Due to the severe impact on the ecosystem from global warming and extreme weather, humans are facing various challenges by climate change.
As an educational enterprise that helps to nurture and develop children’s potential, all staff have been working together to protect the environment through various ways for these few years, creating a sustainable and preservable environment for children. This report shows the measures implemented by Kumon China (KCN) from April 2022 to March 2023 and analyses the environmental data from 2021 to 2022.
1. Saving Energy Consumption
In order to enhance the awareness of environmental protection of the staff, the Green Team members in different regions of KCN continuously emphasize the importance of energy conservation through different activities.
We put up posters of WWF’s “Earth Hour” campaign in the Hong Kong office to encourage all staff to participate in that event and drew everyone’s attention to change habits and protect the ecosystem.
The staff of Kumon Shanghai also actively saved electricity and supported a low-carbon lifestyle. The air-conditioning in the office was maintained at 26°C to 28°C and the fans were switched on to maintain air circulation. Staff switched off the lights when they left the meeting room and pantry.
It was found that the electricity usage of KCN reduced from 196,784 kWh in 2021 to 184,562 kWh in 2022, saving a total of 12,222 kWh.
2. Implementing the Paperless Workplace
The Green Team of KCN actively promoted paper saving, such as updating the slogans near the photocopiers to help the staff think twice before printing documents and avoid wastage.
The Green Team of different regional offices also made good use of technology to reduce the paper usage. For example, staff conducted e-questionnaires to collect opinions and ideas from the participants after trainings, seminars and activities in a more efficient way. Compared to the traditional method, this method simplified the process of collecting and analyzing the data, resulting in a significant reduction of paper consumption in the office. Besides, the System Team launched presentations on e-signature, which had been a significant progress for the implementation of paperless offices.
By taking different green actions in KCN, the paper usage was reduced by 21%, from 410,348 sheets in 2021 to 324,097 sheets in 2022.
3. Encouraging planting
The Green Team also encourages staff to plant various kinds of green plants in the office, which can not only beautify the environment, but also purify the carbon dioxide concentration in the air and lower the indoor temperature.
As a result, KCN recorded 116 tons of low carbon dioxide emissions in 2022, improved by 6% when compared with previous year.
4. Encouraging Recycling
Recycling and reusing resources was a great help for environmental protection. The Green Team of different offices had worked hard together on achieving the goal.
The Hong Kong office sent the used mobile phones, which had been damaged or used for over 5 years to the “Green in the District” Mobile Recycling Centre, where they were sorted by the collection agencies and processed afterwards, thus reducing the electronic wastes.
Kumon Guangdong made use of unused cabinets to display the company’s various products and prizes, which not only attracted the attention of visitors, but also effectively enhanced the brand image of Kumon.
Besides, KCN recycled 3,323 kg of paper in 2022.
All the staff of KCN will continue to work together and take practical actions to protect the earth and fulfill our social responsibility by making changes in our daily habits, work and life.
