We collaborate with local government agencies, educational and research institutions, and other organizations to promote science, technology, education, culture, and welfare in local communities. In addition, by voluntarily and continuously promoting various activities such as donating to universities, medical institutions, NPOs and other organizations, and helping with efforts involving crime prevention and traffic safety, we make contributions to communities and society.
Local Communities
Sanyo Chemical Group has adopted the following as one of its materialities.
Materialities on strengthening of foundations
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| Classification | Materialities |
|---|---|
|
Society Support diversity by creating a society where everyone can shine by their personality |
Create innovations by supporting value creation in industry, culture, and education |
Kyoto traditional Industries
In Kyoto, there are 74 categories of traditional industries, including Nishijin textiles, Kyoto Yuzen dyeing, and Kiyomizu ware, all of which are renowned both in Japan and overseas. However, traditional industries in Kyoto have been in a predicament, due to a decline in the value of shipments and a lack of successors. With the survival of some of these categories at risk, the stagnation of Kyoto’s traditional industries has become a matter of social concern in the region.
In February 2021, we launched the “Kyoto Culture x Sanyo Chemical Group Technologies = XX Innovation” project. Currently, the Traditional Industries Team is working with our researchers and the City of Kyoto, as well as Kyoto Prefecture and various industry associations to contribute to the industry through our technologies. Through the Sanyo Chemical Foundation for Social Contribution, we also make donations to projects to revitalize traditional industries in Kyoto.
Driven by the passion of each and every one of our employees to "help revitalize Kyoto's traditional industries by leveraging our strengths precisely because we are a chemical company raised by Kyoto," we will continue to contribute to the survival of Kyoto's traditional industries.
On-site chemistry classes
In each region where our business sites are located, young employees from our research laboratories and plants serve as teachers, giving on-site chemistry classes at elementary schools for the purpose of fostering the next generation. In FY2023, we conducted lessons at a total of 13 schools in the Kyoto area (Head Office/Head Office Research Laboratory, Katsura Research Laboratory) and the areas surrounding the Nagoya and Kashima factories.
On-site Chemistry Classes Held in FY2023
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| District | Number of schools | Date conducted | School & event name | Target grade （year） |
Participants （people） |
Participants total （people） |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyoto area | 7 | November 13, 2023 | Kyoto City Oharano Elementary School | 5 | 30 | 436 |
| November 24, 2023 | Kameoka City Shoutoku Elementary School | 6 | 48 | |||
| December 1, 2023 | Uji City Sinmei Elementary School | 5 | 73 | |||
| December 8, 2023 | Kyoto City Higashiyama Izumi Elementary and Junior High School |
6 | 94 | |||
| December 19, 2023 | Uji City Kitaogura Elementary School | 5 | 35 | |||
| January 12, 2024 | Kyoto City Momoyama Elementary School | 4 | 79 | |||
| February 2, 2024 | Otsu City Wani Elementary School | 6 | 77 | |||
| Nagoya Factory | 2 | January 24, 2024 February 1, 2024 |
Tokai City Nawa Elementary School | 5 | 127 | 200 |
| February 7, 2024 | Tokai City Ryokuyo Elementary School | 5 | 73 | |||
| Kashima Factory | 4 | November 8, 2023 | Kamisu City Onohara Elementary School | 5 | 60 | 372*2 |
| November 19, 2023 | Science Festival for Youth, a Rokko District event |
Elementary schoolers | 200*1 | |||
| November 24, 2023 | Kamisu City Suda Elementary School | 6 | 40 | |||
| February 15, 2024 | Kamisu City Fukashiba Elementary School |
5 | 72 |
- Estimate of event participants
- Includes estimated event participants
Internships
Every year, we accept international students through cooperation with an international internship program between the Technical University of Dortmund in Germany and Kyoto University. In FY2023, we accepted one international student majoring in chemical engineering from the Technical University of Dortmund to our Research & Development Department for a period of about two months.
Social Contributions
The Sanyo Chemical Group proactively engages in social contribution activities based on its social contribution policy to solve social issues according to the actual conditions of each country and region.
≫ Social contribution activities
≫ Sanyo Chemical Foundation for Social Contribution
Sanyo Chemical Forestry
We have been conducting the Sanyo Chemical Forestry in Wazuka Town, Soraku-gun, Kyoto Prefecture since FY2009 (the 60th anniversary of our founding) as a part of the Kyoto Model Forest Initiative. Conducted by Kyoto Prefecture, the initiative seeks to protect and nurture Kyoto's forests together with Kyoto citizens who have been benefited from the forest's bounties. These activities to protect the local environment have been continuously supported by the Sanyo Chemical Foundation for Social Contribution established in 2019.
≫ Sanyo Chemical Foundation for Social Contribution | Sanyo Chemical Forestry
≫ ESG Performance Data > Social > Social contributions | Sanyo Chemical Forestry
Terraced rice field preservation
San Chemical Co., Ltd. has been contributing to environmental conservation through rice farming in Futagotanada, Chiba Prefecture. The company plants rice at around the end of April, cuts grass every month, and harvests the rice from the end of August through early September. The harvested rice is donated to the employees who worked the fields, as well as to a local children's cafeteria. Field work was conducted on 8 occasions in FY2023, with 79 participants harvesting 230 kg of rice from 400 m² of rice fields.
Donations (domestic)
Through the Sanyo Chemical Foundation for Social Contribution, Sanyo Chemical makes donations according to its social contribution policy. Some donations are made based on requests by Sanyo Chemical's businesses, while others are donations that Sanyo Chemical itself wishes to make.
Donations
(Unit: million yen)
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| FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total social contribution expenditures | 39.9 | 24.2 | 36.4 | 34.9 | 30.1 | |
| Donations by item |
1. Support for academic promotion centered on chemistry | 17.0 | 14.8 | 27.0 | 14.1 | 13.6 |
| 2. Support for human resource development | 2.2 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 3.3 | |
| 3. Support for the preservation of art and culture, etc. mainly in Kyoto | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 4.1 | 4.0 | |
| 4. Support for and collaboration on environmental conservation activities | 11.0 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | |
| 5. Support for and collaboration on social contribution activities wherever possible according to local social needs in each country and region | 8.1 | 4.2 | 6.5 | 13.0 | 7.6 | |
- Expenditures since September 2019 are expenditures by Sanyo Chemical Foundation for Social Contribution
(For FY2019: the sum of social contribution expenditures by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd. and the Sanyo Chemical Foundation for Social Contribution)
Support for Paralym Art
We support the independence of artists with disabilities as an official partner of Paralym Art, which is operated by the Shougaisha Jiritsu Suishin Kikou Association. Paralym Art is an activity that promotes the social participation and economic independence of people with disabilities through artistic expression.
Overseas Subsidiaries and Affiliates
Major donations and support activities
China
For the 13 years since 2010, San-Dia Polymers (Nantong) Co., Ltd. (SDN) has made continuous donations to junior high schools in the city of Nantong through a philanthropic society for development zones. In December 2023, teachers and students from junior high schools that received donations visited SDN and deepened their interest in chemistry through company tours and lab lessons.
Thailand
Sanyo Kasei (Thailand) Ltd. (SKT) granted scholarships and donated school equipment and supplies to nearby elementary schools.
The company also actively engaged in activities to improve quality of life in the community, including donating and installing solar streetlights.
During a tour of SDN
Installing solar lights at SKT
Receipt of CSR award
SKT has received the CSR-DIW Continuous Award for nine consecutive years since 2015 as an organization that actively engages in social responsibility initiatives, adheres to ethical business practices, and actively contributes to the welfare of society and the environment.
CSR-DIW Continuous Award ceremony