Tokio Marine Holdings, an insurance group based in Japan, has achieved “carbon neutral” status in the group’s business activities at the end of fiscal year 2015 for three consecutive years.
“Carbon neutral” is defined as a state where carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during business activities is equivalent to the amount of CO2 removed or reduced through the use of renewable energy, retirement of carbon credits, and planting of mangroves.
In its efforts to reduce carbon footprint and achieve carbon neutral status, the group instituted across all domestic and overseas operations the following initiatives: promotion of energy conservation, planting of mangrove trees to absorb CO2, use of renewable energy, and retirement of emission credits.
The company’s mangrove planting project was initiated by group subsidiary Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, which has been carbon neutral since 2009. By March 2016, around 9,500 hectares of mangrove trees were planted in nine countries in Southeast Asia, (Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam), South Asia (Bangladesh, India) and Fiji.
Mangrove trees absorb and stabilize CO2 levels to inhibit global warming, promote biodiversity by serving as habitats for numerous organisms, reduce damage to coastal communities from tsunamis and storm surges, and provide economic benefits including increased fishing catch.
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