Coinciding with celebrations of World Environment Day, leading electronics maker SANYO and the leading NGO in the UAE, the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) announced a three-year agreement aimed at building greater awareness about eco-friendly products among the region’s students.
Speaking at a gala dinner, which was attended by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Saeed Al-Kendi, Minister of Environment and Water, and other government officials and dignitaries, EEG Chairperson and Board Member of the UN Global Compact Habiba Al Marashi emphasized the importance of involving children as well as companies such as SANYO in their effort to promote environment-friendly technology and to ensure efficient waste management.
“In our drive to encourage the use of eco-friendly concepts, we strive to instill concern for the environment among the youth community. We are pleased that SANYO has taken part in spreading awareness among today’s youth about protecting our ecological system,” Al Marashi said.
The recently concluded month-long joint campaign, which received an enthusiastic response from the student community in Dubai, focused on educating both children and their parents on how to dispose off dry cells in an ecologically safe manner. During the campaign, students were invited to collect dry cells from their homes and from friends – an effort that succeeded in gathering over 8180 of dry cells from the 10 schools participating in the campaign.
“We are honored to announce today that we at SANYO have partnered with EEG in a three year agreement in an attempt to safeguard the environment,” explained Akemi Yamamoto, General Manager, Control Division at SANYO Gulf FZE. “Sanyo seeks to genuinely promote the interests of society and consumers. Our partnership with EEG reflects our commitment to restore a beautiful world for our children to enjoy.” Yamamoto added.
At the event, SANYO also launched their latest innovation – an eco-friendly rechargeable battery called ‘eneloop’. A senior SANYO official explained that the launch of eneloop battery would further underline the company’s ‘Think GAIA’ vision – which seeks to harness technology to build a sustainable earth.
Highlighting the double benefits of its latest offering, Tetsuji Okui, Managing Director at SANYO Gulf FZE declared: “We at SANYO recognize the need for eco-friendly innovations which set new performance benchmarks. In keeping with this philosophy, we are proud to introduce the eneloop battery, which suits the trendy lifestyle of our digital-age customers while ensuring that our environment remains safe. eneloop is one such brand that has inspired us to promote and proactively assist in efforts that secure a safe and healthy environment for the next generation.”
As part of the initiative, students from ten private schools in Dubai were asked to collect used dry cell batteries, which were later disposed off in an ecologically safe method. Cambridge High School emerged as the school whose students collected the most dry cell batteries while Gulf Indian High School and Rashid Pakistan School took second and third place respectively. All participating schools were awarded in recognition of their efforts.
eneloop batteries can be recharged up to 1000 times and provide versatile utility. The batteries, which are resistant to self-discharge and come in eco-friendly packaging, underline Sanyo’s commitment to a healthy and safe environment - a cornerstone of the company’s global strategy.
About SANYO
SANYO is a leading provider of Environment and Energy-related products, with a new vision - ‘Think GAIA’, which aims to create solutions for a sustainable Earth by synergizing SANYO’s core technologies, such as photovoltaic systems, rechargeable batteries, CO2 compressors, HEV battery systems as well as digital cameras, mobile phones, electronic devices and components, etc. For further information, please visit SANYO's web site at http://www.global-sanyo.com/.
About SANYO Gulf FZE
Established in 2004 and headquartered in Jebel Ali Free Zone, SANYO Gulf FZE is a fully owned subsidiary of SANYO Sales & Marketing Corporation to manage the development of the company’s business in the Middle East, Africa and the CIS countries. This division markets SANYO’s diverse range of consumer electronics, home appliances, consumer and commercial air-conditioners, digital still cameras, LCD projectors, biomedical & laboratory solutions, CCTV security systems and solar panels. The company is managed by a highly qualified multinational team of professionals who have a thorough knowledge of the region.
About EEG
The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) is a voluntary, non-government organization (NGO) devoted to protecting the environment through means of education, action programs and community involvement. EEG is actively encouraged and supported by concerned local and federal government agencies. It is the first environmental NGO in the world to be ISO 14001 certified and the only organisation of its kind in the UAE with accredited status to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). EEG is open to men and women of all nationalities, as well as to public and private organisations, academic establishments and international institutions.
