Working towards a better world

Planting new trees in return for old computers, placing container ships up for "adoption" and providing research funds of Nobel Prize-winning potential are all Japanese company initiatives taking place in Australia today.
Such programs are as varied as they are numerous yet all share the acronym CSR, or corporate social responsibility.

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What does CSR mean?
CSR is the idea that corporations need to extend their responsibility beyond the bottom line to include society and the environment. In business practice, this means being accountable and transparent to stakeholders through good corporate governance. But CSR also entails corporations voluntarily working to improve future sustainability, social welfare and environmental conservation. Many Japanese businesses in Australia have embraced CSR in a wide range of ways.

 

Plantation forests
Industrial CO2 emissions and their impact on global warming and climate change can be countered by planting trees, which absorb CO2 in the atmosphere.
In 2002, Japanese corporation NEC established a plantation forest on South Australia's Kangaroo Island. By 2022, the CO2 absorbed by the 3000ha "NEC Forest" is expected to reach a million tonnes. NEC's Japanese consumers are indirectly participating in this Australian initiative - for the return of every second-hand NEC computer, NEC plants a tree in the forest. In September 2007, NEC planted its 700,000th tree.
Japanese companies in the paper, printing and publishing industries are also planting Australian forests of fast-growing, resilient trees such as eucalypts and acacias. In fact, the Japanese paper industry began this initiative in the 1970s both to provide a woodchip supply and to help the environment. The key is establishing an ideal regenerative cycle from planting to selective deforestation, so that the number of young trees (which absorb more CO2) is maximized and the total area of forest continues to grow. A eucalypt forest in Tasmania planted in 2000 by Daio Paper Corporation, JFE Shoji, Toppan Printing and other corporations is expected to grow to 7500ha in less than 50 years.

Mineral resources and coal
Coal is a vital mineral resource for Japan and half of its supply comes from Australia. The quality and low ash production of Australian coal makes it popular and for this reason, Japanese corporations are directly investing in the Australian coal industry.
J.C.D. Australia, established by nine Japanese electrical companies, invests in the development of the Blair Athol and Claremont coalmines in Queensland. By extension it participates in mining company Rio Tinto's regional initiatives, including Queensland University's Koala Venture Program that conducts research on koala ecosystems in coalmine areas. J.C.D. also provides educational support through funding for students studying coal regeneration at NSW universities.
The environmental drawback of coal is that it produces more CO2 than oil or natural gas. For this reason, Japan's IHI Corporation established IHI Engineering Australia to supply eco-friendly power equipment and technologies to Australian electrical companies, which consume 80 per cent of the coal supply.

Energy conservation technology
The Australian government enforces minimum energy performance standards for various appliances. Many corporations contribute to this effort by developing and sponsoring eco-friendly products. For example, Fujitsu General Australia directly supplies energy-conserving inverter technology. The Japanese cheese manufacturer Snow Brand Australia, a participant in the National Packaging Covenant since 2002, promotes the use of recyclable materials and works from the product design stage to simplify and reduce its packaging.
Similarly, many corporations sponsor services that link their business activities to environmental protection. Nippon Express Australia, which deals largely with removal services, introduced its own eco-friendly packing material in 1992, which are reusable and more hygienic than conventional boxes and bubble-wrap.
Electric vehicles that have been released in the past but are no longer in production include the Toyota RAV4EV, the Nissan Hyper Mini and the Honda EV Plus, to name a few.

Support for environmental organisations
Many businesses participate in environmental conservation by supporting non-profit environmental groups. Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia sponsors Planet Ark, which sells eco-friendly lifestyle products online and runs recycling programs for printer cartridges to reduce landfill. Various national environmental events in Australia are also backed by corporate sponsorship. Toyota Australia sponsors National Tree Day, which has seen more than 15 million volunteers plant 115 million trees since its inception in 1996.
Even small in-house corporate measures, like using recycled paper and banning disposable cups, help companies increase the environmental awareness of employees.

 

 

Education and learning
More than a few Japanese companies are involved in their regional communities by supporting local educational institutions and students. Kanematsu Australia, the first Japanese corporation established in Australia, supports medical research through the Kanematsu Fund. The fund was set up in 1929 when company founder Fusajiro Kanematsu donated 30,000 pounds towards a medical research institution within Sydney Hospital. The resulting Kanematsu Laboratories produced two Nobel Prize winners in the 1940s and 1950s. Today, the Kanematsu Fund is overseen by a board of directors and through fundraising activities and appeals, has grown to $600,000. Every two years, the fund donates $40,000 to a young medical researcher specialising in the area of hematology.

Canon Australia also provides financial support to institutions including the Australian Catholic University and the University of Sydney. The latter's Canon Scholarship Fund is $100,000, from which a marketing student receives a $5000 scholarship annually.
In 1971, Mitsui & Co. (Australia) established the Mitsui Educational Foundation for university students. Every year the corporation sends eight students to Japan for a three-week study program on Japanese culture, history and industry. Since its inception, 279 students have gained a deeper understanding of Japan.
Japan Airlines has also run study programs for university students since 1975, with students participating in home stays, fieldwork and forums in Japan.
Other companies offer educational support by offering factory and office tours. Snow Brand Australia hosts local TAFE students at its cheese factory in Nowra, NSW. Similarly, primary and secondary students visit their powdered-milk factory in Tatura, Victoria, to learn about the Australian dairy industry.
Japanese shipping company NYK Line runs the "Adopt-a-Ship Program" with the Port of Melbourne Corporation, inviting primary school students to tour their moored ships and learn about the maritime industry.

Social welfare and charities
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia supplies charity goods at its six branches in Australia in support of the Cancer Foundation. Canon Australia employees have raised cancer research funds in a "Walk to Work Day" and Fujitsu General Australia supports the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation. By donating a percentage of the profit from every air-conditioner sold, Fujitsu General has raised $850,000 for cancer research in 2007.
In other initiatives, Mitsubishi Australia encourages its employees to donate blood, support drought aid associations and refugee support groups. Insurance company Tokyo Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance urges its people to make voluntary salary contributions towards monthly donations to Mission Australia. Its employees also participate in volunteer activities ranging from building nesting boxes for penguins in Victoria to participating in Clean-up Australia Day and delivering Christmas presents to children in hospital.

CSR further extends to Japanese corporate support for Australian surf lifesavers, cultural pursuits and exchange visits. The type of CSR may vary, but what is important is the growing trend for corporations to contribute to the health, welfare and environment of their communities.