Social Contribution Activities
The UACJ Group fulfills its duty as a good corporate citizen by using its business for the benefit of society, and by being a reliable and trustworthy corporate group that engages in activities that contribute to a sustainable and prosperous society.
Basic Approach
The UACJ Group’s follows the UACJ Way, which is based on the Group’s concept of sustainability “Passing down a better world over the next century.” The UACJ Way is to use our business activities to address social issues and to generate sustainable growth in our corporate value.
We seek to coexist and prosper with our stakeholders through activities centered on the three areas of developing the next generation of society, promoting culture, art, and sports, and protecting the environment.
Related information: The UACJ Way action
Objectives
- Contribute to solving global social issues
- Contribute to solving social issues in the local communities in which we operate
- Respond to the needs of our stakeholders
- Effectively engage and apply the UACJ Group management resources of human resources and technology
- Foster a spirit of taking on challenges, strengthen creativity and teamwork abilities, and cultivate a strong sense of empathy among employees
- Further enhance the UACJ Group brand value
Promotion Structure
The UACJ General Affairs and Public Relations departments plan and implement programs that combine strengths of the UACJ manufacturing sites and Group companies to address social issues. In accordance with internal regulations, the relevant departments review the appropriateness prior to distribution of donations and membership fees to non-profit organizations, such as incorporated associations, foundations, NPOs and NGOs.
UACJ encourages employees to participate in social welfare, disaster recovery, and environmental conservation activities and has created a volunteer leave system*1 to support employee participation in society.
*1 The volunteer leave system provides paid leave separate from the regular paid leave program for participation in volunteer activities.
Nurturing the Next Generation
Nurturing the Next Generation through Sports
Nurturing the Next Generation with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
UACJ joins with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows professional baseball team to present social contribution activities to foster the youth who will be next-generation leaders in sports.
In fiscal 2023, UACJ and former Swallows players put on the UACJ Baseball Clinic on May 27 for 106 elementary school students on baseball teams in Fukaya, Saitama Prefecture, where our Fukaya Works is located. Former Swallows players provided instruction to 106 young baseball players.
On July 30, we sponsored the UACJ Special Day at a baseball game at Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium where 50 Fukaya players and family members joined in the first pitch ceremony and presenting a bouquet of flowers. In addition, the players from the Fukaya teams served as escorts for the professional players during their introductions.
UACJ also held a baseball clinic for elementary school students on baseball teams in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, where the Fukui Works is located. On November 12, Swallows catcher Yuhei Nakamura and former Swallows players provided instruction to 121 young baseball players.
Cultivating the next generation with Utsunomiya Brex
UACJ also joins with the Utsunomiya Brex professional basketball team to contribute to society.
In fiscal 2023, the UACJ × Utsunomiya Brex Basketball Clinic was held on July 22 for elementary school students on basketball teams in Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture, where UACJ Oyama Works and UACJ Foundry & Forging Works are located. Utsunomiya Brex player Kaito Shike and coaches provided instruction to 180 young basketball players.
Note Kaito Shike moved to the Koshigaya Alphas in the 2024-2025 season.
Sponsoring the Challenge A Next-generation Education and Sports event
In 2019, UACJ became a sponsor of the Challenge A next-generation education and sports event for elementary and junior high school students presented by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. The 400 students who joined the 2023 Challenge A held on December 17 participated in talk shows and hands-on instruction by athletes about the importance of taking on challenges.
Nurturing the Next Generation through Environmental Education
Lending a Hand with the Global Classroom Environmental Education Project
In fiscal 2023, employees helped prepare environmental education textbooks, of which over 150,000 copies (including digital paper versions) were distributed to elementary school students nationwide. Employees also took the stage as presenters at a One-day Environmental School event in Tokyo on September 23.
UACJ employees also gave presentations on the topic “Earth-Friendly Aluminum” to classes at Akadomari Elementary School in Sado, Niigata Prefecture on November 7 and at Ikaho Elementary School in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture on December 14. The classes highlighted aluminum’s high 90% recycling rate and how its strength and lightness help make cars lighter. On January 26, the Fukaya Works hosted a class and provided a factory tour for students of Kamishiba Higashi Elementary School in Saitama Prefecture.
Sponsoring the SDGs Journal Education Project
In fiscal 2021, UACJ became a cosponsor of the SDG Journal created by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper as part of its SDG education project. The SDG Journal education kit is geared for middle and high school students, with 100,000 copies distributed to schools across the country. In fiscal 2023, we contributed information about UACJ’s activities to achieve the SDGs.
Employees also conducted presentations on the topic of “SDGs and Aluminum” at Takaya Junior High School in Ibara, Okayama Prefecture on January 18 and Yoshino Junior High School in Awa, Tokushima Prefecture on February 9. The presentations highlighted how aluminum reduces environmental impact and UACJ’s efforts to achieve the SDGs.
Sponsoring the Career Education Project "Nikkei Education Challenge for SDGs"
Since 2019, UACJ has been a co-sponsor of the Nikkei Education Challenge, a career education project for high school students sponsored by Nikkei Inc.
At the August 1-2, 2023, event, UACJ employees presented a class titled Can you chase two rabbits and still catch them both? Aluminum lightens the world. The class covered aluminum’s high recycling rate of over 90% and how its light weight is lowering automobile weights, the importance of finding solutions for trade-off issues, and even the career paths of the UACJ presenters.
Interactive Aluminum Can Recycling Game
In fiscal 2023, we introduced an interactive game to teach elementary school students about recycling aluminum cans. We presented the game at a shopping mall on March 9, 23, and 28 that attracted 234 young participants.
Internship System
Every year, UACJ accepts 10 to 15 undergraduate and graduate university and technical college students for internships. We provide a valuable opportunity to think about the meaning of working in a company or in society. The internships provide valuable opportunities for students to gain an understanding of what it means to work in a company and in society through tackling actual business topics in the R&D department as well as to gain an appreciation of the importance of academic education and research.
Supporting Education and Research
The UACJ Group provides research grants to universities and research institutes focused primarily on supporting local cultural and artistic activities.
We also participate in research commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and in industry, government, and academia collaborations aimed at creating a mechanism for developing human resources among young engineers and university students. In addition, we provide corporate practical training sites for Super Science High Schools and support the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s training programs and education and training activities in Japan and overseas.
Supporting Local Community Education and Research
The UACJ Group cooperates with schools near its business sites to accept interns and provide training for teachers at private companies.
Related information: Communication with Local Communities
Supporting Culture, the Arts, and Sports
Supporting Sports
UACJ sponsors sports activities with the aims of improving its brand power and contributing to society and local communities. We have been annually sponsoring the Tokyo Yakult Swallows professional baseball team since 2015 and the Utsunomiya Brex basketball team and FC Gifu soccer team since 2019. In 2023, we also became sponsors of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara DynaBoars rugby team and the Japan Wheelchair Tennis Association.
Utsunomiya Brex and Aluminum Cup Recycling Project
In fiscal 2023, we became a sponsor of the Utsunomiya Brex SDG Challenge aimed at realizing a low-carbon and recycling-oriented society. Part of our contribution is providing aluminum cups for use at Brex home games to promote recycling among the team’s fans.
Environmental beautification activities with FC Gifu
In fiscal 2023, we joined with the FC Gifu soccer team to present the Score a Goal with Garbage Bags! Project at the FC Gifu stadium on September 9. Conducted in collaboration with NPO green bird, the project is aimed to increase awareness of environmental beautification.
Sponsorship of the “Sports Education” project of the Japan Blind Soccer Association
The NPO Japan Blind Soccer Association presents a “Sports Education” program promoting understanding of diversity by providing elementary, junior high, and high school students with experiences playing blind soccer. In fiscal 2023, the UACJ Nagoya Works held a participatory event for employees, their family members, and local residents at the festival it hosted on the factory grounds.
Supporting International Musicians
Since fiscal 2019, UACJ has been a cosponsor of Music Sharing, a non-profit organization led by its president Midori Goto, who was designated a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2007. The purpose of this organization is to use great music as a transformative spark for helping children to expand their capacity for developing relationships, understanding other cultures, and actively participating in the creation of music.
Co-sponsoring the Professional Shogi Ryuo Tournament
UACJ has been cosponsoring the professional shogi Ryuo Tournament hosted by the Yomiuri Shimbun and Japan Shogi Association since fiscal 2020. The UACJ Group extends its value to be curious and take on challenges to supporting high-level competition and contributing to culture and the development of the next generation of society.
Supporting Artists with Disabilities
As part of its efforts to promote diversity in society, in fiscal 2021 UACJ became a Gold Partner of the Organization for Promotion of Independence for Persons with Disabilities and holds design competitions for artists.
The theme of the fiscal 2023 design competition was “Aluminum for Tomorrow.” Group employees voted for one Grand Prix and two UACJ Award winners from among 85 entries.
Environmental Protection and Neighborhood Cleanups
Leading Community Cleanup Campaigns
Since fiscal 2018, UACJ has been a sponsor of green bird, a specified non-profit corporation engaged in beautification activities around UACJ factory sites, and joins in clean up events as part of our urban beautification and environmental protection efforts.
In fiscal 2023, we conducted cleanup activities at the Fujimae tidal flats in Nagoya City during which we collected microplastics and a large amount of drift debris, which can negatively impact marine ecosystems. The Fujimae tidal flats are part of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Conducting Corporate Afforestation Activities
UACJ signed a corporate forestation agreement with Fukui Prefecture and Sakai City through which UACJ is promoting regional environmental conservation with tree planting and forest management of the UACJ Fukui Forest.
In fiscal 2023, employees of the Fukui Works and their families gathered four times for forest stewardship activities including clearing underbrush and planting additional trees.
Participating in Local Community Environmental Conservation and Cleanup Activities
The UACJ Group’s community-based CSR activities include actively participating in the environmental beautification activities of local community groups as well as carrying out cleanup activities around its factories.
Related information: Communication with Local Communities
Supporting Disaster Relief
Supporting Disaster Relief Activities
As part of its effort to support recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, UACJ became a cosponsor in fiscal 2019 of Ishinomaki Farm in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. Ishinomaki Farm started as a place where young people with mental disorders following the earthquake can experience farm work. UACJ supports the farm by assisting with cultivating hops for use in brewing beer, working with manufacturers to provide equipment for filling beer into aluminum bottles, and providing aluminum cups for events.
Supporting Water Storage for Emergencies
UACJ operates a supply and sales network for aluminum bottles of water with a shelf life of 12 years.
In fiscal 2023, at the request of local governments and other groups, we donated bottled water to victims of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
Teaching the Uses of Aluminum Foil in Disaster Situations
UACJ and UACJ Foil have joined with the non-profit organization Plus Arts to present educational activities on how aluminum foil can be used in disaster situations.
We insert My Foil Plus illustrated instructions to our aluminum foil product packages to show the uses of foil in disaster situations, distribute them as novelty items, andalso make the information available on a web page with videos.