In order to respond appropriately to environmental and energy issues and to build a recycling-oriented society, it is necessary that businesses, governments, academia, and citizens go beyond the limits of their respective domains, and think and act in the best interests of our future generations. Nippon Steel is cooperating with various organizations in local and international communities on behalf of environmental activities. We also have a volunteer leave system for employees who wish to participate in such activities.

GPN activities

We have participated in the Green Purchasing Network (GPN) since 1996, when the network was founded, in order to promote green purchasing activities. Jointly with businesses, governments, academia, local governments, and NGOs, we have taken the initiative in developing a framework to prioritize the purchasing of products and services that represent less environmental load.

Collaboration with an NPO, “Mori wa Umi no Koibito”

We are also a regular corporate member of the NPO, Mori wa Umi no Koibito, represented by Mr. Shigeatsu Hatakeyama, a fisherman raising oysters and scallops in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, who received the Forest Heroes award from the United Nations in 2012.

The NPO’s activities are based on a scientific mechanism according to which the ecological linkage of forests, villages and sea nurtures the blessings of the sea forest. In other words, the forestation leads to an increase in iron-humic acid that flows down rivers, and which enriches growth of oysters and scallops near the river mouth. Since 2012 we participated in the NPO’s tree planting activity at Murone Mountain in Iwate Prefecture, which began in 1989. In 2022, our employees participated in the 34th round of tree planting activity.