Hoshizaki Group conducts a wide range of social contribution activities.
Hoshizaki Green Foundation, the reception of facility visits, and a community-based approach are the three pillars of these activities. The basis for this is our approach aimed at enhancing mutual understanding with society through our open communications. While being a global business, Hoshizaki Group believes in the value of support from local communities garnered through our activities firmly rooted in their communities.
Hoshizaki Green Foundation
Each company is a member of society and should therefore contribute to the creation of a good environment. Hoshizaki Green Foundation was established based on this belief in 1990.
Hoshizaki
Green Foundation
The objectives of the Foundation’s activities include environmental improvement, studies and research for conservation and propagation of wildlife and plants, and awareness-raising activities. In addition, we have worked to develop Green Park, on the banks of Lake Shinji, and the Furusato-shakunouchi Park, located in undeveloped woodland close to town. Each of these sites is operated in order to create a habitat for wild creatures that is adapted to the local environs and a park which people can visit. In addition, the Foundation has been appointed by the Shimane Prefectural Government to manage the prefecture’s nature center Gobius, adjacent to Lake Shinji, and operates it in unison with Green Park. It is home to the Hoshizaki Institute for Wildlife Protection, whose activities are focused on research, as it engages in ongoing activities that contribute to preservation of the natural environment, with harmony between people and nature.
Environmental Conservation Activities
Hoshizaki supports Hoshizaki Green Foundation in its efforts to promote conservation and propagation of wildlife and plants and in environmental conservation activities. The company also participates in various conservation activities operated by the Foundation, including conservation and propagation of rare species and creation of habitats for wildlife and plants. In addition to creation of natural environments within company plant grounds, the company also actively engages in the preservation of regional natural environments. For many years, humans have imposed a heavy burden upon the natural environment. The preservation and restoration of that environment requires much time and effort. Consequently, the environmental conservation activities undertaken by Hoshizaki Green Foundation demand a great deal of physical exertion and perseverance. We will thus endeavor with whatever power is at our disposal to serve a role in conservation of the natural environment and will continue in our support of Hoshizaki Green Foundation.
Participating in Environment Improvement Activities to Encourage Kingfisher Nesting
During the breeding season for kingfishers, which inhabit waterside environments such as lakes and rivers, the males demonstrate courtship behavior where they present their prospective mate with hunting spoils, and dig a horizontal hole 50 - 90 centimeters into the waterside embankment for a nest. In recent years, reform work conducted on rivers has led to an increase in the number of concrete river dikes leading to a decrease in breeding areas for kingfishers. Hoshizaki Green Foundation has constructed artificial nesting holes in the concrete retaining walls that protect the embankments of the ponds in Green Park, providing kingfishers with breeding grounds. Successful breeding occurred in 1997, the year after the park opened, but it was not until 2006 that the next successful breeding was recorded. Since that year, the Foundation has prepared for the breeding season by refilling nesting holes after use, leading to success six times up to 2012. Unfortunately, no breeding was noted in 2010. We refilled the holes again nonetheless in September, as in previous years. Hoshizaki hopes that successful breeding will occur annually, and we will continue participating in efforts aimed at realizing this. We look forward to the kingfishers nesting.
Facility Visits
Every year, Hoshizaki welcomes plant visits from local elementary school and senior high school students, and hosts junior high school students for work experience. Factory visits provide an overview of the company and explanation of the manufacturing processes at the plant. In addition, students see the natural environment we have created on-site and learn about our environmental initiatives. For junior high school student workplace experience, we include practical work content that familiarizes them with separation of waste products as well as energy conservation activities.
Community-Based
Every year, Hoshizaki holds a summer night festival on the grounds of Hoshizaki’s head plant and the Shimane Yokota Plant, which are made open to the public.
The head plant welcomed over 1,000 guests, including local residents, employees and their families as well as staff from partner companies. It provides a wonderful socializing opportunity to get to know one another better while enjoying the summer evening.
Other Initiatives
Aiming to Be a People-Friendly Company
Hoshizaki has begun installation of accessible facilities to enable workers with disabilities or injuries and elderly workers to engage in work with peace of mind, with the aim of being a people-friendly company. As the first step towards this, ramps have been installed to the main building and staff cafeteria at the entrance to the head plant, and at the Shimane Head Office plant entrance. Facilities such as multi-purpose toilets have also been introduced.
Support for Activities to Provide Independence for People with Disabilities
Hoshizaki Head Office plant has worked closely with the labor union in support of Mugi-no-Hana (Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture), a designated NPO that employs people with disabilities. The organization manufactures and sells homemade bread, and once a week, they sell their bread at Hoshizaki’s office. The bread, made without any preservatives using Japanese-grown wheat, is very popular with Hoshizaki staff.
Designated NPO Mugi-no-Hana
