As restrictions come into effect globally regarding the use of designated chemical substances that can cause environmental pollution, Roland is working towards gathering the latest information on environmental laws in Japan and other countries, carrying out ongoing verifications of the legality of our products and technologies, and developing and designing products in ways that eliminate the use of hazardous chemical substances.

Some regulations on chemical substances regulate hazardous substances that are used and discharged during the manufacturing process. We have created a set of stringent internal standards (List of Chemical Substances Whose Use in Products is Prohibited or Restricted) to reduce the amount of hazardous chemical substances used, and to implement appropriate controls.

Roland has set waste material recycling rate targets of 85% or higher and 73% or higher at the head office factory and the Miyakoda factory respectively. Waste material are sorted, disassembled, and separated to promote recycling.
Both factories have achieved their target recycling rates for Year 2012 (April 2011 - March 2012), coming in at 92% and 83% at the head office factory and Miyakoda factory respectively. We intend to promote even more recycling to reduce the amount of waste we discharge.

* The reason for a decrease in recyclable wastes in the head office factory in the period ended March 2012 is that we took initiatives to transform waste pallet into organic soil following Miyakoda factory. It has achieved a 35% reduction in total weight of recyclable wastes as compared to previous period ended March 2011.

Solar power generation system and promotion of energy-saving measures.

In July 2006, the head office factory was outfitted with a solar power generation system capable of generating 70,000kWh per year. The system generated approximately 65,800kWh (CO2 equivalent: approx. 44 tons) during Year 2012.

Also, replacement of equipment and lightening devices with that of the low power consumption type and ongoing energy-saving activities in daily work are operated, and in the period ended March 2012, the power consumption in the head office factory decreased by 21.4% and by 22.2% in the Miyakoda factory over the previous period.

* Calculations were based on the nationwide harmonized CO2 conversion factor (0.559kg-CO2/kWh) defined by the Ministry of the Environment.

Logistics

In terms of product sale logistics, we are actively introducing changes to overseas shipping routes. As a result of these changes, we were able to reduce CO2 emissions by 15% per year (approx. 57 tons) compared to previous routes.

* This value was calculated using the conventional ton-kilometer method based on the CO2 emissions factor for volumes transported by ship as defined by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Overseas tree-planting activities

As part of our efforts to conserve the environment, we have launched a tree-planting program in January 2008 in Java, Indonesia where we source the cabinets for our electronic pianos.

Over a period of 3 years, we will plant approximately 140,000 trees including varieties that are indigenous to Indonesia, multipurpose trees, and fruit trees in a site with an area of 100 hectares (enough to fit approximately 20 Tokyo Domes).

Seventy of these 100 hectares will be designated as "industrial groves" and will provide approximately 1,640m³ of lumber annually starting in 2012; lumber which we plan to use in cabinets of Roland electronic pianos.

Thirty hectares will be designated as "environmental groves" and trees in these areas will not be cut down. Since these forested sites are located near the head waters of an irrigation dam, we can expect them to have a recharging effect on the head waters, as well as mitigate global warming by absorbing CO2 as they grow.

With these tree plantings, we expect to offset approximately 10,000 tons of CO2 emissions throughout the next 20 years. Also, by simultaneously growing fruit trees, bio-fuel crops, medicinal plants and other plants in these forested sites, we aim to support local agriculture, as well as provide support to local elementary schools in the form of PCs, textbooks, and school supplies.