Communication with Local Communities (Fiscal 2023 results)
The UACJ Group fulfills its duty as a good corporate citizen by using its business activities to contribute to society. As a Group that society trusts and relies on, our business sites also work with local communities to plan and promote various activities.
Basic Approach
The UACJ Group highly values its coexistence with the communities in which it does business, and aims to connect with communities through activities to conserve the environment, educate the next generation, support welfare programs for the disabled, assist in disaster prevention and disaster relief, and hold festivals to enjoy with residents.
Promoting Employee Participation
At UACJ, we encourage employees to participate in various activities to coexist and develop with local communities and have implemented a volunteer leave system*1 to supports employees engaging in society.
*1 Under the volunteer leave system, employees are allowed to take paid time off, separate from their regular paid leave, to participate in volunteer activities.
Activities at each business sites
| Theme | Environmental Protection and Neighborhood Cleanups | Support for Education and Research | Disaster Response Support for Communities | Events, Activities, and Sponsorships | Donations and Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ○ | ○ | ○ | |||
| ○ | ○ | ○ | |||
| ○*2 | ○ | ○ | ○*2 | ||
| ○ | ○ | ||||
| ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ||
| ○ | ○ | ||||
| ○ | ○ | ○ | |||
| ○ | ○ | ○ | |||
| ○ | ○ |
- *2 Fukaya Works group: UACJ Aluminum Center Corporation, UACJ Logistics Corporation, UACJ Fukaya Service Corporation, UACJ Green-net Corporation
- *3 UACJ (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
- *4 Other companies: UACJ Foundry & Forging Corporation, UACJ Aluminum Center Corporation, Green-net Corporation, Sansen Co., Ltd.
Nagoya Works
Disaster Response Support for Communities
The Nagoya Works is actively participating the Nagoya City campaign to join companies and communities to create a disaster-resilient city. The works has endorsed the Nagoya City Disaster Prevention and Community Development Campaign and concluded a memorandum of understanding with the nearby Nakagawa School District Disaster Prevention and Community Development Committee to cooperate and provide its support in the event of a major disaster. The Nagoya Works will provide jacks, crowbars, and other rescue equipment, forklifts and drivers, as well as automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
The Nagoya Works also participates in regular tsunami evacuation drills with students and staff of the adjacent prefectural Minato Special Needs School. The works also has a memorandum of understanding to provide students and staff free dormitory accommodations as an evacuation site in the event of a tsunami warning. The dormitory director and one staff member participated in the training on October 25, 2023.
Events, Activities, and Sponsorships
The Nagoya Works conducts the following activities every year.
- Inari festival (factory festival)
Opportunity to meet and mix with local residents. - Sponsorship and participation in community events
Active sponsorship and participation in Bon festivals, sports meets, and other community events - Factory tours
Factory tours by request for local community groups and schools - Aluminum can collection and recycling awareness activities
We conduct educational activities including distributing pamphlets and posters on recycling and explaining stockpiled aluminum water bottles for elementary and junior high schools in local neighborhoods, community associations, and other groups.
Donations and Contributions
We donated disaster supply stockpiles of instant rice and drinking water with expiration dates nearing one year to the food bank NPOs Food Bank Aichi and Second Harvest Nagoya to reduce food loss and contribute to local communities.
Environmental conservation and community cleanup activities
UACJ and NPO Green Bird, which UACJ sponsors, organized a cleanup activity on October 15, 2023 at Japan’s well-known Fujimae tidal flats, which were registered under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 2002.
Fukui Works
Environmental Protection and Neighborhood Cleanups
The Fukui Works entered an agreement with Fukui Prefecture and Sakai City in March 2022 to establish and manage the corporate-sponsored UACJ Fukui Forest. Four times each year, employees and their families mow undergrowth, replant trees, and maintain the forest, where some 300 resilient red and black pine trees have been planted.
We also actively participate in Fukui Prefecture’s annual community Cleanup Fukui Campaign in the area around the Fukui Works and at the seaside, which is being increasingly impacted by marine plastic pollution. In addition, 11 volunteers participated in the Fukui Sea Litter Zero Challenge 2023 at the Kuzuryu River estuary on November 26, 2023.
Donations and Contributions
UACJ promotes the environmental advantages of aluminum along with the attractions of Fukui Prefecture and Katsuyama City by distributing aluminum bottles of Fukui Katsuyama Dinosaur Water at events in Fukui Prefecture, Katsuyama City, and Sakai City.
Education and Research Support
UACJ hosted a factory tour for 26 fifth-grade students from Sakai Nishi Elementary School on February 5, 2024.
Fukaya Works
Environmental Protection and Neighborhood Cleanups
The Fukaya Works and the four nearby Fukaya Group companies*5 have been participating in the Fukaya City-sponsored Zero Garbage Campaign every spring and fall since 2001. In fiscal 2023, some 53 UACJ group employees participated in the May 20 spring event and 49 joined the October 28 fall event, helping to clean nearby roads and the Maeno River that runs on the west side of the factory.
*5 UACJ Aluminum Center Corporation, UACJ Logistics Corporation, UACJ Fukaya Service Corporation, UACJ Green-net Corporation
Events, Activities, and Sponsorships
The Fukaya Works actively promotes local sports and makes the factory playing field and gymnasium available for use to local soccer, rugby, and badminton clubs.
Every year in May, the Fukaya Works invites former Yakult Swallows players to instruct at youth baseball clinics. The instructors teach the youths fundamental and advanced baseball skills along with interpersonal skills, such as proper greetings and social etiquette.
UACJ’s sports promotion activities included sponsoring the 18th Fukaya City Half Marathon.
Education and Research Support
The Fukaya Works hosted elementary school students for an Earth Class presented by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper company on January 26, 2024. The 63 students learned about the environmental benefits of aluminum and about UACJ activities through experiments and a plant tour.
Donations and Contributions
The Fukaya Works and four nearby Fukaya Group companies*6 have been donating to the Fukaya City Disability Welfare Assistance Program since 2007. As part of the UACJ Disability Welfare Fund, the companies donate ¥2 million annually to promote welfare projects for persons with disabilities in Fukaya City.
*6 UACJ Aluminum Center Corporation, UACJ Logistics Corporation, UACJ Fukaya Service Corporation, UACJ Green-net Corporation
Disaster Support for Local Communities
In March 2022, we signed an agreement with Fukaya City to open the grounds of the Fukaya Works as an evacuation site in the event of an earthquake, wind or flooding incident, or other natural disaster. The plant will open its gymnasium, grounds, and parking lot for use an evacuation center, temporary evacuation site, emergency temporary housing sites, and parking lot for people staying in their cars during a disaster.
Research & Development Center
Environmental Protection and Neighborhood Cleanups
R&D Center employees clean the sidewalk on Route 154 on the center’s west side every month.
Events, Exchanges, and Sponsorship Activities
The R&D Center actively participates in disaster prevention events held in the community, exhibits and shares information about aluminum disaster prevention supplies, and donates aluminum foil for use in the event of a disaster. In fiscal 2023, we participated in five regional events, including in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka.
UACJ (Thailand)Co., Ltd. (UATH)
Environmental Protection and Neighborhood Cleanups
UATH participates in local tree planting and fish release (native species) activities. In fiscal 2023, the program was conducted at four locations.
Education and Research Support
As part of its commitment to the local community, UATH makes an annual donation of scholarships to local elementary schools. The company also presented basic Japanese language classes at a local elementary school.
Events, Exchanges, and Sponsorships
UATH participates in the Japan Festival held in Si Racha. UACJ set up a booth to introduce the company, hosted games, and gave away prizes to visitors.
Donations and Contributions
UATH donates to local governments and local communities to support traditional events in Thailand and to the Red Cross to support underprivileged individuals.
UACJ Extrusion Corporation
Environmental Protection and Neighborhood Cleanups
UACJ Extrusion Oyama (currently UACJ Oyama Works ) holds events each year to clean the sidewalks and pick weeds around its factory. Employees also join in various cleanup activities in Oyama City, including the Summer Festival 2023 Cleanup Operation held on July 31, 2023, the day after a fireworks event.
Twelve employees of UACJ Extrusion Shiga participated in the September 23, 2023 Lake Biwa Clean event to beautify the lakeshore in Omihachiman and remove non-native fish. The factory also cleans up litter around its perimeter every Monday.
Education and Research Support
UACJ Extrusion Shiga provided a factory tour for third-year students from Hachiman Technical High School and hosted lectures by employees who had graduated from the high school. The company also accepted two students from the high school as interns.
UACJ Foil Corporation
Environmental Protection and Neighborhood Cleanups
The Shiga Works of UACJ Foil participates in the annual Lake Biwa Beautification Drive on every year on July 1, which designated as Lake Biwa Day in Shiga Prefecture. In fiscal 2022, eight employees participated In fiscal 2023, activity was joined by 6 people.
As an event for the Environment Month in June every year, volunteers pick up trash along the sidewalk between Nogi Works and Nogi Station (about 2.5 km). In fiscal 2023, the June 15 activity was joined by 18 people.
Disaster Response Support for Communities
The Shiga Works of UACJ Foil has endorsed the Kusatsu City agreement to accept and provide temporary accommodations for people and citizens rendered unable to return to their homes. The factory will use its processing plant, prototype testing center, and energy center, which each use 100V power supply, to provide temporary evacuation facilities with a managed cafeteria, restrooms, and bathrooms. The factory maintains a stockpile of emergency food, water, and floormats for about 50 people.
Events, Exchanges, and Sponsorships
UACJ Foil Isesaki Works and the PTA of a local elementary school held an event for students to learn about the uses of aluminum foil. The factory and UACJ R&D Center conducted joint program to show how aluminum foil can be useful in a disaster or emergency situation. The Shiga Works presented an exhibit on aluminum foil at its local Shizu Fureai Hall.
UACJ Metal Components Corporation
Environmental Protection and Neighborhood Cleanups
The Ena Works of UACJ Metal Components conducts beautification activities around the factory in May every year on the local Zero Garbage Day. At the May 30, 2023 event, 70 employees joined the activities.
On October 6, 2023 the Shiga Works of UACJ Metal Components participates in the annual October cleanup activity organized by the industrial park facility along the Chagama River beside the factory.
The Koriyama Works of UACJ Metal Components (formerly NALCO Koriyama Co., Ltd.) participates in the industrial park’s cleanup activities every year. The company’s community beautification activities in fiscal 2023 including an October event to pick up litter around the factory and on shared roads and grounds in the residential complex.
Education and Research Support
In October 2023, the Ena Works of UACJ Metal Components accepted two students from Nakatsugawa Technical High School for a work experience program (internship).
On November 29, 2023, the factor hosted a tour for local elementary school students as part of a school course assignment. On February 17, 2024, two employees were invited to the school to hear student presentations about the factory.
The Koriyama Works of UACJ Metal Components (formerly Nalco Koriyama) provides internships for students of Koriyama Kita Technical High School (the program was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained so in fiscal 2023).
Events, Activities, and Sponsorships
The Shiga Works of UACJ Metal Components hosted the blood collection vehicle of the Shiga Red Cross Blood Donation Center on December 8, 2023 to encourage employees to participate and donate blood.
In July 2023, employees of the Koriyama Works of UACJ Metal Components participated in a summer festival with 20 companies from the industrial park.
Activities at Other Locations
UACJ Foundry & Forging Corporation (currently UACJ Foundry and Forging Works)
Education and Research Support
On June 29, 2023, UACJ Foundry & Forging Corporation (currently UACJ Foundry and Forging Works) hosted 56 fifth-grade students from a local elementary school for a factory tour as part of a social studies class about the manufacturing process. The factory commemorated the visit by providing students with aluminum name tags and UACJ merchandise made at the factory.
The event was kicked off by a visit from Oyama Makuma, the official mascot character of Oyama City.
Environmental Protection and Neighborhood Cleanups
UACJ Foundry & Forging (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. employees planted 500 black mangrove trees as part of the mangrove forest restoration project for the Can Gio mangrove forest in Vietnam.
UACJ Aluminum Center Corporation
Utsunomiya Color Aluminum Works participates in the Industrial Park Cleaning event held by the Utsunomiya Industrial Park General Management Association on the 10th of every month. In fiscal 2023, a total of 80 employees participated in the program to beautify the local environment, including roads, parks, and public spaces around the company site.
The Nara Works of UACJ Aluminum Center hosts students from the local Kawanishi Shikige Junior High School for a hands-on learning class every year.
In the 2023 academic year, we accepted two students for three days from September 20-22 to learn by directly participating in aluminum loading, shearing, and cutting as well as operating measurement instruments.
In fiscal 2023, the Shiga Works, Nara Works, and Utsunomiya Color Aluminum Works installed six vending machines from which the companies will donate a portion of the profits to local greening activities.
UACJ Green-net Corporation
UACJ Green-net offers practical training for special needs students, worksite tours for special needs students and their teachers and parents, and also provides training for people with disabilities commissioned by Saitama Prefecture. In fiscal 2023, the company accepted 11 students for practical training and 3 for contracted training.
Sansen Co., Ltd.
Sansen has been conducting its Sawayaka Drive cleanup activities for over 10 years. Every month, about 10 employees gather to clean the grounds near junior high schools, special needs schools, and hospitals near the UACJ Nagoya Works.
