As part of its social contributions, Mitsui Chemicals Group is actively involved in providing its own technologies and products as aid and relief for natural disasters. We are committed to building a system that can quickly and effectively provide relief that closely fits the needs of people in areas affected by a disaster by working closely with organizations such as NPOs and local authorities. We are also exploring actions that can contribute to enhanced co-creation as part of our New Disaster Recovery Activities.
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Social Activities
Disaster Relief
Disaster Relief Supplies
Our disaster relief activities here at Mitsui Chemicals originated from suggestions submitted by employees, who wanted to help those affected by earthquakes and other major disasters by providing them with useful Mitsui Chemicals products. In fiscal 2009, warehouses for storing relief supplies were set up at the Iwakuni-Ohtake Works (Yamaguchi Prefecture) and the Mobara Branch Factory (Chiba Prefecture) in the East and West. The system is in place to enable rapid delivery from each plant to the affected areas in response to requests from local authorities and the emergency disaster response alliance SEMA (Social Emergency Management Alliance). We have stockpiles of items such as urethane mattresses (cushioned materials to lay on the floors of gymnasiums being used as evacuation shelters), waterproof tarpaulin sheets (to cover buildings damaged by water or landslides), air cushions*1 (for use at evacuation shelters), and FASTAID™ Virus Sweeper Towel*2 at both of these warehouses.
Relief provided in fiscal 2024 is detailed below.
*1 Air cushion:
Developed by Wako Plastic Industry Co., Ltd. in response to comments from people affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, air cushions provide an alternative to pillows, conventional cushions, and mattresses. Boasting a host of features, air cushions provide sound protection and comfort against the hard and cold floors of evacuation shelters. Made from the polyethylene EVOLUE™ material manufactured by Prime Polymer Co., Ltd., a Mitsui Chemicals Group company, the cushioning properties of these air cushions can be adjusted using a single straw. These air cushions also withstand heavy loads and offer environmentally friendly properties.
*2 FASTAID™ Virus Sweeper Towel:
This concept was created by More Impact, a disaster relief innovation and creation initiative promoted jointly with the specified nonprofit organizations Japan Platform and CWS Japan and others. This disaster relief innovative product utilizes the Lock & Peel™ technology of the Group’s affiliate, Dow-Mitsui Polychemicals Co., Ltd., which enables a compressed towel and sodium hypochlorite to be preserved separately in a single package.
Relief supplies at Iwakuni-Ohtake Works
Urethane mattresses carried by an NPO to an evacuation center
Disaster Relief Activities in Fiscal 2024
We participated as a speaker in the corporate event "Emergency Disaster Support Measures in Normal Times," co-hosted by Peace Winds Japan—an organization supported by our One Coin Club and a SEMA member—and Amazon. Our presentation covered preparations companies can undertake for effective emergency disaster relief, including an overview of our assistance framework by the Mitsui Group, with reference to our support for the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024.
Distribution of Disaster Relief Supplies in Fiscal 2023
Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024
| Location | Contact | Details of Relief Supplies Provided |
|---|---|---|
| Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture (via Nanao City) | SEMA (received on-site by Peace Winds Japan) |
|
| Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture (via Osaka Prefecture) | Osaka Prefectural Commerce, Industry and Labor Department |
|
Typhoon No. 13 of 2023
| Location | Contact | Details of Relief Supplies Provided |
|---|---|---|
| Mobara City | SEMA |
|
Distribution of Disaster Relief Donations in Fiscal 2023
Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024
| Amount | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|
| Mitsui Chemicals | 10 million yen | Donated through the Japanese Red Cross Society |
| One-Coin Club | 500,000 yen | Donated through the Japanese Red Cross Society |
Establishment of SEMA, Japan’s First Private-led Disaster Response Alliance
Alongside 17 other private companies and six non-profit organizations Mitsui Chemicals participated in the establishment of SEMA (Social Emergency Management Alliance), Japan’s first privately led disaster support alliance. The organization provides one-stop support, including goods and services of participating companies and NPOs in the event of a large-scale natural disaster in Japan. The Great East Japan Earthquake showed us that municipalities themselves can be greatly damaged in a disaster, making the assessment of local conditions and support to those in need all the more difficult. The SEMA organization crosses the divide between companies and NPOs and aims to minimize the impact of natural disasters of the nation’s citizens and speed recovery efforts.
The SEMA organization makes in advance a list of goods and services offered by participating companies and organizations, and during a natural disaster can rapidly send packaged support based on that list to afflicted areas. The organization also aims to cooperate with public institutions in offering support and exchanging information, with the general aim of reducing the burden on municipalities and cutting down on waste and unnecessary support.
Employee Disaster Preparedness Awareness Activities
In fiscal 2023, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake, we conducted a hybrid-format workshop on disaster preparedness for employees, on the topic "Protect Yourself." The third round of this initiative was also implemented as outlined in the table below for fiscal 2024.
| Contact | Event Date | Title | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Red Cross Society | July 2023 | "Protect Yourself" series 1 | How to protect yourself from water accidents |
| Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) | October 2023 | "Protect Yourself" series 2 | How to protect yourself from natural disasters |
| Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) | September 2024 | "Protect Yourself" series 3 | Insights from the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disaster *Seminar to be conducted via live broadcast from Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture |