Contributing to local communities and society, with the aim of growing with them
The Chugai Group's Social Contribution Activities
The Chugai Group contributes to the development of local communities and society through its social contribution activities. Our aim is to grow with the communities we serve.These activities also provide a valuable opportunity for participating employees to become more conscious of our roles and responsibilities as a corporate citizen.
Donating Welfare Vehicles
In October 2010, Chugai donated vehicles with rear lifts for wheelchairs to five home welfare facilities serving senior citizens and people with disabilities. This donation program has been ongoing since Chugai started it in 1985 to mark the Company's 60th anniversary. The program provides specially equipped vans to facilitate transportation of elderly and disabled people who receive at-home nursing care. This year's donations bring the total number of vehicles provided so far to 183. Recipients are selected nationwide in cooperation with the Japan National Council of Social Welfare and the Central Community Chest of Japan.
Quality Control Training for Cambodian Government Officials
From July 20 to August 5, 2010, the Chugai Group hosted Cambodian government officials (from the National Health Product Quality Control Center of Cambodia's Ministry of Health) for quality control training in the Pharmaceutical Technology Division.
Every year, the International Committee of the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA) accepts a small number of administrative officials from Asian countries recommended by the World Health Organization and requests JPMA member companies to provide quality control training for them.
The first day consisted of an orientation at Chugai's head office that included an overview of the industry, followed by a luncheon. From the second day, the program included a lecture on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)1 and practice in analysis using state-of-the-art equipment at the Ukima site, and quality-related training at the Utsunomiya plant. Participants commented that the training was very comprehensive.
1. Manufacturing and quality control standards for drugs and quasi drugs. (Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health)
Private-Sector Training of Teachers
This program, sponsored by the Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs, gives school teachers training at private companies to deepen their understanding of corporate activities and put the experience to use in the classroom and in school administration. Chugai has accepted program participants since 2004, and in 2010 conducted training from July 28 through July 30 for 17 teachers from elementary, junior high and senior high schools in Tokyo.
Some of the teachers said they have few chances to get away from the school environment, and found the training at Chugai very stimulating. One remarked, "It was inspiring to see such commitment to human resource development in a company with a strong R&D image," while another said, "It was great to exchange views with employees of my generation."
Environmental Protection Activities
In summer and fall 2010, Chugai participated in Tokyo Greenship Action, sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. In this program, businesses, non-profit organizations and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government work together to preserve the natural environment in nature conservation areas in Tokyo. In summer, at the historic Nobidome Yosui conservation area in the City of Kodaira, and in fall, at the Higashi Toyoda conservation area in Hino City, participants enjoyed an out-of-the-ordinary experience, wielding grass shears, sickles and saws — tools they seldom have a chance to use — to cut the dense underbrush and trim the overgrown konara oaks. After the work was done, a volunteer from a non-profit organization talked about satoyama (undeveloped woodland near populated areas), and the participants got to know each other better at an informal get-together.
Co-sponsorship of Youngsters' Science Festival
At the Japan Science Foundation's Science Museum in Tokyo, where Chugai has set up a permanent exhibit entitled "Dr. Kitanomaru's Bio Pharmaceutical Laboratory," the Company once again co-sponsored the Youngsters' Science Festival, which was held on July 31 and August 1, 2010. This interactive event was designed to expose young visitors to real science by presenting a visual layout of the experiment process, scientific tools and other items. The festival has been held every year since 1992 to provide a hands-on experience that gives children a sense of the fun and excitement of science. This year's festival was a great success, with nearly 20,000 visitors crowding the booths, stages and other exhibits.
Summer Biotech-Lab for Kids
With the co-sponsorship of the Japan Science Foundation's Science Museum and the cooperation of Leave a nest Co., Ltd., Chugai hosted the Summer Biotech-Lab for Kids at the Science Museum in Kitanomaru Park in Tokyo on August 7 and 8, 2010. This was the third year that Chugai has held this experimental classroom, which is intended to show children that science can be fun. Ninety-one children participated in DNA identification and extraction experiments. At an interactive corner set up in the museum, they viewed their own cells under a microscope, and were able to take home a cell picture book printed on special paper. Twelve people from Chugai volunteered to help at this corner. Comments of guardians who experienced the enthusiasm of the volunteers were numerous, including "It made me realize the sincere attitude of Chugai Group employees toward social contribution." The employee volunteers also gave their impressions. One said, "Through this activity, I was able to feel closer to and deepen my understanding of Chugai's social contribution activities, which I had almost no experience with until now."
Dressed in white lab coats,
children listen to
experiment instructions
Preparing to extract DNA
Interactive corner
- Inspiration That Could Only Come from Chugai
"I'm glad they were able to learn while enjoying something different from their regular studies.""Just putting on lab coats made the children feel like scientists. Their eyes lit up." These were some of the comments from the guardians of the children who participated in the Biotech-Lab. In addition to the unusual themes and experiments involving DNA and cells, I feel that the enthusiastic support from the Chugai Group staff, who are actually involved in pharmaceuticals, made a positive impression. By providing whatever support we can to the Biotech-Lab, we hope to continue helping inspire children in a way that only Chugai can.
Yu Yanagisawa
Leave a nest Co., Ltd.
Chugai Eco-Kids Program
From July through August 2010, Chugai conducted the introductory level of the Kids ISO 14000 Program,2 an environmental education program for fifth- and sixth-grade children of Chugai Group employees. Children who participated in this program, which has been held each year since 2007 as the Chugai Eco-Kids Program, were appointed as "Chugai child environmental officers," and displayed leadership in reducing environmental impact, such as saving energy and conserving resources at home.
2. A domestic and international environmental education program developed by the International Art and Technology Cooperation Organization (ArTech)
Social Contributions at the Chugai Group's Facilities and Sites
Various social contributions to local communities are made by the Chugai Group's facilities and sites
| Facility/Site | Main Activities |
|---|---|
| Sapporo Branch | Support for small workplaces employing people with disabilities |
| Head Office district | Participation in Tokyo Greenship Action; neighborhood cleanup |
| Ukima site | Employment support for people with disabilities; neighborhood cleanup |
| Kamakura site | Blood donation; sales drive for paintings by artists of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Association; coastal cleanup; neighborhood cleanup |
| Fuji Gotemba Research Laboratories | Neighborhood cleanup; curbside publicity for traffic safety campaign |
| Fujieda plant of Chugai Pharma Manufacturing | Blood donation; plant tours; cooperation and participation in campaign to eliminate illegal dumping; cooperation in Fujieda City's Mottainai campaign |
| Utsunomiya plant of Chugai Pharma Manufacturing | Blood donation; sales drive for paintings by artists of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Association; curbside publicity for traffic safety campaign |
| Chugai Distribution | Work-experience opportunities; "Work-Experience Challenge" program for junior high school students; commuter route cleanup |
| Other activities | Participation in Ashinaga P-Walk; collection of plastic bottle caps, aluminum can pull-tabs, used postage stamps, spoiled postcards, etc. |
Kamakura site employees clean up Kugenuma Beach.
The Ukima site provides sales support for workplaces that employ people with disabilities.
The Fujieda plant of Chugai Pharma Manufacturing opens its soccer pitch to the general public.
Fuji Gotemba Research Laboratories employees conduct a neighborhood cleanup.
