2025/03/13
Connecting with the world through donation vending machines
Our company is engaged in various activities to realize a sustainable society. As part of this, we installed 12 vending machines with donations in the area around our head office in 2019. A portion of the proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society and used to help people around the world who are suffering from disasters, conflicts, illnesses, etc.
In 2021, the results of the activities were recognized, and the head office area received the Gold Medal of Merit from the Japanese Red Cross Society. This is awarded to individuals and corporations who donate a certain amount or more to the Japanese Red Cross Society's activity funds. In 2023, to further expand support, 22 of the same vending machines were installed at the Handa Plant and three at the Fujioka Branch. The following year, in 2024, the Handa Plant received the Gold Medal of Merit from the Japanese Red Cross Society.
Above the donation vending machines, there is a banner reading, "Your one drink will save the world. Try SDGs!" to inspire employees to take action toward sustainability.
This has been well received within the company as a social contribution activity that anyone can easily participate in, with employees saying things like, "I'm happy that just by buying a drink like I normally do, I can help someone out there in the world, even if it's just a little bit," and "When I buy a drink, I've decided to use the vending machines that have a donation feature."
In December 2024, the Head Office Area, Fujioka Branch Office, and Handa Plant received a letter of appreciation from the President of the Japanese Red Cross Society. This is given to employees after receiving the Gold Medal of Merit for each certain amount of donations. The total amount donated by our company over a period of approximately six years from 37 donation-enabled vending machines is 4,628,996 yen (as of the end of December 2024).
We will continue to expand our circle of social contributions by expanding the introduction of this system to other locations.
Collect eco-caps to provide vaccines to children in developing countries
Since 2014, we have been installing eco-cap collection boxes next to our vending machines. The collected caps are processed into recycled products by the Love Cap Committee*, and a portion of the sales revenue is donated to the Japan Committee, Vaccines for the World's Children, a certified NPO. For every 2 kg of caps collected, one dose of the vaccine can be donated. To date, we have collected approximately 3,000 kg of caps and provided vaccines to approximately 1,500 children. (As of the end of February 2025)
* Nine volunteer companies belonging to the Aichi Prefecture Plastic Recycle Cooperative Association
Conclusion
We will continue to work to raise employee awareness of sustainability through a variety of activities and strive to make a wide range of contributions to society as a good corporate citizen.