Promoting a Recycling–based Society

As part of its efforts to conserve resources and energy as a means of helping create a recycling–based society, Mizuho is giving particular emphasis to paper–the resource that it uses the greatest quantity of–as it promotes resource conservation efforts at each stage, from purchasing through to usage, disposal, and recycling.

Promoting Green Purchasing

Based on Mizuho's Environmental Policy and in line with its "Administrative Guidelines for Environmentally Responsible Procurement of Supplies, Goods, and Contracted Services," Mizuho is promoting "green" purchasing of products centered on such consumables as paper and stationery goods. When procuring such items, Mizuho requests the understanding of suppliers regarding these guidelines, and, especially for paper, Mizuho is actively working to use recycled paper and paper products made from pulp obtained from forests that are managed properly.

In addition, MHFG and its core group companies have established green purchasing ratio targets for their domestic business facilities.

Summary of the Administrative Guidelines for Environmentally Responsible Procurement

When Mizuho procures supplies and contracted services, it will strive to promote the following guidelines for environmentally responsible procurement.

Even if the need for purchases has been considered in advance, Mizuho will make an effort to purchase the minimum quantities needed.
When purchasing goods and services, Mizuho will obtain and make use of related environmental information and will strive to give priority to purchasing "environmental–friendly supplies and contracted services".

(1) Items that minimize the use and emissions of harmful substances that have an adverse impact on the environment and human beings

(2) Items that minimize the use of natural resources and energy

(3) Items that do not result in the depletion of forests or other natural resources

(4) Items usable for a longer period than previously and usable in a manner that makes it possible to reuse or recycle them

(5) Items that contain many component parts made from recycled materials and/or reused parts

(6) Items that, after usage, are easy to process and dispose of when eliminated

Regarding office supplies, Mizuho will endeavor to purchase goods with the "Eco Mark," products that meet the requirements of the Green Procurement Law, Green Procurement Network (GPN) guidelines and other such environmentally conscious guidelines. When items do not meet these requirements, reference should be made to the item 2 above.
Regarding paper items (including copier paper, forms, and printing paper), Mizuho will strive to purchase paper made with recycled pulp and⁄or virgin pulp (lumber obtained from forests for which proper procedures have been followed according to laws of the region and have been properly managed as well as pulp made from forest thinning, low–quality lumber, scrap wood, and⁄or non–wood pulp materials) or some mix of these materials.

Targeted Green Purchasing Ratio for Paper

Green purchasing ratio (for paper) of 85% or more at core group companies

Sustainability Targets and KPIs

ESG Data Book (Resources and waste) (PDF/810KB)

Environmentally Friendly Gifts

Promotional gifts given to customers at branch counters are created while considering environmental friendliness.

The paper used to produce calendars distributed by MHFG and paper bags distributed by MHBK, MHTB, and MHSC are made from wood harvested in forestland certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). MHSC uses environmentally friendly materials in its calendars. In addition, the Mizuho IC Cash Card is made from an environmentally friendly material, PET–G, a non–halogen plastic that has a low environmental impact at disposal.

Initiatives for Waste Reduction and Recycling

Through efforts to reduce its paper usage and other measures, in addition to working to decrease the amount of waste it generates, Mizuho is promoting setting of objectives for separating and recycling waste and is working to reduce waste in general and promote recycling.

Reduction of Paper Use

Targeted Reduction of Paper Use

Reduce 6 group companies'^* paper usage in Japan by 1% compared to the previous fiscal year

^* Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Trust & Banking, Mizuho Securities, Mizuho Research & Technologies, and Asset Management One

Sustainability Targets and KPIs

ESG Data Book (Resources and waste) (PDF/810KB)

Principal Measures to Reduce Paper Usage

Ensuring the use of two–sided printing and reduced–magnification printing
Reappraising requirements for paper forms and shifting to electronic documents
Promoting paperless operations through the introduction of electronic application form systems
Expanding the range of paperless meetings through the introduction of tablet computers
Reducing unnecessary copying by shifting multifunction machines (printing, copying, scanning, facsimiles) from joint use within sections to joint use on floors
Shift reports on entrusted assets and other reports to electronic formats

Promoting Paper Recycling

Mizuho has put in place recycling systems to thoroughly separate paper waste into office automation paper, newsprint, magazines, cardboard, and other categories. In fiscal 2015, Mizuho expanded the scope of recycling management, and set objectives and target recycling ratios.

ESG Data Book (Resources and waste) (PDF/810KB)

Reducing Non–combustible Waste and Recycling

Mizuho is working to reduce and recycle non–combustible waste by carefully sorting out cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles.

With regard to waste disposed of by offices, we will conduct management and disposal according to an industrial waste manifest in line with the Wastes Disposal and Public Cleansing Act and remain in compliance with the law.

ESG Data Book (Resources and waste) (PDF/810KB)

Principal Measures for Reducing/Recycling Waste Products

Each company in the Mizuho Group is moving ahead with measures to reduce the volume of waste products it generates and to ensure that those waste products are recycled.

Elimination of Plastic Cups and Straws	Mizuho replaced the plastic disposable coffee cups used in the employee cafeteria and coffee shop with paper cups. Straws are no longer automatically provided, but paper or biodegradable straws are available upon request. (Mizuho Financial Group, MHBK)
Paper–Usage Reduction Achieved by Not Issuing Passbooks	Since 2000, Mizuho has been expanding the operations of its Internet branches that do not use physical branch buildings or counters and entail the issuance of passbooks. Not issuing passbooks has enabled a reduction of annual paper usage equivalent to about one million sheets of A4–sized paper. (MHBK)
Reuse/Recycling of Uniforms	In addition to using uniforms tailored from natural fibers or materials created from the recycling of PET bottles, we are using a centralized system for the recovery/management of used uniforms to enable the repeated use of uniforms. In addition, even if reuse is not possible, the items are recycled through heat treatment and thermal recycling is employed (MHBK, MHTB)
Introduction of Environment–Friendly Toner Products	The use of environment–friendly toner products that reduce printing–related waste generation by enabling the refilling of empty toner cartridges has been adopted at all branches throughout Japan. (MHBK)
Reducing/Recycling Waste Oil	Automated edible oil filtering devices have been introduced for use at the cafeterias of principal facilities, and the volume of waste associated with those materials has been reduced by recycling them into soap, ink, paint, and feed–use oils and fats. (MHBK, MHTB, MHIR)

Water Conservation

Mizuho is introducing water–saving devices and taking other initiatives that have led to a sustained decrease in water usage.

The MHBK Uchisaiwaicho Head Office, the Otemachi Head Office, the Tama Center, and the Koto Center building use reused wastewater (recycled water), including the cooling tower blow–treated water and rainwater–treated water, used for the cooling tower water supply, the flushing of toilets, etc.