiyama Park Cleanup
On July 28, 2012, trash was collected at Higashiyama Park, an athletic park within city limits. Thirty-eight people took part, including company executives as well as employees volunteering as “social contribution promotion members“ and their family/children. At first it was thought there was no trash that particularly stood out, but once everyone starting searching around, quite a bit of trash was found. The company would like the park to be clean at all times, so that the many visitors it attracts can enjoy all that it has to offer.

2012 environmental beautification and cleanup effort at Mt. Fuji
The company once again participated in the environmental beautification and cleanup effort at Mt. Fuji in 2012. This marked the third time the company joined in, and this time there were a total of 22 people taking part. Twenty were from the company, including the president, employees, and their families, and two were from JAE, which was a first for this event. On the day of the event, work in the cleanup area (Izumigataki to the Sixth Station) was carried out amid thick fog, but everyone worked hard to clean up trash and handout trash bags to visiting mountain climbers. This event was particularly special this time because Mt. Fuji has just been added to the World Heritage List this year.

(1)Tenryu River environmental picnic
On May 20, 2012, under the slogans “Let's bring back a Tenryu River that we can swim in“ and “Let's build a sustainable society,“ some 4,800 people carried out a beautification effort on an approximate 80 km stretch of the Tenryu River, from the middle of Nagano prefecture, to near the downstream border with Shizuoka prefecture. JAE along with two other companies were responsible for the riverside portion of the Tenryu River in the Matsukawa district. Twenty-nine people, including family members, participated from the company, but it felt more like a picnic than work. It was an excellent opportunity to experience the Tenryu River as it is today, while once again reflecting on the importance of separating trash and getting involved in environmental beautification.

(2)Maintaining trails on Mt. Eboshi
On July 21, 2012, eight employees from the company took part in maintaining the trails of Mt. Eboshi and the summit of Mt. Kohachiro. The effort was sponsored by Matsukawa-machi and the local Chamber of Commerce. Located west of the company, Mt. Eboshi at 2,194 m, is a relatively easy climb, and mountaineers come from outside the prefecture to hike the mountain trails. On the day of the event, work on the Mt. Eboshi summit had to be called off due to rain. Instead, work was shifted to the trails of nearby Mt. Kohachiro's (1,470 m elevation). Along the way, a patch of Lilium japonicum, a species of lily registered in Nagano prefecture's version of the Red Data Book as in danger of extinction, was sighted at just the perfect time to take everyone's mind off how tired they were.

(3)Garbage collection around the company
On September 26, 2012, the company carried out trash collection around its premises as it does each year. Participants split into two groups, with the group on Course A going around outside the company, and the group on Course B going around nearby main roads. It was a good opportunity to clean up the local area and raise awareness about protecting the environment.

The company saved energy by converting the cleaning lines in the plating process from simultaneous dual-line control to individual line control. It has also reduced its water usage by making it possible to stop the supply of cleaning water to unused lines. Further energy savings have been attained by switching microscope illumination to an LED light source.

The company has initiated measures to save energy, such as switching to LED lighting, control pollution from chemical substances, and deal with hazardous materials. It is also periodically engaging in cleanup efforts around its plant.