Together as one, bottom-up SDGs business strategies

#SDGAction42625

Description

Intro

Ohkawa Printing has been adapting SDGs into our business strategies. With a bottom-up way, the employees in our company have been the core of conducted related activities to promote our vision. In doing so, our employees get a better insight into what SDGs are and get satisfaction from implementing their creative projects.

Objective of the practice

With aligning SDGs with our business strategies, our employees get satisfaction in actively conducting related projects. Furthermore, Ohkawa Printing also receives the benefits in doing so. With a sustainable business model, we hope to promote our vision and projects worldwide.

Partners

As a printing company, the service and the products we provide are related and connected with a wide variety of industries. Consequently, when Ohkawa Printing contributes to achieving the SDGs, we are able to build up the partnership and a valid network connection to promote sustainable development vision. All as one, together we hope to solve the problems in our society.

Implementation of the Project/Activity

Since 2017, the business plan of Ohkawa Printing was not set by the operator but all the employees. In an upward way, the employees found the problem happened in the company or the society and discussed the solutions and the actions we could take. The employees’ active ideas have become the main core of how we create the project, such as” Printed using 100% reusable energy ”, “Recycling and Garbage Resource”, “SDGs Fun to Work” to create a harmonious and happy atmosphere in our company, “Zero Carbon Emissions Project” to reach the goal of sustainable factory. Furthermore, to solve the problem of the shortage of manpower, the project of improving the retention rate was held by the young generation in the company.

Results/Outputs/Impacts

With a bottom-up way, the employees in our company have been the core of conducted related activities to promote our vision. In doing so, our employees get a better insight into what SDGs are and get satisfaction from implementing their creative projects. Through the projects, we not only get the support and the recognition from the stockholders but also build up the partnership. Ohkawa Printing is recognized as a company where we align the SDGs with business, in 2018, we have received 49 cases. “My Medication Record Book” in multiple languages was released 5,000 books, sold 3,683 books till February 2019, distributed 270 books for promotion. Through local activities, the purpose and the usage of the Medication Record Book were understood by the foreigners who live in Japan.

Enabling factors and constraints

In Japan, small and medium enterprises’ awareness toward SDGs is still really low. Only around 15% of the small and medium enterprises deeply understand the concept of SDGs. In Ohkawa Printing, we see ourselves as a pioneer and promoter of how to practically apply SDGs in business. We create and carry out projects with all the employees involved in, which is our advantage comparing to other companies.

Sustainability and replicability

Every month, we conduct the meetings to check how much progress has been made by the team on the projects with the PDCA cycle.

Conclusions

In Japan, small and medium enterprises account for 99.7% of the industry. However, awareness of SDGs is still really low. Only around 15% of the small and medium enterprises deeply understand the concept of SDGs. In Ohkawa Printing, we see ourselves as a pioneer and promoter of how to practically apply SDGs in business. We create and carry out projects with all the employees involved in, which is our advantage comparing to other companies.

SDGS & Targets

Goal 15

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Goal 7

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 4

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Goal 8

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Goal 6

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Goal 2

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Goal 10

Reduce inequality within and among countries

Goal 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Goal 16

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels