Earth hacks Implements Student Ideas from "Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu": New Special Participation Category Established for Youth Groups at TOTO Water Environment Fund Grantee Exchange Meeting

Earth hacks Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Sumito Sekine; hereinafter "Earth hacks"), which operates a consumer co-creation platform aimed at developing decarbonization-related products, services, and businesses based on consumer feedback, manages the "Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu" program sponsored by Kitakyushu City. This program is a co-creation initiative where students generate ideas based on themes presented by participating companies, engaging in discussions with corporate employees to aim for social implementation.

Earth hacks has now supported the implementation of a measure based on an idea proposed by students in this program. This measure was designed to promote applications from younger generations to the "TOTO Water Environment Fund," operated by TOTO Ltd. It was realized on February 18, 2026, at the "TOTO Water Environment Fund Grantee Exchange Meeting" by establishing a trial space for interaction between existing grant recipients and youth-led organizations.

Background The TOTO Water Environment Fund is an initiative that aims to solve social issues in collaboration with local organizations to realize a sustainable society. While the fund has been providing grants to organizations composed of various generations, it identified increasing the number of applications from youth-led groups as a challenge.

Based on this awareness, the "Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu" set the lack of contact with the younger generation as a theme, and proposals were made from the perspective of Gen Z to revitalize the system.

Implementation Details The students proposed creating a special participation category in the annual "TOTO Water Environment Fund Grantee Exchange Meeting" to invite youth groups engaged in sustainable water-related activities who have not yet been selected for grants.

In this implementation, by having youth groups participate in the exchange meeting where grant recipients gather, a space was created for interaction with these organizations and TOTO Group employees involved in the fund. The goal is for youth groups to deepen their knowledge of contributing to local social issue resolution, feel more familiar with the TOTO Water Environment Fund, and ultimately lead to future applications.

Previously, the event focused on organizations that had already received grants, but by creating contact points with youth groups at the pre-application stage, this initiative has expanded the "entry point" of the system.

This initiative is expected to have the following effects: ・Promotion of understanding of the grant system ・Formation of a network between youth groups and selected organizations ・Fostering of future application motivation

Event Highlights Participating youth groups and Gen Z Challenge participants commented, "I was able to hear directly about the diverse and innovative ideas of the selected organizations," and "New perspectives and connections were born."

[Participating Student Groups (in no particular order)] ・University of Kitakyushu, Hibikino Mottainai Project ・University of Shizuoka, Environmental Circle CO-CO ・General Incorporated Association Sustainable Promotion Association NAMIMATI

Comments Regarding This Initiative [Comment from TOTO Ltd.] "Through the 'Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu,' we received many free and creative ideas from the next generation regarding the challenges faced by the TOTO Water Environment Fund. We were also greatly stimulated by encountering new perspectives and ideas that we, as a company, could not have reached on our own.

We are very pleased to have been able to connect these ideas to implementation.

We hope that this initiative will deepen the younger generation's understanding of the TOTO Water Environment Fund and lead to future applications."

[Comment from Participating Youth Groups] "Participating in this exchange meeting made me feel that my world has expanded by talking to various people. It is easy to think that what we can do in our circle is small, but having the opportunity to hear the diverse and innovative ideas of the grant recipients was a very good experience." (Ms. Terashima, University of Kitakyushu, Hibikino Mottainai Project)

"It was an opportunity to hear about real activities from people who are not just saying 'I want to do this' but are 'actually doing it and shaping it.' Also, I was able to get tips on applications and necessary information directly from those selected for the TOTO Water Environment Fund this year and TOTO employees, so I would like to apply to the fund next year. I will think concretely about whether there is anything in our activities that would qualify." (Ms. Saito, General Incorporated Association Sustainable Promotion Association NAMIMATI)

[Comment from Gen Z Challenge Participant] "From last year's Gen Z Challenge to managing this meeting, I had the opportunity to interview many organizations and talk directly with corporate staff, which led to new perspectives and connections.

Also, as we proceeded with preparations for implementation with TOTO, my motivation increased as I could see achievable goals little by little, and I feel that my perspective has broadened through exchanges I had never experienced before.

I hope this meeting serves as a first step in building a relationship where both sides feel value, with the theme of the water environment acting as a catalyst for continuous interaction across age groups and regions."

About the TOTO Water Environment Fund The "TOTO Water Environment Fund," operated by TOTO Ltd., is a social contribution grant system that supports environmental conservation and community development activities related to water. Since its establishment in 2005, it has supported initiatives by NPOs and civic groups in Japan and overseas for water environment conservation, improvement of sanitary environments, and environmental education. It aims to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through water, emphasizing the continuity of community-based activities.

About "Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu" "Gen Z Challenge! in Kitakyushu" (commonly known as "Zeto-Challe") is a program commissioned by Kitakyushu City, which promotes itself as "the city that supports young people the most in Japan," and planned and operated by Earth hacks. For details on this program, please refer to the following past release. https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000103.000122970.html

About Earth hacks Co., Ltd. "Earth hacks" operates a co-creation platform aimed at realizing a decarbonized society by connecting consumers, including Gen Z, with companies and local governments. It provides companies and organizations with its unique "Decarbo Score," which displays the reduction rate (%) of CO2 emissions compared to conventional products, promoting the visualization and adoption of environmentally valuable products. It provides mechanisms for consumers to enjoy contributing to decarbonization. Additionally, it develops multifaceted initiatives to accelerate decarbonization, such as the "Decarbo Challenge," where companies and students co-create through actual business issues, and "Earth hacks for Local," a solution for government and local municipalities. Website: https://co.earth-hacks.jp/ X: https://x.com/Earthhacks2023 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthhacks.jp/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@decarbo46