The IGPN participated in the exhibition at the Ministerial Conference on the 3R Initiative (http://www.env.go.jp/earth/3r/en) held with 20 countries and 4 international organizations from April 28 to 30, 2005 in Tokyo. The Japan’s Action Plan for a World-Wide Sound Material-Cycle Society through the 3R Initiative, published on April 28, 2005 mentions “Joint work with the IGPN” at the first dot for promotion of actions towards zero-waste societies through information sharing and networking. (http://www.env.go.jp/earth/3r/en/approach/01.pdf). A column on the launch of the IGPN is also included in “Japan’s Experience in Promotion of the 3Rs”, a brochure published for the Ministerial Conference available both in English and Japanese.

GPN decided to start a new work to draw up a green purchasing guideline for toilet equipments, mainly focusing on toilet seats with bidet that sprays warm water from underneath and dries with air. The guideline, expected to take into account environmental aspects such as saving of energy/water, will be available by the end of fiscal 2005. Product information will be presented in the GPN database. In Japan, the penetration rate of the toilet seats of its kind is 59%. Energy used for them accounts for 3.7% of the total energy used at home, representing the 6th largest usage. For more information on GPN guidelines, see the GPN website