Contributing to a Collaborative Society
The population concentration in cities and regional depopulation are major social problems for Japan. In order to solve these problems, we work to promote regional revitalization through our business and promote business in alignment with the philosophy of the SDGs together with all stakeholders in our supply chain.
Co-Prosperity with the Supply Chain
As part of its efforts to replace petrochemical materials with renewable resources, DKS reviews natural materials such as plants and microorganisms and transforms them into highly functional materials to meet customer needs.
Furthermore, we promote corporate activities together with all stakeholders in our supply chain to address the problem of food waste, such as our efforts for effectively utilizing the residue left over after extracting the juice of sudachi. We also promote appropriate supply chain management via our trusted relationships cultivated over long years with our dealers and inspiring/inspired partners. In October 2021, we announced our “Building Partnerships Declaration.” We aim to build new partnerships by promoting cooperation and co-prosperity with businesses working to create value and our partners in the supply chain.
The Company states the following individual actions in this declaration:
Contributing to efforts for regional revitalization
We aim to grow together with the region by contributing to efforts for regional revitalization.
Assisting Health and Productivity Management
We will implement Health and Productivity Management and assist awareness building/enlightenment activities and the Health and Productivity Management of our business partners.
Efforts for Regional Revitalization
Efforts for Sericulture Innovation
Biococoon Laboratories Inc., one of our Group companies, advocates Sericulture Innovation that adds the perspective of chemistry to traditional sericulture. This initiative aims to achieve a healthy long-lived society by developing together with our primary industry operators and local governments. It aims to utilize sericulture resources such as mulberry trees, silk, cocoons, silkworms, and pupae to achieve regional revitalization via farmers, whose numbers have been declining*. Furthermore, the 100-million mulberry tree planting campaign aims to create a healthy long-lived society by generating a cycle of reducing CO2 by planting trees, effectively utilizing abandoned fields and rice paddies, creating regional employment opportunities for seniors, securing stable incomes, and establishing a supply chain for I. Japonica-Bombyx Fungus. The Company will also reduce medical costs by preventing dementia and aging frailty, and expand into promising applications for cutting-edge fields in the pharmaceuticals, foods, and cosmetics industries.
In August 2021, the Company signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Yabu City of Hyogo Prefecture to work on regional revitalization for the goal of contributing to the SDGs through Sericulture Innovation. The agreement aims to create abundant value via the utilization of physical resources and the mutual interaction of human and intellectual resources, and promotes the development of regional industry, sericulture business including the cultivation of mulberry trees, and research into cognitive functions and dementia.
- Number of sericultural households in Japan decreased from 3,280 households in the year 2000 to 61 households in 2021
Source: The Dainippon Silk Foundation
Sericulture Innovation and Expected Effects
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| Description of activity | Expected effects | |||
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| Cultivate mulberry trees to feed silkworms |
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| Cultivate silkworms |
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| Cocoons are utilized for various purposes |
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| Pupae |
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- Sericulture Innovation is a registered trademark of Biococoon Laboratories Inc.
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Sudachin, Achieving Effective Utilization of Sudachi Peel, a Local Specialty of Tokushima Prefecture
The increase in lifestyle diseases greatly affects health spans and it is important to prevent or treat them at an early stage. Research in Tokushima Prefecture has demonstrated that the sudachitin, which is contained in the peel extract of sudachi (a citrus fruit), can help against diabetes and obesity. Our Group company Ikeda Yakusou Co., Ltd. has developed a powder called Sudachin extracted from sudachi peel. We have expectations for Sudachin as a regional specialty that can contribute to extending health spans via the utilization of regional resources.
Sudachin Certified by Shikoku as a Health Support Food
Sudachi is a citrus fruit cultivated in Tokushima Prefecture, which is used as the raw material for juices and sauces, but the majority of sudachi peel is discarded as industrial waste after juice extraction. Ikeda Yakusou aims to effectively utilize sudachi peel to promote the development and production/ sales of sudachi peel related products such as sudachi peel extract and sudachi oil.
In September 2021, Sudachin, a sudachi peel extract from Ikeda Yakusou, was certified by the “Healthy Four*” health support food accreditation system of the Shikoku region. This enables the company to claim the existence of scientific grounds regarding the safety and functionality of food on its packaging. The next step for improving brand recognition is to submit an application to certify Sudachin as a food with functional claims to the Consumer Affairs Agency.
- “Healthy Four” health support food accreditation system of Shikoku region: A unique food claim system aiming to develop the food industry in the Shikoku region, which certifies foods manufactured in Shikoku or foods containing functional materials manufactured in Shikoku.
On-site lectures for communities and elementary/junior high schools
To provide children with opportunities to experience the wonders of chemistry, we deliver annual on-site lectures at elementary and junior high schools across Kyoto, Yokkaichi, Ogata, and Shiga. At these on-site lectures, we conduct fun experiments to encourage children to think about everyday chemicals and help them understand how detergents remove dirt. We also address the importance of water resources, which are essential for washing, and how to properly handle chemicals. Additionally, every year we participate in the hands-on science program “Yokkaichi Children’s Science Seminar.” In November 2024, we delivered on-site lectures to members of the Junior High School Science Education Research Council. The lecture covered everyday substances, a topic in the junior high school science/material science curriculum.
Utilizing the expertise and experience we have accumulated through our operations as a chemical manufacturer, we deliver fun and approachable lectures on everyday chemicals.
Major Community Events Conducted in FY2024
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| Month | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| August | Community Disaster Preparedness Event in Sugayadai, Rifu Town, Miyagi District, Miyagi Prefecture | A disaster preparedness event was held during the summer holiday to raise disaster awareness among the younger generation and strengthen relationships with neighboring communities. |
| September | Panel Discussion at the Shiga Prefectural KOSEN Co-Creation Forum | One of our employees participated as a panelist in the second part of the panel discussion at the second Shiga Prefectural KOSEN Co-creation Forum event, which was organized by a group of nine entities, including Shiga Prefecture, who have signed the “Co-creation Declaration for Establishing a Technical College,” and which was sponsored by the Cabinet Office and the Shiga Prefectural Board of Education. |
| November | Sponsored the 34th Children’s Fire Safety Fair Held at Shiga Prefecture Fire Academy | The purpose of the event was to provide an opportunity for local children and their families to learn about fire safety activities and raise fire and disaster awareness from an early age, thereby creating safe and secure communities. We conducted a hand soap-making workshop. |
| Delivered an On-Site Lecture to Members of the Sanshi District Junior High School Science Education Research Council | At Komono Junior High School in the town of Komono, we delivered an on-site lecture to approximately 55 science teachers at junior high schools in Yokkaichi City and Mie District. The lecture covered everyday substances, a topic in the junior high school science/material science curriculum. | |
| January | Donated 800 Units of “Benry-Bag” Emergency Portable Toilets to Joetsu City | When exploring ways to utilize our surplus emergency stock, we contacted Joetsu City, which told us that they could use the products during emergencies in the city and for disaster drills, and so we donated the products to them. |
| February | Hosted the 1st Subcommittee Meeting of the FY2024 Dementia-Friendly Cross-Industry Collaboration Council at our HQ building, Co-Organized with Kyoto Prefecture and the General Incorporated Association Tsunagi | The subcommittee discussed what private sector companies can do to promote the basic plan for dementia. At the venue, approximately 40 participants gathered, including member companies of the Dementia-Friendly Cross-Industry Collaboration Council, Kyoto Prefecture Senior Citizen Anshin Support Companies, and municipal dementia policy representatives. |
Trends in On-Site Lectures Delivered
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| Site Name | Location | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yokkaichi Plant | Yokkaichi City | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Ogata Plant | Joetsu City | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Shiga Plant | Higashi-Omi City | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kyoto Office | Kyoto City | 2 | 2 | 2 |