ITOCHU: Committed to the Global Good
Over 150 years ago, our founder asserted that business dealings must benefit not only the buyer and seller but also wider society. Giving back to the communities in which we operate is one of the ways we uphold this principle. At our New York headquarters, for example, we organize volunteer teams twice a year to join New York Cares programs to revitalize the city’s parks and public schools, and we offer matching gifts to encourage employees to support charities of their choice. Our parent company is partnering with World Wildlife Fund to help protect biodiversity in Borneo, and has established a scholarship fund for foreign students studying at Japanese universities.
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(left to right) ITOCHU volunteers cleaning up parks for NY Cares Day; our NYC offices received Silver LEED Certification for leadership in energy & environmental design; our parent company is partnering with the World Wildlife Fund to help protect biodiversity in Borneo.
We are committed to being a green company, and are very proud that in 2009 our newly renovated offices were awarded LEED (Silver) Green Building Certification.
ITOCHU International Inc. Awarded Prestigious LEED® Green Building Certification
December 7, 2009 (New York, NY) – ITOCHU International Inc. announced today that it has been awarded LEED® (Silver) Certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
In June 2009, ITOCHU International Inc. completed the renovations of the company’s North American headquarter offices in midtown Manhattan. “From the initial planning phases of the office renovation project, it was important to us that our new offices not only provide a comfortable, professional environment for our employees, but that the new space fulfill our parent company’s corporate mission, ‘Committed to the global good,’” says Yoshihisa Suzuki, President & CEO of ITOCHU International Inc.
“We made certain that all the materials used in building the new space are low in VOCs and the work stations are all ergonomically designed. We built a café, where team members can relax and mingle, and the wellness room, for nursing mothers and any employees who need to rest. Additionally, to conserve energy, all the lights in the office turn off automatically and in the bathrooms the sinks and toilets are hands-free to avoid overuse of water.”
ITOCHU International Inc. achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified building save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
“Building operations are nearly 40% of the solution to the global climate change challenge,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “While climate change is a global problem, innovative companies like ITOCHU International Inc. are addressing it through local solutions.”
LEED Certification of ITOCHU International Inc. was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:
Water Reduction
ITOCHU International’s offices have high-efficiency toilets and waterless urinals (the urinals alone reduce on average 40,000 gallons of water per year per urinal).
ITOCHU International’s offices have high-efficiency toilets and waterless urinals (the urinals alone reduce on average 40,000 gallons of water per year per urinal).
Green Power
ITOCHU International bought Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) based on the company’s estimated annual energy usage. The funding for these credits will go to renewable energy sources, to offset greenhouse gas pollution and support clean energy development (a mix of wind and solar). According to the USGBC, in the U.S. alone buildings account for 72% of electricity consumption and one of the largest impacts a company has on the environment is created by the electricity it consumes.
Employee Comfort and Wellness
The workstations at ITOCHU International have many ergonomic features such as the chairs, flat-screen computer monitors, adjustable keyboard trays, and dollies for the computers. The office also has efficient lighting and heating/cooling systems.
ITOCHU GROUP SUBSIDIARY CSR INITIATIVES
August 2009
ITOCHU International Inc. Sub Solar Depot Lights the Way for Scientists to Protect Endangered Species in the African Bush
Over the past several years, Solar Depot has helped provide solar electric power systems to conservationists working to save endangered species in remote regions of Africa. Together with several other corporations including BP Solar, Outback Power Systems, Deka MK Batteries and a local San Francisco company, Beronio Lumber, Solar Depot helped send six complete power systems to several countries in Africa-- lighting the way for scientists to protect vulnerable species and conduct research in remote locations where they previously had little or no access to reliable electricity. Solar Depot has provided design assistance, reduced cost on components and the labor to complete the assemblies.
Conservationists benefiting from this project are working for the survival of vulnerable species such as Ethiopian wolves, African wild dogs in Zimbabwe, elephants and lions in Kenya and cheetahs in Botswana. With the assistance from Solar Depot and others, Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) conservationists are producing electrical power not only to run their respective projects, but also to conduct cutting-edge research like tracking elephants in real time via GPS, powering VSAT computer links at 15,000 feet in Ethiopia.
The idea for this project took shape in 2003 when Stephen Gold, a San Francisco proponent of solar energy, attended the annual WCN Expo. There, he heard cheetah conservationist Rebecca Klein talk about how she needed energy in order to conduct her research in Botswana. Gold, who has a solar home of his own design, contacted WCN director Charles Knowles and volunteered to help. Gold interviewed WCN-supported conservationists and found six who were in great need of electricity (they were using either diesel generators or antiquated solar electric systems, which were inadequate for their purposes; diesel generators are also expensive to run and emit both air and noise pollution). After compiling a wish list for new solar electricity systems and working tirelessly for three years to acquire generous donations from corporations and individuals, Gold amassed about $450,000 of solar equipment.
Today, there are 8 different systems on-line in Kenya, Ethiopia and Botswana. Solar Depot and its partners in charity are now working on a second phase of the project, to help other conservationists in other African countries. As of June 2009, six new systems are being put together for others in Mozambique, Tanzania, Mongolia and another for Kenya. The project continues to spread to other conservationists and other parts of the world.
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PrimeSource Employees Collect over 8 Tons of Food for Local Food Banks
December 2009
In December, a number of PrimeSource employees participated in competitive teams to collect over 8 tons of food for local food banks. In addition, the teams raised close to $3,000. Food and monetary donations combined, PrimeSource provided 24,000 meals for North Texans this holiday season. PrimeSource's Chicago, Tarrytown, Albany and Kansas City locations also participated and made a difference.
The Winning Team's Strategy: While each group was busy collecting cans and donations by phone calls, emails and door-to-door in their neighborhood, one team was definitely thinking outside the box. TAC & FRIENDS secretly designed and posted a website, www.primesourcepantry.com to announce their team, solicit donations, share photos of their success and thank their generous contributors. Not only did TAC & FRIENDS become the winning team with more than 31,000 points, they also made the single largest food purchase in 2008 for the Walmart store where they shopped!
Congratulations to all of the PrimeSource volunteers!