Environmentally Friendly Production Activities (West Japan Blind Co., Ltd.)Hiroshima for Global Peace

Environmentally Friendly Production Activities (West Japan Blind Co., Ltd.)

Creating products that address social issues

West Japan Blind Co., Ltd. is a Nichibei Group company that produces and ships ordered custom-made window products from the Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu areas. The products it produces are based on the concepts of the environment, health, the aging society, energy conservation, and safety, and it aims to create “human spaces” that are comfortable for all by making products that are conscious of these and other social issues. When Nichibei endorsed the SDGs and began to tackle them, its group companies began to work together on SDGs initiatives. West Japan Blind used to work to find answers to people’s living environments and environmental issues through its products, but going forward, it will address the SDGs at the manufacturing stage too and fulfill its responsibility as a producer.

Environmentally friendly production activities

Currently, West Japan Blind is working to reduce waste materials by implementing measures to improve yields. Waste is reduced by saving and using scraps of material that are generated at the production stage. In 2021, the company set a target to reduce the rate of slats thrown away to 5.2% and is working to reduce waste by calculating the amount on a monthly basis. Another initiative to reduce waste is to improve the way rolling screen fabric is cut. In the past, the cutting was done as efficiently as possible by the employee engaged in sorting, but by systematizing the process, the company was able to find the optimal cutting method and eliminate waste. In addition, it contributes to the creation of a recycling-oriented society by handing over material that has to be disposed of to a recycling company.

Use of scrap aluminum materials (waste reduction)

Small things add up

There is no point setting unrealistic targets. Rather, West Japan Blind sets immediately attainable goals that can be checked on a monthly basis. In the same way that if you make your small dreams come true, your big dreams will come true before you know it, it is important to steadily work towards achieving the SDGs, starting with the small goals in front of us. In addition, the quickest way to resolve the global problems identified in the SDGs is to change the mindset of each individual, rather than relying on any one person making an exceptional effort. In April of this year, the company started supporting developing countries by collecting plastic bottle caps. These activities showed us their resolve to start doing what they can for society and the planet.