Sustainability

Sustainability

Toward a sustainable society

Ohara is taking environmentally friendly measures and helping to solve social problems through a wide range of chemistry-focused business activities. By concentrating on themes such as decarbonization, resource recycling, and coexistence with local communities, we aim to be a trading company that contributes to sustainable industrial growth.

  1. 01 Environment

    Environmental initiatives

    Business expansion with carbon neutral perspective

    • Development of chemicals for CO₂ reduction in steel processing
    • Development of fuels for biomass power generation
    Affordable and Clean Energy Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Responsible Consumption and Production Climate Action Life Below Water Life On Land Partnerships for the Goals

    Green technology in electronic materials field

    • Development and sales expansion of new types of solar battery materials
    • Development and sales expansion of materials for environmentally friendly products, such as rechargeable batteries
    Affordable and Clean Energy Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Responsible Consumption and Production Climate Action Life Below Water Life On Land

    Introduction and development of environment-related equipment

    • Deployment of wastewater treatment equipment, MBR, zero emission equipment, etc.
    • Development and deployment of acid-alkali concentration and recycling equipment
    Affordable and Clean Energy Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Responsible Consumption and Production Climate Action Life Below Water Life On Land

    Environmental measures in nonferrous metal field

    • Metal recycling and valuable metal recovery in nonferrous metal refining
    • Proposals for recovery technologies and chemicals from urban mines
    Affordable and Clean Energy Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Responsible Consumption and Production Life On Land

    Response of overseas corporations to environmental regulations

    • Deployment of environmental merchandise and introduction of water treatment equipment in China and Indonesia
    Clean Water and Sanitation Affordable and Clean Energy Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Responsible Consumption and Production Climate Action Life Below Water Life On Land

    Contribution to CO2 reduction

    • Proposals for merchandise that contributes to CO2 reduction based on life cycle assessments (LCA)
    Affordable and Clean Energy Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Responsible Consumption and Production Climate Action Life On Land

    Acquisition of ISO 14001 certification

    • Acquisition of certification for the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems international standard on March 6, 2002
    ISO14001認証マーク
    Affordable and Clean Energy Responsible Consumption and Production Climate Action Life On Land

  2. A work environment that supports physical and mental health

    • Mental health support (introduction of mental health surveys, one-on-one meeting system, etc.)
    • Promotion of flexible work styles (work-from-home system, short working hours system, staggered work hours system, etc.)
    • Certified under the 2025 Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health Program (sixth consecutive year)
    Good Health and Well-Being Decent Work and Economic Growth Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Partnerships for the Goals

    Training and growth opportunities

    • Skill improvement, career formation, and reskilling support (qualification acquisition support program, eLearning and external seminar expansion)
    • Introduction of a developmental personnel system (job function design and target management system adapted for growth, evaluation criteria based on capabilities and results)
    Quality Education Decent Work and Economic Growth Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Responsible Consumption and Production

    Motivation to work and work/life balance

    • Support for both child rearing and elderly care (support for promoting leave for child rearing and elderly care and return to work, enhanced system that goes beyond legal requirements)
    • Enhancement of benefits according to life plans (company-provided housing system, scholarship program, etc.)
    No Poverty Good Health and Well-Being Gender Equality Decent Work and Economic Growth Reduced Inequalities Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

    Health management initiatives

    • To achieve our goal of continuously growing as a company no matter the economic environment, we are promoting health management based on the key themes of creating a positive and energetic workplace for employees and supporting the physical and mental health of each individual.
    • In April 2020, Ohara implemented a non-smoking policy during work hours at all our worksites in Japan.
    • In addition to compliance with regulations related to work style reform, we are also taking further steps to promote reform.
    • Focusing on the “mental” aspect of physical and mental health, we are implementing mental health care measures, such as establishing a contact point for help.
    • In addition to continuing our 100% record of employee enrollment in periodic health examinations, we encourage employees to undergo secondary examinations, such as follow-up tests and more detailed examinations. We also encourage employees to have their families receive health examinations to promote overall family health.
    Note that in addition to the 2024 Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health Program of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ohara also acquired Step 1 (Silver Certification) under the Healthy Company Declaration Program of the Tokyo Federation of Health Insurance Associations in September 2018, and we are currently working to acquire Step 2 (Gold Certification).
    Good Health and Well-Being Decent Work and Economic Growth Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Partnerships for the Goals

  3. 03 Governance

    Governance initiatives

    Strict risk management

    • Systematic management of risks, such as those in management, financial affairs, operations, and cybersecurity
    • Construction of hazard-response systems (BCP, disaster, pandemic responses, etc.)
    Sustainable Cities and Communities Responsible Consumption and Production Climate Action Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Partnerships for the Goals

    Strict compliance (observing laws)

    • Compliance with laws, regulations, and corporate ethics, and employee training
    • Strict harassment prevention, internal reporting system, external hotline, etc.
    Quality Education Reduced Inequalities Responsible Consumption and Production Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Partnerships for the Goals

    Strengthening digital governance

    • Establishment and operation of information security policies
    • Rebuilding of governance system as a result of DX promotion
    Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Responsible Consumption and Production Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions