Providing Support for Group Companies
In the interests of strengthening group management, we are providing active support for the Responsible Care (RC) initiatives of our Group companies.
Support for Environmental and Safety Activities
RC discussions
The RC Division holds RC discussions every year to promote and improve RC initiatives for Group companies both inside and outside Japan.
In FY2025, discussions were held in-person with six Group companies in Japan and one Group company outside Japan.
In these discussions, the companies in Japan reported on the planning and achievements of their RC initiatives. And the companies outside Japan reported on the planning and achievements of their RC initiatives, as well as the status of operation of their management systems. We provided them with advice and support.
Environmental and safety audits
The Environment & Safety Management Department at the Head Office conducts environmental and safety audits at our Group companies in Japan each year to check the environmental and safety management structure and system operation status.
In FY2025, audits were conducted at four Group companies in Japan, and we confirmed the status of compliance with legal requirements as well as the status of the establishment and operation of necessary standards for environmental and safety. We also confirmed that environmental and safety management systems are properly implemented.
Environmental and safety exchange meeting
We hold exchange meetings for environmental and safety personnel from our Group companies to introduce their RC initiatives, share information, and exchange opinions to further strengthen our RC initiatives.
In FY2025, we held an exchange meeting with Group companies in Japan at CHUGOKUKAKO CO., LTD. During the RC discussions, we shared and exchanged views on best practices from each company: measures for preventing human error, utilization of occupational injury cases, and initiatives related to improvement activities.
In addition, we held an exchange meeting (RC Meeting) with Group companies outside Japan at NIPPON SHOKUBAI EUROPE N.V. Participants shared case studies and exchanged opinions on environmental protection efforts (such as sustainability initiatives and waste-related activities), as well as safety activities including safety culture development, enhancement of safety awareness, management of non-routine work, promotion of near miss reporting, and prevention of slips and falls.
Through these exchange meetings, participants deepened their understanding of each company’s strengths and challenges, providing valuable opportunities to promote RC initiatives.
Support for Quality Activities
Support for quality assurance initiatives
For Group companies in Japan, we continued to provide advice and support on their quality activities and quality challenges through RC discussions (into which the content of the quality roundtable meetings has been integrated) and quality exchange meetings in FY2025.
For Group companies outside Japan, we continuously hold periodical quality meetings with all manufacturing sites. Additionally, for SAP （Super Absorbent Polymer) manufacturing sites, we hold an annual meeting among quality personnel with the aim of providing high-quality and globally consistent SAP. In FY2025, the meeting was held at Himeji Plant of Nippon Shokubai, where quality personnel from all sites gathered in person.
We remain committed to providing even more intensive support to our Group companies.
Quality audits
In the FY2025 quality audits for the Group companies in Japan, we focused on products that had not been covered previously and those for which quality complaints had occurred in the past. We also shared the audit findings across Group companies to help enhance overall quality levels.
For Group companies outside Japan, quality audits are conducted every other year, except for certain SAP manufacturing sites. In FY2025, quality audits were conducted at the Houston Plant and Chattanooga Plant of NIPPON SHOKUBAI AMERICA INDUSTRIES, INC., as well as at NIPPON SHOKUBAI EUROPE N.V., NISSHOKU CHEMICAL INDUSTRY (ZHANGJIAGANG) CO., LTD., and PT. NIPPON SHOKUBAI INDONESIA.
Quality exchange meeting
The annual quality exchange meeting is held by quality personnel from the Group companies in Japan, with each company taking turns hosting it. In FY2025, it was held at Chimachi Plant of NIPPOH CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
On the day, participants were divided into groups for quality assurance and quality control. The quality assurance group discussed matters such as responses to customer requests and initiatives for Quality Month, while the quality control group discussed matters such as internal product specifications, setting of effective inventory periods, and certification of analysts.
By further specializing the themes and organizing smaller groups, more active discussions and exchanges of opinions were achieved than ever before, making it a very valuable opportunity for each company.
