2017 ISCN Awards - Chiba University

1. Student-led EMS (Environmental Management System)
at Chiba University (Japan)
Student Committee for EMS
Environmental ISO secretariat, Chiba University
© Chiba University

2. 2
About Chiba University
Chiba University
 National University
 Established in 1949
 4 campuses
 Approx. 15,000 students
 Approx. 3,000 faculty staff
 10 faculties
 11 graduate programs
 13 research centers
Chiba city is
East of Tokyo

3. Our sustainable project “Student-led EMS”
EMS: Environmental Management System

4. The core mission of Chiba University
4
One of the medium-term goals（2016～2021）
• Create high quality research and education environment by
improving a good campus considering the global environment.
One of the annual plans（2017）
• Operate ISO14001 and ISO50001, promote high quality
environmental education and research, reduce the environmental
impact of the entire campus and environmental beautification.
• With the participation of the Student Committee for EMS, we will
implement environmental improvement activities in cooperation
with relevant organizations in the region.

5. The Student Committee for EMS founded 5
One of the Campuses acquired
All of the four main campuses are operating
the ISO 14001-compliant EMS
Chiba University’s ISO Acquisition Process
2003
2005
2007
2013
ISO14001 : international standard for Environmental Management System (EMS)
ISO50001 : international standard for Energy Management System (EnMS)
Acquired

6. Environmental and Energy Policy of Chiba University
6
Since the Industrial Revolution, we, humankind, have developed our activities with abundant
energy resources. As a result, we are now faced with various environmental problems, such
as global warming, pollution by chemical substances and loss of biodiversity of living things.
(Omitted) We should mobilize our wisdom, and should think what to do against this situation.
We have a duty to contribute to forming, accumulating and practicing this wisdom as a
comprehensive institution of education and research in a broad field of natural and social
sciences.
1. Education and research regarding the environment, taking advantage
of characteristics as a University.
2. Creation of an environment-friendly “Green Campus”
3. Student-centered creation and operation of the EMS.
4. Activities with the local community with reflection of their opinions.
5. Keep the energy efficiency at the top level among national universities
and improve it continuously.

7. 7
The Student Committee for EMS
Launched with 40 members in 2003.
Now, it has over 150 students.
Logo “ ISO chan”
The organization chart
(2017)

8. Characteristics of the Student Committee
1. An official organization of the University
2. Plays core roles in the University’s EMS
3. Accreditation and qualification system
4. It also acts as NPO
8
“Chiba University Method”

9. 1. An official organization of the University
Chiba University Environmental Management organization chart

10. ・ Monitor the results of the plan
・ Edit the environmental report
・ Serve as internal auditors
2. Plays core roles in the University’s EMS
Students are conducting the following activities according to the PDCA cycle
・Make a draft of the
environmental
objectives and operation
plans for the University
・ Lecture at EMS basic training
・ Carry out various activities
following the plans
・Revise management manual
External assessment
・Prepare the required
documents.
・Create a record of it

11. Lecture at EMS basic training
• Students lecture about EMS and energy saving etc… at
basic training to all students and faculty staff every year.
• They create a brochure about it.

12. Energy & resource saving activities
• Collect used book and bikes from graduating students and resell at
a low price to freshman.
• Put up posters and stickers raising awareness about energy saving.

13. Energy & resource saving activities
• Making a green curtain by bitter-gourd and keeping the room cool.
• Composting using falling leaves.
• Cleaning the air conditioner filter in the laboratory for a fee.

14. Energy & resource saving activities
• In Japan, we use plastic bags to carry store bought items.
• In 2006, the students decided to charge for the bags in the university co-op store.
• Currently 99.5% of customers do not request bags.
• Money saved from unneeded plastic bags, and sales of them are put into an environmental
fund every year.
• Students make various eco goods and the co-op sells them at a discount by using the fund.
plastic bags 5 yen per sheet Original eco-goods

15. Environmental education activities
• Hold eco classes and events as environmental education for
young children, not only for affiliated kindergartens, elementary
and junior high schools, but also for local schools.

16. Community Gardens activities
• Encouraging residents by making a rose garden on land that
suffered from the tsunami in the Great East Japan Earthquake.
• Working with local residents to create community gardens.

17. Serve as EMS internal auditors
• Team up with faculty staff and serve as auditors.
• Students make a draft of the plan, a checklist and a report of audits.

18. Edit the Environmental Report of the University
• The environmental report details all of the environmental
activities conducted throughout Chiba University.
• The student committee has been editing it since 2004.
• The chief editor is a student.
• Editors are also students, as are designers of pages.

19. In charge of external ISO assessment
• Prepare the required documents of the assessment.
• Accompany the assessors and create a record of the assessment.
• The Student committee is subject to assessment.

20. 3. Accreditation and qualification system
Practicum
1. (for freshmen): Students learn knowledge of EMS and internal
audit, learn about how to proceed with work and plans.
2. (for sophomores): Students become team leaders and
actually carry out activities. Also do basic training as a
instructor, internal auditor, and record keeper of the external
assessment.
3. (for juniors): A five-day internship about EMS in an external
organization or local government.
In the third year, students
become executive members
and operate the organization.

21. 3. Accreditation and qualification system
Students who are active in the committee for
a year after completing Practicum2 are
awarded the qualification "Chiba University
Environmental Energy Management
Practitioner" by the President. They can
write it on their resume.
In the 12 years, 387 students have
acquired the qualification.
Chiba University's EMS
Qualification for Students

22. 4. The Student Committee also acts as NPO
22
The Student Committee recognized as NPO in 2009.
• Became an organization within the university and also an external organization.
• The students are responsible as the president and executive officers.
• As NPO, the student committee promoted activities in region.
Environmental education projectPreserve forests and planting trees project

23. 1. Energy and resource conservation effect
0.00
0.40
0.80
1.20
1.60
320,000
360,000
400,000
440,000
480,000
Energy （GJ） Per unit （GJ/㎡）
0.0000
0.0006
0.0012
100
200
300
400
500
Sewage（1000㎥） Per unit（1000㎥/㎡）
0.0000
0.0025
0.0050
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
General waste (t) Per unit (t/㎡)
Total energy input, general waste and water
usage are decreased despite the increasing
population and floor space.
Energy -9.5%
Waste -43.4%
Water -52.6%
The achievements of the EMS

24. 2. Practical educational effect on students
The achievements of the EMS
Students who
found it
helpful
81.2%
 Students can acquire not only knowledge
about EMS in three years, but also practical
skills. For example, how to compose emails,
how to make appointments, how to run
events, and so on.
 Students get communication skills and ability
to create documents and solve problems.
Q. Were student committee activities
helpful in your career?
Questionnaire survey for 85 alumni, who hold the
qualification and now work in society in 2014.
More than 80% said Student Committee activities were
useful for working in society.

25. 3. External evaluation of the University
The achievements of the EMS
Awarded in 2015
• 1st Sustainable Campus Award Student Activity Division (by Japan Sustainable Campus Promotion Association)
• The 19th Environmental Communication Grand Award Environmental Report Division Environmental Consideration
Promotion Act Specified Business Award (by Toyo Keizai Shinpo-sha Corp., Green Reporting Forum)
• "Low Carbon Cup 2016" Unicharm's Best Eco Charming Prize (by Ministry of the Environment)
• 25th Global Environment Award Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (by Ministry
of the Environment)

26. The achievements of the EMS

27. Challenges and solutions
Continuous participation
of many students
Accreditation and
qualification system
Challenges Solutions
To raise the value
of this project
within the University
To provide concrete data
(such as reduction of energy consumption and
reduction of waste discharge)
To raise reputation from
outside the University
(such as receiving awards)

28. The most innovative approaches
• Organizing the Student Committee for EMS
• Positioning the Committee as one of the university's official organizations.
• Linking it with the curriculum. And adopt “Accreditation and Qualification system”.
• Besides learning EMS by lectures, students can actually experience as practical education.
In order for a university to
become a sustainable campus,
it is important for students
to be "student-led".
Students have the power.
What the university should do is
to provide "organizations" and
"educational opportunities", and
to believe in the power of
students.

29. More information
Website
Chiba University website
http://www.chiba-u.ac.jp/e/
Efforts for environment of Chiba University
http://www.chiba-u.ac.jp/e/about/environment/index.html
Contact information
Chiba University Environmental ISO secretariat
kankyo-iso@office.chiba-u.jp
+81-43-290-3572