Our mantra is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We put these "3Rs" into practice every day, at every level of the company. And on a global scale, too. It starts with internal communications designed to ensure not only that each individual employee is mindful of environmental concerns on a daily basis, but that the company diligently maintains its ISO qualifications. It continues with product design and development processes that cut waste and reduce energy needs, with manufacturing processes that meet or exceed RoHS and other regulations, and with logistics initiatives that reduce harmful effects on the environment during product distribution. And it results in products that consist of energy-efficient components and in some cases 100 percent recycled plastics, as well.

Mitsubishi Electric is at the forefront of the manufacturing of eco-products, or products that conform to environmental standards or contribute to environment conservation. Like air conditioners that save energy and reduce impurities in the air of indoor environments. New compact electric motor technologies that are highly efficient. Combination washer-dryers that reuse heat generated during the drying process. Machine-room-less elevators that save energy and building space. Photovoltaic panels and complete solar solutions for homes and businesses that allow the reselling of excess energy back to the local power grid. Highly efficient mini-hydroelectric generators that can produce electricity from the water flow of small rivers. And much, much more. The stated goal of the entire group of Mitsubishi Electric companies is to develop and introduce to various markets eco-products and hybrid eco-products with improved eco-efficiency that reduces negative environmental impact throughout the entire product lifecycle.

Mitsubishi Electric's environment preservation activities have gained the attention of organizations around the world that believe that environmental sustainability is not just a moral imperative by individuals and corporate entities, but simply makes good business sense. Portfolio 21, a global mutual fund that invests in companies making real contributions to a sustainable future, has rated Mitsubishi Electric number four in its Top 10 "Green" Companies of 2005.

The Electric Household Appliance Recycling Law that went into effect in Japan in April 2001 emphasizes the importance of creating a sustainable society -- that is, a society that effectively utilizes regenerated resources made from materials such as metal and copper retrieved from used home appliances. Mitsubishi Electric established Hyper Cycle Systems Co. as a means to achieve that goal. Hyper Cycle Systems accepts a variety of appliances, breaks them down, and processes the resulting materials into reusable resources. As the company's experts continuously improve the efficiency and reliability of the recycling process, they provide manufacturers with qualitative feedback that can be put to immediate use -- especially during the new product design phase, in order to devise products that can be more easily recycled.

In Itami, Japan, home to one of Mitsubishi Electric's factories and numerous employees, company volunteers come together each month to pick up litter and debris in the area between the factory and the nearest station. Their efforts have been recognized by the local government, which bestowed them with the Amagasaki City Community Service Award.

Volunteers from Mitsubishi Electric participated in a special project to replant saplings on the majestic Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka, Japan, in places where trees had been uprooted by devastating typhoon winds. Employees and their family members and friends joined others in replanting seedlings, clearing brush, attending educational sessions and sharing food and drink.