Community-focused Initiatives

ECO Kyoto 21

Participation in Local Beautification Activities

Each of the Unitika Group’s production sites take part in environmental beautification drives to clean up their surroundings.

Employees at the Okazaki Plant clean up the surrounding area every second Thursday of the month. Employees at the Uji Plant clean up the surrounding area through the Clean Uji Initiative. Employees at the Uji Plant clean up the surrounding area through the Clean Uji Initiative. Employees at Unitika Textiles Ltd. and the labor union jointly run a local community clean up activity once a year. Employees at the Sakoshi Plant and Ako Unitech Service Co., Ltd. carry out an annual combined cleaning of the embankment areas from the front gate of the production sites.

Initiatives for Preserving the Environment and Biodiversity

Participation in Declaration of Biodiversity

Unitika has endorsed the Declaration of Biodiversity released by Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) in 2009, and is partnering with it in promoting the declaration. The declaration contains seven principles covering areas such as harmonizing business activities with natural cycles, and promoting businesses oriented to these cycles. We are carrying out business activities with an awareness of biodiversity.

Unitika no Mori (‘Unitika Wood’) Project

Unitika’s labor union, Unitika Union, established a volunteer fund in FY 1992 to develop a variety of domestic and international support activities. As a project that commemorates its 30th anniversary in FY 2003, Unitika Union started the Midori no Plan (‘Green Plan’) with the purpose of social contribution and environmental protection in Japan. For the Midori no Plan that spans more than 20 years, we planted Japanese chestnut oaks, konara oaks and Japanese cypresses in a 2-hectare area (approximately 2.5 acres) of mountain forest that has been named Unitika no Mori, located in Hidakagawa Town, Wakayama Prefecture. Several times a year, Unitika employees visit the site to maintain the forest by clearing underbrush and pruning branches. These activities have been officially recognized by Wakayama Prefecture as “an effort that contributes to CO2 absorption through forestation.” It is expected to result in about 800 metric tons of carbon dioxide absorption in 100 years.

Unitika no Mori was the first “corporate forest” in Wakayama, which was a pioneer nationwide in the establishment of such corporate forests. Unitika no Mori has contributed to revitalizing the local region by such activities as continuous interaction with the local people and woodland preservation activities. In FY 2018, Unitika no Mori was awarded the Wakayama Prefecture Greening Achievement Award as high recognition of its contributions.

The Midori no Plan Season 2 started in FY 2022, and in February 2023, 25 employees planted trees at the new 2nd Unitika no Mori. A total of 543 people have participated in the project so far. We will continue with this project, and keep promoting the preservation of biodiversity and encouraging employees to be more aware of preserving and protecting the environment.