º¬Ðß²Ý

Follow us AUSTRALIA |
KUMON > About º¬Ðß²Ý > º¬Ð߲ݒs Environmental Initiatives

KAO Environmental Report 2024

º¬Ðß²Ý Group Environmental Philosophy

In order to solve global environmental problems, it is necessary to combine the knowledge of people from all around the world.

The º¬Ðß²Ý Group strives to develop individuals who will make contributions to society. Accordingly, the º¬Ðß²Ý Group believes that one of our core values is to fulfil our responsibilities and obligations with regard to solving global environmental problems.

The º¬Ðß²Ý Group views the preservation of the global environment as an important challenge to be met as we carry out our business activities. We will incorporate this environmentally-friendly vision into our business planning, and will work on a permanent basis to protect our precious planet and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations.

º¬Ðß²Ý Group Environmental Policy

The º¬Ðß²Ý Group will endeavour, throughout all our business activities, to conserve natural resources and preserve the natural environment through the development of human resources.

  • The º¬Ðß²Ý Group will strive to recognise how our business activities affect the environment. We will work to conserve energy and resources, as well as to carry out recycling, in order to reduce the amount of waste we produce. Our overriding aim is to prevent damage to the environment and to reduce pollution.
  • The º¬Ðß²Ý Group will work together with associated parties and business partners in order to reduce the impact of our activities on the environment. At the same time, we will act positively to protect the environment by promoting activities aimed at forest regeneration.
  • The º¬Ðß²Ý Group will operate in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations in all of the countries and regions in which we have business activities, and will permanently work to preserve the environment.
  • The º¬Ðß²Ý Group will strive to make each and every º¬Ðß²Ý staff member more aware of environmental issues through education and consciousness-raising activities. At the same time, as a responsible corporate citizen, we will make information related to the environment publicly available.

KAO Green Initiatives

At KAO, we prioritise sustainability by minimising electricity and paper usage to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Our Environmental Management (EM) initiatives focus on reducing non-essential printing, optimising power management, and promoting paper recycling business activities. We endeavour to reduce the usage of electricity and paper, and thus CO2 emissions. We have tracked our progress using specific indicators.

ANNUAL USAGE STATISTICS

Electricity

We have taken the following actions to reduce our electricity usage:

  • Replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting, which consumes less energy and has a longer lifespan
  • Encouraging employees to turn off lights, computers, and other devices when not in use
  • Implementing automatic power-off settings for electronics
  • Investing in energy-efficient office equipment, such as computers, printers, and appliances, with ENERGY STAR certification.

Electricity usage in 2022Ìý Ìý 1,125,175 kWh
Electricity usage in 2023Ìý Ìý 1,244,116 kWh

Paper

We have taken the following actions to reduce our paper usage:

  • Promoting digital documentation and communication to reduce paper use.
  • Implementing e-signatures and digital workflows where possible
  • Minimising the use of disposable cups, plates and cutlery
  • Encouraging employees to use reusable items and provide them if necessary
  • Setting up recycling bins for paper, plastic and general waste
  • Providing clear instructions and signages to ensure proper sorting.

Paper usage in 2022Ìý Ìý 1,608,659 sheets
Paper usage in 2023Ìý Ìý 1,530,064 sheets

Paper Recycling
As a result of conducting activities online, thus reducing printing, and converting to submitting documents electronically, the quantities of paper sent for recycling reduced substantially.

In 2022Ìý Ìý18,491 kg
In 2023Ìý Ìý21,084 kg

CO2 Emission
CO2 is the primary greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and electricity usage is one of the main sources of CO2 emission. For commercial buildings, it also increases substantially when emissions from electricity end-use are included. This is due to the relatively large share of electricity use (e.g., heating, ventilation, air conditioning; lighting; and appliances). As such, KAO members are actively working to further reduce electricity usage in the workspace.

In 2022Ìý 739 t-CO2
In 2023Ìý 825Ìýt-CO2