Through our core businesses of providing environmentally oriented products, waste treatment and recycling, we at the DOWA Group will contribute to solving such global social issues as environmental and energy problems.
DOWA HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
President and Representative Director Masao Yamada
The Roots of CSR at DOWA
The year of our foundation is recognized as 1884, when the Meiji government sold the Kosaka mine to us. At the time, mining companies not only provided social capital directly connected with their business activities, such as establishing water supply facilities and power plants, and developing railroads and roads, but they were also responsible for community development needed by the residents, including erecting housing, hospitals, entertainment facilities such as theaters and mountain shrines that became a foundation for the region. On the other hand, if mining development and smelting businesses proceed randomly, it always causes environmental pollution of air and water, and the destruction of nature such as deforestation. While we at the DOWA Group have built technologies and management know-how to reduce the impact on the environment, and have worked on conservation, with that alone we would not have been able to continue our business activities for over 130 years rooted in the community. In any era it is important to have discussions with the local people, work to disclose information and build trust.
It goes without saying that mining contributes to the development of the region while at the same time working to solve the problems of the local community. We believe that these kinds of things are the starting point for our CSR activities.
While in recent years CSR has been actively booming, instead of being a boom or something new, for us it could be said that CSR is management itself both today and in the past.
We Will Continue to Address Social Issues Based on the New International Framework
Looking back on the past year, there was big movement towards resolving common problems in the international community, with the Paris Agreement, which established the international framework for climate change, coming into effect, and the goals for achieving a sustainable world shifting from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It can be said that the role played by companies for these issues is very large.
With regards to climate change measures, we will not only limit our CO2 emissions, but we will also fulfill our responsibilities through providing materials and parts to enhance the effects of energy savings, and developing destruction processing technology for Freon in Asia. In 2016, we realized such things as the development of metal-ceramic circuit boards with enhanced conductivity and strength properties that are used for copper alloys and automotive inverters, and the improvement of properties for electrode material used in fuel cells. In addition, with the aim of reducing carbon in the Asian region, we are conducting test treatment for the destruction of Freon at our waste treatment subsidiary in Thailand, and we are promoting commercialization of the proper recovery and destruction of Freon.
As for the SDGs, with our corporate philosophy of “building a resource recycling society” deeply connected to goal number 12 of the SDGs,“ Ensure Sustainable consumption and production”, we believe that through our main business this is the goal that we can contribute to the most. We are positioning goal number 12, which is closely related to other goals, as our company’s entry point to promote the SDGs. We will continue to focus on demonstrating that the efforts of each and every employee will lead to the realization of a sustainable society.
In addition, while supporting the new international framework of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, we again declare that we will continue to support the UN Global Compact that we signed in 2009 with its 10 principles in the four fields of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. And, as a matter of course, we will comply with all laws and regulations, and will thoroughly ensure compliance while observing social ethics.
Making the Changing Times Our Own Opportunity
The DOWA Group, which originates from the mining and smelting industry, sometimes has had to make hard decisions like closing a mine in response to various changes in the business environment, such as environmental, economic and societal issues. At the same time we have changed our structure to the shape of the current five core businesses that we have grown into. While on the one hand we have grasped new business opportunities as a part of that process, we have also learned“ how to change” through several mistakes after moving into areas where the strengths of our company could not be utilized. By actively changing ourselves and seizing opportunities without fearing change in the business environment, we believe that we have created a corporate culture that builds on our strengths without being tossed about by the changing times.
Last year there were trends that went against globalization, such as the problem of the U.K. withdrawing from the European Union, the political situation in Europe and uncertainty created by policies of the new U.S. administration. Putting in our mind these events which show that the main stream flow is accelerating at any time, and that we would be left behind as soon as we are in a slack attitude, we will never hesitate to change and we will be working steadily to do each of our measures more swiftly than before.
Together with broadly notifying all of the stakeholders outside of the company about the initiatives of the DOWA Group, this CSR Report aims to become an opportunity for each employee to review their own activities and to create new value. In order to face various social issues, and to continue to make progress as a company that contributes to problem solving, we would like to hear your candid feedback.
