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In 2003, Toshiba established the Toshiba Group Basic Policy on Corporate Citizenship Activities as an aspect of promotion of CSR activities with a view to emphasizing Toshiba Group's corporate philosophy and reinforcing implementation of Toshiba Group Standards of Conduct. The Basic Policy embodies the slogan "Committed to People, Committed to the Future. TOSHIBA."
Toshiba Group Basic Policy on Corporate Citizenship Activities
- In accordance with the Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group and Toshiba Group Standards of Conduct, we make vigorous efforts to contribute to society.
- In contributing to society, we emphasize the following fields: protection of the natural environment, science and technology education, promotion of sport and culture, social welfare, and international exchanges and friendship.
- We support employees' voluntary activities.
Inspired by the slogan "Committed to People, Committed to the Future," Toshiba Group is devoted to corporate citizenship activities that take advantage of its distinctive identity. These activities are in five fields, including protection of the natural environment and science and technology education.
In 2003, Toshiba established Corporate Citizenship Committee, an organization subordinate to the CSR Governance Committee. It consists of 15 members and is chaired by the director responsible for CSR governance, and meets once every three months. In 2004, Toshiba began appointing a Social Contribution Coordinator at each group company and business site. As of March 2009, there were 233 coordinators in Japan and 140 overseas, actively promoting social contribution activities.
Corporate citizenship activities worldwide are reported to the Corporate Citizenship Committee and evaluated based on nine criteria such as goals, employee participation, originality, continuity, impact on society, and cooperation with external organizations. In December every year, outstanding achievements are conferred with Toshiba "ASHITA" (meaning tomorrow in Japanese) Award, by the president. Toshiba holds an information exchange meeting on the day of the awards ceremony at which representatives from the business sites and group companies receiving the award exchange opinions about the implementation of more effective corporate citizenship activities.
| Toshiba | - Toshiba Dreams and Ideas contest (Himeji Operations) - Support for social welfare activities in the community (Keihin Product Operations) |
|---|---|
| Toshiba Group | - Safety campaign and distribution of DVD on safety(Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation) - Shizuoka "Supporter for the Future of Forests" (Toshiba Carrier Corporation) |
| Individual, teams | - Mountain climbing support, environmental preservation, rescuing activities(Toshiba Alpine Club Mie Branch) - Concerts at social welfare facility (Toshiba Building Co., Ltd.) - Swimming assistance to physically challenged children (Software Engineering Center) - Environmental protection activities (Minani Plus) |
| North America | - New Graduate Hire Orientation Community Service Project (Westinghouse Electric Company L.L.C.) - Media Room at St. Joseph's Villa(Toshiba Business Solutions-New York) |
| Europe | - Charity Fundraising(Toshiba TEC U.K. Imaging Systems Ltd.) - Building of Relaxation Garden(Toshiba Europe GmbH) |
| Asia | - Clean-up Initiative (Hangzhi Machiney & Electronics Co., Ltd.) - A Special Gift to Special Children(Toshiba Information Equipment (Philippines), Inc.) |
TOSHIBA Group Social Contributions Activities
Every year in December, we issue Toshiba Group Social Contributions Activities Report featuring the social contribution activities involving participation of employees around the world. In fiscal 2008, more than 140,000 employees from 228 group companies participated in such activities, and out of the 1,395 activities held, we have included the salient ones in the report.
At Toshiba Group, we carry out social contribution activities worldwide with regard to protection of the environment, promotion of scientific and technical education, international exchanges, sports and cultural activities, and social welfare activities. The major activities of fiscal 2008 include the following:
Toshiba's "Explore the Forest Expedition"
Tree-planting in California, US
We are promoting the Toshiba Group 1.5 Million Tree-planting Project, a global project aimed for completion in 2025, to mark the 150th anniversary of Toshiba Group. Through such "tree-planting" activities, we aim to contribute to the conservation of the natural environment, biodiversity and water sources; promote the cultivation of nature-loving people; and provide a rich natural environment for the future generation.
In fiscal 2008, we undertook tree-planting activities at 12 sites in Japan and 6 overseas sites, contributing to 600,000 total accumulated planted trees. In addition, we are working in cooperation with local governments. As a part of these efforts, we have entered into agreements for forest maintenance with 6 local governments, including Tokyo and Hyogo Prefecture by fiscal 2008.
Toshiba Group entered into a framework agreement to cooperate on forest maintenance activities with Aomori Prefecture (Japan) in May 2009. Based on this agreement, we aim to maintain the mountain forest and woodland of 10.5 hectares in Shichinohe Town and Misawa City in cooperation with Aomori Prefecture and use them as venues for environmental education of employees.
In addition, we will also use the mechanism* of the Forest Neighborhood Association as promoted by the environmental NPOs Office Neighborhood Association (Chonaikai in Japanese). We will use paper in the form of printed materials or copier paper made by paper manufacturing companies using tree thinning in Misawa City. In addition, we will contribute to a recycling society, not only by tree thinning but also through their reuse.
* A new forest thinning promotion mechanism managed by the environmental NPOs Office Neighborhood Association to link companies with the forest, to promote the utilization of forest thinning materials
As a company that excels in technology, Toshiba Group is making efforts in promoting science and technology education for young people. We have been promoting technology exhibitions and experiment classrooms at Toshiba Science Museum as well as the science and technology contests in North America over the years.
As part of these activities, we have been involved in the promotion of experiential science education in Japan since fiscal 2008. In recent years, in Japan, there has been a growing disinclination to study science coupled with a perceived decline in educational aspirations among young people. This has been a cause for concern to not only the government but also educators in the private sector. Hence, they are actively making efforts to improve the quality of science and math education.
Furthermore, Toshiba has started extending these activities to support science and math education to China by organizing contests in order to groom leaders for the future.
Educational symposium held at the Tokyo University
Experiential science class at an elementary school
We are supporting the activities of an NPO, an experiential science education institute, namely, Real Science Education Institute. The president of the NPO is a renowned Japanese mathematician Mr. Jin Akiyama.
The institute is engaged in the development of experiential science educational programs, cultivation of instructors and providing educational support in order to foster human resources that can contribute to international society in the field of science.
Toshiba Group has been actively cooperating with the institute since its commencement in 2008. In addition to providing financial support, we also support their activities through employee volunteering.
In March 2009, we held a symposium in the Komaba Campus of the University of Tokyo targeting people involved in the education field, especially teachers at elementary and junior high schools. During the symposium, a panel discussion was held between Mr. Zeniya, the vice minister of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Mr. Akiyama; and Mr. Nishida, the former President of Toshiba surrounding the topic "The issues of school education and the cultivation of human resources capable of succeeding in international society."
In addition, in May 2009, we held the Toshiba Experiential Science Class in Tokyo, in which Mr. Akiyama was invited as an instructor. About 1000 parents and children had the opportunity to learn about the fun with science.
The Toshiba Science Museum located in Kawasaki, Japan provides a venue for science trips and holds a wide range of experiential learning programs for elementary and junior high school students every Saturday.
In addition, the museum actively holds science classes on demand in which museum staff visit schools and other educational facilities to provide community-based science education. In fiscal 2008, such events were held in about 55 schools.
| Program | Contents |
|---|---|
| GEMS Explorer | Developed in the US and allows participants to explore the wonders of science through experiments, and predict, discover and experience for themselves |
| Atom Workshop | Class of manual creations and experiments, participated by parents and children, organized by a Kawasaki City (Japan) volunteer group |
| Galileo Workshop | Experiment class held in cooperation with NPOs Galileo Workshop. The theme is "Fun of science to everybody!" |
| Science Class on Demand | Program in which Toshiba staff visit elementary schools, etc. and provide experiment-oriented classes that are rare in schools today |
Toshiba Group has three foundations in Japan, the U.S. and Thai which organize international exchange programs and proactively provide cultural and educational support. Also, they provide internships to technical undergraduates from around the world.
Toshiba Youth Conference for a Sustainable Future
Established in 1989, Toshiba International Foundation has undertaken various activities to promote a better understanding of Japan through international exchanges. In fiscal 2008, as a new event, it held the Toshiba Youth Conference for a Sustainable Future. The conference intends to cultivate global human resources who are capable of creating a better global environment by working with other people.
The theme for the first year was "Efficient energy consumption for realizing a sustainable society," and 19 high school students and 11 teachers from the United States, Thailand and Japan participated in the event. During the conference, the participants presented on the environmental conditions unique to each country and deepened their mutual understanding. In addition, they learned about environmental advanced technology facilities and environmental technologies of traditional construction technologies, as well as the efforts of companies toward environmental protection in Japan. At the end of the conference, the participants presented on specific action plans for global environmental conservation. As a result of the event, they were able to understand the importance of working with one another and taking action on their own.
Every year since 1989, Toshiba has invited university and graduate school students from around the world to participate in fixed-term internships at the Corporate R&D Center. Through this program, Toshiba provides instruction in science and technology as practiced in Japan as well as opportunities to deepen understanding of Japanese society and culture. To date, 478 students from 37 countries have participated in the program.
Toshiba Group periodically organizes sports lessons for local communities to enhance relationship with them. Also, the Group holds cultural events at its premises in various communities, where the employees can enjoy such events along with the local citizens.
Toshiba Group is involved in a number of social welfare activities. As a manufacturer (Toshiba Medical Systems Corp.) of diagnostic imaging systems such as mammography to diagnose breast cancer, ultrasound, CT, MRI, etc., Toshiba Group is involved in Pink Ribbon activities. Other activities include donation of pre-owned computers, sales events for products from social welfare organizations, blood donation programs, etc.
Employees of Toshiba TEC U.K.
Imaging Systems Ltd. participated in the charity walk
Volunteer employees "Pink Ribbon Smile Walk" event, Japan
Toshiba Group supports the Pink Ribbon Campaign, encouraging early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Though reportedly one in 20 Japanese women gets breast cancer, the screening rate of breast cancer remains low. We are supporting awareness activities nationwide to improve the screening rate, as much as possible.
In fiscal 2008, more than 300 Toshiba Group employees and their families participated in the walking events held in Japan. We also donate part of the proceeds of Toshiba's pink ribbon models comprising USB flash memory device and mineral water to the "Japanese Cancer Society's Smile to Eliminate Breast Cancer Fund." Overseas also, Toshiba Group employees participated in such walking events.
We continue to contribute to activities supporting women's health in Japan as well as overseas, while continuing to develop mammography equipment, ultrasound and medical diagnostic imaging systems, such as CT scanners and MRI equipment.
Volunteer fair at Toshiba headquarters
Toshiba Group has set up volunteer leave system to support employee volunteer activities. In fiscal 2008, the leave system was availed by 11 employees. In addition, Toshiba provides donation to NPOs in which Toshiba employees are involved, and last year, 16 NPOs were provided with such support.
The Group has also set up Social Contribution Awards to promote employee volunteer activities. In selecting an NPO for providing support, Toshiba considers a number of criteria such as employee involvement in the NPOs, level of contribution to solve the social problem, etc. In July 2008, the 2nd Volunteer Fair was held at the Toshiba headquarters, where the activities based on the theme "Scientific and Technical Education" of several NPOs (in which Toshiba employees are also involved) were presented.
The Group carried out a wide range of activities to meet the needs of local society.
Toshiba provides donations and other emergency support in response to major disasters around the world.
When the Niigata Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake struck in July 2007, Toshiba Group donated money and goods worth 50 million yen to Niigata Prefecture, and Toshiba Plant Systems and Services Corporation dispatched employees to help restore nearby housing and provided space for temporary accommodation.
Toshiba Group donated 10 million yen to international NGOs in response to the Myanmar Cyclone in May 2008 and donated a total of 100 million yen to the Japan Red Cross, the China Youth Development Foundation, and other organizations in response to the Sichuan Earthquake in China in May 2008.
Assistance to schools after the Sichuan earthquake
In order to help meet the needs of the many children who have limited educational opportunities, Toshiba Group provides educational infrastructure by building schools, donating equipment and fixtures to schools, and dispatching volunteers.
One of these efforts includes the construction of Toshiba Hope Elementary Schools, a project to build two schools per year in China in cooperation with the China Youth Development Foundation. For this activity, companies of Toshiba Group in China donate approximately 6 million yen each year as construction funds. Moreover, they nurture the schools by providing continuous support after they open, by donating stationeries and other items. As of the end of fiscal 2008, a total of 15 schools had been constructed. Toshiba also contributed to temporary classroom construction project called "Earthquake Relief Hope School" in Sichuan province after the earthquake in 2008.
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