Environmental Communications
As an integral part of environmental management, we are engaged in a wide range of communication initiatives to enhance mutual understanding between the company and its stakeholders, including our customers and host communities. Moreover, we provide a range of environmental information to the public through various communications media, including Honda websites.
Environmental Liaison
Liaison sections are established in the context of our environmental management systems to coordinate communication at the local level, addressing opinions and requests from local residents.
Dissemination of Environmental Information through the Media and at Events
Honda discloses environmental information related to its operations primarily by the following means:
| Brochures |
•Honda Environmental Annual Report |
| Website | •Honda Worldwide website http://world.honda.com/environment/ (Disclosure of a full range of environment-related information, including digital versions of the above brochures) |
| Facilities | •FAN FUN LAB http://www.honda.co.jp/fanfunlab/ (Japanese only) •Hello Woods' http://www.honda.co.jp/hellowoods/ (Visitors encountering nature through play) |
| Events | •Participation in low-emissions vehicle exhibitions and similar events (Participation in events organized by national and local governments and corporations) •Hosting environmental exhibitions •Launch events for new vehicles and/or new technologies |
| Advertising | •Corporate advertising •Product advertising/product catalogs |
•The Honda Environmental Annual Report 2006 is a prize winner
The Honda Environmental Annual Report 2006 was the recipient of the top prize at the 10th Annual Environmental Report Awards sponsored by the Japanese news organization Toyo Keizai Shimposha. The awards were established in 1998 to promote the quality and expansion of environmental reporting by Toyo Keizai Shimposha and the Green Reporting Forum. The judges' decision was based on the clear presentation of targets and results for a wide range of operations, and the inclusion of details pertaining to Honda's global operations.
Environmental Education
•Hello Woods
With the forest as their classroom, the children get interested in nature. Experience and discovery lead to learning, knowledge and the desire to learn more.
•Trend in Visitors (approximate)
| FY2004 | FY2005 | FY2006 | FY2007 |
| 49,000 | 65,000 | 77,000 | 86,000 |
Honda manages a forest called Hello Woods in Motegi Town, Tochigi Prefecture, as a living museum where children can discover and experience nature. Activities here focus on providing children with the opportunity to play and learn in the forest. We have transformed the forest into a real-world classroom, providing children the freedom to play, to discover the wonders and wisdoms of nature, and learn what they can do to help sustain the planet. Hello Woods is a forest of broad-leaved deciduous trees in the Hakkouzan mountains, home to a diverse community of plants and wildlife. Playing in the forest, children become interested in nature, discovering fascinating things about our natural environment. It's an experience with lasting educational benefits. Staff, called cast members or forest storytellers, are always available to help the children learn as they play in the forest.
•Fan Fun Lab
At the Fan Fun Lab in Twin Ring Motegi, school groups attend fun, educational workshops such as the New Energy Classroom. They're able to learn about the Honda FCX fuel cell vehicle, and much more. The facility is designed to provide an opportunity for young people to engage in hands-on learning about issues such as CO2 emissions and global warming, as well as to think for themselves about new energy sources for the next generation.
| New Energy Classroom Lecture Attendees | 886 (FY2007) |
Cooperating with Local Communities
All Honda facilities organize environmental exhibitions and clean-up activities, taking part in local environmental events as part of our corporate commitment to being responsible members of the communities where we live and work. In FY2007 we continued to engage in cooperative activities to achieve greater harmony with communities and the strengthening of the awareness and environmental responsibility of all Honda associates. Honda associates participated in 49 local environmental events, attended by approximately 200,000 people.
Communicating about Local Environments
Honda promotes communication about local environments at its factories through risk communication, factory tours and roundtable discussions. Such steps deepen bonds of mutual understanding and trust between local residents and the factories regarding the factories' environmental measures, including the steps taken to reduce environmental risks to the community. In FY2007 each factory organized tours and roundtable discussions. We will continue to promote communication with local residents in communities near our facilities.
Case Studies
•Honda Trading Creates a Model for Recycling in the Honda Group
Model for recycling felled trees and paper products internally
Honda Trading, a member company of the Honda Group, has taken steps to create new environmental business by getting involved in advanced recycling and other environmental programs. As part of this project, the company is setting up a model program within the Honda Group, collecting paper and wood products for recycling and leading the way in resource conservation.
The company harvested trees felled in March 2007, when the parking lot at the Quality Improvement Center in Tochigi was expanded, turning them into some 15 tons of paper stock. It's now working to facilitate the use of this paper in the production of publications issued by the Honda Group.
In April 2007 the company began collecting pamphlets made obsolete by the introduction of new vehicle models and other developments, providing some 35 tons of recycled paper. This Honda Annual Environmental Report 2007 is printed on this paper.
Going forward, Honda Trading will endeavor to extract the maximum value from used paper, felled trees and other paper and wood wastes generated by Honda facilities, collecting and recycling them, forming a model of recycling within the organization.
•Renovating the Saitama Factory Entrance to Relieve Congestion
Overhead pedestrian crossing opened in May 2007
Due to increasing truck traffic near the pedestrian crossing by the entrance to Saitama Factory, vehicle and pedestrian traffic became congested. Honda worked with Sayama City in erecting an overhead pedestrian crossing to help everyone cross the road more safely. Honda plans to donate the overhead pedestrian crossing to Sayama City.
Further, the truck entrance was moved some 15 meters from the pedestrian crossing, enhancing traffic flow and pedestrian safety.
Honda Green Conference
Honda Green Conference presentation
The Honda Green Conference is a major environmental event that has been held since 1999 to help further reduce the environmental impact of the entire Honda Group. At the conference, examples are presented of environmental conservation activities implemented at Honda facilities. From FY2006 onward, reports were presented at separate annual meetings on initiatives undertaken within predefined themes in each domain, with the Honda Green Conference held every third year. In FY2007, as in FY2006, presentations were given at conferences within each domain, and content of particular interest was published throughout the organization. Plans are to open the Green Conference event, scheduled for FY2008, to all members of the Honda Group; and, in addition to presentations from each domain, to review the results of initiatives undertaken in the preceding three years and targets for the upcoming three years, strengthening the focus of the entire Group on environmental conservation.
