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Environment

Basic approach

As written in the Group Vision, the Group strives to contribute to community development and environmental conservation, while continually paying close attention to local ecosystems and the global environment. Having built up close ties with a number of communities through its railway, hotel, and various other services, we ensure the Group’s business activities that take into account local ecosystems and environmental conservation are a top priority for sustainable growth.
Concretely, the Group implements measures to use energy more efficiently in order to reduce the environmental impact of its operations. In our business activities, the Group works to protect ecosystems, reducing atmospheric emissions, and consuming less water while actively collaborating with various stakeholders in environmental conservation initiatives. Through such activities, the Group aims to realize sustainable growth while fulfilling its obligations as a good corporate citizen.

The Seibu Group's Environmental Policy

The Seibu Group formulated an environmental policy for the purpose of facilitating the efforts of each group company to realize the Group Vision and contributing to solving major issues facing society. To tackle those issues, the Group is promoting proactive, concrete and organized initiatives as we address key objectives for our sustainability action.
Click here for details.

Seibu Group Targets for reduction of Environmental Impact

The Group has been working actively to reduce CO2 emissions, one of the causes of global warming. We will continue working to reduce CO2 emissions and have set targets to reduce environmental impact to further contribute to prevention of global warming.


Our reduction target for Environmental Impact

CO2 emissions reduction targets

Long-term target: Net zero emissions in FY2050

Medium-term target: 46% reduction from FY2018 level by FY2030

Short-term target: 5% reduction on a year-over-year basis every fiscal year

Target rates of renewable energy

Long-term target: 100% in FY2050

Medium-term target: 50% in FY2030

The Seibu Group’s Nature Positive Declaration

The Seibu Group has formulated the Nature Positive Declaration to achieve the 2050 vision of the Kunming-Montreal Global biodiversity framework, “A World in Harmony with Nature.” For more information, please see here.

Seibu Group's vision for society in 2050

We will make unified efforts to actively promote adequate measures for the “reduction of energy consumption,” “energy transition,” and “absorption of CO2 emitted” to achieve those targets and cope with associated climate change risks and opportunities.

Internal Carbon Pricing System

We have introduced the Internal Carbon Pricing System to strongly advance our response to climate change. We apply an internal carbon price (7,000 yen/t-CO2) to some capital investments that can reduce CO2 emissions to aid investment decisions.



Seibu Group environmental database

In addition to CO2 emissions, water use, resource used, industrial waste, food waste, chemical substances handled, and emissions of air pollutants are compiled in the Seibu Group Environmental Data.
Click here for details.

Seibu Group environmental database

Introduction of the activities of each group company

Greenhouse gas reduction

Adopting energy-saving trains and equipment

All the Group's transportation companies aim to reduce their environmental impact by improving transportation efficiency. To that end, they have been upgrading to energy-saving rail cars and installing energy-efficient facilities at train stations and will continue to carry out research on train, bus, and taxi driving technologies in an effort to cut down on energy consumption.

Specific initiatives

Utilizing renewable energy

Each group company is working to curb greenhouse gas emissions, reducing energy consumption by using renewable energy sources such as solar power and geothermal heat pumps for heating and cooling system.

Specific initiatives
  • Seibu Railway, Seibu Realty Solutions, and Ohmi Railway operating nine solar power plants nationwide that generate about 27,000MWh annually.
  • Seibu Realty Solutions  Operating a hydroelectric plant in the city of Karuizawa that generates 1.48 million kilowatts annually.
  • Hakone Yunohana Prince Hotel uses green energy for heating/cooling and hot water supply by utilizing hot spring heat, and will introduce a binary power generation system in May 2023 to provide approximately 20% of the electricity used (annual CO2▲ approximately 187 tons).
  • Operating air-conditioning systems using geothermal energy at the Hakone Yunohana Prince Hotel and Manza Prince Hotel, reducing CO2 emissions by 2,470 tonnes annually. 
  • Seibu Railway--All of the electricity used on the Seibu Railway Yamaguchi Line (known as "Leoliner") come from environment-friendly electricity generated by the Seibu Takeyama Solar Power Station, which is operated by Seibu Realty Solutions.
  • Seibu Holdings' headquarters building, DaiyaGate Ikebkuro, uses electricity generated by Seibu Takeyama Solar Power Station, a solar facility operated by Seibu Realty Solutions, aiming to achieve virtually zero CO2 emissions from the annual electricity of approx. 2,270 tons used at the headquarters building.
  • Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise has realized a virtually zero CO2 emission aquarium by replacing all electricity used in the aquarium area with "Hamakko Electricity," a real zero CO2 emission electricity derived from renewable energy.
  • Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho achieved zero CO2 emissions by replacing all electricity with 100% renewable energy electricity.
  • Prince Shopping Plaza introduced On-site PPA at Prince Shopping Plaza in Karuizawa to generate solar power (annual CO2 emissions: approx.▲ 870 tons)
  • Seibu Bus Niiza Office introduced On-site PPA at Seibu Bus Niiza Office and use of electricity with environmental value generated at Seibu Takeyama Solar Power Station operated by Seibu Realty Solutions, to achieve virtually zero CO2 emissions (annual CO2 emissions: ▲80 tons).

Click here  for renewable energy from the Seibu Group (in Japanese only).

Improving energy conservation at offices and plants

The Group companies have been making buildings more energy efficient by installing various types of equipment, including highly efficient heating systems and LED lighting. Newly constructed office buildings are designed with the latest energy-conserving technologies.

Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho (Click here  for website)

    FY2022

  • Certified as a "Top Level Business Office" under the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance on Environmental Security (Bureau of Environment, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, March 2021)
  • DBJ Green Building Certification Platinum (Plan) 2020 (Development Bank of Japan, September 2020)
DaiyaGate Ikebukuro

    FY2022

  • CASBEE Real Estate: Highest rating S rank (March 2023, Institute for Building Environment and Energy Conservation)
  • DBJ Green Building Certification, Highest rating of 5 stars (Development Bank of Japan, March 2023)
  • Director-General's Award of the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy, Energy Conservation Award (Energy Conservation Case Study Category, Business Field) (The Energy Conservation Center, Japan, December 2022)
  • 63rd BCS Award (Japan Federation of Construction Contractors Associations, August 2022)
Specific initiatives
  • Yokohama Hakkeijima Inc. participated in the Yokohama Blue Carbon Offset Program to reduce CO2 emissions at Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama by installing a heat pump that uses seawater heat and by locally producing and consuming wakame seaweed.(Until FY2022)
  • Seibu Holdings switched to carbon neutral envelopes delivered to shareholders.
  • Railway switches from Paper Delay Certificates to Web Issuance.
  • Seibu Railway terminated the sale of some magnetic tickets and introduced a new ride point service.
  • Seibu Railway provided a means of transportation that emits less CO2 through the operation of cycle trains.
  • Seibu Realty Solutions and Yokohama Hakkeijima installed highly efficient heating systems equipped with heat pumps to reduce CO2 emissions.
  • Prince Hotels and Seibu Landscape reduced CO2 by introducing automatic lawnmowers. 
  • Prince Hotels received the Japan Hotel Association's "Social Contribution Award" for the establishment of a joint delivery system at eight hotels in Tokyo (a system in which each supplier delivers food products to a warehouse designated by Prince Hotel, and each hotel only takes food products it needs from the warehouse.
  • Seibu Lions introduced carbon offset LP gas.

Waste reduction

Reducing waste from operations

The Group companies have been carrying out various initiatives for minimizing trash and controlling waste, such as promoting a shift to paperless operations by using information and communications technology (ICT) to reduce waste at offices and workplaces. Moreover, Prince Hotels has been taking steps to reduce the use of plastics and to reduce, process, and recycle food waste at hotels.

Specific initiatives
  • Prince Hotels reduces food loss by reviewing purchasing policies, displaying posters to educate staff and guests about leftover food, and reducing meal portions.
  • Prince Hotels reuses spoiled and leftover food as fertilizer. 
  • Prince Hotels carries out eco-friendly activities* for guests staying over 2 nights to reduce environmental pollution caused by detergents.
    In response to the enforcement of the Law for Promotion of Recycling of Plastic Resources, we are promoting a reduction and reuse of plastic products.
  • The original natural mineral water supplied in guestrooms has been changed to label-less and 100% recycled PET bottles, and horizontal recycling* has begun.
    *Recycling system that recycles PET bottles and uses them again as PET bottles.
    Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide received the Award for Excellence in Social Contribution from Japan Hotel Association in recognition of their efforts to reduce plastic waste.
  • Seibu Lions launched SAVE THE EARTH Lions GREEN UP! Project in 2020 season, reducing or eliminating plastic products at food stalls within the stadium, and reuse food residue (conversion to bioenergy) . 
  • Seibu Railway donated stockpiles before the expiration date to food banks, etc. at the time of renewal of stockpiles for employees.
  • Seibu Railway began selling digital train tickets using QR codes.
  • SEIBU Honkawagoe Pepe held a food drive event in which customers' unwanted food and other items are collected and donated to children's cafeterias and other facilities in the city.
  • Developed and sold new products using non-standard products that are subject to disposal in local pear plantations at Kamisato SA.

"Loss to Value" Initiative

Seibu Holdings is promoting a Loss to Value project that takes a broad, multifaceted approach to devising and implementing solutions through an open platform.

Promoting recycling and reuse

Seibu Railway and Seibu Bus have been supplying other companies with decommissioned trains, used buses, and usable equipment to ensure their reuse and reduce the environmental burden related to their dismantling and disposal. The Group companies also make use of wood from thinning the forests that they manage. (Wooden train station benches: Seibu Forest in the city of Hanno)

Specific initiatives
  • Seibu Railway, Seibu Bus, and Ohmi Taxi supplied other companies with decommissioned trains and maintenance equipment, used signaling equipment, used buses and taxis.
  • Seibu Railway and hotels in Hawaii used wood from forest thinning to make benches and wood chips. (Click here for Seibu Railway's environmental initiatives.)
  • Seibu Railway installed wall artwork in the restrooms of the new station building at Toshimaen Station, using lumber from Toshimaen Amusement Park.
  • Seibu Landscape reuses soil from a water treatment plant (previously used to purify industrial wastewater) as soil for growing plants and trees at a facility in the city of Otsu, Shiga prefecture.
  • Seibu Landscape established a technique for composting plant-based waste from a small portion.
  • Ohmi Railway became Japan's first private-sector bus operator to use biodiesel made from vegetable oil and light oil.
  • Prince Hotels implemented “Veggie-cycle”, the food recycle system to compost food waste from hotel and provide to contract farms. Several hotels will purchase vegetables produced by these farms.
  • Prince Hotel Linen Supply makes pillowcases and microfiber towels, etc. using linen fabrics recycled from waste material.

Ensuring water supply

Measures to reduce water consumption

To help conserve precious water resources, the Group companies have formulated policies to curb water consumption and installed equipment to reuse rain and wastewater.

Specific initiatives
  • Seibu Realty Solutions utilizes well water, drainage water and rainwater.
  • Seibu Bus uses bus washer that consumes less water than previous one.
  • Prince Hotels in Hawaii, reuses sewage water as irrigation water after purifying it at wastewater treatment plants.

Implementing measures for securing clean water supply

The Group is actively involved in preventing water pollution. For example, Prince Hotels donates to regions, where the drinking water sources are located, to help them maintain good water quality. Also, SEIBU Landscape Co. and other subsidiaries are taking various measures to prevent water pollution as follows.

Specific initiatives
  • Prince Hotels donates one yen for every bottle of local spring water sold to the city of Minami-Uonuma, Niigata prefecture.
  • Seibu Landscape uses baking soda instead of herbicides to prevent the pollution of headwater and river.
  • Izu-Mito Sea Paradise is communicating its marine conservation efforts to children and students.

Protecting forest and species

Activities to protect and increase forests and plant species and to increase green spaces

Seibu Group companies have been cooperating with the municipalities where they operate to protect and increase forests, plant species, and green spaces, making proactive efforts to conserve forests themselves.

Specific initiatives
  • Seibu Railway cooperates with the local government and civic groups in the city of Hanno, Saitama prefecture, to maintain a 130-hectare forest that was certified by the Organization for Landscape and Urban Green Infrastructure in 2017 with the highest rank under its Social and Environmental Green Evaluation System (SEGES) and received an evaluation of "equivalent to certification" under the Ministry of the Environment's "Certified Demonstration Project for a Site Tentatively Titled "Site for Coexistence with Nature" (tentative name) in 2023.
  • Seibu Railway invites participants to join local environmental events (such as weeding) promoted by local governments in the Chichibu region of Saitama prefecture.
  • Seibu Railway offers forests in Sayama Hill (Mikajima area, Tokorozawa City) with an unspoiled woodland landscape to the Totoro no Furusato Foundation as a contribution to ongoing environmental conservation.
  • Seibu Realty Solutions maintains lush green spaces at Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho, certified as an "urban oasis" under SEGES in 2016.
  • Planted trees on Prince Hotel properties in collaboration with local governments in Hokkaido and the prefectures of Gunma, Nagano, Kanagawa, and Shiga. 
  • Prince Hotels in Hawaii, planted trees and plants native to Hawaii on hotel properties in cooperation with local environmental groups.
  • Seibu Lions established the "Saitama Seibu Lions Award" in Saitama Prefecture's "Sai-no-kuni Green Essay/Painting Contest" for children to raise awareness of forest protection.

Seibu Landscape's initiatives

Seibu Landscape surveys, designs, builds and maintains green spaces across Japan as a service provider that brings people and nature together. It also manages and maintains city parks, develops green wall technology, and provides environmental education programs to promote awareness of the importance of nature. Seibu Landscape also collaborates with community-based organizations and engages in local initiatives with Seibu Green Management, and Yokohama-Ryokuchi.

Specific initiatives

Initiating measures for protecting biodiversity

The Seibu Group is engaged in various initiatives focused on protecting biodiversity and has signed onto the Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren (Japan Business Federation). The Group companies have been taking steps to reduce plastic waste due to its harmful effects on marine life and ecosystems. For example, they have banned plastic straws on their premises and are progressively shifting to paper straws. Disposable plastic bags have also been discontinued and we propose non-use of amenities in guestrooms at Prince Hotel.
Seibu Realty Solutions has hotel facilities in national parks across Japan, such as Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and Joshin’etsukogen National Park.
In 2018, the Group concluded a partnership contract with the Ministry of the Environment in the National Park Official Partnership Program. That has further promoted our engagement in business activities that take into consideration regional vitalization and nature/biodiversity environmental protection. In Furano, we also offer a former golf course to NPOs for tree-planting activities aiming to give back to nature. At Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho we preserved and transplanted about 200 trees which had been planted on the site during the period of the former Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka. We planted 340 new trees (over 3m) to form green urban spaces from the beginning of the building completion. Additionally, by planting more than 200 species of plants, the green area ratio for the site is approximately 45%. We aim to develop a community that will contribute to building an ecological network (green corridor) aligning with valuable urban green spaces in the Imperial Palace and Akasaka Goyochi Palace grounds, etc. At the center of the site, there is a road surrounded by greenery which we call a "green axis" that runs from the adjacent Benkei moat to Shimizudani Park. We also create a biotope in the area called “Forest of Lights” in the north side of the site.
In addition, each group company is taking various initiatives to preserve biodiversity.

Specific initiatives

Other

Seibu operates trains named "SDGs X Lions GREEN UP! Project Train"  for the purpose of delivering our message of our Sustainability Action initiatives externally.