Together with Our Local Communities
(Community Involvement /
　Development and Social Dialogue)

To coexist with our local communities as a corporate citizen and ensure our sustainable development, at the Nippon Soda Group we proactively participate in community activities, exchange opinions with community stakeholders, and engage in an array of social contribution activities. In addition, through dialogue with local communities, we aim to further our understanding of their needs and values regarding the environment, safety, and health, and put our findings to good use to ensure better business activities.

Harmonious Relationship with Local Communities

Contribution to local employment

Nippon Soda contributes to creating local employment opportunities through its worksites throughout Japan.
Furthermore, to ensure healthy work-life balance and enhance job satisfaction, we communicate with labor unions to formulate working conditions in line with current trends. As a result, not only does our standard minimum wage continue to be above the legal minimum wage in all areas we conduct business, we are also contributing to raising income levels in the regions in which we operate.

Comparison of the standard minimum wage to the local minimum wage in the year ended March 2023

• * Standard minimum wages for the Company were calculated based on the starting salary (same for men and women) for those joining the Company at the age of 18 in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing groups. Wages have been rounded down to the nearest yen.

Participation in local cleaning activities

In order to fulfill our role and responsibility as a corporate citizen, we regularly carry out local cleaning activities around our worksites. We also actively participate in local cleaning activities in tandem with local communities, such as through eco-walks and cleanup campaigns.

Number of community cleanup activities

Social Dialogue with Local Communities

Communication activities at major worksites

Nippon Soda holds local gatherings and regularly conducts tours of plants and research centers for residents in areas where worksites are located in order to provide information on CSR activities and exchange views and comments.

External communication events at major sites (Frequency)

Dissemination of information on CSR activities

The Nippon Soda Group disseminates information on its CSR activities in the following ways:
Anyone can read about our CSR activities in our Integrated Report as well as in the ESG Data Book on our corporate website. Also, we submit an implementation report and plan to the Japan Chemical Industry Association, and announce the report and plan in dialogue with local communities and other settings. Each of our worksites provides information on our activities through regular tours and other gatherings.
Between FY 2021 and FY 2023, regional social gatherings and numerous other events were cancelled to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Dialogue with local residents

Regular gatherings are held at our worksites to give us an opportunity to hear the opinions of local residents.

External communication

The Nihongi Plant conducts environmental monitoring in cooperation with five residents living near the plant, and the Takaoka Plant does the same with 12 residents in its vicinity. In FY 2023, we were provided with information on three incidents (one of which was unrelated to environmental monitoring), dealt with the situations properly, explained our response to those who provided the information, and gained their understanding.

Major Social Contribution Activities of Nippon Soda

Nippon Soda conducts social contribution activities to build harmonious relationships with local communities and support their development.

Participation in local events

Each worksite is engaged in a range of activities in line with regional needs, and strives to build sound relationships with their communities.

Traffic safety guidance on the street
(April 14, 2022, Takaoka Plant)

Eco-walk
(April 24, 2022, Nihongi Plant)

Simultaneous cleaning of Takashima Road
(May 20, 2022, Mizushima Plant)

Local community cleanup
(June 1, 2022, Odawara Research Center)

Midori no Hane Community Chest
(June 2, 2022, Nihongi Plant)

Environmental maintenance forplant surroundings
(June 17, 2022, Takaoka Plant)

Nakago Junior High School grade 2 plant tour
(July 8, 2022, Nihongi Plant)

Local community cleanup
(September 14, 2022, Chiba Plant & Chiba Research Center)

Environmental maintenance forplant surroundings
(October 26, 2022, Takaoka Plant)

Local community cleanup
(November 9, 2022, Odawara Research Center)

Local community cleanup
(November 9, 2022, Chiba Plant & Chiba Research Center)