Policy

At the Asahi Kasei Group, we believe that it is our social responsibility to contribute to the development of local communities in which we operate by building a good relationship with them. We work to honor and respect the local culture of each community where our operations are based, and to maintain effective dialog and communication with community members.
It is the policy of the Group as a whole to contribute to the vitality of communities, while at the same time engaging in activities that help to solve local issues through the creation of local employment and procurement based on the Group’s businesses. In addition, through community exchange events, plant tours, and community contribution activities, we strive to gain the understanding of local communities about our business and initiatives, and utilize the feedback we receive in our management.

Management Framework

General affairs departments at the Asahi Kasei Group's sites lead communication with the communities around our plants, planning and operating periodic networking events, plant tours, and other activities.

Plant tours

We offer plant tours to provide better understanding of our operations and the measures we implement for the environment and safety (tours are not available at all plants).

Dialog and interaction

At each of the Group's main production sites, we engage in dialog and interaction that includes discussion with local residents through bodies such as local governments, providing public access to our facilities such as sports halls and grounds and parking lots, and holding events.

NPO supporting education of the next generation

Policy

The Asahi Kasei Group is involved in a wide range of community-focused activities under the following Community Fellowship Policy to fulfill our responsibilities as a corporate citizen. We strive for mutual prosperity with the local communities and stakeholders focused on the three themes of Nurturing the Next Generation, Coexistence with the Environment, and Promotion of Culture, Art, and Sports.

• 1.Effective utilization of our human resources and technologies to advance community fellowship based on the unique characteristics of the Asahi Kasei Group.
• 2.Striving for meaningful community fellowship actions with a constant awareness of our objectives and effectiveness.
• 3.Supporting and nurturing participation in community fellowship by employees, encouraging volunteerism and individual initiative.

Value of community fellowship activities

Nurturing the Next Generation

School visits and science lab for students

To deepen understanding and heighten interest in science and technology among elementary, junior high, and high school students, our employees visit schools in our main production districts to conduct experimental classes on science and technology and the environment.
In fiscal 2023, 3,000 students from 31 schools participated in a total of 59 sessions.

Sponsoring educational programs on science and the environment

The Asahi Kasei Group sponsors educational events that provide elementary, junior high, and high school students with an opportunity to learn about science and the environment.

Supporting the Japan Student Science Awards

Since fiscal 2008, we have been the sole sponsor of the “Japan Student Science Awards” held by the Yomiuri Shimbun for the purpose of enhancing science education for junior and senior high school students. We invite the award winners to tour our plants and provide them with opportunities to interact with our employees so that they can get a feel for the work of science.

Planet Earth Classroom

We have provided sponsorship since fiscal 2008 for "Planet Earth Classroom," a series of environmentally themed projects for elementary school students planned and managed by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. We supported the events by editing an environmental study textbook for distribution to elementary schools nationwide, giving lectures on the topic of “Long-lasting houses are kind to the earth” at elementary schools, and dispatching personnel as instructors to environmental study events for families.

National Science Koshien Competition

Asahi Kasei has awarded the Asahi Kasei Prize in support of the National Science Competition since fiscal 2011, which is hosted by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

Holding of self-initiated events for fostering the next generation

The Group holds self-organized events for elementary, junior high, and high school students related to the development of the next generation.

“Summer Riko Challenge” science and technology event

As a member of the Japan Business Federation, Asahi Kasei endorses the Riko Challenge, promoted mainly by the Cabinet Office for human resource development in science and engineering. Since 2015, we have independently organized a “Summer Riko Challenge” event for high school students interested in science and engineering, entitled “Science Workplace Tour: Let's Find Out and See!”

Yume Kagaku -21 “Summer Vacation Chemistry Experiment Show for Children

The purpose of the event is to let children, mainly elementary school students, experience the “wonder, fun, and enjoyment of chemistry” and to trigger their interest in chemistry. Asahi Kasei has taken part since 2006, and has planned and exhibited original chemistry experiments annually.

Honorary Fellow Akira Yoshino holds special class on the subject of solving the world's environmental problems

Akira Yoshino, our Honorary Fellow, has been giving special classes at high schools in Tokyo since 2018.

Miyazaki Digital Human Resource Development Consortium

The University of Miyazaki, Asahi Kasei Corporation, The Miyazaki Bank, Ltd., Densan Corporation, and E&M Corporation, in cooperation and collaboration with Miyazaki Prefecture, local governments, institutions of higher education, and businesses in Miyazaki Prefecture, will help to spread and improve digital technology through education and human resources development. Established on May 12, 2023, the Consortium aims to contribute to the sustainable development of Miyazaki Prefecture and regional revitalization by enhancing and developing digitalization through education and training of human resources in digital technology, in cooperation with Miyazaki Prefecture, local governments, higher education institutions, and companies.

Scholarship program

We established a scholarship program to help foster talent that will contribute to the advancement of science and technology in new fields.
The scholarship is available to students enrolled in master's and doctoral programs at graduate schools and six-year universities, majoring in chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, architecture, control, electricity, electronics, high voltage electricity, physics, information technology, biology, pharmacy, agriculture, medicine, veterinary medicine, and others.

Coexistence with the Environment

Tree-planting at Asahi Forest in Miyazaki Prefecture

Every year, we carry out tree-planting activities at the Asahi Forest on Hayahi Ridge in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture.

Asahi Woods of Life (Shizuoka Prefecture)

The Asahi Woods of Life is an environmental restoration zone started in 2007 by Fuji Branch in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, with the aim of restoring the original coastal landscape of Fuji City. After a thorough preliminary survey, the project started with the planting of trees by more than 1,900 employees and local volunteers on a cleared site of a former factory. Since then, through steady and continuous implementation of a detailed green space maintenance and management plan together with experts, we have succeeded in establishing a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife, including rare plants in Shizuoka Prefecture.
This woods is open to the local community as a place to learn about activities in harmony with the environment, such as firefly viewing and wildlife observation events.

Promotion of Culture, Art, and Sports

Social contribution through sports

Sponsoring the Kanazawa Marathon

Social Contribution through Corporate Sports Track & Field and Judo Clubs

Asahi Kasei has long supported athletic activity and maintains top-tier long-distance track and judo teams, with employees having competed in the Olympics nearly 50 times over the years. Furthermore, we are actively involved in social contribution activities related to athletics and judo.

Track & Field category
We cooperate in the event management of the “Golden Games in Nobeoka”, a track and field long-distance track meet, mainly in and around Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture, where we have our training base.

Judo team
Judo workshops are held at various locations in Japan. We also hold this event overseas in Düsseldorf, Germany, where we have a regional headquarters.

Culture and Arts Promotion

Asahi Kasei Himuka Cultural Foundation

The Asahi Kasei Himuka Cultural Foundation was established in 1985 to enrich the environment of day-to-day life and culture in Miyazaki Prefecture, the cradle of Asahi Kasei. A wide range of cultural activities include musical and dramatic events, support for local cultural promotion, and fostering familiarity with and understanding of folk culture.

• Asahi Kasei Himuka Cultural Foundation

Disaster relief, local disaster prevention, and other activities

Support for the victims of the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and the affected areas

We donated 80 million yen to Ishikawa Prefecture to support the victims of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024, which occurred on January 1, 2024, and the affected areas. Asahi Kasei Home Products Corp. provided Saran Wrap as relief supplies to people in the affected areas. Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp. also donated 10 million yen through the Japanese Red Cross Society.

Support for research and educational activities for resuscitation and acute critical care

Installation of independent drinking water supply systems

Blood donation

To support "Contributing to life and living for people around the world" our Group Mission, the Asahi Kasei Group cooperates with the Japanese Red Cross Society to run blood donation drives as an easily accessible community fellowship activity.

Donations to UNICEF

• News Release: Asahi Kasei Group Donates to UNICEF

Social Contribution Activities by Group Companies Worldwide

Many offices and production sites of the Asahi Kasei Group in the United States, Europe, China, Korea, and Southeast Asia, engage in a variety of community fellowship activities as suited to their individual circumstances and locations. These include neighborhood clean-up, support for welfare and education, and donation to local organizations and schools.

Americas

ZOLL Medical (Emergency medical equipment manufacturer)

Every year, employees participate in the Heart Walk (sponsored by the American Heart Association), a charity event aimed at saving lives from heart disease and stroke.

Sage Automotive Interiors

Since 2012, Sage has donated to TreesUpstate to plant trees in schools, parks, and neighborhoods near its global headquarters. At maturity, Sage's funding of tree plantings will remove 4.3 million miles of car emissions each year and store 195,500 gallons of stormwater each year to prevent flooding and clean the area's drinking water.

• TreesUpstate

Crystal IS

Crystal IS believes the benefits of UVC LEDs provide make them the ideal sources for delivering UV disinfection to remote areas with insufficient or damaged infrastructure. In its Maji Safi UV project (Kenya), Crystal IS partners with the following group to provide products and resources to supply clean drinking water to its community.

• Maji Safi

Asahi Kasei Plastics North America

Each year, the company hosts high school students from Livingston County, Michigan, for a tour of its offices and to introduce them to the potential of the manufacturing industry.

Also each year, the Fowlerville Family Impact Center in Michigan provides us with a list of families in need of gifts, and we use that list to donate toys, art supplies, electronics, clothing, and food for year-end meals.

Synergos

Synergos sponsors and participates in the annual Running Rally and Community Breakfast held by Ryan House, an organization that offers palliative care and support services to families with children living with life-limiting or terminal conditions, at no cost to the families.

Employees at Austin Companies participate in an annual 5k charity walk/run to honor those that have lost their battle to PTSD, those who are currently battling, and those who have survived the battle.

Erickson Framing supports the West-MEC vocational school's General Construction Technology program by facilitating hands-on learning activities for students.

Thailand

Asahi Kasei Plastics Thailand

Every year since 2018, the company has participated in a charity marathon organized by a hospitals and other organizations in Ayutthaya Province, and donates the collected participation fees and other charity funds to the hospital.

Thai Asahi Kasei Spandex

At the end of each year, all plant managers and employees thank the local community and distribute sweets and other gifts to local children.

Since 2022, the company has invited members of the surrounding community and local kindergarten students to its plant to introduce their Responsible Care activities, etc., followed by presentations by the children to cement a friendship.

Europe

Asahi Kasei Europe

Since 2018, employees have participated in the annual B2Run running event in Dusseldorf, Germany. A portion of the participation fee paid by each runner is donated to DKMS, an international charity focused on eradicating leukemia and other blood diseases.

• B2Run

Since 2021, employees and their families have participated in the Rhine Clean Up initiative to clean up the banks of the Rhine River near the company’s office.

• RhineCleanUp

India

Asahi Kasei India

Since fiscal 2022, Asahi Kasei India has collaborated with Akshaya Patra, an NGO in India, using the cling film it sells in India from Asahi Kasei Home Products. If a photo is posted on social media (Facebook or Instagram) of food wrapped in the Premium Wrap film (Saran Wrap in Japan), the company donates three to four school lunches for each post.

• Campaign Site: Wrap Up Hunger with Asahi Kasei