Environmental Protection Activities Promoted by Itami Works in Collaboration with the Local Community
At Itami Works, the group’s manufacturing base, we are collaborating with Itami City to advance biodiversity preservation activities at nearby Koyaike Park and cultivation of acorn seedlings project that contribute to decarbonization.
Tree Planting and Weeding Activities at Nearby Koyaike Park (Forest Association activities)
Located east of Itami Works, Koyaike Park is renowned as an oasis for wild birds. Civic group and the administration are working together to restore the park's natural environment, aiming to reestablish a waterfront habitat where abundant flora and fauna can thrive.
At Itami Works, we are collaborating with the Itami civic group, the Forest Association for Nature Conservation in Itami, to restore the woodland on Koyaike Park’s Wild Bird Island as a way to give back to the local community that has supported us. This area was once damaged by cormorant droppings, which caused the vegetation to die off. Our efforts include removing invasive species, weeding, and creating a satoyama-style woodland.
We have participated in the activities of Forest Association since 2008, with over 700 employees participating cumulatively to date. By engaging in local environment protection activities, we aim to foster a sense of ownership among employees regarding global environmental issues and to increase their interest in a sustainable society, hoping this will serve as one catalyst towards realizing a recycling-oriented society.
Scene of weeding activities and other related work
Protection of Endangered Species (Prickly Waterlilies Cultivation)
Itami City was ranked first nationally in an evaluation of biodiversity preservation efforts on November 30, 2016. Itami City and the Pond Association for Nature Conservation in Itami are working to restore vulnerable plant species, such as Prickly Waterlilies.
Prickly Waterlilies once grew wild in places such as Koyaike Pond, but they disappeared after 2002 at the Nishiike Pond and Kuroike Pond in the Konoike District. Itami City and the Pond Association have been working to increase the population by cultivating seeds remaining in the ponds, aiming to reintroduce Prickly Waterlilies to Koyaike Pond and other ponds in Itami City.
As part of its community contribution activities, Itami Works has been cultivating Prickly Waterlilies since fiscal year 2021 and now has made them bloom. Additionally, harvested seeds of Prickly Waterlilies are shared with Itami City and are used for cultivation in the city.
Scene of Prickly Waterlilies cultivation at Itami Works
（Seedlings germinated at the Itami Works and then transplanted）
Prickly Waterlilies
- Nymphaeaceae
- Large, annual plant (leaf diameter: 2m or greater)
- Decreasing population due to environmental pollution（endangered species）
- Growing in Koyaike Pond（where the plant disappeared sometime from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s）
Cultivation of Acorn Seedlings Project
This project is one of the activities launched by Itami City and Iinan Town, Shimane Prefecture (one of Itami City’s sister cities) to achieve carbon neutrality. Since 2024, at Itami Works, we have been engaged in activities aimed at cultivating future CO2 sinks (i.e., creating carbon credits) and strengthening collaboration with the local community.
Within Itami Works, we are fostering acorn saplings. Additionally, in April 2025, we co-hosted the “Let’s Grow Oak Trees!” event with Itami City during the Inari Festival*, with about 100 participants helping raise saplings.
The saplings, carefully nurtured by participants in the cultivation of acorn seedlings, were planted in Iinan Town, Shimane Prefecture, in September 2025. These planted saplings will grow larger over the next 40-50 years.
*The Inari Festival takes place every year on the first Sunday of April to celebrate the company’s founding.
Scene of tree-planting activities in Iinan Town, Shimane Prefecture
Attempts at Carbon Offsetting by Carbon Credits
We offset the CO2 emissions from the 2025 Inari Festival held at Itami Works by purchasing carbon credits generated from forests in Iinan Town, Shimane Prefecture. (This offset amount is not included in our group's GHG emissions reductions initiatives.) Iinan Town uses a portion of the proceeds from these carbon credit sales to fund forest protection and restoration.
Moving forward, we will continue these activities to foster a virtuous cycle of decarbonization in collaboration with local communities, contributing to the realization of a sustainable society. We aim to raise awareness of decarbonization both within our company and among local residents.