What is Responsible Care?
Tosoh has formulated a Responsible Care® (RC) activity promotional structure under which to conduct RC activities and Basic Principles Regarding the Environment, Safety and Health based on its awareness of environmental conservation and the securing of safety and health as crucial issues of management.
RC is a voluntary initiative undertaken by the global chemical industry. RC represents the activities in which chemical industry business operators engage for the purpose of ensuring the protection of the environment, health, and safety in all business processes from chemical development and manufacturing to distribution, use, disposal, and recycling. Communication between business operators and society is also incorporated into RC. In Japan, related activities are overseen by the Japan Chemical Industry Association’s Responsible Care Committee.
Our company’s RC activities include all operations related to environmental conservation, disaster prevention, occupational safety and health, logistics safety, chemical and product safety, and quality assurance. 1
1 Unless otherwise stated, the scope of this content encompasses Tosoh facilities and group companies in Japan.
Basic Principles Regarding the Environment, Safety, and Health
Tosoh Corporation contributes to the advancement of society through continuous innovation in the field of chemistry, leading ultimately to the supply of products and services that bring customer satisfaction. At the same time, Tosoh will continue to regard environmental protection, safety, and health as top management priorities.
RC Promotional Structure
The Responsible Care Committee, which promotes RC activities, is chaired by the director responsible for the company’s Environment, Safety and Quality Control Division. General managers from Tosoh’s Purchasing and Logistics Division, operating divisions, manufacturing complexes and offices, and research centers serve as members of the committee.
The RC Committee formulates action policies for the company, deliberates, advises, and approves important matters, and devises key measures related to activities. The results of the proceedings and annual action policies of the RC Committee are discussed and approved at Board of Directors meetings.
Based on the Board's approval, the RC Committee devises RC plans for each division and conducts RC activities. The committee gains an understanding of how each division executes those activities during periodic RC Audits. The results will be reflected upon an improvement plan through a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle for the next fiscal year, with the aim of upgrading the activities. 2
The status of activities at individual departments is ascertained through RC Audits, and with the results reflected through the PDCA cycle incorporated in the improvement plan for ensuing fiscal year, we attempt to enhance activities. The results of Tosoh’s RC activities are provided in the annual CSR Report in Japanese, and are further provided to local communities during exchange forums. Key information from the CSR Report is excerpted and translated into English and presented in Tosoh’s online annual report.
2 PDCA: The PDCA cycle is a four-step model for the control and continual improvement of processes and products.
RC Audits
RC Audits are conducted at least once a year at the Nanyo and Yokkaichi Complexes, the Tokyo Research Center, and the Polyurethane Research Laboratory. The purpose of the audits is to ascertain RC activity status and formulate the activity plan for the following fiscal year.
Tosoh's RC Committee and RC Committee Secretariat conduct the audits, and discuss with its auditee activity status and the issues it needs to address in the next fiscal year.
In fiscal 2018, each of these facilities was audited. And since 2012, Professor Takayoshi Suzuki of Okayama University, the former vice chair of the Nanyo Complex Explosion and Fire Investigation Countermeasure Committee, has participated in audits at the Nanyo and Yokkaichi Complexes.
RC Activity Results and Goals
A brief overview of Tosoh's RC activity results and goals is described below. For a more detailed version, please see P17 - P22 of the Tosoh Annual Report 2018 CSR Key Data and References here.
Safety and Disaster Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health
Tosoh is focused on creating a safe working environment free of accidents and occupational injuries requiring days away from work. The company has implemented a wide range of safety-related activities to bolster a culture of safety, such as the promotion of countermeasures for earthquakes and tsunami, the reacquisition of high-pressure gas certification and the introduction of several internal safety measures.
Environmental Conservation
Tosoh remains committed toward environmental conservation through efforts to reduce the environmental impact of our business activities and to ensure appropriate management of chemical substances. In fiscal 2018, Tosoh acquired ISO9001:2015 certification at Yokkaichi Complex. Tosoh also ensures compliance with mandated regulatory values.
Chemical and Product Safety
Tosoh complies with domestic and foreign regulations, assesses product safety, and provides product information to customers in its efforts to ensure the safe handling of its chemical products. This year, Tosoh introduced a check system that enables the company to respond accordingly when there are revisions to regulations related to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or labelling.
Quality Assurance/Pharmaceuticals
In addition to observing product-related laws and regulation, Tosoh continually strive to ensure the supply of safe, secure, high-quality products to our customers. We are constantly working to improve the quality of our products through the strengthening of internal processes and systems. The Nanyo and Yokkaichi Complexes have successfully migrated to the ISO9001:2015 system.
Logistics Safety
Tosoh conducts various initiatives to ensure the safe transportation of products that takes the environment into consideration. We are constantly working to maintain and improve our logistics functions while promoting the development of environmentally friendly operations. Tosoh aims to reduce the number of logistics incidents and will continue to conduct follow-ups to ensure the prevention of recurring incidents.
Public Dialogue
Tosoh recognizes the importance of building relationships of trust with its stakeholders and has proactively engaged in efforts to promote mutual understanding through dialogue. In March 2018, Tosoh has implemented media training to further strengthen its risk communication efforts.
Value Creation
Contribute to Resolving Societal Issues to Achieve a Sustainable Society
Tosoh endeavors to build increasing value and to contribute to the resolution of societal issues while achieving sustainable growth to enhance its corporate value.
The company believes that its multifaceted contributions to society through its business activities are more important than anything else, and are the manifestation of its corporate philosophy: “Contribute to bettering society through the chemistry of innovation.”
In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that it considers shared by all humankind, and goals we would work to resolve by 2030. Tosoh is currently focused on R&D in the life science, electronic materials, and environment and energy fields. The company has positioned eight of the 17 SDGs as goals it must work to resolve through its business activities, and has incorporated them into its R&D themes. The eight SDGs emphasized at Tosoh are Good Health and Well-Being; Clean Water and Sanitation; Affordable and Clean Energy; Industry; Innovation and Infrastructure; Responsible Consumption and Production; Climate Action; Life Below Water; and Life on Land.
Tosoh will contribute to resolving the societal issues inherent to these SDGs by exploiting its owned and developed technologies, by developing new technologies, and by cooperating and building relationships of trust with its stakeholders. It will thereby create unprecedented value for the company and its stakeholders and for society at large.
Additionally, as Tosoh conducts business activities, it will cooperate and build relationships of trust with stakeholders through dialogue.
Tosoh Value Creation
The technologies we own and are constantly working to develop constitute a sound foundation for the creation of value. The medium-term business plan and key CSR issues help to dictate our direction, and the Tosoh Group Code of Conduct and the five tenets of Tosoh Spirit serve to underpin our efforts. Further guidance is provided by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.
We will continue to cooperate with stakeholders and strengthen those relationships of trust. We will also work to achieve sustainable growth, and to contribute to the resolution of key societal issues such as the SDGs. These endeavors will bear fruit in the form of unprecedented value, which we return to society. Through these activities, while fulfilling our responsibilities as a company, we aim to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.
Sustainable Development Goals
3. Good Health and Well-Being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
14. Life below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Life on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss