Applications Open for the "AEON Sustainability Action Award"

The AEON 1% Club Foundation will begin accepting applications for the "AEON Sustainability Action Award" from high school students nationwide starting July 1st.

The AEON Eco-1 Grand Prix in FY2025

The foundation has been holding the "AEON Eco-1 Grand Prix" since 2012 as a contest for high school students to present their environmental conservation and social contribution activities, driven by their concern for the future of the planet. This year, marking the 15th iteration, the contest is renewed as the "AEON Sustainability Action Award," addressing a wider range of social issues beyond just environmental concerns.

Applications will be accepted in two divisions: "Dissemination and Awareness" and "Research and Specialized." The top schools advancing to the final selection will participate in a final screening session held in Tokyo in December. In addition to the Prime Minister's Award, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award, and the Minister of the Environment Award, the new AEON 1% Club Award will be presented to encourage the continuation of activities by clubs that started their eco-activities within the last three years. The day after the awards ceremony, participants will be invited to an environmental eco-tour to deepen their understanding of environmental and social contribution activities.

<Application Guidelines>

- Theme

Environmental and social contribution activities undertaken by high school students in school clubs (classes, departments, projects) towards the realization of a sustainable society.

- Application Period

July 1, 2026 (Wed) - August 31, 2026 (Mon)

- Eligibility

1 Engaged in social sustainability, including environmental issues.

2 Activities must be undertaken by high school students.

3 Activities must have been performed by the current members.

*If the activities are ongoing, clearly state what the current members have done.

4 Application documents and materials must be prepared by high school student members.

*Teachers must not prepare them.

5 Must be able to participate in the final screening session *to be held on December 12, 2026 (Sat) in Tokyo.

- Application Divisions

1 Dissemination and Awareness Division

Activities where high school students take the lead in addressing environmental issues and collaborate with schools, local residents, government agencies, and companies to solve these issues.

2 Research and Specialized Division

Activities where high school students take the lead in addressing environmental issues using scientific approaches with specialized knowledge and technology.

- How to Apply

Please apply by entering the required information on the application form on our website.

URL: AEON Sustainability Action Award Application Guidelines

- Judging Method

Schools participating in the final screening will be selected through primary and secondary document screening. At the final screening session, judging will be based on presentations of activities and Q&A with the judges.

- Awards

➀ Dissemination and Awareness Division

Prime Minister's Award: Certificate and a "Activity Incentive Grant" of 500,000 yen

Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award: Certificate and a "Activity Incentive Grant" of 400,000 yen

Prize Winner: Certificate and a "Activity Incentive Grant" of 100,000 yen

2 Research and Specialized Division

Prime Minister's Award: Certificate and a "Activity Incentive Grant" of 500,000 yen

Minister of the Environment Award: Certificate and a "Activity Incentive Grant" of 400,000 yen

Prize Winner: Certificate and a "Activity Incentive Grant" of 100,000 yen

3 Selected from clubs that started new environmental conservation or social contribution activities within the last three years and advanced to the secondary screening.

AEON 1% Club Award: Certificate and a "Activity Incentive Grant" of 50,000 yen

- Organizer

AEON 1% Club Foundation

- Co-organizer

Mainichi Shimbun

- Supporters

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of the Environment

<Online Information Session>

An online information session will be held regarding the AEON Sustainability Action Award.

We will cover the overview and application guidelines, as well as evaluation points for last year's award-winning activities and answer your questions.

- Target Audience

Students and teachers from clubs engaged in eco-activities.

- Application Period

July 1, 2026 (Wed) - July 14, 2026 (Tue)

- Date and Time

July 15, 2026 (Wed) 16:00-17:00; July 16, 2026 (Thu) 16:00-17:00

- Method of Holding

Zoom

- How to Apply

Please apply from the application page via the QR code below.

Upon receipt of your application, we will send you the connection URL for the day.

Online Information Session Application Page

<Final Screening & Awards Ceremony>

- Schedule

December 12, 2026 (Sat). An environmental eco-tour will be held the following day.

*Up to 5 students per club and 1 supervising teacher can participate.

*The foundation will cover travel expenses for participation in the awards ceremony and environmental eco-tour.

- Venue

Scheduled to be held in Tokyo

- Judges (in Japanese alphabetical order)

Kanie, Norifumi: Professor, Keio University; Co-Director, KGRI Keio STAR; Representative, SFC Research Institute x SDGs Lab

Takano, Takako: Representative Director, NPO Eco Plus; Professor, Waseda University

Fujita, Sou: Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (Department of Urban Engineering); Specially Appointed Professor, Institute of Science Tokyo

AEON 1% Club Foundation

The AEON 1% Club Foundation was established in 1990 with the aim of putting the AEON Group's basic philosophy of "pursuing peace starting with customers, respecting people, and contributing to local communities" into concrete action and fulfilling its social responsibilities. For over 35 years, based on approximately 1% of the profits generated from customers' use of the AEON Group, the foundation has been engaged in environmental and social contribution activities with its main business areas being "sound development of youth," "friendly relations with foreign countries," "contribution to the development of local communities," and "support for disaster recovery."

▼Homepage https://aeon1p.or.jp/1p/

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