Social Contribution Activities
The Kuraray Group believes that the essence of its business activities (products and services) is to contribute For People and the Planet. At the same time, it places importance on social contribution activities to fulfill its responsibilities as a corporate citizen that is a member of society and the earth. Under the Medium-Term Management Plan “PASSION 2026” we will continue our sustainability activities with the philosophy of contributing to society globally.
Since 1992, the Kuraray Group has held “Chemistry Classes for Boys and Girls” of elementary school students who are responsible for the next generation in Japan. The purpose is to experience the joy of chemistry through experiments. Over 300 seminars have been held at six production sites in Japan with about 9,500 elementary school students participating. We have extended similar activities to Kuraray America, Inc. in the United States and Kuraray Europe GmbH in Europe. Since 2020 onward, COVID-19 concerns meant that classes had to be suspended, but we consider ways to hold remote or visiting classes with fewer instructors at some production sites under current COVID-19 situation.
Kuraray produces CLARINO, a man-made leather used to make school backpacks. In the “Sending School Backpacks Across the Sea” program, we send backpacks that have been used by Japanese children during their six years of elementary school, along with school supplies and messages, to children in Afghanistan, a region that continues to experience conflicts. By 2023, in its 20th year since its start in 2004, more than 150,000 backpacks had been sent across the sea.
This vital activity provides children in Afghanistan with a chance to experience the joy of learning and also it’s a good opportunity for Japanese Children to learn the significance of reuse and volunteering activity. Although the political situation in Afghanistan is unstable, we will continue this program under Medium-Term Management Plan “Passion 2026”.
