The Nitta Group, as a manufacturer, has been working on energy-saving, resource-saving and the reduction of waste in production activities. We have also been developing and providing products that contribute to the energy-saving and resource-saving of users of the Nitta Group’s products.

Nitta’s founder, Chojiro Nitta, said that, “It is by producing outstanding products that businesses prosper, but it is essential that businesses use their profits for the benefit of society.” As symbolized by these words, as far back as the beginning of the 20th century—before the term “CSR” even existed—we, the Nitta Group , have pursued business activities while taking into consideration contributing to society.

From among these points, one of Nitta’s distinctive approaches is forest management that we have done for over 100 years, since 1909 in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido. At the beginning, obtaining raw materials to process leather used for belts was the purpose of retaining forests. However, even today when raw materials for belt products have greatly changed, we have kept retaining the forest as a company-owned forest. Its dimensions are 6,600 hectares. This exceeds the dimensions of the inside of the JR Yamanote-line.

Also, we have worked on the appropriate growth and management of forest resources, and we obtained SGEC Forest Certification in 2008. While forest resources are on the verge of disappearing from the earth due to overdevelopment, the role that forests play to protect the global environment is getting attention. Nitta is going to hand rich greenness down to the next generation in the future as well.

Besides the forest in Hokkaido, we have done philanthropy to local communities, such as the support of the operation and maintenance of [Koto-no-Ura Onzansoen (Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture)], one of the biggest ground-floor areas across the country among gardens owned by the private sector. We also have done community cleanup volunteer activities, supporting blood donations and bone marrow donor registration, and park golf course management. Also, through [Health and Productivity Management], [Work style reform], [Promotion of diversity] and so on, we have promoted the making of an environment where all employees in the group can actively play roles.

In addition, the Nitta Group, to get trust from stakeholders, has been working on [Promotion of compliance] and [Enhancement of risk management]. I would like everyone in the Nitta Group to have consciousness to surely respond to requests and being charged with responsibilities from stakeholders and to act using the [Nitta Group Code of Conduct] as the norm. I, as the top of management, am also going to take the initiative in implementing the Code of Conduct.

We celebrated our 135th foundation anniversary on March 18th, 2020. With 135 years as a passing point, to sustainably expand more, I recognize that all employees in the group have to look to the long term, try to expand our corporate value, and also contribute to solve social issues such as climate change and environmental preservation. For this, in order to contribute to achieve the Goals of SDGs that the United Nations propounds as the common targets in the world, this time, we established the [NITTA Group Sustainable Management Policy] and set priority issues (Materiality) that we should work on from now on.

Representative Director/President　Yasunori Ishikiriyama