Today's title is "Factory Tour". I didn't go to the factory tour, I was invited to the factory.
The fifth graders and teachers of the local Kancho Elementary School. The purpose of today's tour was "Efforts to make woodworking products that do not produce waste." I gave it the title myself, but they were interested in a manufacturing company that uses locally produced wood, and in the system of using up and properly recycling precious resources, so I hope they will visit the company in class!
Honestly... I'm so happy that you're interested.
Even if it's something that I do every day, when someone from outside says, "That's a good initiative" or "That's wonderful," it gives me an opportunity to reconsider whether that's really the case.
Specifically, we are working on the following initiatives. Although the website is still under construction, the whole company is working on this initiative. [About Nakayoshi Library]
Kochi Prefecture has the highest ratio of forests to land area (forest rate) in Japan. This means that elementary school students live in a very good environment where they can feel nature close to them. Come to think of it, not a day goes by without touching plants. (In my case...)
Today, we spent about an hour observing the craftsmen at work, learning about their efforts to protect the environment and reduce waste, such as how "the sawdust is shaved off and put into the farm," "the scraps are turned into chips to beautify the town," "we try to avoid using plastic cushioning materials where possible," and "the furniture is dried using the power of the sun."
Normally we don't get many elementary school students coming to visit, so it was a great stimulus for everyone who works there, including me.
At the end, one of the students said to me, shyly but seriously, "I have one more dream now for the future. I want to become a furniture maker." It was very memorable.
Even though we are a small company, we will continue to work hard to continue creating high-quality products that we can be proud of no matter where we are involved or produce them.
Until next time*