Seiyu adopts Haida manga on bags
In June, Seiyu launched a set of initiatives for both customers and associates to make a positive impact on global warming. This include using Haida manga images as part of the effort to reduce the use of disposable plastic shopping bags to half by 2010.
SEIYU began an initiative to encourage customers to use “bags for life,” or “My Bag,” at all 392 Seiyu stores, with a wide range
of “My Bags” with a Haida manga hummingbird logo available. Seiyu also reduces two yen from a customer’s receipt on the spot when
that customer declines the use of a disposable shopping bag. Not only is Seiyu encouraging customers to do what they
can do, Seiyu associates have decided to do what they can do about global warming. There are three key commitments
that all 50,000 Seiyu associates have pledged to follow.
1. Associates of Seiyu use “My Bag” for their own shopping.
Disposable bags are not an option for Seiyu associates now
that we are asking our customers to make the change.
2. All associates are asked to search for any “mottai-nai”
elements in the company. Mottai-nai is a Japanese word
used when things are useless and gone to waste without
being given an opportunity to fully realize their values.
Mottai-nai are often found in a workplace because of
practices that began long ago and stayed the same way
simply because it was a custom. Now Seiyu has set up a
hotline for associates to directly report their mottai-nai
findings to Corporate Social Responsibility Operations.
3. All associates are encouraged to come up with a small
commitment of how they can take action, such as using
a mug instead of disposable cup or replacing traditional
light bulbs with CFLs.
Seemingly Small Things Make Big Impact in Japan
Japan – With the growing interest in global warming, the
“hummingbird campaign” is quietly but steadily capturing
the hearts of Japanese people from all walks of life.
The hummingbird campaign, a movement initiated by a
non-government agency that was inspired by a short story
of a hummingbird, originated in South America. It aims to
encourage everyone to do whatever they can do, no matter
how small, to make a positive impact on global warming.
The story that inspired the campaign:
The forest was on fire.
All of the animals,
insects and birds in the forest rushed to escape.
But there was one little hummingbird named Kurikindi,
or Golden Bird, who stayed behind.
This little bird went back and forth between water and fire,
dropping a single drop of water from its beak onto the fire below
When the animals saw this they began to laugh at Kurikindi.
“Why are you doing that?” they asked.
And Kurikindi replied, “I am only doing what I can do.”
source: http://sustainability-summit.com/CEODocs/7889/August_Smart_07lowerres.pdf