March 2010

Rissho Kosei-kai Certified Environmentally Friendly

Rev. Yasutaka Watanabe, chair of the board of trustees of Rissho Kosei-kai, announced on March 5 at the organization's anniversary celebration in the Great Sacred Hall that Rissho Kosei-kai had been certified as meeting the international environmental standard ISO 14001. To meet the standard, a community or organization devises an environmental management system to improve continuously its activities' impact on the environment. The voluntary system fulfills the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Rissho Kosei-kai has conducted environmentally friendly undertakings in a variety of places - at the headquarters, Dharma Centers, and members' homes, in the light of the Buddhist teachings. It has also pursued environmental protection in cooperation with the World Conference of Religions for Peace and Shinshuren (Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan).

Worldwide concern for the environment spurred Rissho Kosei-kai to adopt its program, and in December 2008 Rev. Watanabe declared that Rissho Kosei-kai would seek ISO 14001 certification.

Rissho Kosei-kai bases its environmental program on the principles of respect for life, living in harmony, and the virtues of a simple lifestyle. Headquarters officials make an effort to use less paper and electricity and cut down on waste. Rissho Kosei-kai also asked the religious organization Seicho-No-Ie, which has been an environmentalist pioneer in Japanese religious circles, to support Rissho Kosei-kai's environmental program.

On February 15, Rissho Kosei-kai announced its ISO 14001 certification by an agency accredited by the International Registrar of Certification Auditors.

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