Setting up the Better Corporate Citizenship Department for management of the OMRON Group's community involvement

OMRON has set forth its Basic Policy for Community Involvement and Social Contributions (Corporate Citizenship) by upgrading its conventional Corporate Citizenship Declaration as part of the OMRON Group CSR Practice Guidelines. Guided by these guidelines, OMRON promotes community involvement and other social contribution activities both directly and indirectly. With its clearly stated commitment to "working for the benefit of society," OMRON has been actively involved in promoting the employment of people with disabilities. OMRON is actively doing its part to build a society in which people with disabilities or other limitations can assume more active roles and lead more meaningful lives. The company believes that these are the type of social contributions that are most suited for OMRON’s distinctive characteristics. Direct contributions include donations to Japan Sun Industries, an organization dedicated to creating work opportunities for persons with disabilities, as well as various NPOs. The company also cosponsors a wheelchair marathon, the Ekiden long-distance wheelchair relay race and other sporting events for disabled people. Indirect contributions are made by providing employees with information on volunteer activities. OMRON introduces various volunteer opportunities, such as donations to the Plan Japan (an organization supporting youth in developing nations) and exchanging letters with them. There are also opportunities to volunteer in the knitting charity project, which presents knit sweaters or goods to emotionally or physically injured children in disaster- or conflict-affected areas. By so doing, OMRON seeks to encourage employees' active participation in volunteer activities. In addition to individual employees' participation, OMRON designates the scope of volunteer efforts as group-wide, multiple-site or site-specific according to the theme of the activity, as the company pursues effectiveness in its contributions. OMRON also aims to boost synergies between direct and indirect contributions, for example by inviting and encouraging employees to participate as volunteers in Japan Sun Industries' summer festival and sporting events for disabled persons.

Community Involvement and Social Contributions

 

BASIC POLICY

As a responsible corporate citizen, the OMRON Group will actively promote community involvement and other social contribution activities. When engaging in community activities, the OMRON Group selects themes of activities that suit the culture, social climate or issues of respective countries or regions and are aligned with the OMRON Group's values, resources (financial and human resources, products, facilities, etc.), and expertise (technology, know-how, etc.). Based on this, the Group aims to take the best action available, such as collaboration with communities and related organizations (NGO, NPO and other concerned organizations). The OMRON Group also works to encourage and support employees to individually take part in community involvement and other social contribution activities on their own initiative.

PRACTICE GUIDELINES

1. Voluntary Social Contributions
   We will have concern for issues faced by local communities and global society and take part in community development and social contribution programs.
2. Active Participation in the Company's Social Contribution Activities
   We will actively participate in community development and other social contribution activities organized and carried out by the company or its departments.

At OMRON, the Human Resources and Administration Innovation Center, a corporate headquarters division, is tasked with managing social contributions and community involvement activities of the OMRON Group as a whole. Based on this system, all OMRON Group factories and offices, as well as employees, are encouraged to develop awareness as corporate citizens and address societal issues on their own initiatives.

OMRON also pursues effectiveness in its corporate citizenship activities by specifying the scope of these efforts as group-wide, multiple-site, or site-specific according to the theme of activity.

OMRON's donations are mainly targeted toward areas related to improving QOL (quality of life) for persons with disabilities and supporting their active involvement in society. OMRON also strictly and objectively evaluates the effects of the donations, so as to make more effective donations in the future.

In fiscal 2011, OMRON’s community involvement expenditures totaled 482 million yen, targeting a wide range of fields, including science and technology, social welfare, and disaster aid, in addition to each site’s individually organized social contribution programs.

Community Involvement Expenditures by Field

Science & Technology

• Supporting the 22nd Granting of Subsidies by the Tateisi Science and Technology Foundation (Subsidies were granted for 22 research projects and 3 international exchange projects.)

Social Welfare

• Cosponsoring the 31st Oita International Wheelchair Marathon and offering employees' participation as volunteers
• Cosponsoring the 23rd All-Japan Ekiden Long-distance Wheelchair Relay Race and offering employees' participation as volunteers
• Supporting KIDS Project (volunteers to escort children with disabilities at Tokyo Disneyland) and offering employees' participation as volunteers
• Organizing ski training course for people with disabilities together with the Professional Ski Instructors Association of Japan
• Cosponsoring International Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Kitakyushu Champions' Cup
• Cosponsoring 2011 Kyoto "Tentomushi" (Ladybug) Marathon Race
• Cosponsoring "PiPo" Universal Ekiden Long-distance Relay Race (Each participating team consists of an elementary school pupil, an elderly person aged 60 or above, a visually impaired runner, a wheelchair runner and a freestyle runner.)
• Participation in Exhibitions by Companies Supporting Social Involvement of Persons with Disabilities, an event related to the 2011 "Week of Persons with Disabilities"
• Cooperating with Kansai Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in efforts to raise public awareness about guide dogs through "Thank-you" cards

Disaster Aid

• Donating 5 million yen to assist communities affected by floods in Thailand in October through Japan Platform

Arts & Culture

• Organizing OMRON Cultural Forum jointly with the NHK Kyoto Culture Center
• Supporting pipe organ concerts organized by Kyoto Concert Hall
• Supporting 2011 International Cooperation Concert organized by the Japan International Volunteer Center

International Cooperation

• Participation in a knitting charity project for children worldwide
• Supporting activities organized by NGO Plan Japan
• Contributing donations to the Japan Committee for Vaccines for the World's Children as a matching gift^※1 for Eco-Volun^※2 activities in Japan
• Cosponsoring and participating in the "Shitennoji Wasso" festival

※1　Matching gift refers to the action of a company/organization to make a donation to match the amount of contributions collected from its employees or other individuals
※2　Eco-Volun is an OMRON-created initiative to encourage OMRON Group employees to engage in environmental preservation and volunteer activities.

Environmental Activities

• Support and participation in forest preservation projects by various sites
• Cosponsoring "100 Most Eco-friendly Activities" project involving industry, government, academia and the citizens of Kyoto

Community Support

• Hosting Kyoto OMRON Community Foundation’s awards ceremony

• Corporate Citizenship

With the aim of serving as a valued corporate citizen, OMRON strives for harmonious coexistence with local communities. As such, OMRON not only complies with all applicable laws and rules but also respects local culture and customs. Proactive communication with local people and organizations is also promoted in order to build relations of mutual trust.

Every year, OMRON participates in the Philanthropy and CSR Link-up Forum regularly hosted by the Osaka Voluntary Action Center (OVAC).The forum provides businesspeople in charge of corporate citizenship or CSR mainly from the Kansai region with the opportunity to exchange views and information with NGO/NPO staff and experts, aiming to build partnerships in contributions to local communities.

In addition, OMRON regularly takes part in the Kyoto Corporate Citizenship Network and Kyoto CSR Network meetings in which people in charge of corporate citizenship from companies based in Kyoto City assemble for learning and exchange of views regarding CSR.