Menicon Co., Ltd. (head office: 3-21-19 Aoi, Naka-ku, Nagoya; Director, President and CEO: Koji Kawaura) announces that it has donated 1,324,038 yen to the “Niigata Prefecture Japanese Crested Ibis Conservation Fund” and 200,000 yen to the “Environment Improvement Fund for Japanese Crested Ibises in Sado City.”
To support natural environmental protection and preservation activities for Japanese crested ibises, Menicon began an initiative to donate part of the sales of “Agri Kakumei” series to the Japanese crested ibis protection fundraising and environmental improvement fund in 2011, and this year marked the 16th time.
The donations are used to fund natural environment protection and preservation activities for Japanese crested ibises. Additionally, to further expand our Japanese crested ibis protection activities and for our shareholders’ deeper understanding of our business, we have included “Japanese crested ibis protection fundraising” in our shareholder benefit program, which is appreciated and supported by many shareholders. The number of our shareholders is increasing along with the increasing donation amount.
We have also added donations for Japanese crested ibis protection fundraising to the point exchange service “MENICOiN” since FY2024, and many service users have donated using points. The breakdown of donations this time is as follows:
[Breakdown of donations]
● “Niigata Prefecture Japanese Crested Ibis Conservation Fund”: 1,324,038 yen
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Part of the sales of “Agri Kakumei” series, a rice straw decomposition accelerator: 300,000 yen
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Application for the shareholder benefit program: 907,500 yen
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Exchanged points using “MENICOiN” point service offered by Menicon: 116,538 yen
● “Environment Improvement Fund for Japanese Crested Ibises in Sado City”: 200,000 yen
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Part of the sales of “Agri Kakumei” series, a rice straw decomposition accelerator: 200,000 yen
■ Contribution to environmental protection and measures against climate change with “Agri Kakumei”
According to Niigata Prefecture, the total number of wild Japanese crested ibises living in Sado is estimated to be 473 as of the end of December 2025, warranting greater importance of long-term, continuous measures against changes in climate and natural environments.
Niigata Prefecture and Sado City, to which we donate, promote “farming methods to nurture living creatures” through the restoration of feeding grounds and reduced use of agrichemicals and chemical fertilizers for creating a living environment suited to returning Japanese crested ibises to the wild. In growing Sado City-certified rice, the farmers spray “Agri Kakumei,” a rice straw decomposition accelerator, to degrade the rice straw before introducing the water kept in the paddy fields in winter, which helps them create an environment that Japanese crested ibises can inhabit.
The “Agri Kakumei” consists of environment friendly materials, for which Menicon applies the technology developed for contact lens care products to environmental businesses, and it is used to degrade rice straw left in the paddy fields after harvests with enzymes to reduce “gas generation” and “floating straw.” Given the recently increasing high temperatures and drought damage caused by extreme weather, we focused on the “importance of healthy rice root development in early growth” proposed by Dr. Hiroshi Fujii, Visiting Professor of the Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, who serves as an advisor to our company. By protecting the rice roots from “gas generation” and optimizing the growing conditions that enhance nutrient and water uptake, we protect the rice from high temperatures and drought damage due to recent climate change, thereby contributing to ensuring stable rice yield and quality.
Menicon will continue to contribute to creating an environment where people coexist with Japanese crested ibises through supporting activities such as popularization of the “Agri Kakumei” series and donations.
■ Product information on the “Agri Kakumei” series (Agri Kakumei, Agri Kakumei Aqua)
https://www.menicon.com/corporate/social-contribution-and-sustainability/environment
Agri Kakumei Agri Kakumei Aqua (100 mL)
■ About MENICOiN
MENICOiN is a loyalty points service offered through “Club Menicon,” a membership service that provides members various services, benefits, and the latest information from Menicon.
Users can accumulate points through campaigns related to MELS PLAN, as well as by answering questionnaires and viewing video content.