Basic approach

In order to preserve the sustainability of the global environment, we are cooperating with affiliated companies throughout the world on forestation and forestry maintenance projects.

Forestation activities

Tree-planting activities implemented together with Thai children.

Since 2004 AISIN has been engaged in tree-planting efforts through the Aisin Children’s Forest Project with local children in the Chiang Mai area of northern Thailand, where forests are being depleted. In 2008, the final year of the five-year program, approximately 400 people planted 12,000 seedlings over 9 hectares. Participants included employees, their families, teachers and students from four local elementary schools, and other members of the local community.

Through this program, we have successfully planted a total of 60,000 trees across 45 hectares in a five-year period. Furthermore, we consider these programs to have given the many participating children a sense of the preciousness of the natural environment.

Forestation activities on Mount Fuji

Since 2003, AISIN has participated in the Green Regeneration Project to return spottily forested Mt. Fuji to its former splendor. Through this project, we work with an NPO and local people to plant trees on the mountain. The 1,650 trees that we have planted so far are growing steadily, with the largest having reached a height of 40 centimeters.

On May 23, 2009, Aisin Seiki’s then-President Yamauchi joined 178 employees and family members from five Aisin companies (Aisin Seiki, Aisin Takaoka, Aisin Chemical, Aisin AW and Aisin AI) and affiliate Houan Industry Co., Ltd., as well as 91 local people from the city of Anjo, to plant trees in cooperation with the NPO Anjo Komorebi Kai.

First, participants planted 500 seedlings in preparation for later transplant. Then, they transplanted 600 inukori yanagi willow saplings, which are suited to the harsh environment of Mount Fuji, on a 100-square-meter site close to the fifth stage of the mountain. Participants also built bamboo cages to prevent the saplings from being toppled by strong winds on the mountain.

AISIN also conducts fund-raising activities to support the care of these saplings. In 2009, events for employees and their families raised ¥382,391, which was donated to the Mt. Fuji National Trust for environmental preservation activities on the mountain.

Efforts to preserve forests

Helping with forest preservation activities in Neba, Nagano Prefecture

In fiscal 2005, AISIN signed a “forestry foster parent” agreement with the village of Neba in Nagano Prefecture. Since then, we have continued contributing to the village of Neba by providing donations to cover the costs of tree thinning and underbrush trimming for some 100 hectares of village-owned forest. Moreover, we hold a family environmental educational experience event in Neba Village each year to instill in our employees and their families the importance of forest preservation.

Between employees and their family members, approximately 80 people participated in the family educational experience event, held in autumn 2008. After a presentation on the importance of tree thinning by members of Nagano Prefecture Shimoina Regional Office, participants engaged in pruning and other tree thinning procedures. Participants also repaired 80 meters of forest path.

Comments we received included: “It was hard hammering nails and carrying boards to build the forest path, but I felt satisfied with our work that day when I saw the completed path created out of thinned wood,” and, “I look forward to actively participating again next time.”