Kumon Environmental Activities Around the World

The year-on-year overall environmental data for Group companies in Japan for FY2022 showed good results: 90.4% electricity usage, 77.8% paper usage, and 90.8% paper recycling.

In FY2023, as part of our efforts to reform operations and create new ways of working, we reorganized our branches in Hokkaido, following in Okayama, Ibaraki, Niigata, Fukushima, and Nagano prefectures in FY2022, and reduced office spaces. We relocated our offices in Wakayama, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Gunma, Mie, Ehime, Tochigi, and Kumamoto prefectures, resulting in reduced electricity consumption. In addition, the use of online student enrollment application forms, notices from the office to Instructors, and monthly reports have significantly reduced our paper consumption.

Kumon LIL has developed its own ink that disappears when stained, called Ninja. One of the features of Sumi ink, which is said to have existed since B.C., is its value of being able to be preserved for posterity without disappearing.However, in addition to the development of brush learning materials that even preschool children can use, Kumon LIL developed Ninja for use in calligraphy learning. Ninja is made from starch, which can be cleaned with a special color eraser solution.

Using Ninja reduces the amount of water needed to wash brushes and also makes the brushes last longer. It also reduces the number of times clothes are washed (water consumption) when soiled, thus contributing to a reduction in environmental impact.

Environmental data in Japan

Through these donations, we were able to donate 80 pounds of food to Regen Outreach Community, a Brampton-based food bank, and toys to the Boys and Girls Club of Albion, which helps low-income families. We also organized a donation of coats and winter essentials to support the Children's Breakfast Club during their annual Associate Holiday Potluck and were able to donate over 100 coats.

Canadians, on average, purchase 70 new articles of clothing annually, contributing to the 12 million tons of waste dumped into landfills each year. In addition, 58% of all food produced in Canada is wasted before reaching grocery stores, and 80% of purchased toys end up in landfills. Through our donations, we are committed to fighting the problem of increasing waste and contributing to the lives of people in our communities and to the environment.

Through compassion and care, Kumon strives to help those facing challenges while promoting waste reduction.

Kumon India has set up new offices for a better environment.

1. Daylighting refers to providing effective internal lighting without compromising comfort and function. This strategy also enhances the quality of light, depending on the nature of the space. Not only does daylighting save energy costs, but it creates a create a visually stimulating environment.
2. The open design of these ceilings allows for better air circulation and natural lighting. Air conditioning and ventilation systems can be integrated seamlessly within the plenum space, optimizing energy efficiency and improving indoor air quality.
3. Research suggests having plants in an office can enhance efficiency levels making employees surrounded by greenery more creative and engaged in their work. Overall, office plants contribute to a more mentally healthy workforce, leading to lower levels of burnout and improved wellbeing for all workplace inhabitants.
4. Number of staff can use numbers of tissues on daily basis. Installed hand dryers in workplace and eliminates the need for paper, saving trees and reducing waste in landfills.

Kumon Beijing, Kumon Shanghai, Kumon Guangzhou, and Kumon Beijing Trading Company (the Logistics Warehouses in Mainland China) are making an effort to set the office temperature between 25℃ and 28℃ to reduce electricity consumption. The Beijing staff close windows and pull down sunshades to maintain a lower indoor temperature. The other offices have their staff turn on fans at a low speed to keep the air circulating. They also turn off the air conditioners in the meeting room or office after the meeting or work.

Each office also promotes recycling activities. Kumon Shanghai encourages all staff members to adopt environmentally friendly habits and incorporate recycling into their daily lives. As a result, they have reduced the use of disposable items, such as cups and chopsticks, and have started bringing their own water bottles when they go out. Kumon Shanghai also posted the “Low Carbon Life, Environment Protection” poster in the Green Team promotion area of the office to draw staff attention to it.

Kumon Beijing encourages their staff to use environmentally friendly tableware instead of disposable utensils at mealtime and to bring their own toiletries and not use hotel disposables when traveling on business.

Every action, no matter how small, helps protect the environment. Our actions will lead to a significant reduction of waste and help protect the environment in the future.

Summer temperatures in Madrid can reach as high as 40℃ (104℉), requiring the use of large amounts of electricity to run air conditioners at full capacity in order to keep offices at a comfortable temperature. Due to global warming, rising temperatures, and prolonged heat waves, energy costs are increasing every year due to the continued use of air conditioners.

Therefore, a study was conducted to better optimize energy consumption and to review the entire office cooling system. We decided to change the HVAC system by implementing a series of technical improvements, including the installation of new, more energy-efficient machines and two efficient return grilles to maintain a comfortable temperature. In addition, shades were installed in conference rooms that are directly exposed to the sun.

The staff was also informed of the importance of keeping the machines at a constant temperature to avoid reaching peaks of excessive electricity consumption, as well as the importance of closing the windows properly, favoring ventilation at the most suitable times of the day, i.e., early in the morning, when the temperature is not yet very high in summer.

We are confident that these measures will reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner world with less greenhouse effect.