Social Contribution Activities as a Good Corporate Citizen

Proactively participate in local communities and the larger society in order to contribute to development in a way befitting a good corporate citizen.

Basic Approach

As the foundation of its business activities, Toray Group works to build ties with local communities and contribute to society through its core businesses. Embracing a corporate philosophy of contributing to society as the ultimate objective of its corporate activities, Toray Industries, Inc. has worked to foster social development since its founding. The Group’s Corporate Missions were set out in 1995 and include “For society: To establish ties and develop mutual trust as a responsible corporate citizen.” Social contribution activities were included in Toray Group’s CSR Guidelines established in 2004, and these activities have been a part of the Group’s CSR activities ever since.
Today, the Group is working to achieve the Toray Group Sustainability Vision, which calls for solving social issues by expanding its Sustainability Innovation Business. These efforts are driven by the Medium-Term Management Program, Project AP-G 2025, and the Long-Term Corporate Vision, TORAY VISION 2030.
While contributing to society through these business activities, the Group also aims with its CSR Roadmap 2025 to promote social contribution activities uniquely suited to the Toray Group as a materials manufacturer and to implement activities that help solve global issues such as those addressed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).¹ The focus for these social contribution activities has been set on three priority areas, namely “science and technology promotion,” “environment and communities,” and “health and welfare.” As indicated in the Toray Group Sustainability Vision, the Group works to increase people’s interest in the environment. Toward this end, Toray develops educational support activities in such areas as science, the environment, and career education. The Group contributes to the development of future generations and actively supports the improvement and development of science and technology and promotion of science education through the activities of Toray science foundations around the world.

Established by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Toray Group Social Initiative Policies state, “Using company awards and other measures, we will create a culture that encourages employees to participate in society in constructive ways such as engaging in voluntary activities with an eye to local needs.” Accordingly, employees who wish to engage in volunteer work may take advantage of internal support systems such as absence from work and leave. Those who engage in volunteer activities are also eligible for special awards presented by each business site and plant. In fiscal 2022, awards were presented to the department that most actively promoted social contribution activities, employees who donated blood more than 30 times, and an employee who coaches a local youth soccer team.

1. 1 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in September 2015 at the UN Sustainable Development Summit attended by more than 150 Heads of State. These 17 goals and 169 targets are worldwide objectives to be reached by 2030.

Related Policies

Priority Areas for Social Contribution

Science and Technology Promotion: Toray Group strives to live up to its corporate philosophy of “Contributing to society through the creation of new value with innovative ideas, technologies and products” by providing innovative technologies and advanced materials. The Group is committed to taking on the challenge of innovation across all of its corporate activities. That is why the Group must develop and retain human resources who can generate this continual innovation. Also, via the Toray science foundations around the world, the Group is providing research grants, promoting science education, and fostering public interest in science, looking to make a long-term contribution.

Environment and Communities: Toray Group is pursuing the Sustainability Innovation Business that help solve global issues relating to the environment, resources and energy. Utilizing its expertise and human resources, the Group is continuously engaged in environmental conservation activities while collaborating with local communities.

Health and Welfare: Toray Group’s Sustainability Innovation Business contribute to better medical care and longevity, foster public health, and support personal safety. To help build a world where people everywhere can live long, healthy lives, the Group promotes sports and cancer screening awareness. Individual business sites support education programs for children and social welfare initiatives.

Social Contribution and the Sustainable Development Goals

Toray Industries has from the beginning engaged in corporate activities with the ultimate purpose of contributing to society, viewing itself as a public entity. The Company considers the growth of its business as an indication that it has earned the recognition and support of society as a corporation that is endeavoring to practice its philosophy of contributing to society.
In 1955, Toray Industries established the company principle that “Toyo Rayon contributes to communities” as an explicit statement of its founding principles. From around that time, everyone at Toray Industries, from management to employees, began pursuing diverse initiatives to realize the philosophy of contributing to society. These activities ranged from making donations to various organizations and institutions, providing humanitarian assistance and financial aid to disaster-stricken areas, and inviting students to visit Toray’s manufacturing sites and providing them with informational materials.
In 1986, Toray Industries established the corporate philosophy of “Contributing to society through the creation of new value with innovative ideas, technologies and products,” which carries on the core concept of the previous company principle. Toray Group pursues this corporate philosophy by emphasizing the social contributions of its businesses in making business decisions. The Group considers every aspect of its corporate conduct and the conduct of its employees through the lens of contributing to society. It is for this reason that Toray Group’s core businesses naturally align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose themes include resolving global environmental issues and contributing to health and longevity.
While the SDGs have recently become the focus of international development efforts, Toray Group has been working since the beginning to resolve global social issues like these, as it strives to live up to its corporate philosophy.

Structure

Since April 2012, Toray Industries has positioned the CSR Operations Department as a specialized department focusing on social contribution activities. The department is responsible for planning and promoting its own voluntary programs implemented independently, as well as aggregating CSR performance across Toray Group. Policy related to CSR activities and major CSR initiatives are discussed by the CSR Committee. Policy is communicated to Toray Group sites in and outside Japan through CSR discussion meetings held with each company and department, as well as at meetings attended by representatives from each country where the Group operates outside Japan that are held to promote activities suitable for the particular circumstances of each country and company.

CSR Roadmap 2022 Targets

Looking to the Future

Toray Group was founded with a commitment to contribute to society. With the CSR Roadmap 2022, the Group worked to build relationships of trust with local communities by taking initiatives in the priority areas of “science and technology promotion,” “environment and communities,” and “health and welfare.” The unprecedented circumstances, however, presented by the COVID-19 pandemic limited the implementation of the Group’s regular social contribution activities. With the CSR Roadmap 2025, the Group reinstates its designated scale of social contribution activities over the long term and continues to voluntarily implement its ongoing efforts, while educating Group employees to promote an understanding of the significance of contributing to society. As a good corporate citizen, Toray will continue to actively participate in and contribute to the development of society and local communities.

Fiscal 2022 CSR Activity Report

Click bellow on activity reports for fiscal 2022.