Gave environmental lectures
at elementary schools

Since fiscal 2003, OMRON has participated in an environmental education initiative targeting elementary school students, with employees giving lectures at elementary schools in Kyoto City on a regular basis. This initiative was launched by the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry in fiscal 2002.

This initiative is intended to foster students’ interest in science and increase awareness of environmental issues by introducing elementary school students to environmental technologies developed by Kyoto-based companies that are aggressively addressing ecological issues. In fiscal 2010, the ninth year of the initiative, 24 companies took part in giving lectures at 70 elementary schools. To date, the number of children who have listened to these lectures exceeds 20,000.

Every year, OMRON presents the company’s efforts to preserve the environment with the theme of "supplying environmentally friendly products," by giving examples of its healthcare products. Staff members in charge of environmental activities and product development/planning, working as a team, introduce OMRON’s overall environmental preservation efforts and environmentally sound products.

In fiscal 2010, OMRON staff gave lectures in three elementary schools in Kyoto targeting 143 students. Staff used a blood pressure monitor that is also familiar to children as an educational tool to explain the mechanism of blood circulation and blood pressure. Children were also encouraged to experience the joy of product creation by disassembling and assembling the unit. Lectures also covered OMRON’s commitment to creating eco-friendly products, such as a solar-powered blood pressure monitor that doesn’t require batteries, and the use of recycled parts and elimination of hazardous substances from its products. Staff also explained universal design, a current focus of OMRON, using actual products. One student commented: "I now know that OMRON makes not only healthcare products but many other products that are familiar to us." Another student remarked, "I was impressed to learn that OMRON is working hard to make products that are friendly to people as well as to the environment."

OMRON products displayed
at "100 Most Eco-friendly
Products / Technologies"
exhibition

OMRON works together with stakeholders in various initiatives aimed at enhancing public awareness regarding anti-climate change efforts.

An example of such efforts is its participation in the executive committee of the “100 Most Eco-friendly Activities” project involving industry, government, academia and the citizens of Kyoto. The executive committee plans and organizes various events, including the “Kyoto Protocol Birthday Walk” which involves a walk down the streets of Kyoto City around February 16 when the Kyoto Protocol came into effect, calling for action to prevent climate change. An exhibition was also held in August, showcasing 100 selected eco-friendly products and technologies. In fiscal 2010, OMRON displayed its solar-powered blood pressure monitor and other Eco-label products at the “100 Most Eco-friendly Activities” exhibition, also holding a workshop targeting elementary school students, in which children tried creating a battery with activated carbon.

In recognition of these activities which were launched in 2005, the executive committee received the Kyoto Environmental Excellence Award for fiscal 2009. This award recognizes organizations and companies that are committed to tackling climate change and building a resource-circulating society in an advanced and unique manner and through activities of great promise.

As a company with headquarters in Kyoto, where the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, OMRON will continue striving to reduce CO2 emissions from its business activities, while also promoting public awareness of environmental issues and releasing environmental information.