Protecting
the Global
Environment
Japan
Activities to conserve Satoyama landscapes in the Kamikawa no Sato of Hachioji City, Tokyo
In addition to its ongoing forest conservation activities since 1999, Honda has concluded an activity agreement with Hachioji City, Tokyo since 2020 to conduct Satoyama landscape conservation activities in the Kamikawa no Sato Special Green Space Conservation District.
To preserve for the future this place with rich nature and rare plants and animals that can coexist with local communities, Honda is promoting efforts to contribute to the preservation of biodiversity. The efforts include rice cultivation, field cultivation, forest clearing, and tree planting by associates and their families, as well as environmental classes for children, who will be responsible for the next generation. In FY2024, a total of approximately 300 people participated in nine events during the year. The Company’s independent biodiversity survey conducted in this area identified three species of butterflies and six species of dragonflies listed in the Red Data Book of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The harvested rice and vegetables are donated to food banks in Hachioji City as part of efforts to help solve social problems.
Honda Beach Cleanup Activity
In 2006, Honda launched the Honda Beach Cleanup Project, which was based on the desire to ensure that the next generation will be able to experience the joy of walking barefoot on sandy beaches. The project utilizes the Beach Cleaner, which Honda originally developed based on a desire to use its technologies to find a solution to clean the trash that ends up washed ashore.
In 2023, we marked the 17th year of this project. As 2023 also coincided with Honda's 75th anniversary, the company held its first Spo-GOMI event this year, which incorporated a sporting element into litter pick-up action, as a way of expressing its gratitude to the people of the local communities in which it has been operating. Along with the regular beach cleanup activities, this event was held for a total of 23 times in various locations throughout Japan.
Honda Beach Cleanup Activity, which started with Honda employees and alumni, has now grown into a major social contribution program with more than 7,000 participants per year as the circle of cooperation has expanded to include Honda Group companies and local communities nationwide. To date, a total of 429 activities have been held at beaches across Japan, and a total of 542 tons of litter has been collected.
North America
Honda Companies in North America in Support of Youth Environmental Leadership Programs
The Honda companies in North America support Honda's vision and dedication to reducing the environmental footprint to lead toward the goal of realizing carbon neutrality by 2050. Based on the common belief that boosting the young people’s awareness and understanding of the environment is crucial to accelerate change, they are partnering with organizations that bring environmental education to youth across the region to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders through various educational programs that address sustainability, renewable energy, energy efficiency, ecosystem resilience, climate change and more.
The longstanding partnership between The Nature Conservancy and Honda companies in the United States including Honda USA Foundation has led to supporting projects to help ensure a sustainable future across the country by promoting youth engagement activities through environmental education and conservation initiatives offered at sites close to Honda’s operational bases in 10 states.
Honda Canada Foundation's support of Earth Rangers National School Assembly Program and Be the Change Earth Alliance Society brings environmental education programming to teachers and students directly and through partnerships with local schools. Other initiatives to help the young people develop their leadership skills include FortWhyte Alive's Hands-on Science Days and The Gaia Project, which are geared to foster their connections with the environment while encouraging their hands-on learning and real-life application of eco-friendly practices.
The Honda companies in North America are also supporting programs aimed at addressing the challenges of youth in marginalized communities derived from cultural diversity, economic inequality, geographic limitations, resource availability and skill gaps by providing virtual options to accommodate different learning styles and increase the accessibility to their growth opportunities.
South America
Supporting the “La Basura Sirve” Program to build a better future
The “La Basura Sirve” Program is comprised of activities aimed to guarantee a better future for the children by raising the awareness of teachers and students of public primary schools in Campana, Zárate and Lima on the importance of conserving the environment and providing them opportunities to learn about sustainability in hopes of generating changes in the daily actions of those involved.
These activities include workshops and fun events focused on the themes addressed in the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program started with training sessions for teachers and management teams, which has expanded to include the Garbage is Good Program in 2023.
Grupo AcercaRSE is made up of 18 organizations that work together for the sustainable development of the community. The group carries out activities with the objective of making the community involved in generating value, promoting the public-private cooperation, and contributing to the building of a sustainable society.
Semeando Sonhos (Planting Seeds of Dream): Cooking Oil Collection Project
The "Semeando Sonhos" Project initiated by Honda Automoveis do Brasil Ltda.(HAB) consists of activities to contribute to the promotion of the utilization of waste materials in the local communities surrounding its Itirapina Factory through donation of used cooking oil to local recycling operators.
This socio-environmental project began in 2019 with HAB associates voluntarily depositing the cooking oil used in their homes at collection points set around the company, and has later expanded the sources to collect used cooking oil from to the company’s cafeterias and schools in the city.
In addition to donating oil storage collectors, HAB has rolled out awareness campaigns to emphasize the negative impacts of incorrect disposal of this waste on the environment and the importance of this project through lectures and fun events for students, teachers and their families in the surrounding communities.
Moreover, HAB has also organized a competition between schools, involving more than 1,880 students, with an aim to encourage oil collection. In recognition of their efforts, two teams that contributed to this activity most significantly were invited to the Honda’s manufacturing base for a factory tour.
This initiative has already positively impacted hundreds of children and teenagers, recycled a total of around 2,463 liters of oil to date, and leading to the promotion of environmental awareness and sustainability, and closer collaboration between the company, its associates and the communities.
Europe
HBG-DE Employees Volunteer for Two Days of Litter Pickup in Frankfurt's Eastpark
A group of 20 volunteers consisting of the NHC team and HBG-DE employees spent two hours each picking up litter in Frankfurt's Eastpark on May 24 and June 14, 2023, as part of Honda's social contribution initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact.
Most of the HBG-DE employees who participated in the cleanup, which contributes to a healthier lifestyle, an environment free of waste plastics and toxic pollutants, and reduction of groundwater contamination, have already expressed their willingness to participate in the next scheduled activity.
HBG-DE provided only EUR 230 for the purchase of litter grabbers, drinking water, and pizza for the volunteers in the cafeteria, of which the litter grabbers are planned to be used for future activities as well.
The total weight of waste picked up during this activity amounted to about 50 kg. Most of it was small trash that is harmful to the environment and people, including about 500 cigarette butts. As one cigarette butt is said to contaminate 40 to 60 liters of groundwater, this cleanup activity was able to protect approximately 25,000 liters of groundwater, which alone can make this activity viewed as achieving a very significant result.
HII Installs Solvent Recovery and Recycling System in Italy
Honda Italia Industriale, S.P.A. (HII) has been transporting large quantities of cleaning solvents (thinners) and used paints discharged from its painting facility area to an outside plant for disposal at high cost. The company's Energy & Environment Department and Paint Department decided to launch a project to recover and recycle solvents using a distillation equipment in order to reduce waste and costs at the same time.
The distiller used in this project distills used degreasing and cleaning solvents that would otherwise be discarded through a simple process. Solvents condensed in this process are recovered and treated for reuse. Treated solvents do not change their original properties after the distillation process, so they could be reused over and over again.
The project, which began in April 2023 with the installation of solvent recovery equipment, is targeted for completion in February 2024, and once the completed solvent recovery and recycling system is fully operational, it is expected to reduce waste by 45 tons and recover 40 tons of solvents annually.
Asia and Oceania
Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund (HKKT) Announced the Latest Success of the Water Resource Development Project in the Nan Basin
The Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund (HKKT), under the Honda Thailand Foundation, is pleased to announce the most recent success of collaboration with the Utokapat Foundation Under Royal Patronage on the Water Resource Development Project in the Nan Basin under Royal Initiative.
The project in its seventh year has increased water storage capacity by 144,825 cubic meters, benefiting 7,643 rai (about 12.2 million square meters) of agricultural land. As a result, 2,198 households (5,914 people) in the five Nan River Basin areas (Nan and Phitsanulok provinces) now have access to water for domestic use and consumption, as well as a reserve for agriculture throughout the year. These communities have become a model case for systematic and sustainable water management.
Removing Invasive Plant Species in Taiwan
HHonda Taiwan Motor Co., Ltd. (HTW) organized events to remove invasive plant species from Yangmingshan National Park in order to preserve native flora and Taiwan's natural environment. With the joint efforts of managers and associates, a total of 242 kilograms of invasive plant species were removed during the event period.
China
Long-term Tree-planting Activities in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Mangrove Ecology Conservation Project
The Honda Group in China has continued its tree-planting activities in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region since 2008 and has planted 2 million trees over an area of more than 15 million square meters at a total cost of approximately CNY 65 million.
The project has been implemented over the past three phases of 15 years. The fourth phase, which began in 2023, aims to increase forest area, reduce water and soil loss, and improve the local environment, and plans to plant approximately 3.33 million square meters of trees over five years. The project will also contribute to sustainable development in rural areas and North China. In addition, GAC Honda Automobile Co., Ltd has initiated a mangrove ecology conservation project in 2023 in cooperation with the SEE Foundation. During the first five years from 2023 to 2027, the project will protect more than 1,800 mu (about 1.2 million square meters) of mangroves, mainly in Wenchang City, Hainan Province and Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province.
Dongfeng Honda Launches its Tree-Planting Project "Yue Blue Sky"
HHonda Taiwan Motor Co., Ltd. (HTW) organized events to remove invasive plant species from Yangmingshan National Park in order to preserve native flora and Taiwan's natural environment. With the joint efforts of managers and associates, a total of 242 kilograms of invasive plant species were removed during the event period.
