Initiatives to Bring about a Recycling–based Society
Focusing in particular on paper, one of the resources it uses most heavily, Mizuho is taking resource–saving measures in procurement, usage, and disposal and recycling.
Promoting green purchasing
Mizuho promotes "green" purchasing as a part of its efforts to help bring about a recycling–based society through energy and resource conservation. In line with our Administrative Guidelines for the Environmentally Responsible Purchasing of Supplies, we are switching to environmentally conscious alternatives for supplies like paper and stationary.
With regard to paper, in particular, MHFG and its key group companies numbering 12 in all (MHFG and these 12 companies are referred to as the "13 Group companies" below) have established green purchasing ratio targets for their domestic business facilities and, in fiscal 2010, achieved a ratio of 95.1%, a year–on–year performance improvement of 3.6 percentage points. In the current fiscal year, the 13 group companies are continuing their efforts to achieve and maintain target performance levels.
Targeted Green Purchasing Ratio (FY2010)
Green purchasing ratio (for paper) of 85% or more at domestic business facilities of 13 Group companies
| Fiscal year | 2006 | 2007* | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green purchasing ratio (%) (for paper) | 80.6 | 83.4 | 91.3 | 91.5 | 95.1 |
- *Data from April 2007 to January 2008 is used, taking into account the effect of the environmental mislabeling scandal
The purchasing environment has not recovered to the condition prior to the occurrence of the environmental mislabeling scandal. Therefore, we will obtain actual results from the promotion of green purchasing for stationery.
| Fiscal year | 2006 | 2007* | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green purchasing ratio (for stationery) (%) | 84.2 | 87.2 | 54.2 | 59.0 | 60.5 |
- *Data from April 2007 to January 2008 is used, taking into account the effect of the environmental mislabeling scandal.
Reducing Paper Usage
Mizuho is working to reduce the volume of paper used at each of its group companies.
Since fiscal 2008, MHFG has been working through its paper–saving campaign to standardize on A4–size sheets, print on both sides, print multiple pages on one sheet, rethink what forms are truly necessary, and introduce electronic systems to replace paper. As a result, we have reduced our paper usage by 17% compared to fiscal 2007, which preceded our efforts to reduce our paper usage.
Group companies are working to cut the amount of paper they use for meeting materials and other internal documentation by reconsidering whether certain forms are truly necessary and by adopting paperless approaches.
Waste Reduction and Recycling
Promoting paper recycling
Having established the goal of recycling 95% or more of the paper used at our key business facilities, we thoroughly sort out used paper carefully and achieved a recycling rate of 96.9% for fiscal 2010.
Targeted Paper Recycling Ratio (FY2010)
- Paper recycling ratio of 95% or more at key domestic business facilities*
- *Key domestic business facilities : MHBK Head Office, MHBK Administration Center 1, MHBK Administration Center 2, MHBK Administration Center 3, MHBK Information Center, MHCB Head Office, MHTB Head Office, MHIR Information Center and Marunouchi 2–chome building office.
| Fiscal year | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waste paper disposal (tons) | 3,226 | 2,986 | 2,548 | 2,204 | 2,300 |
| Waste paper reuse (tons) | 3,018 | 2,878 | 2,463 | 2,140 | 2,228 |
| Recycling ratio (%) | 93.6 | 96.4 | 96.7 | 97.1 | 96.9 |
Reducing noncombustible waste and recycling
Mizuho is working to reduce and recycle noncombustible waste by carefully sorting out cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles.
At the dining rooms of MHBK's key facilities, we have adopted automatic filtering equipment for cooking oil. We have also taken steps to minimize the amount of waste oil produced and send the waste oil that is produced out for recycling into materials for ink, paint, and animal feed.
With regard to industrial waste, we will conduct management and disposal according to an industrial waste manifest in line with the Wastes Disposal and Public Cleansing Act and remain in compliance with the law.
| Fiscal year | 2006 | 2007 | 2008* | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non–combustible waste (tons) | 561 | 564 | 931 | 394 | 397 |
| Non–combustible reusables (tons) | 386 | 390 | 635 | 274 | 272 |
| Recycling ratio (%) | 68.8 | 69.2 | 68.2 | 69.4 | 68.6 |
- *In fiscal 2008, the waste volume increased partly in association with MHBK's relocation of the Otemachi Head Office to the Marunouchi 2–chome office building.
Water Conservation
At Mizuho's key domestic business facilities*, we are introducing water–saving devices and taking other steps to reduce water usage. Outside of key business facilities, as well, MHBK has introduced water–saving devices at 100 branches and reduced water usage by 17% versus the previous fiscal year.
For example, the MHBK Head Office and the MHBK Tama Center use a total of 51 thousand cubic meters of reused wastewater (recycled water), including the cooling tower blow water and rainwater–treated water, for the flushing of toilets, etc.
| Fiscal year | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water use (1000 cubic meters) | 632 | 624 | 586 | 556 | 560 |
