A manufacturer and vendor of nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, and lithium-ion batteries, SANYO Energy (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. was instrumental in establishing a Green Education Fund. An event to mark the establishment of the fund was held in Suzhou on September 24, 2008. Through the company’s initiative, the fund was created with the aim of strengthening local arts and culture education, environmental protection, and the community through educational support. In order to develop the fund into an activity that bring local companies together, both Japanese subsidiaries and other companies were invited to contribute to the fund, and 13 firms have already contributed 100,000 yuan.

Green Education Fund establishment event

To mark World Environment Day on June 5, 2008, the SANYO Environmental Protection Star awards were held at Xukou Central Elementary School in Suzhou. As the first local school of its kind to hold environmental classes, the school also carries out various other ecological activities such as inviting students to submit ideas for environmental protection, raising public awareness of green issues, and holding essay and painting contests relating to the environment. At the awards ceremony, 72 students were recognized for their outstanding performance in activities such as the essay and painting contests, as well as the environmental classes provided by the school.

The award ceremony was attended by 300 people, including an assistant bureau chief of the local environmental agency, a section chief from the education authority, officials from the local Xukou government, the school principal and teachers, and of course many of the students for whom the event was being held.

SANYO Environmental Protection Star awards ceremony

 

In response to Xukou Central Elementary School’s desire to carry out an exchange with a Japanese elementary school, SANYO Energy (Suzhou) arranged an introduction with the Japanese school in Suzhou. The two schools came up with a cultural exchange plan, and agreed to begin teacher and student exchanges in 2009, in the areas of art, calligraphy, and painting. In addition to promoting China-Japan friendship, Xukou Central Elementary School is also aiming to find a sister school in Japan, in order to further promote their exchange activities.

Exchange event at Xukou Central Elementary School

With the aim of promoting physical fitness, showing support for the Beijing Olympics, and helping to protect a lake environment, SANYO Energy (Suzhou) and the Bank of China sponsored a cycling event on the shores of Lake Tai. The event was held on July 27, 2008, and attracted a total of 60 participants. Through this event, the Sanyo Group was able to promote its environmental philosophy, raise environmental awareness among local residents, and strengthen relations with the local Bank of China branch.

Cycling event

SANYO Energy (Beijing) Co., Ltd. manufactures and sells lithium-ion batteries, as well as unit and assembled batteries. It participated in an environmental result review meeting held by a partner company on the theme of improving market competitiveness through better environmental performance. SANYO Energy (Beijing) reported on the development and production of environmentally friendly batteries and the Sanyo Group’s Think GAIA brand vision. At the review meeting, the company enjoyed an open exchange of opinions with the other participating companies, and told them about its zero emission initiatives and environmentally friendly batteries. SANYO Energy (Beijing) also offers plant inspections and tours when requested by partner companies, and strives to improve customer appreciation of its initiatives.

Plant inspection by a partner company	Plant tour

The company carries out surveys of its suppliers concerning the use of substances controlled by Chinese law and the European REACH regulations, as they relate to materials used in the assembled lithium-ion batteries manufactured by the company. These surveys are carried out for the purpose of managing the use of specified harmful chemical substances, based on the Administrative Measures for the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Electronic Waste. Last fiscal year 33 suppliers took part in these surveys.

SANYO Energy (Beijing) measures employee satisfaction concerning the company cafeteria and worker transportation service. A questionnaire is given to 2,400 workers as part of efforts to increase employee satisfaction. In order to improve the living environments for temporary workers, the company also visited their dormitories, and exchanged opinions with their managers and worker representatives.

Shenyang SANYO Airconditioner Co., Ltd. manufactures, sells, and services air conditioners. The company is developing a “Golden Ideas” program that allows employees to convey their ideas for better operation efficiency to the management. In fiscal 2008, the employees submitted a total of 22 ideas relating to the company welfare program, new products, revision of operating manuals, streamlining of manufacturing processes, and the introduction of equipment and fixtures into the plant. Together with improvement ideas already being implemented, most of the Golden Ideas have been adopted as efficiency measures in company operations, and improvements are being carried out.

In recognition of the company’s social responsibility (CSR) activities in Liaoning province carried out since its establishment in 1993, Shenyang SANYO Airconditioner has received a corporate award for outstanding CSR efforts by a foreign-owned enterprise in Liaoning. The award is presented by the Liaoning Provincial Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and the Liaoning Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment. Eligibility for the award includes active participation in volunteer work, along with the provision of high-quality products and services, while respecting employee rights, and having a high degree of environmental awareness and legal compliance. Shenyang SANYO Airconditioner has obtained ISO 9001 and the Chinese quality and environmental certification, and has undertaken outstanding initiatives in the areas of quality and environmental protection. Moreover, the company was recognized for its active volunteer activities including the provision of hearing aids to children with hearing disabilities, as well as for its employee support initiatives such as a welfare program and a personnel performance evaluation system.

Guangzhou Sanyo Car Electronics Co., Ltd. performs development, manufacturing, sales, and after-sales service for car electronics and small portable electronic devices. Every year, the company holds training seminars for its suppliers in order to build good relations with these partners. In fiscal 2008, Guangzhou Sanyo Car Electronics provided manager development training to all of its suppliers in a total of five sessions.

As part of efforts to increase understanding between labor and management, the company conducts an employee satisfaction questionnaire in December every year. Just like in the previous fiscal year, the fiscal 2008 survey investigated the levels of employee appreciation and satisfaction relating to wages and the company welfare program. The survey also sought to measure understanding between co-workers and between workers and managers, as well as satisfaction with top management, workplace health and safety, and working conditions. By determining points where the satisfaction and appreciation levels are comparatively low, the company will emphasize the necessary improvement measures in its activity guidelines and action plans for the coming fiscal year.

The SANYO Group headquarters in China, SANYO Electric (China) Co., Ltd., holds briefings on Chinese environmental regulations and internal environmental inspections for group companies in China. In August 2008, a briefing was held for nine subsidiaries and affiliated companies (60 people) in the Dalian region, followed by another briefing in October for five such companies (40 people) in the Eastern China region.

SANYO Electric (China) sends out experts on intellectual property rights to group companies, and strives to protect its trademark rights including the SANYO brand. In particular, knockoff products being sold in the Chinese market or shipped overseas not only damage the SANYO brand, but also have a major negative impact on SANYO’s business and its customers. In order to strengthen control of fake brand goods, through JETRO^*1 and the Quality Brands Protection Committee^*2, the company is working with other Japanese and Western-owned subsidiaries in China to support control activities by relevant Chinese government agencies. These activities include briefings on how to identify knockoff products for Chinese customs and other relevant government institutions. In fiscal 2008, such briefings were held in 15 regions including Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces, thereby enhancing mutual understanding with the relevant agencies. In 2008, the SANYO brand name in English script was officially designated as a chiming (famous) trademark^*3 by the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in China. In 2009, the same designation was received for the SANYO brand name in Chinese characters. SANYO Electric (China) is striving to ensure that Chinese customers will be able to purchase SANYO products with confidence, by further protecting the SANYO brand, while supporting the business activities of group companies in China.

*1. Japan External Trade Organization

*2. An organization under the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment (CAEFI) made up of at least 180 companies with foreign investment from many different countries.

*3. A certification granted in recognition of strong brand penetration across China.

A manufacturer and vendor of color TVs and projectors, Dongguan Huaqiang SANYO Electronics Co., Ltd. (HSE) held a briefing for suppliers concerning its REACH regulation survey. The briefing was sponsored by SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., and provided suppliers with an explanation of the European REACH regulations, MSDS Plus^*4 and AIS^*5 forms, as well as the SANYO Group’s chemical substance management standards. It was attended by 123 people from 77 supplier companies, as well as four representatives from HSE, and six employees from Shenzhen Huaqiang SANYO Technology Design Co., Ltd., a group company that designs AV equipment.

Using a questionnaire prepared by SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., HSE has been investigating the use of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and similar compounds by suppliers, as the substances has been banned in the European market. In fiscal 2008, questionnaire responses were received from 91 suppliers. Through measures based on the questionnaire results, HSE is ensuring that suppliers do not use these substances in their products.

*4. Material Safety Data Sheet Plus: A survey tool that conveys information on chemical substances, pharmaceuticals, and materials not found on the MSDS form in order to supplement legally required information.

*5. Article Information Sheet: A survey tool that conveys information on chemical substances that are contained in molded products in certain concentrations.

Briefing on REACH regulation surveys

A designer of AV equipment, Shenzhen Huaqiang SANYO Technology Design Co., Ltd. (HST) has been carrying out improvement activities based on ISO 14001 requirements for the reduction of the company’s environmental impact. The company sorts and collects waste from its plant, and carries out appropriate disposal according to the type of waste. HST also conducts supplier surveys for six specified chemical substances, and confirms that these substances are not used in its products, as part of measures to manage environmentally harmful chemicals. In this way, the company is complying with Sanyo Group standards and the Chinese version of the RoHS Directive.

 

In order to expand the responsibilities and improve the skills and motivation of every employee at HST, the company has introduced and is implementing its own employee training system.
                                                  

In addition to having younger engineers mentored by more skilled and experienced engineers, management training is provided by a specialized outside organization. Japanese language training is given especially to new hires, and employees are also sent overseas for training, and to Japan for joint development projects. In fiscal 2008, over 30 employees traveled outside China for training or joint development work.