Ginza×CSR・CSV Vol.11 Mikimoto

Zero emission pearl farming

• ─ I understand Mikimoto takes on other initiatives as well that embrace thoughts towards preservation of the natural environment and connections to life.
• Every year starting in 1993, we sell charity products at Christmas and other times, and donate part of the proceeds to preservation of the natural environment. The total amount donated in 2012 was 6,972,000 yen. Through the National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization, it was used as aid in Tohoku earthquake reconstruction projects such as disaster-prevention forest improvements and greening of local surroundings.

• ─ And the Mikimoto Pearl Research Laboratory carries out research on developing the fisheries environment?
• The Mikimoto Pearl Research Laboratory was established early in the 20th century by Mikimoto’s founder, Kokichi Mikimoto, to carry out research on perfectly round pearls. In the more than 100 years since, the Laboratory has been conducting comprehensive research on pearls and other research centered on the development of new technologies for production sites.
  
  It also carries out periodic environmental surveys of aquaculture areas, the sea floor and the quality of the sea water, for example. Normally, debris that gets stuck to Akoya pearl oysters that contain Akoya pearls is cleaned off naturally by sea cucumbers and other organisms that feed on the debris. When you culture a larger volume of Akoya pearl oysters than this cleaning system can handle, the ocean becomes dirty. Another role of the Laboratory is to ensure we maintain the correct number of cultured oysters to match the ocean’s cleaning capacity.
• ─ How is the research used?
• For example, it enabled practical implementation of “zero emissions pearl farming” that eliminates the release of industrial waste into nature during the pearl farming process. Also, calcium, protein, collagen and other active ingredients contained in oyster shells and meat are used in cosmetics and health food products.
  
  In addition, the oyster meat that we used to just dispose of is now used as compost along with organisms stuck to Akoya pearl oysters during the culturing period. Such compost always has a high salt content no matter what you do, and desalination requires an enormous amount of water and large facilities. This is not feasible for small-scale pearl farmers. However, we learned that certain crops, like tomatoes, actually become more palatable through salt stress that occurs when giving them compost with a high salt content. This was discovered through research.
  
  We will continue conducting research towards achieving sustainable zero emissions pearl farming that can be applied throughout the industry.

Carrying on the wishes of our founder and striving towards coexisting with nature

• ─ So, behind the world of gorgeous jewelry are steady research and thoughts towards nature.
• Pearls are gifts from the ocean. Beautiful pearls will not be produced if the ocean and the surrounding natural environment are not clean.
  We strive every day towards coexisting with nature to spread jewelry culture that is at one with beautiful nature and to make the world shine more brightly. That wish has not changed since the time when our founder, Kokichi Mikimoto, successfully cultured pearls for the first time in the world.
  By establishing a shop in Ginza, an area that was full of foreigners in the Meiji period in which Mikimoto was founded, the existence of pearls became known throughout the world. We are here today thanks to the nurturing of the industry here in Ginza.
  
  From here on as well, we hope to continue spreading rich jewelry culture as the leading high jeweler in the East. We want to consider not only how to make and sell products, but also how to contribute to society.