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- Sustainability Roundtable Discussion with Young Employees
Sustainability Roundtable Discussion with Young Employees

Future Parties Speak Out.
"Balancing Business and Sustainability."
In January 2020, FUKUVI formed an SDGs project team led by young and mid-career employees from each department.
The team will work on formulating action plans and putting them into practice.
Six of the team members gathered for a heated cross talk.
Participants

H.H.
Technology Development Dept.

K.H.
G System Promotion Dept.

S.N.
Facilities Management Dept.

T.M.
Corporate Planning Dept.

M.O.
Accounting Dept.

Y.K.
Public Relations & Investor Relations Office
(moderator)
Affiliations are current at the time of the roundtable discussion.
Our thoughts on the SDGs
- Y.K.:
- The SDGs project team will now begin full-scale activities.
First of all, please tell us your honest thoughts.
- T.M.:
- At first, I thought the SDGs were just a type of environmental activity, but they also set goals related to poverty, health, etc. This time, I deepened my understanding of the SDGs and was convinced that this is what sustainability means. I believe that each individual is required to think and act individually, not because the company does it.
- S.N.:
- Since I am involved in production equipment-related work, I often have the opportunity to go to exhibitions, and recently I have seen an increase in proposals related to SDGs rather than just energy conservation. The keyword SDGs has permeated the world more than you might think.

- H.H.:
- For companies, it is said that not addressing the SDGs is a risk. On the other hand, the higher up you are in a position, the more you are forced to place importance on securing profits such as costs and productivity due to your responsibilities, so I think you will be hesitant to take on initiatives whose profitability is unclear. I think it's great that young people, who will be responsible for the future of companies and society, get involved in the SDGs with free ideas like they did this time.
- M.O.:
- Since not only young people but also mid-career employees are included as members, I think they have a strong ability to involve people throughout the company and promote it.
- K.H.:
- Another key point this time was that we formed a cross-departmental team. Opinions can be expressed from a variety of perspectives and the scope of action can be expanded.

What is FUKUVI-style sustainable manufacturing?
- Y.K.:
- FUKUVI has long been involved in many initiatives that lead to the SDGs. On the other hand, in recent years, various problems surrounding plastics have been attracting attention. In what direction should we aim for sustainable business in the future?
- M.O.:
- Plastic is an essential material for enjoying a comfortable and convenient life, so I don't think it will ever go away. However, it is certain that the time has come for FUKUVI to seriously consider what kind of value it can provide.
- H.H.:
- This is a big challenge for us as a manufacturer. A few years ago, our technology development department succeeded in extruding biodegradable plastic using polylactic acid. At that time, it did not penetrate the market due to cost barriers, but now that the times have changed, I think it is worth trying again. Other initiatives include mixing wood powder from thinned wood with recycled resin to produce fuel pellets and building materials, and developing products using recycled paper and Japanese paper from local industries.
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"Silent Drop" floor impact noise reduction material Special sound insulation granular material packaged with a granulation process using recycled resin as the main material, absorbs radiated vibration energy and suppresses heavy floor impact noise.
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"FUKUFOAM Eco" Heat Insulation Material Blends recycled plastic and other materials with industrial waste paper from cutting and processing losses, reducing CO2 emissions by about 80% compared to conventional insulation materials.
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Artificial wood “PLUSWOOD” Contributes to the environment by reducing CO2 emissions using wood powder made from thinned wood and recycled resin. Excellent strength and durability.
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Non-combustible handmade Japanese paper decorative board “Koshu” New release in October 2019. Echizen washi paper, a traditional craft from Fukui prefecture, is coated with a non-combustible, anti-fouling and waterproof coating, making it durable and easy to install as a large panel. Received the 2019 Good Design Award.
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Profile Extrusion Molding It is possible to extrude not only circles and squares but also complex cross sections and various materials other than resin at the same time.
- T.M.:
- Simply replacing petroleum-based products with plant-based products is not necessarily the correct answer, as there are also the negative effects of commercial logging of forests. I think what will be important in the future is not to rely on petroleum-based or plant-based products, but to create a business model that recycles resources.
- H.H.:
- There are many different approaches you can take. In addition to reducing losses in the manufacturing process, we can also mix waste plastic into raw materials and reuse it. Although we are already implementing some things, there is a lot of room to strengthen our efforts more systematically.
- M.O.:
- I think circular businesses will become mainstream in the future. For example, high-end European brands that have entered the cosmetics market are leveraging their brand power to propose refillable lipsticks, and even in Japan, examples are emerging of design development for non-disposable resin products. I hope FUKUVI can take on the challenge of such innovation while incorporating wisdom from outside the company.
- S.N.:
- In the future, there should be major trends such as legislation regarding waste disposal and government subsidies for energy-saving products. In order to link SDGs to business growth, I think it is important to anticipate national policy trends and market trends and move strategically.

Towards 17 goals
- Y.K.:
- The SDGs have 17 goals. I think everyone in their respective departments and positions has thoughts and ideas about what they should be working on.
- S.N.:
- Innovative equipment-related technologies emerge every few years. If you neglect information gathering, you will easily lose the opportunity to engage in sustainable manufacturing. In that respect, I want to keep my antennae high and keep up with trends and new information in the world. This also leads to being ahead of the times.
- M.O.:
- As Y.K. says, FUKUVI has already undertaken various initiatives. However, the ability to convey the message is weak. As a corporate department, we want to properly communicate the company's sincere efforts. Rather than simply saying "we are doing something," we would like to indicate the direction of our medium- to long-term initiatives and carefully disclose the degree of achievement. Appropriate information dissemination is an opportunity to create new collaborations.

- K.H.:
- Regarding wood powder, as mentioned by Mr. H.H., traceability is strongly demanded by customers who are close to consumers. This is actually an opportunity, and I believe that if you can prove that you are making effective use of locally thinned wood and create a system that can be promoted, you will increase your corporate value as a manufacturing company that contributes to the SDGs.
- T.M.:
- Personally, I think it would be interesting if Fukui as a whole could be recognized by the public as a recycling-oriented society by leveraging the characteristics of local industries. To that end, I would like to pay attention to "Goal 17: Achieve Goals Through Partnerships." I feel that Japanese companies are deeply self-sufficient, and it is difficult to form partnerships between companies, which makes it difficult for open innovation to occur. Instead of thinking about your own profits first, why not consider SDGs, which are about building a sustainable society, as a way to increase future corporate value, and use partnerships as an effective means?
- H.H.:
- It is true that the emergence of a common language called SDGs has made it easier to collaborate with other companies. On the other hand, when FUKUVI works with partner companies to solve problems, consideration must be given to avoid placing an excessive burden on the partner companies.
- K.H.:
- The traditional style of conducting business based on a pyramid-shaped hierarchy has its limits. I don't think innovation can happen unless we work together as equals, complementing each other's strengths.

SDGs and Working Environment
- Y.K.:
- The SDGs include goals such as "Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality" and "Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth," and creating an environment where women can work sustainably is also an issue.
- M.O.:
- Many female employees at FUKUVI continue to work even after getting married or having children, so I think we already have a comfortable working environment for women. If we were to take it one step further, I think it would be good to have more diverse work style options. Some people want to balance work with family care and community activities, and there may be a trend in the future to allow side jobs. I think there should be a system that allows all kinds of people to work flexibly, not just men and women who are raising children.
- S.N.:
- For some reason, there are only male employees in the equipment design workplace, but that's not the case at all. It seems that more women are being hired in the technology development department, and I would like to see this trend spread throughout the company.
- K.H.:
- For example, in the United States, "job-based employment" is the norm, where people are assigned to a job, and gender and age cannot be used as hiring criteria as long as the person has the ability to do the job. I think Japan will move forward by incorporating some of this. On the receiving side, we need to transform the workplace into a workplace where diverse human resources want to work and can thrive. In factories, powered suits can now be used to make it easier for elderly people and women to perform difficult manual labor.
- T.M.:
- Regarding the workplace environment, I would like to think about what kind of environment should be provided so that the SDGs native generation that will join the company in the future can be active.

- Y.K.:
- The deadline for achieving the SDGs is 2030, but even after that, each of us will continue to engage in sustainable management with a sense of ownership. Please tell us about your vision of the future of FUKUVI and your aspirations.
- S.N.:
- In 10 years, robots, AI, and IoT will have penetrated the world at a level beyond imagination. As equipment becomes more sophisticated, the people who use it also need to have the same level of ability. I would like to focus on training human resources.
- T.M.:
- In 10 years, robots, AI, and IoT will have penetrated the world at a level beyond imagination. As equipment becomes more sophisticated, the people who use it also need to have the same level of ability. I would like to focus on training human resources.

- M.O.:
- What is essential for sustainability is a social perspective, not a company perspective. I think we are living in an era where we cannot survive as a company without this. In order to further fulfill our role as a company required for a sustainable society, the ideal situation for FUKUVI would be to stay one step ahead of initiatives, rather than following behind.
- K.H.:
- We were the first to build a new business model that contributes to the SDGs, and it will become the standard 10 years from now. I'm looking forward to that kind of future.
- H.H.:
- There are limits to what an individual or company can do, but I think it's important that each and every one of us has the mindset to take on the challenge. The accumulation of these efforts will change society and its future.

Date: February 12, 2020
FUKUVI SDGs Project Members Group Photo