Biodiversity Conservation

Fujifilm has continued to engage in environmental protection activities in local communities founded on its philosophy since its establishment that “environmental consciousness and environmental protection are at the core of our corporate activities.” In order to safeguard the water resources that are vital to echo system protection, the company owns 70,000 tsubo of headwater forest near its main manufacturing plant in Minami-ashigara. The forest is being cared for under a maintenance plan, including felling, thinning, and underbrush clearing. Fujifilm Kyushu has also planted 13,000 broadleaf trees on 5.24 ha of land owned by Minamiaso Town in 2007, and engages in headwater forest maintenance.

Additionally, cleaning activities are being organized at Fujinomiya Factory through which the Shimizu River runs, and at Kanagawa Factory for the nearby Sakawa, Sanno, and Kuno rivers. These activities have continued in cooperation with local citizens for the protection of the area’s water resources. At Fujinomiya Factory, its guidebook for children published in 2010 is made with “Fujinokuni Forest Town Association” paper, produced from timber gathered after thinning. Its contribution to the effective use of forest resources and to forest maintenance was recognized with the “Shizuoka Future Forest Supporter Certificate,” presented by the Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture. This paper is used also for Fujinomiya Factory’s Sustainability Report 2011.

In February 2010, Fujifilm adopted and enforced the “Rules for Design for Environment” conceived from the perspective of “biodiversity conservation,” which is remarked globally, and has reinforced activity on biodiversity for the product design.

The specific evaluation items regarding “biodiversity conservation” in product design are: (1) Prevention or minimization impact on the ecosystems to conserve the natural environment and biodiversity (Action in manufacturing); and (2) Risk management concerning the sustainable supply of biological resources from a long-term view (Action on biological resources procurement). Action on (1) has been practiced since Fujifilm has founded. Regarding (2), action in Design for Environment is on operation certainly, such as legal assessments on the cowhide for camera-case material for a digital camera launched in March 2011 by confirming that it was a byproduct of beef production, and on the paper procured in China by confirming where it came from, etc.

Minamiaso is a village located in the southern part of the Mount Aso caldera in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu. Specifically, it is in Nangodani Valley, sandwiched between the five Aso peaks and the outer rim and distinguishes itself for its expansive natural environment and rich water resources. However, a decline in farming in recent years has created a significant number of fallow fields, making it difficult to recharge the groundwater that is effective in restoring the functions of nature and preserve the rice farming landscape of the mountainous region.

For this reason, in 2010 Fujifilm Kyushu began participating in helping a group working chiefly in Minamiaso. In 2011, Fujifilm Kyushu employees and their families, along with representatives of administrative authorities, came to Minamiaso’s rice paddies located in the upper Shirakawa River and occupying approx. 3,760 sq. m. to plant rice. About 100 people gathered for the occasion, double the number who came the previous year. Nearly half of the participants had never planted rice before and were happy in receiving instructions from local farmers and last year’s participants.

In the future, Fujifilm Kyushu plans to be involved in landscape protection and water resource preservation through the groundwater recharging program at Minamiaso village.