Aiming for a Higher Level of Activities

The Mitsubishi Electric Group engages in initiatives that give specific consideration to all species of living creatures. These initiatives include the Mitsubishi Electric Outdoor Classroom, which is aimed at developing environmental awareness, the Satoyama Woodland Preservation Project, which is implemented as a social contribution activity, and measures to reduce the impacts of development pressure^*1 and alien species pressure^*2 on ecosystems. As the basis of these initiatives, we have been promoting a biodiversity preservation policy at business sites since fiscal 2015, with a focus on improving the quality of greenery within the premises of all business sites. The policy aims for all employees to make a direct contribution to regional/urban ecosystems in areas around their site by working to preserve biodiversity at their own workplace. It also encourages employees to take positive and voluntary action by regarding biodiversity as a personally relevant issue.

As these initiatives have spread to a certain extent, in fiscal 2020, we embarked on establishing a structure to consistently step up our activities. In March 2020, an internal technical committee formulated the Biodiversity Guidelines (a check sheet) so that the implementation level of activities and the quality of greenery at each business site could be assessed in numbers. In the future, by managing plans (i.e., setting targets and monitoring their degree of achievement) across our business sites, we will continue to steadily engage in ecosystem improvement activities over the long term.

1. *1 Development pressure: An action resulting in the destruction of habitats. The construction of a new business site and development (including that in the supply chain) intended to extract natural resources are deemed as such behaviors. One such example is when the use of water by operations affects the surrounding area, the source of water, and subsequently the habitats of living creatures.
2. *2 Alien species pressure: When ditches, greenery at the side of buildings, and hedges are created, non-native species of insects, vegetation, etc. may be introduced. The unintentional transfer of living creatures could pose a threat to the habitats of indigenous species or trigger genetic pollution.

Improving Enterprise Value through a Long-term Commitment to Environmental Initiatives

The destruction of the global ecosystem by human activities is the essence of environmental issues. Biodiversity preservation is essential for the continued existence of us human beings, and should be prioritized in all human activities. This is now a prevalent belief, as also clearly expressed in the Aichi Target and the National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan 2012‒2020. As it takes many years to maintain and enhance biodiversity, steady and continuous efforts are required over the long term. The Mitsubishi Electric Group will continue to make a constant contribution to improving the quality of regional ecosystems, and by earning respect and trust from local communities through these initiatives, we will strive to improve our corporate value.

Improving the Quality of Greenery in Line with Three Courses of Action

The Mitsubishi Electric Group has set forth three courses of action as guidelines for all business sites. They are: (1) reducing negative impact on living creatures, (2) aiming for a richer symbiosis with other living creatures, and (3) restoring the relationship between employees and nature in the working environment. At each business site, action plans provide for the preservation of local indigenous species, control of alien species, and development of green space in consideration of the surrounding ecosystem, to ensure these initiatives are steadily addressed in all businesses.

Three Courses of Action

• * Activities are carried out pursuant to the regulation on raising, planting, storing, carrying, or other handling of specified IAS in the Invasive Alien Species Act.

Expansion of Activities in Japan

In Japan, we initiated the Living Creatures Studies program in 2014. The aim of this program is to understand the conditions surrounding the habitats of living creatures at our business sites, doing so with the cooperation of specialists. Based on the findings, we discuss issues with outside experts and personnel from local governments. Living Creatures Studies have been carried out at 14 bases as of the end of March 2018. Based on what we have found out about the surrounding natural environments at each site, we are proceeding with the initiative to transform the greenery and nature areas on the premises into environments that are easier to live in and use by the various living organisms found there.

Quantitative Assessment Based on the Biodiversity Guidelines (Check Sheet)

In March 2020, Mitsubishi Electric formulated the "Biodiversity Guidelines (Check Sheet)" to quantitatively assess the status of biodiversity initiatives at its business sites and steadily improve activities for preserving biodiversity. The guidelines promote the quantitative assessment of the implementation level of activities according to 186 promotional items divided into 5 mandatory items for all business sites and 7 areas (medium items) based on the above-mentioned "Courses of Actions." This check sheet is to be used by personnel in charge at each business site to self-assess the status of initiatives and identify strengths and issues at the implementation level.

Quantitative assessments using a check sheet are conducted at all business sites every year. Based on these assessments, we calculate how much progress (improvement rate) has been made from the base year (FY2020), to visualize the results of improvements and schemes each year and connect them to further improvements.