Nationwide Participation from 18 Medical Institutions and 233 Individuals in earth clinic's 'Zero Waste Day' Community Clean-Up Campaign

THE J.V. Co., Ltd. (President: Takuya Kojima) and NPO Corporation Ishin-tai UNESCO Club (President: Toshihiro Hamatsu) operate the collaborative platform "earth clinic," which conducted community clean-up activities across Japan in conjunction with "Zero Waste Day" on May 30, 2026.

This initiative involved medical institutions from diverse specialties including ophthalmology, dentistry, pediatrics, orthopedics, otolaryngology, dermatology, general practice, internal medicine, urology, female urology, gastroenterology, proctology, and reproductive medicine (ART). Activities tailored to local characteristics were carried out nationwide, such as community clean-ups with patients and residents, team-based beautification efforts by staff, and beach clean-ups.

National image of the "Community Clean-Up Action 2026" involving 18 medical facilities

A step toward healthier communities and a sustainable future, starting from healthcare

earth clinic promotes the concept of Planetary Health—the understanding that human health and planetary health are interconnected.

Medical institutions play a vital role in supporting patients' health every day. However, health is not created solely within clinic walls. Safe and pleasant local and natural environments are also fundamental to people's well-being.

Therefore, earth clinic launched the Community Clean-Up Action, using "Zero Waste Day" as an opportunity for medical institutions to take action together with their communities.

The campaign adopted flexible formats allowing each facility to participate according to local conditions and clinical operations, including cleaning around clinics, staff-led neighborhood beautification, and beach clean-ups, enabling nationwide implementation.

18 medical institutions nationwide participated in the community clean-up action

A total of 18 medical institutions across Japan took part in this Community Clean-Up Action.

In addition to healthcare professionals such as physicians, nurses, dental hygienists, and administrative staff, patients, their families, and local residents also joined the efforts to clean and beautify their neighborhoods.

Activities varied by region—some clinics utilized morning hours before consultations, others engaged patients directly, while some focused on collecting marine debris along coastlines.

Summary of results from the 'Zero Waste Day' Community Clean-Up Action with 18 facilities and 233 participants

Why should medical institutions pick up trash?

Community health does not begin and end within the examination room.

People can only live healthily when the foundations supporting our well-being—clean air, water, food, and urban environments—are in place.

Globally, it is increasingly recognized that climate change and environmental issues directly impact human health. The concept of "Planetary Health," which views human health and planetary health as inseparable, is gaining traction.

earth clinic promotes accessible environmental activities that medical institutions can lead as part of their community contribution, precisely because of their unique role in society.

Clean-up actions spreading across Japan

Medical institutions from various specialties—including ophthalmology, dentistry, pediatrics, orthopedics, otolaryngology, dermatology, general practice, internal medicine, urology, female urology, gastroenterology, proctology, and reproductive medicine (ART)—participated in this campaign.

Some clinics cleaned areas around their premises together with patients and residents, others conducted staff-led beautification projects, and several carried out beach clean-ups, all tailored to their local contexts.

While each region faces different challenges, the shared desire to “make our communities cleaner” and “secure a healthier future” inspired healthcare workers and community members nationwide to take action.

Comments from participating medical institutions

Medical Corporation Natural Balance Health Promotion Association, Ando Clinic Our clinic's mission is to extend healthy life expectancy in our community. We shared a meaningful experience with local residents by cleaning the beach and practicing yoga in nature, deepening our awareness of the connection between personal health and the environment.

Medical Corporation Eternabloom, Sakuradori Orthopedic Clinic We aim to contribute to creating a “clean and pleasant town” together with our patients, their families, and the community, at a comfortable pace. This time, our staff participated with their families, and it was especially heartwarming to see children leading weed-pulling efforts. It became a precious, intergenerational hour of working and sweating together, inspired by parents' dedication.

Medical Corporation Kokoro, Tokorozawa Isuno Clinic Health in our community begins with a clean environment. Our staff and their families conducted litter picking around Higashitokorozawa. We are committed to supporting our community not only through medical care but also through locally rooted activities.

Medical Corporation MIRAI, Miura Clinic On Zero Waste Day, our staff and patients picked up trash around the clinic. A little sweat, a few smiles, and ice cream at the end—it was a refreshing, Miura Clinic-style community event that left us all feeling uplifted.

Ds Children and Everyone's Clinic We are dedicated to fully supporting families raising children. Living in a clean town makes parenting easier and helps children develop a sense of care for their community and the planet. We will continue these activities together with our local community.

Medical Corporation FUKUJIN, Fukuoka ENT Clinic We believe contributing to the local community is one of our important responsibilities. Our staff conducted a zero-waste campaign to beautify the area around our clinic. We aim to contribute not only to ear, nose, and throat health but also to the cleanliness of our town, creating an environment where community members can live safely and comfortably.

Medical Corporation Taikikai, Tanabe Eye Clinic On Zero Waste Day, volunteer staff conducted litter picking around the clinic. Thanks to our daily morning clean-ups and local high school students' efforts, we were surprised by how clean the streets already were. It was a joyful, collaborative activity that further raised our awareness of community beautification and connection. We plan to continue this initiative.

Medical Corporation Palette, Ueda Dermatology Clean streets, clean hearts. Before opening, all staff joined together to clean the area around our clinic. It was an expression of gratitude to our community and a refreshing way to start the day.

Medical Corporation Ohta Clinic, Ohta Children and Allergy Clinic We participated in Zero Waste Day activities again this year. Discarded cigarette butts were particularly noticeable. It reminded us that as adults, we must set a positive example—for the sake of children's future and for the planet.

Medical Corporation Monkeypod, Mori Orthopedic Clinic Small intentions—like wanting to make the neighborhood a little cleaner—can lead to real environmental change. Though brief, we collected more trash than expected from places we usually overlook. We hope to continue this effort.

Medical Corporation YGC, Yachio General Practice Clinic Our clinic staff conducted litter picking as a gesture of gratitude to our community. Community health begins with creating a clean, safe environment. We will continue activities that stay close to the needs of our local area.

Medical Corporation Kawa-kai, Nakayama Clinic Out of gratitude for the community's ongoing support of our daily medical practice, we conducted litter picking along roads and in parks near our clinic. The weather was favorable, and staff happily commented, “It feels great to walk on cleaner streets we helped create,” as they worked with smiles.

Medical Corporation Fukukame-kai, Sapporo Central Orthopedic Clinic In line with Zero Waste Day on May 30 each year, we joined local residents in a unified town clean-up. Collecting paper waste, food packaging, and other trash was a valuable opportunity to raise community-wide awareness about building a cleaner city.

Medical Corporation Yonaha-kai, Sangenjaya Art Clinic Once again this year, our staff conducted cleaning activities on Zero Waste Day, motivated by gratitude toward our community. We hope to continue contributing to building a safe and pleasant neighborhood.

General Incorporated Association Efuria, CS Eye Clinic Knowing that a cleaner environment makes patients' visits more comfortable brings us joy. Due to local characteristics, we found relatively little litter from illegal dumping. We will continue contributing to our community in the future.

Medical Corporation Houjikai, Hirazawa Dental Clinic We value the rich nature and cityscape of Hadano and hope to contribute, even in small ways, to creating an environment where local residents can live comfortably. We will continue community-based activities going forward.

Hino Eye Clinic With gratitude to our community, our entire staff conducted cleaning activities around the clinic. We hope to help create a pleasant town where everyone can enjoy living.

Kasuga Korakuen Shinobu Clinic We took a walk with children near a local plaza, brooms in hand. It was a truly pleasant experience. Next year, we hope to invite our patients to join us.

Special page launched to showcase participating institutions' activities

earth clinic has launched a dedicated webpage showcasing the activities of the participating medical institutions.

The page features photos, participant testimonials, and messages of commitment from each facility, highlighting medical institutions' community contributions across Japan.

From ophthalmology, dentistry, pediatrics, orthopedics, otolaryngology, dermatology, general practice, internal medicine, urology, female urology, gastroenterology, proctology, to reproductive medicine (ART), diverse medical institutions carried out clean-up actions tailored to their local environments.

▼ Participating Medical Institutions Showcase Page https://earth-clinic.com/event/action.html

Key findings from the activities

Participating institutions reported collecting large amounts of:

- Cigarette butts - Empty cans - Plastic bottles - Food packaging plastics - Paper waste

In particular, multiple institutions noted that “cigarette butts were the most common item collected.”

On the other hand, some shared observations such as:

"The streets were cleaner than we expected"

"We realized how much local residents already care for the environment"

Participant feedback

Post-activity surveys gathered many positive responses:

"Picking up trash made me feel cheerful and refreshed"

"It was a joyful way to express gratitude to our community"

"Cleaning around my workplace with my child was a precious experience"

"Cleaning the beach also cleared my mind"

Additionally, participants shared thoughts like:

"As adults, we want to continue setting a good example for future generations"

Future outlook

earth clinic plans to continue organizing activities not only on Zero Waste Day but also around other themed days such as Marine Day, Mountain Day, and Sky Day—opportunities to reflect on nature and the environment.

By encouraging medical institutions to act together with their communities, earth clinic aims to accumulate practical efforts that link human health and planetary health, contributing to sustainable community development.

Each individual action may seem small, but we believe that when medical institutions across Japan continue such efforts, they will collectively create significant, lasting impact for community health and environmental sustainability.

About earth clinic

earth clinic is a collaborative platform dedicated to spreading the concept of Planetary Health—the idea that human health and planetary health are deeply connected.

We promote initiatives for future health by fostering collaboration among medical institutions, businesses, educational organizations, local governments, and residents.

Operators

THE J.V. Co., Ltd. NPO Corporation Ishin-tai UNESCO Club

Official Website

https://earth-clinic.com

Inquiries

https://earth-clinic.com/form/