Support to Rural Communities in India Through Do Green™
～ Fulfilling our responsibility as a good corporate citizen ～
2015.11.13
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Tokyo:4183; President & CEO: Tsutomu Tannowa) launched its new initiative, Do Green™, to help solve social issues facing Indian farmers producing raw materials used in the Company’s plant-derived products and residents in surrounding rural areas. As the first activity of this Do Green™ initiative, from October 27th to 29th, 153 castor farmers and residents of Gujarat, India aged 30 to 70 years received eye examinations and answered questionnaires.
As part of Mitsui Chemicals’ efforts to realize a cohesive society in harmony with the environment, the Group offers a wide selection of plant-derived products under the name Do Green™. The name is also used for sustainable and socially responsible activities undertaken in to solve issues in areas that supply the natural ingredients for these products.
The Do Green™ product selection offers products such as the world's first plant-derived, high-refractive index lens monomer materials MR-60™ and MR-174™, the world’s only plant-derived poly-isocyanate STABiO™, and Econykol™ , a polyol derived from plants and used in eco-seat cushions. Castor seeds grown in Gujarat are the raw material of Econykol™.
Fulfilling potential in a healthy environment
At the September United Nations General Assembly, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was announced and adopted. Among the 17 SDGs, the third goal is to “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. In emerging countries, health information is not easily accessible and health management consciousness is low. Uncorrected vision, cataracts, and other eye diseases can limit a person’s learning and employment opportunities.
Collaborative efforts to support eye health
Mitsui Chemicals received support from three companies and two organizations to its October 27th to 29th activities in Gujarat.
Organizations:
The Institute of Cultural Affairs Japan (certified NPO, Executive Director: Shizuyo Sato, “ICA Japan”)
Holistic Child
Development India (Director: N.Thomas Rajkmar, “HCDI”)
Companies:
Lens-ya Company (Director: Kazuyoshi Furuya)
Jayant Agro Organics Ltd. (Chairman: Abhay Udeshi)
Ihsedu Agrochem
(subsidiary of Jayant Agro Organics Ltd. ) (Director Mulraj G. Udeshi)
With support from Ihsedu Agrochem, which manages several castor farms in the area, and ICA Japan and HCDI, which both have extensive healthcare experience in India, ophthalmologists from Lens-ya examined patients and conducted interviews.
Rural residents who received examinations showed interest in maintaining good vision and eye health. Mitsui Chemicals, in line with its goal as a solution provider to social challenges, will continue to support the sustainable development and health and happiness of persons involved in the production of raw materials used in its products and neighboring communities through its Do Green™ activities.
