Hello everyone, this is Kanta Hani.

At several events we have been involved in recently, we observed a wide range of sustainability initiatives. For this journal entry, I would like to focus on and introduce some of those efforts.

Asahi Earth Conference 2025

On Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25, 2025, the international forum Asahi Earth Conference 2025, organized by The Asahi Shimbun, was held at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Conference. Following last year, GLOBAL PRODUCE once again had the honor of participating as the event production partner.

This year’s conference once again embodied multifaceted sustainability initiatives, particularly in terms of accessibility and reducing environmental impact. Below, I would like to highlight several of the sustainable measures implemented at Asahi Earth Conference 2025.

Accessibility

First, Japanese subtitles were provided for all sessions, including online ones.
In the main venue, subtitle monitors were installed near the stage, and attendees were also able to view subtitles directly on their own smartphones.

In addition, priority seating areas and dedicated support staff were arranged to ensure that all participants could attend with peace of mind.
We believe it is important to move from “a place only for those who can participate” to “a place that truly reaches those it should reach.” This is a mindset we aim to put into practice.

Environmental Considerations

Stage Set

The stage set from last year was reused and utilized for both online and in-person sessions.

Café Area

At the on-site venue, fair-trade coffee was served, and as in the previous year, FSC-certified notebooks were distributed as novelties.
In the café area, paper cups, wet towels, and paper napkins were all unbleached, and wooden stirrers were used—demonstrating careful consideration to reduce environmental impact even in the smallest details.

Encouraging the Use of Personal Bottles

Speakers and attendees were encouraged to bring their own bottles, and water refill stations were installed at the venue. Many staff members also used personal bottles, significantly reducing the use of disposable containers.

During the on-site session “Considering the Future of the Earth Through Climate Change and Ecosystems,” FSC-certified paper-packaged water was prepared. However, it was particularly striking that all speakers brought their own bottles.

At the beginning of the session, speakers warmly shared stories about the usability and personal meaning of their favorite bottles. This immediately shifted the atmosphere of the entire venue toward a stronger awareness of sustainability. It felt like an ideal moment in which participants’ behavior and the organizers’ intentions were perfectly aligned.

Sustainability Awareness Behind the Scenes

Sustainability was also thoroughly considered in the backstage areas, which are not usually visible to attendees.
For staff meals, unbleached containers and paper containers made from bagasse—a material derived from sugarcane pulp—were used. This design minimized the use of disposable plastic containers for both live events and recordings.

As with last year, we felt this was an event where environmental consideration extended even to the smallest backstage details. Such operational-level environmental design is something that could be readily applied to other corporate events as well.

Gender Balance

Another important aspect was gender balance.
In line with The Asahi Shimbun’s policy that neither gender should fall below 40%, the speakers in 2025 consisted of approximately 47% women and 53% men.

As GP, we strongly resonate with the idea that spaces where social issues are discussed must themselves be inclusive.

In Closing

At GLOBAL PRODUCE, we do not want events to end as mere “platforms for communication.” We aim to make them “places where sustainability can be learned through experience.”
As I observed the operations of this event, I felt this deeply aligned with GP’s philosophy:
“BRING HAPPINESS TO THE WORLD THROUGH EVENTS.”

Of course, this is not yet the ideal form, and there is still much more that can be done. By applying the insights gained from Asahi Earth Conference 2025 to future projects, we hope to further develop and share a model of Japanese-style sustainable events—events that are kinder to both people and the environment—originating from GLOBAL PRODUCE.