- Basic Policy on Social Contribution Activities
- Social Contribution Focus Areas
- Activities That Lead to Business Growth
- Eco-conscious Activities
- Activities Involving Communities and Personal Development
- Support Activities for Incidents with Major Impacts on Society
- Art and Culture Support Activities
- Examples of Social Contribution Activities
- Data Related to Community Investment
Basic Policy on Social Contribution Activities
The Brother Group Global Charter stipulates that the Brother Group must always be a good corporate citizen, sharing our social, economic and cultural resources in all the communities where the Brother Group operates, and that the Brother Group helps society achieve sustainable development by positively and continuously considering the environmental impact of all aspects of our business operations. Based on this idea, the Brother Group has been globally promoting social contribution activities that further enhance a sense of unity as a group, especially focusing on the following activities:
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Activities that meet the following conditions and lead to business growth
- Utilizing Brother's resources
- Not only responding to requests and expectations from stakeholders but also taking them as opportunities and proactively getting involved
- Employees can sympathize with and take pride in them
- Eco-conscious activities
- Activities involving communities and personal development
- Support activities for incidents with major impacts on society
Social Contribution Focus Areas
Activities that lead to business growth
The Brother Group had continuously conducted social contribution activities related to health and welfare, educational support, and environmental conservation so far. Activities span a wide scope, ranging from those undertaken by the entire group to those undertaken independently by each facility based on their local characteristics, and are conducted using Brother's resources (such as products, services, technologies, and human resources). Such activities not only encourage business growth but also help contribute to a sustainable society far into the future.
Examples of factors that lead to business growth in social contribution activities:
- Brand image enhancement
- Learning and growth of employees
- Smooth business implementation in each area
- Securing of excellent human resources
- Understanding of social needs and future customers
and others
| Social Contribution Focus Areas | Activity | Relationship with Business Strategy | Facility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eco-conscious activities |
|
|
|
| Activities involving communities and personal development | Learning and growth of employees | Brother Industries, Ltd. | |
| Supporting activities to improve children's education and healthcare |
|
and others |
|
| Participating with employees in charity activities which aim to support cancer patients and conquer cancer |
|
and others |
|
| Support activities for incidents with major impacts on society | Supporting areas devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake through the Kizuna Fund, a fund to collect donations from employees |
|
|
Eco-conscious activities
Under the Brother Group Environmental Vision 2050, initiatives are continuously undertaken in all aspects of corporate activities, including creating eco-conscious products, reducing environmental impact on facilities, supporting environmental organizations which work on biodiversity conservation in collaboration with the Brother Eco Point Program participated by employees, and conducting environmental conservation activities with employees.
For examples of activities, please see "Brother SDGs STORY—Better your earth."
Activities involving communities and personal development
The Brother Group continuously undertakes social contribution while always keeping in mind the communities where each facility is located. In addition, we also actively support activities related to personal development in each community.
The Brother Group, for example, has been cosponsoring the Tokai Young Entrepreneur Seminar in Japan since 2008 to assist young entrepreneurs who address local challenges. Regarding this seminar as one of the activities that utilize its resources, the group has been promoting employees' participation in it and involving three or four employees as pro bono workers every year.
In addition, many activities to improve children's education and healthcare have been implemented at various group facilities. The Brother Group also has been increasing opportunities to enhance employees' awareness of volunteer activities. For example, employees at various group facilities have been participating in worldwide charity activities to support cancer patients.
Golden Ring Project
The Brother Group has been promoting participation in charity events to support patients with cancer and other illnesses, with the aim of conducting social contribution activities with its employees and with a sense of unity on a global scale. In 2011, the Group named this initiative the "Golden Ring Project," inspired by the idea that as support activities spread and connect across regional hubs, they form a ring of support on the world map. Since then, many employees at various facilities and their families have taken part in the project. In FY2024, events were held at each facility in a variety of formats, including not only on-site events but also online events utilizing apps. In addition, two new facilities in Vietnam joined the initiative. This brings the total to 29 facilities with 13,226 participants. The number of participating employees has been steadily increasing, further advancing support activities on a global scale.
Most of the facilities working on the Golden Ring Project have taken part in the charity event "Relay For Life" (RFL). In RFL, participants make donations and walk for 24 hours with their team members to increase their awareness and knowledge about cancer and to encourage cancer patients. In the Brother Group, teams of employees from the U.S. subsidiary have been participating in RFL since 1999, and from the New Zealand subsidiary since 2006. Today, teams of employees at other facilities are also participating on a voluntary basis, further expanding this ring of support. Donations raised are used for new cancer treatment/medication development, scholarships for young doctors, and so forth.
In Vietnam, 10,236 employees—representing 86% of the total workforce—participated in the initiative in FY2024, enabling them to make significant donations. In Japan as well, employees and related individuals of the Brother Group, predominantly from Brother Industries, have been participating voluntarily every year since 2010 as "Brother Team Japan." Including independently organized talks by cancer survivors at RFL venues, a range of activities have been conducted to raise awareness about cancer. In recognition of this long-running cancer awareness activity, the Brother Group received the 2020 Japan Cancer Society award (Organization Category) *.
- Awarded to individuals and groups who have made outstanding achievements in anti-cancer activities. Established in 1968 by the Japan Cancer Society, the award aims to encourage the fight against cancer.
- This video is from YouTube.
*: (Clockwise from upper left) India, Switzerland ,Germany, Vietnam, Thailand, China (Shenzhen)
Support activities for incidents with major impacts on society
The Brother Group has been working with its employees to provide support to the areas affected by large-scale disasters around the world.
Brother's main support includes the following two ways:
- Monetary donations from Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) and Brother group companies
- Donations and volunteer activities by employees
Monetary donations from Brother Group companies are sent mainly to Japan Platform and the Red Cross as emergency assistance while donations and volunteer activities by employees are provided in a way that meets the needs of each devastated area.
For more information about the amount of global donations and BIL's donations to NPOs, refer to "Social Contribution - Data Related to Community Investment."
Brother's response to large-scale disasters
Kizuna Fund, a donation program that encourages employee participation
Since FY2012, BIL has operated the "Kizuna Fund," a system that allows employees to easily make donations through payroll deductions or bank transfers. Donations collected through this system have been used to support disaster-stricken areas.
Even 14 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, donations to the Tohoku region continue, and in FY2024, BIL extended its support to areas affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake as well.
Support recipients and specific support details
- Shichigahama Town, Miyagi Prefecture:
Supporting the establishment of Kizuna Park, Kizuna Library, and Seawall Marble Art, as well as global human resource development projects - Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture:
Supporting the Onagawa Kogakukan, which provides educational guidance and emotional care to children affected by the disaster - NPO Shinsei (Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture):
Supporting the independence and employment of people with disabilities affected by the nuclear accident, tsunami, and earthquake - Sanriku Railway, Iwate Prefecture:
Cooperation for Sanriku Railway's "Sanriku Smile" campaign - Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture:
Supporting town development and Hope Tourism - Anamizu Town, Ishikawa Prefecture:
Donation of vehicles for visiting temporary housing and transporting supplies
The mayor of Shichigahama Town expressed his appreciation to BIL, saying, "It feels as if they are relatives who, though far away, are always thinking of us. That feeling means a lot to us."
To remember the Great East Japan Earthquake—From support to interaction
To help employees remember the Great East Japan Earthquake and prepare for future disasters, the Brother Group hosts various events for its employees.
Tohoku Talk Relay
BIL has been holding an online "Tohoku Talk Relay" (lecture series), where victims share their experiences and the lessons they learned, during after-work hours. The event is attended by many employees and top management, creating an opportunity to think about what they can do as members of society and how they should prepare for disasters. In FY2024, the Talk Relay series was held under five themes. Residents of Namie Town—whose entire population was evacuated due to the nuclear plant accident—spoke passionately about rebuilding their community as part of the recovery process.
Comments by participating employees included: "It was a great opportunity to share the moment and connect with people from Tohoku."; "I feel that interaction with the people of Tohoku is a valuable asset."; "Since we never know when or where disasters will happen, I'd like to be more mindful of our disaster preparedness."
Earthquake Reconstruction Support Market
In response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, BIL has been organizing the "Earthquake Reconstruction Support Market" every year since March 2012 as part of its "disaster relief purchasing" initiative, which encourages support through the purchase of products from affected areas. By FY2024, a total of 32 market events had been held, with over 4,000 employees participating and supporting earthquake recovery through their purchases.
Since FY2023, the "Ishikawa & Tohoku Market" event has been organized to support reconstruction efforts following both the Great East Japan Earthquake and the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. The event continued in FY2024.
Art and Culture Support Activities
Support activities for Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Since 1984, when BIL donated funds for the construction of an enclosure for koalas, it has provided support to the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens over the years. In 2021, BIL signed a public relations partnership agreement and became the zoo's official public relations partner (in Japanese), responsible for sharing information about its efforts in species conservation and environmental education. As part of this initiative, the president of BIL attended a ceremony in FY2024 commemorating the 40th anniversary of the koalas' arrival at the zoo, reflecting on the years of collaboration and support. In addition, BIL supported various commemorative events such as a walk rally and special exhibitions. During the ceremony, the City of Nagoya presented a letter of appreciation in recognition of these contributions.
For more details on BIL's support for the Koala 40th Anniversary Project, please visit the Brother SDGs Story: "Koalas | Brother × Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens - Zoos, Botanical Gardens, and the SDGs." (in Japanese)
As a official public relations partner, BIL published a newspaper advertisement titled "A message to the newborn baby" (in Japanese) on the day of the naming ceremony for a baby Asian elephant born at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens. This advertisement won the Excellence Award at the 14th Chunichi Shimbun Advertising Awards, held in FY2023. The message in the ad was written as a letter from zookeepers to parents and children of Asian elephants to publicize the importance of passing on the baton of life. Furthermore, at the same awards in FY2024, a newspaper advertisement titled "Because I want to see your peaceful sleeping face in the future, too." published on Koala Day, received the Category Award. This advertisement highlights the history of koalas at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the impact of bushfires in Australia, and aims to raise awareness of environmental issues surrounding koalas.
"A message to the newborn baby"
"Because I want to see your peaceful sleeping face in the future, too."
BIL also continues to support the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens Life Connect Fund* (Nagoya City Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens Fund). In FY2024 BIL was certified again as a "Platinum Partner," the highest rank of support.
In recognition of its continued support for the fund, BIL received a letter of appreciation (in Japanese) from the City of Nagoya.
BIL will continue its activities to achieve the SDGs and raise awareness for the protection of animals and plants through its support to the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
- Funds to be used for the maintenance of the facilities in the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the adoption of animals and plants, habitat conservation, and the enrichment in environmental education, etc.
Examples of Social Contribution Activities
In addition to the activities stated above, the Brother Group also conducts a variety of social contribution activities. For the details, please refer to the following URL link:
Data Related to Community Investment
| FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employees' participation in the Golden Ring Project | Suspended | At 13 facilities | At 24 facilities | At 30 facilities | At 29 facilities | |
| Amount of global donations | 94,467,274 yen | 225,495,501 yen | 188,320,870 yen | 229,866,510 yen | 176,114,373 yen | |
| The Kizuna Fund | Number of employees who participated | 97 | 129 | 105 | 112 | 52 |
| Amount of donations | 1,524,950 yen | 2,570,965 yen | 4,211,876 yen | 3,696,388 yen | 3,424,522 yen | |
| Amount of donations to registered not-for-profit organizations (Brother Industries, Ltd.) | 3,472,020 yen | 65,014,680 yen | 44,307,800 yen | 42,831,730 yen | 23,448,760 yen | |
| Tokai Young Entrepreneur Seminar | Supported by Brother Industries, Ltd. since 2008 | |||||
| Number of pro bono participants (Brother Industries, Ltd.) | Target | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Achievement | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
