SARAYA - Kenya - News

Agreement Reached for Taking Control of Malaysia Sanitation Company

2014-01-20T00:41:33+00:00

SARAYA Co., Ltd. (HQ: Osaka / President Yusuke Saraya) has reached an agreement to acquire a 100% stake in the Goodmaid group, a Malaysian sales and manufacturing company of sanitation and hygiene products. In this acquisition of Goodmaid Chemicals Corporation Sdn. Bhd. and related companies, SARAYA is strengthening its presence in the ASEAN region.
The Goodmaid Group manufactures and markets a variety of sanitation products out of Malaysia meeting international standards for production and research. It serves the ASEAN market with household detergents and cleaning goods and a full line of professional-grade products for large scale sanitation. Local manufacturing allows Goodmaid to provide products at a reasonable price to Malaysian consumers.

SARAYA Co., Ltd. began expanding abroad in 1995 and has since established itself in the center of the ASEAN region with offices in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam selling high-quality Japanese hygiene products with customer-centered service. SARAYA also manufactures in Thailand for the Japanese market and other sales offices in Asia. However, with the rapidly developing ASEAN market leading to an increased awareness in health and hygiene, SARAYA expects increasing growth in manufacturing and sales for the area. Malaysia, strategically centered in the area, is an ideal area to lead development for ASEAN business, and a vital reason for considering the purchase of the Goodmaid Group, which has established manufacturing, sales and logistic networks.

In the future, the Goodmaid Group will be run by SARAYA Hygiene Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. and focus on strengthening growth locally and for other SARAYA group companies around the world by contributing SARAYA's technological expertise to Goodmaid, creating a network of business solutions for strengthening sales and competitiveness.

Post-takeover Goodmaid Group Outline:

HQ: Malaysia
Stockholder: Saraya Hygiene Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (100%)
Operations: Sales and manufacturing of household and industrial detergents and cleaning goods. OEM manufacturing.
Revenue: 1.3 Billion yen (Dec. 2013 Forecast)

Download Goodmaid M&A Press Release 2014

Official Launch of SARAYA Hand Disinfectant Manufacturing in Africa

2014-04-02T00:13:58+00:00

We are proud to announce that our Africa office, Saraya East Africa Co., Ltd., began manufacturing operations in Uganda, Africa, this March. The factory will be producing alcohol hand disinfectants for use in Uganda's hospitals and clinics, country-wide.

Saraya launched the "Wash a Million Hands Project" in Uganda in partnership with UNICEF Japan to improve handwashing access and education to children and mothers in Uganda in an effort to save lives lost due to poor hygiene. During the project, we realized that the hygiene environment in medical facilities also need support. The 100% Hospital Hand Hygiene Project was established in 2013 to reduce healthcare-associated infections in Uganda. One of the goals of the project is to create a local alcohol disinfectant manufacturing business. Fortunately, Uganda has local sugarcane production which is can be used to make alcohol locally. With locally procured ingredients, we were able to create a sustainable hand disinfectant that is priced appropriately for the local healthcare facilities while maintaining Japanese technology, quality and know-how.

Saraya East Africa Co., Ltd. is determined to expand our sustainable social business projects as well as solve social challenges of Africa through alcohol disinfectant manufacturing by creating jobs, encouraging business and improving healthcare.

SARAYA Co., Ltd. held a Ceremony to Welcome the Goodmaid Group

2014-05-23T00:05:20+00:00

SARAYA Co., Ltd. held a ceremony to welcome the Goodmaid Chemical Corporation and related companies into the Saraya family of companies. Saraya reached an agreement this January to acquire a 100% stake in the Goodmaid group, a Malaysian manufacturing and marketing company of sanitation and hygiene products.

The ceremony started with presentations by each company, after an introduction to SARAYA's business, Yusuke Saraya, the president of SARAYA, made a presentation about our history and CSR activities in Malaysia and globally. CEO Lim Bin Tek of the Goodmaid Group made a presentation on their prospects as a member of Saraya. Through the presentations, we were able to deepen our understanding of each company and strengthen the bond.

For the dinner, the employees of both companies were able to meet and communicate, many for the first time. It was a great opportunity for us to deepen our relationships. Most importantly, both teams are determined to strive toward the mission of improving the wellbeing of the world through Sanitation, Environment and Health.

SARAYA International (Thailand) Co., Ltd. was featured on the World Now – JETRO Global Eye

2014-07-31T00:57:57+00:00

SARAYA International (Thailand) Co., Ltd. was featured on the business information program World Now – JETRO Global Eye as one of a few Japanese companies that are expanding sales of hygiene products in Thailand. JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) is a government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world.

Saraya has been working hard to contribute to the sanitary environment of Thailand through hand soap, alcohol sanitizer and other hygiene products over the past decade. The managing director of Saraya International (Thailand) appears in the interview and talks about our determination to improve the sanitary environment through our products. Saraya's natural-based consumer products are also popular with locals. A drugstore clerk says in the interview that some customers buy 5 or 6 packs of Saraya products at once.

The program is all in Japanese but please visit the following JETRO website and have a look. Saraya appears around 6:40.

Saraya Europe participated in International Expodental, in Milan Italy from the 16th to the 18th of October

2014-10-20T00:26:12+00:00

We were glad to introduce to the Italian market our No-Touch well-known dispensers as well as our Alsoft E, hand Hygiene and surgical disinfectant registered newly in Italy. We also presented our new Sanilavo range and Elefoam2.0. We were delighted by the interest of the visitors to all our products. Our drive for innovation, efficacy and stylish design throughout our whole range of products has prompted once again an absolutely positive response during the three days of the event.

We would, therefore, like to thank everyone for visiting our stand and we would be pleased to see you again soon!

President Yusuke Saraya Talks Biodiversity as a Company Virtue

2015-01-12T00:33:57+00:00

Biodiversity in Good Company is an initiative partnership of companies around the globe that put biodiversity and sustainability as a company strategy.

In the current newsletter, President Yusuke Saraya talks about the biodiversity initiative at SARAYA. Please take a look and learn about how SARAYA takes the environment as a key resource in sustaining global business.

Download Newsletter: http://www.business-and-biodiversity.de/index.php?id=1146

Participation in APSIC

2015-04-18T00:50:58+00:00

The 7th International Congress of the ASIA PACIFIC SOCIETY OF INFECTION CONTROL: APSIC was held in Taipei, Taiwan from the 26th to the 29th of March, 2015. Under the theme 'Combating Infection for Global Health', the Program Committee prepared a series of invited lectures from Taiwan and abroad, educational workshops, symposia, and poster and oral sessions in parallel tracks during the 4 days.

Saraya participated as one of the sponsors. Our hand hygiene stands: IS-9000 and UD-9000 with Alsoft A were put on all floors of the venue and were utilized by delegates. In our booth, our range of products for skin wash, hand disinfection, hand care, environmental cleaning and disinfection, medical device reprocessing, PPE and dispensers were exhibited. Additionally, at our booth, we had a book signing ceremony by Professor Didier Pittet who is the director of the Infection Control Programme and WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland. Our booth received more than 100 visitors including famous professors and doctors such as Professor Dr. Nordiah Awang from Malaysia and Professor Helen Oh from Singapore. We would like to thank all those who visited our booth. It was a great opportunity to be in APSIC. We hope to come back.

Saraya (Shanghai) Biotech Co., Ltd. 10th Anniversary Celebration

2015-04-27T00:59:28+00:00

We are happy to announce that 2015 marks the 10th anniversary of the foundation of Saraya (Shanghai) Biotech Co., Ltd. Since its foundation in 2005, Saraya Shanghai has been providing a broad range of hygiene and sanitation products such as hand soap, hand sanitizer and cleaners to consumer products such as hair care and body care products.

Saraya Shanghai has experienced rapid growth throughout the country along with the development of the local economy and is proud to serve customers all across China.

To celebrate and express our gratitude to our customers, partners and staff, Saraya Shanghai held a private ceremony on April 10th. The management would like to thank the 114 guests that attended and those that sent beautiful flower arrangements.

Bio-surfactant Sophorolipid (SOFORO) introduced in Inform Magazine

2015-10-02T00:04:20+00:00

We are pleased to inform you that our bio-surfactant Sophorolipid (SOFORO) was introduced in the October 2015 issue of Inform magazine by the American Oil Chemist's Society. In each issue, Inform magazine provides international news on fats, oils, surfactants, detergents, and related materials. In this issue, SARAYA's SOFORO is introduced under the theme of Next-Generation cleaning products that have power and sustainability.

Please access the article from the link below and find out the greatness of SOFORO on page 556 and 557!
http://www.informmagazine-digital.org/informmagazine/october_2015?pg=12#pg12

SARAYA Welcomes Students from East Timor

2016-10-28T00:14:26+00:00

As a part of the JENESYS2015 Inbound Program, 22 medical university and graduate students from East Timor visited Japan on October 6. SARAYA invited them for a company tour and introduced them to our businesses, SARAYA East Africa, and the Wash a Million Hands Project in Uganda – SARAYA's handwashing promotional project. In the tour, we provided a handwashing seminar and talked about the mechanisms of healthcare-associated infections, the importance of handwashing, and 5 moments of hand hygiene. Handwashing demonstration was also conducted using the checker to find out missed areas during hand washing. They were surprised to see how easily we miss spots such as fingertips. After the first check, they learned the handwashing method recommended by the WHO and had it checked again. The second time they could perform better and deepen the understanding of hand washing. We hope the experience in SARAYA was enriching and informative for them!

Saraya (Hong Kong Sales) Co., Limited awarded one of Hong Kong's Most Valuable Companies in 2016

2015-11-17T00:05:59+00:00

We are proud to announce that Saraya (Hong Kong Sales) Co., Limited was awarded one of Hong Kong's Most Valuable Companies in 2016 by the Mediazone Group.

This award is presented to companies who focused on adding value to their market in the areas of commitment to innovation, quality of service, devotion to customer satisfaction and constant improvisation. Since the unexpected outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong in 2003, SARAYA has expanded its team and diversified the scope of its services. By shared our hygienic know-how cultivated in Japan with our clients and providing hygiene knowledge and product usage seminars to staff SARAYA has gained the respect as a market leader. Our value is rooted in providing both products and educational support to make people's lives and work more convenient and healthy. Thus, improving the consumer's quality of life and quality of work, we have gained a decisive win and have come as higher customer satisfaction in the market.

Finally, we would like to thank everybody for your continuous support. We will keep contributing to the improvement of sanitation, the environment, and health of Hong Kong and the world.

Saraya wins 'Eco Mark Award 2015' Gold Prize

2016-02-02T00:13:40+00:00

Saraya is proud to announce winning the Gold Prize at the 'Eco Mark Award 2015' held by the Japan Environment Association (JEA). The prize recognizes Saraya's commitment to producing and promoting environmentally friendly products.

Eco Mark was established in 1989 by JEA – a member of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) – to provide an environmental labeling scheme consistent with ISO 14020 and ISO 14024. It remains the only certified 'type I' environmental labeling program in Japan.

In 2010 JEA launched the Eco Mark Award, to give special recognition to companies making exceptional efforts in the production and promotion of eco-friendly products. The awards aim to give a greater awareness of such products to consumers and in turn encourage manufacturers to contribute more to making a sustainable society. The Gold Prize is the highest level of recognition, only awarded to one company each year.

Saraya has had many products bearing the Eco Mark certification, including the iconic Yashinomi detergent and Shavonet hand soap brands since 1990. Other environmental initiatives include the introduction of waste-reducing refill pouches in 1982, which continue to be a key part of Saraya's consumer product lineup to this day. It is this sustained commitment to the environment and environmental standards including Eco Mark which the Gold Prize recognizes and celebrates. Saraya proudly accepts the award and will continue striving to promote environmentally responsible products into the future.

We're Reconfirming our Business and Biodiversity Pledge

2016-11-17T00:33:49+00:00

SARAYA recently signed on the Business and Biodiversity Pledge. This pledge, established by the Conference of the Parties (COP), is for emphasizing the importance to businesses of biodiversity and the ecosystem-related services it provides.

On December 2nd, a signing ceremony will be held during the Business and Biodiversity Forum at Cancun, Mexico, with our president Yusuke Saraya attending the ceremony. SARAYA was one of the first companies to sign the Pledge when it was first established. It is our pleasure to support this excellent cause. You can find all signatories from the link below.

https://www.cbd.int/business/signatories-and-supporters.shtml

Celebrate! Global Handwashing Day, October 15, 2017

2017-10-13T00:05:55+00:00

"Global Handwashing Day is an annual global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives." – The Global Handwashing Partnership

According to the report, over 200 million people are involved in the Global Handwashing Day celebration in over 100 countries around the world each year. The day also provides opportunities where governments, international organizations, civil society organizations, NGOs, private companies, and individuals to collaborate with each other.

The theme for this year is "Our hands, our future!"
SARAYA is also advocating the importance of correct handwashing with soap as in our social activities. We started the "Wash A Million Hands!" project in 2010 as a support effort for UNICEF's handwashing promotion activity in Uganda to build a healthy future for the local children.

See the link below for the details of our project.
http://en.tearai.jp/

Join us to celebrate The 2017 Global Handwashing Day!

You can also download a celebratory desktop for your computer. Share it to remind others of the importance of handwashing.

Download here (1920x1080)

Various activities and information are available from The Global Handwashing Partnership campaign site.
https://globalhandwashing.org/global-handwashing-day/

Partnership Agreed in France for New Manufacturing Company

2017-11-09T00:15:00+00:00

SARAYA Co., Ltd. (HQ: Osaka / President Yusuke Saraya) has reached an agreement to acquire a share of Avenir Detergence SAS, a French sales and manufacturing company of sanitation and hygiene products. Avenir Detergence SAS will change its company name to Saraya Europe SAS from January 2, 2018, and expand its presence throughout the European region.

Avenir Detergence SAS specializes in detergents and cleaning solutions for households and professional businesses, mainly in France, but with other international markets. All manufacturing and R&D conducted within the company. Avenir Detergence's factory is dedicated to the highest international standards for consumer goods such as ECOCERT and Ecolabel certified products.

SARAYA has been active in Europe with its Belgium branch office since 2004, offering health and hygiene products to the medical industry. However, changing regulations regarding biocides prompted SARAYA to seek a new operational headquarters in France, opening new trade routes within the country and to the rest of Europe. Avenir Detergence SAS, which has well-established manufacturing, sales and logistic networks is the perfect partner for SARAYA. The purchase of Avenir Detergence SAS shares was concluded in October 2017.

This partnership is expected to increase sales and production of Avenir Detergence SAS and SARAYA products throughout Europe, by contributing SARAYA's technological expertise developed in Japan.

Post-Takeover Avenir Detergence SAS Outline:
Headquarters: Zi de la Praye 55500 Velaines, France.
Stockholder： Saraya HongKong Co., Limited
Operations： Sales and manufacturing of household and professional detergents and cleaning goods. OEM manufacturing.
Revenue： 1 Billion yen (Dec. 2017 forecast)

SARAYA wins Japan SDGs Award

2018-02-06T00:03:11+00:00

SARAYA received the Minister of Foreign Affairs Deputy Director Award at the inaugural Japan Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Awards. The ceremony was held at the Prime Minister's official residence on 26 December 2017, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The award was in recognition of SARAYA's contribution to the improvement of hygiene in Uganda, activities promoting biodiversity in Sabah, Malaysia, and encouraging the use of sustainable palm oil.

The Government of Japan established a Cabinet body, the SDGs Promotion Headquarters, headed by the Prime Minister and composed of all ministers on May 20, 2016, in order to ensure a whole-of-government approach to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in a comprehensive and effective manner. The Japan SDGs Awards provide incentive and promotion of good practice.

SARAYA’S Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals: 2018 Report

2018-07-31T00:28:56+00:00

What are the Sustainable Development goals?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations in 2015. Also known as the “2030 Agenda”, these goals were created as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. As Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016, stated: "We don’t have plan B because there is no planet B!."

The SDGs cover social and economic development issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, global warming, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, urbanization, environment and social justice.

How is SARAYA helping to reach these goals?

SARAYA is completely committed to achieving these goals.

Since our founding, we have been deeply involved in helping and improving the world we live in. Through the development of antibacterial liquid soap and their dispensers, SARAYA has promoted public health at offices, schools and public facilities since 1952, when post-war sanitation systems were still poor - the same issues that many developing countries such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are still facing today.

With the implementation of the SDGs in 2015, our company quickly publicly supported the complex yet gratifying mission of creating a better society. Our efforts were quickly recognized when SARAYA won the first SDGs Japan Award in December 2017, promoted by the Japanese Government. The award was presented by Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, and Mr. Taro Kono, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan in recognition of our active contributions to the Borneo Conservation Trust in Malaysia and our activities supporting healthcare improvement in Uganda and Kenya to infections in the hospital.

Although they are small steps, our aim is to take concrete and constant steps such as these towards the SDGs.

What Goals is SARAYA pursuing?

We are trying to connect with as many SDGs as possible. Currently, we are actively involved in the following 11 goals, but we have plans to include more in the future.

Through our Alcohol-Based Hand Disinfectants we aim to improve hygiene all around the globe. We are involved in many projects such as the “Wash a Million Hands Project” in Uganda, the “100% Hospital Hand Hygiene Project” in East Africa, as well as a handwashing project in Cambodia and a WHO based group of private businesses for infection prevention. All of these programs revolve around hand washing and disinfection.

Our company is committed to equal pay, recruitment, promotion, pay raises, placement and equal opportunities for education and training regardless of sex.

Since 2005, we hold a 2 star “Osaka City Female Active Leadership Leading Company” certificate (the highest level available) provided by the city of Osaka, and are approved as a leading company in “Promoting Paternal Involvement”.

SARAYA household products do not contain Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) in order to protect aquatic life. We also use Biosurfactants, cleaning agents that rinse away with less water and are easily biodegradable. We developed Acecide, a low toxicity solution for high-level disinfection and sterilization.

Our employees have a better balance between family and career, with paid leave for volunteering, personal development, anniversary, and healthcare. Since 2009, we have been certified by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare as a “Child Caring Support Company”, and we just launched our own workplace daycare called Saraya Child Station in April 2018.

We believe that diversity is one of SARAYA’s most valuable assets. Diversity in the workplace through gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, cultural differences, family, educational background and disabilities provide a better understanding of the world.

Palm oil, used in processed foods and cooking oils and non-edible products such as soaps, detergents and cosmetics, is the number one reason for deforestation in the Southeast Asian jungle due to its cheap production and huge demand. SARAYA also uses palm oil from Borneo in many of its products, but only Certified Sustainable Palm Kernel Oil. We also cooperate with Wild Asia to conserve the tropical rainforest and its biodiversity.

Our goal is to constantly reduce the burden of the company on the world by cutting annual energy consumption, fuel consumption, paper consumption, water consumption, waste production, and last but not least, increasing our recycling rate. Continuous improvement is vital for a sustainable society.

A red tide is a phenomenon that is caused by plankton accumulating rapidly in the sea, decreasing oxygen causing fish to suffocate and other life to die from the plankton’s toxins. There several reasons for its appearance, but it is clear that pollution contributes to it. Yashinomi, our highly biodegradable detergent, and the use of bio-surfactants such as SOFORO, we have successfully reduced our mark on the sea.

As a founding member of the Borneo Conservation Trust, SARAYA has been committed to life on land by protecting biodiversity in Sabah, Malaysia. We are also a longtime supporter of Biodiversity in Good Company initiative.

SARAYA has been a long time participant in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles and to undertake partnerships in support of UN goals.

Partnerships, participation and global collaboration have become a foundation of SARAYA. Together with JICA, we provided a program focused on preventing healthcare-associated infections. Recently we collaborated with the Ministry of Health Uganda for a 3 days infection prevention program.

For a more detailed read of our Sustainability Report, click the following link:

Sustainability Report 2018

SARAYA is certified as No.1 industry in Japan on the use of Palm Oil

2018-09-25T00:00:54+00:00

The Green Purchasing Network (GPN) announced on September 7, 2018, that SARAYA has been awarded first place in manufacturing thanks to its efforts with palm oil.

The GPN scored companies from various industries based on several criteria such as RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil) membership, sustainable palm oil usage and other factors deemed valuable by the GPN. All of the scoring information is open to the public, allowing these companies to access through an independent party, showcasing their efforts.

Since its foundation, Saraya has made efforts to create environmentally conscious products, and in 2004 started environmental conservation activities in Borneo, Malaysia, where the rainforest is losing to palm plantation expansion. As the first Japanese member to join the RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil), and in the year 2010, the first to developed and release products using RSPO certified oil in Japan, SARAYA has around 400 products registered RSPO certified. Our aim is to have all our palm-containing products certified with the RSPO by 2020.

Production of palm oil is expanding due to an increase in world food demand and plant oil derived products. This is causing major environmental and social problems mainly in Malaysia and Indonesia, which are the world’s largest producing countries, due to actions such as cutting down tropical rainforests and expanding plantations. In order to solve these problems, the international community is moving to procure RSPO certified oil, which is sustainable palm oil produced with consideration of the environment and human rights of its workers.

What is the RSPO?

In response to the growing demand for sustainable palm oil dampens its impact on the environment, related organizations from both the environmental conservation community and the palm industry community, took action and in 2004 the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established.

RSPO is an international nonprofit organization promoting the production of palm oil with consideration for the environment and society and is involved in seven sectors related to the palm oil industry (palm oil production, trade, consumer products manufacturers, retailers, banks/investment companies, environmental NGOs and social and development NGOs). Its purpose is to promote the production and use of sustainable palm oil through the establishment of worldwide trusted certification standards and stakeholder participation.

Report published by the Green Purchasing Network (in Japanese)

Green Purchasing Network (GPN)

Halloween at Saraya Child Station

2018-10-29T22:26:35+00:00

Halloween is just a few days away and we didn’t want to miss the chance to have fun! We had our party at “Saraya Child Station”, our own nursery where the little ones spend some time meanwhile their dads and moms work.

Kids and their parents creating Halloween decorations.

Together with their parents, we spent the day building our own ghosts, playing games made especially for the party, and having a delicious lunch (after properly washing our hands, of course!).


Can you get the ball through the skull? It’s harder than it looks!	Ghosts don’t always have to be scary.

Everyone had a great time and we will surely repeat next year!

Pinballs made recycling Yashinomi detergent bottles.

Spooky Halloween!

SARAYA wins the Sustainable Palm Oil Best Practice Award 2018

2018-11-07T00:34:27+00:00

On the 22 of October in Chiyoda, Japan, the “Sustainable Palm Oil Conference 2018 / JaSPOC Post Olympic Games, Looking to palm oil procurement in 2030” was celebrated.

With a total of 310 participants, Saraya was one of the 150 companies involved, as one of the sponsors and as an executive committee member.

The first speaker of the night, Mr. Reza Azmi, representative of Wild Asia, and also the supplier of Saraya’s certified palm oil.

In the middle of the program, the “Sustainable Palm Oil Best Practice Award 2018” by WWF Japan was held, and the “Sumatran Rhino Prize” was given to Saraya for its efforts.


Director Daishima receiving the award in SARAYA’s name on stage.	WWF Japan Certificate.

3 main reasons were mentioned for this award:

For being the first business in Japan to start using sustainable palm oil while there was almost no information in Japan.
For joining in 2015, for the first time in Japan, the RSPO, and since 2010, manufacturing products that are certified as an RSPO product.
For, through our websites and events, actively working and improving the procurement of sustainable palm oil and its certification system.

But apart from the prize, we also received the request for helping spread products with certified palm oil, and asked to, using our connections and knowledge, to support improvements on farms, and especially small-scale farmers. These gladly accept these challenges and will keep on working for a better future with sustainable businesses.

Other parts of the night included the launch of the "Japanese Sustainable Palm Oil Network" (JaSPON)", considered the most important part for many of us, and the panel discussion "Practice of palm oil procurement looking forward to 2020".

Nobuo Nakanishi (first row, second from the left), SARAYA member and part of the executive committee.

Mrs. Kawamukai receives the Sakuyahime award

2018-12-28T00:08:31+00:00

The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry has awarded Mrs. Emiko Kawamukai, General Manager of the Bio-Chemical Laboratory at the Product Development Division in SARAYA, for her inspiring career at the 3rd “Osaka Sakuyahime” award ceremony on December 6, 2018.

Founded in 2016, the "Osaka Sakuyahime" rewards the efforts of inspiring women that have helped improve the corporate and cultural climates of their fields, the driving force in the revitalization of Osaka. In its first edition, Mrs. Aoko Toshida, Managing Director of the Medical Business Division, also won this award, so this will be the second time that Saraya has achieved it, motivating us as a company to keep on working in creating a more diversified, active future.

Since joining as a research worker, Mrs. Kawamukai has been engaged in the development of high-level disinfectants and sterilizing agents for medical equipment, being part of the introduction of the disinfectant “Acecide”, one of the core products of the company. In the 18 years she has been in SARAYA, she was the first female promoted to Department Manager at the Bio-Chemical laboratory, and has been involved in studies and briefing sessions with foreign nationals and young members, helping in the development of future generations. Together with Saraya, and after experiencing her own childbirth and childcare, we took initiative in creating a workplace where everyone can balance work and home, making her a perfect role model of what women and any person can achieve in a global, diversified, worker-friendly environment.

"I am honored to receive such a wonderful prize. We will continue our efforts in developing technologies and products produced in Osaka to Japan, and the World."

Mrs. Kawamukai, after receiving the award

At Saraya, we aim to achieve a richer and fruitful global society based on our 3 pillars: Hygiene, Environment and Health. In November 2010, we launched the Diversity Promotion Office and the Diversity Promotion Policy, with aims to incorporate different cultures and ways of thinking, making diversity a strength instead of an issue.

We will continue promoting a workplace with a diverse force, aiming to become a company that contributes to the realization of a sustainable society.

Let’s commit to the SDGs in 2019!

2019-01-17T00:10:03+00:00

History is not created through premeditated actions. Rather, it is created by accident from unexpected results.

With that in mind, we are living in a time full of uncertainties. It is an unstable time where we can’t predict how society will change in the future. However, if we were to look at ourselves from the future, with global warming, a decrease in biodiversity, an increase in disparity between the rich and poor, and multiplying friction and conflicts within our global society, one could say we are at the crossroads of a new era. There is a great chance that the future will be unlike anything we have ever known—at a “tipping point” of sustainability. We need to put our efforts into passing the world on to the next generation in a sustainable way.

In September 2015, the members of the United Nations (193 countries) adopted the “2030 Agenda”, agreeing to eliminate extreme poverty, inequality and injustice over the next 15 years in order to create a better future. With the objective of implementing “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs), countries, companies and various organizations are working on an environmental and economic level towards these goals in order to pass a sustainable planet and society to future generations.

In addition to various projects such as maintaining biodiversity by the Borneo Conservation Trust, initiating efforts to improve sanitation in Uganda or participation in greenification of the Sahara desert in Egypt, SARAYA has adopted many SDGs at the core of its business, working towards a sustainable future in the fields of natural products, food hygiene, public health, medical sanitation, and healthy.

To that end, we find it necessary to make a more concentrated effort to tackling sustainability through actions such as product development, businesses, innovation from a Japanese and global perspective.

As Ninomiya Sontoku said, “economics that forget its morals is criminal, but morals that forget economics is nonsense”. Together with the six high concepts by Daniel Pink ( Design above function, Story above argument, Symphony above focus, Empathy above logic, Play above Seriousness, and Meaning above accumulation), we are drastically changing our corporate mindset.

Last but not least, I would like to thank our customers, suppliers, and partners. for your guidance, encouragement and patronage.

Director Yusuke Saraya

Improvement of sanitation

Contributing to sanitation in developing countries

Around the world, over 16,000 children under five lose their lives every day, many from preventable diseases. Correct handwashing with soap can prevent diarrhea and pneumonia, something that could save as many as 1 million children a year. In Uganda, we promote handwashing education, the prevention of healthcare-associated infections, and projects that reduce maternal and child mortality.

Healthcare Hygiene

Confronting the risk of infectious diseases

We are constantly trying to innovate effective ways to prevent healthcare-associated infections. In addition to our flagship hand disinfectants, we have also developed a wide range of products and services, such as Power Quick (medical instrument reprocessing detergent), environmental disinfectants, PPE, and the Steriace 100 hydrogen peroxide gas sterilizer in recent years to combat infectious diseases in healthcare. In addition, we focus a large amount of energy on improving the aging care field by developing amenities, nutrition and sanitation products to assist in care at nursing homes to improve the quality of life for the elderly.

Public Hygiene, Food Sanitation

Preventing infections for the public

Shared public spaces such as offices, stations and schools are the most common ways diseases are spread throughout society. Our amenities are designed to keep the public healthy. With years of knowledge on fighting various infectious diseases such as influenza and norovirus, we aim to innovate forward and find ways to improve public health through nutrition and oral hygiene while proactively proposing healthy living through active lifestyles and beauty.

Improving the food value chain

Using the technology behind the SARAYA Rapid Freezer we are working on creating a value chain where agricultural and fishery industries worldwide can improve their distribution and management of fresh ingredients. Together with the development and sale of better detergents, disinfectants, dispensers, sanitary equipment, refrigeration, software related to food hygiene, education and services, we aim to create a healthy, sustainable, effective way of providing food.

Environmentally Conscious

Sustainable raw materials and conserving global biodiversity

Aiming for the conservation of the global environment, we set countermeasures against climate change and to source sustainable raw materials. We are working closely in Borneo to preserve biodiversity and promote the use of RSPO certified products that use sustainable palm oil. In Egyp, we are conducting research on the greenification of the desert by planting jojoba seedlings in arid regions to extract high-quality jojoba oil for use in our products.

Natural Consumer Goods

Delivering safe and natural products

Starting with Shavonet soap in 1956 and followed by Yashinomi detergent in 1971, we have a long history of natural products, and we are currently building on the next-generation of detergents with Happy Elephant. In addition, all our products including Arau natural soaps, Cocopalm body care, Lactoferrin Lab and other cosmetics are all additive-free and safe on the skin.

Supporting Health through Foods

From concept to consumer

Our own factory in Guilin, China, allows us to maintain the quality and production of luo han guo (monk fruit) sweetener worldwide. The global market is demanding healthy foods, and our R&D team has been releasing many new healthy choices to nutritious products that suit a variety of diets.

Lakanto Cafe & Dining Lakan-Ka in Tokyo recently opened, providing no sugar added desserts and meals.

Global Expansion

Responding to the needs of the world.

With currently 26 sales offices in 22 countries and 8 factories in 7, we are striving to meet the diverse needs of the world directly with decades of manufacturing and global supply chain experience.

Hand Hygiene Train The Trainers Programme 2019

2019-01-31T00:00:00+00:00

Train The Trainers 2019 has come to an end at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Through the span of 3 days, 85 participants (21 doctors, 63 nurses and 1 nursing college tutor) from ALL 13 states and 2 territories of Malaysia, including Borneo, attended this world-class infection prevention and control program. This event was supported by the University of Malaya and SARAYA. 36 public hospitals, 3 private hospitals and 5 health care facilities from the Ministry of Education were represented this year and hopefully much more will join us next time.

3 days of learning and re-learning about hygiene, hand hygiene and the challenges Malaysian hospitals have in the battle versus infection.

Clean Hands are Safer Hands.

Supporting Race For Water

2019-02-14T00:01:51+00:00

What is R4W?

In 2010, Swiss entrepreneur Marco Simeoni created the Lausanne-based Race for Water Foundation (R4W) with the objective of understanding and helping in the fight against plastic pollution in our oceans. Realizing that collecting plastic waste at sea is impossible from the lack of actual “plastic islands”, Simeoni launched a scientific and environmental expedition in 2015, the Race for Water Odyssey, to make the first global assessment of plastic in our oceans. The seas are a soup of plastic waste and the plastic islands we heard about were a dream. The solution to plastic waste is on land before it even reaches the water.

On April 9th, 2017, R4W set sail around the world for a five-year odyssey, to offer solutions for preserving the ocean from plastic pollution, a genuine environmental disaster on a planetary scale.

How does R4W help?

Discarded plastic thrown into the water is decomposed by ultraviolet rays, turning into microplastics that drift through the ocean. Old fishing nets capture turtles, large fish and seals, struggling until they die. In developing countries, where garbage disposal facilities are limited, rivers become dumping areas and are filled with plastic bags, containers and plastic bottles. If pollution continues in this condition, it is estimated that by 2050, the total weight of creatures in the sea will be the same as the total weight of underwater plastic.

For these and many other reasons, the R4W Foundation helps with the cleaning of the oceans on 3 different fronts:

While traveling around the world in a boat powered by a mixture of solar, hydrogen and wind energies R4W contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge regarding water pollution via plastics.
Second, R4W alert decision-makers, raise awareness among the general public and educate the young generations wherever they go.
Last but not least, they promote and implement solutions with a sustainable economic, environmental and social impact.

How is SARAYA involved?

In February 2019, R4W and ZERI・Japan confirmed in Osaka an agreement spanning 5 stopovers between April 2nd to the 10th of August, 2020, in the major Japanese cities of Tokyo, Nagano, Osaka, Kobe and most likely Hiroshima, making it the longest stopover, which will be full of activities during the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

The agreement was signed between Race For Water and ZERI・Japan, where SARAYA CEO Yusuke Saraya acts as president. The Zero Emission Research and Initiates (ZERI) is a global network of creative minds, seeking solutions to the ever-increasing problems of the world with more than 5o projects worldwide.

SARAYA, through ZERI・Japan, will collaborate with Race For Water, continuing the effort we started to protect the ocean since the creation of Yashinomi.

SARAYA Receives the Biodiversity Report Special Excellence Award at the 22nd Environmental Communications Awards

2019-02-26T00:02:06+00:00

Held on the 20th of February at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo, the Environmental Communications Awards was an event where excellent environmental communications were awarded, in order to promote environmental responsibility in private corporations and the diffusion of its results. Co-hosted between the Japanese Minister of Environment and the Global Environmental Forum (GEF), SARAYA was one of the few winners in 2019 from 196 applications.

Tokyo SARAYA President Shuji Saraya receiving the certificate of commendation.

Named the “Biodiversity Report Special Excellence Award”, it was the first time in four years (since 2015) that it has been awarded, a streak that SARAYA feels proud to break. The following awards were won by the corresponding organizations:

Environmental Report Grand Prize – Toyota Motors Corporation
Sustainability Report Grand Prize – Ajinomoto Co., Ltd
Global Warming Countermeasure Report Grand Prize – AEON Co., Ltd
Environmental Report Excellent Award – Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. /Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
Global Warming Countermeasure Report Excellence Award – Hitachi, Ltd.
Biodiversity Report Special Excellence Award – SARAYA Co., Ltd.
Reliability Report Special Excellence Award – Taiheiyo Cement Co., Ltd.

Our goal in the years to come is to achieve the 3 different Grand Prizes that are awarded every year. We will continue to ask for support to help improve our sustainability and environmental efforts in the future.

From left to right, Special Advisor Mr. Ando, Mrs. Takahashi, responsible for the production and editing of sustainability reports from Human Resources Headquarters, and Mr. Saraya.

Saraya Sustainability report 2018

▼SustainabilityReport2018.pdf

Global Environmental Forum website

▼https://www.gef.or.jp/en/

Saraya Uganda acquires ISO 9001:2015 Certification

2019-02-28T00:02:51+00:00

The local production of hand sanitizers using sugarcane-derived alcohol has been in progress since 2014. We are pleased to announce that Saraya Manufacturing Uganda has recently obtained the ISO9001:2015 certification, assuring that our factory meets the most strict quality standards.

*ISO 9001 is an international standard that demonstrates the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. The current version was released in September 2015.

※IQNet is an international network of certification bodies that is present in about 40 countries around the world. Although Nemko was in charge of auditing Saraya Uganda, certificates were issued by both Nemko and IQNet. Both certificates are valid.

A word from Saraya Uganda

We began preparing for the ISO 9001 certification in October motivated by the visit from Professor Pittet, who came to Uganda in August 2018 to promote the use of locally produced alcohol disinfectants for healthcare.

Under the direction of Factory Director Abubaker, who has been supervising the factory since its founding, we finally received ISO 9001 certification on February 20, 2019, after the 3rd party audit from Nemko in January 2019.

We plan to expand our product line and continue to improve product quality, together with the expansion of our production plant.

Currently Produced

Alsoft V
Smart San S-4
Toilet Seat Sanitizer
Foaming Hand Wash Citrus
Foaming Hand Wash Unscented
Smart San N-2
Smart San J-1
Smart San G-1
Shavonet Apple Green
Shavonet Citrus
Goodmaid Pro line-up

Green Corridor Project SARAYA No. 7 Forest acquired!

2019-03-27T17:13:37+00:00

We are excited to announce the addition of the 7th SARAYA Forest to the Green Corridor Project!

Although the date of acquisition was in March 2018, we have finalized all the procedures and documentation in order to report it publicly.

Certificate of Appreciation

Land acquired on: March 2018

Land name: SARAYA NO 7 Forest

Area: 5,99ha

The Green Corridor Project is an initiative that aims to promote the protection of biodiversity by allowing wildlife to move freely in large areas by connecting divided forests along the riverbanks. SARAYA has been working since 2007 with the Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) along the Kinabatang River in Sabah, Malaysia, trying to secure at least 20,000 hectares.

About the acquired site and its surrounding environment

This time the acquired land compromises 5.99ha, a little bit more than 227 tennis courts. On the edge of Lot 7, of a small village is slowly but steadily increasing its plantations, sacrificing forests vital for the crossing of elephants and other fauna. The purchase of this area, and the future surrounding forests is going to be vital to ensuring the elephants and orang-utans have an unobstructed path to surrounding conservation sanctuaries.

SARAYA will keep collaborating with the Borneo Conservation Trust in order to complete the Green Corridor Project and save the Borneo forest and its biodiversity from extinction.

Borneo Conservation Trust website: https://www.borneotrust.org/
SARAYA social responsibility page: Sustainability at SARAYA

For the success of the G20 Osaka Summit

2019-04-02T00:03:24+00:00

From the 28^th to the 29^th of June, the “G20 Osaka Summit 2019” will be held in Osaka, Japan, SARAYA’s hometown.

Founded in 1999, the G20 is an international forum where governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union aim to promote international financial stability. Over the years its importance and role has increased gradually, and with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement, more “issues of global significance” like migration, digitization, employment, healthcare, empowerment of women and development aid are also discussed in its meetings.

In order to make the G20 Osaka Summit a success, we are supporting the Osaka Summit Kansai Promotion Cooperation Council. Through participation in the Osaka Summit Kansai Promotion Cooperation Council and together with Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, the business community and the Kansai Area Alliance, we aim to improve Osaka’s profile and its contribution to the world.

SARAYA, as an Osaka company, but also as one actively aiming to improve our society with the SDGs, will always support activities that improve and highlight the safety and image of Osaka and the Kansai region to the world.

Joining the JaSPON platform for the use of sustainable palm oil

2019-04-17T00:02:16+00:00

With the aim of solving the several environmental issues concerning palm oil production and to accelerate the procurement and consumption of sustainable palm oil in the Japanese market, we are pleased to announce that SARAYA has joined the “Japan Sustainable Palm Oil Network” (JaSPON) as a board member from the 11th of April, 2019.

Production of palm oil keeps expanding due to increases in food demand worldwide. A wide range of environmental and social problems—mainly caused in Indonesia and Malaysia, palm oil’s major producers— including logging of tropical rain forests for plantation expansion keeps happening daily. As an answer, the international community is moving to procure RSPO certified oil, a “sustainable palm oil” produced with consideration to the environment and human rights, in an effort to solve these problems. From the business side, there is also a rapid increase in companies working towards joining this certification system, including in Japan.

SARAYA was the first Japanese company that joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) back in 2005. At the presentation of the establishment of JaSPON, communications director Hirotsugu Daishima, who has been at the forefront of our efforts in obtaining RSPO certified oil and supporting the non-profit Borneo Conservation Trust with 1% of our sales of products such as the Yashinomi detergent, introduced our current environmental conservation activities such as our wildlife protection on Borneo, Malaysia.

As demonstrated by JaSPON, we believe that it is important for members to work together beyond the boundaries of their industry while promoting initiatives in their respective positions. SARAYA will continue with its use of RSPO-certified oil as one of the solutions to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), with the objective of only using RSPO-certified oil in all our Japanese products by 2020, and promoting the same use in all our overseas companies by 2030.

JaSPON main activities

Collection and provision of information on sustainable palm oil procurement.
Activities to promote sustainable palm oil sourcing and consumption.
Provide information and its exchange between members.
A window to organize and negotiate the opinions of Japanese stakeholders with external organizations.
Other necessary activities, aiming towards the achievement of the goals of JaSPON.

JaSPON starting members

Ajinomoto, Aeon, SB Food, Kao, Green Purchasing Network (GPN), Control Union Japan, Saraya, Shiseido, Seiyu, World Wildlife Fund Japan (WWF Japan), Daabon Organic Japan, Taiyo Yushi, Nisshin Foods Holdings, Nippon Oil, the Borneo Conservation Trust Japan, Meiji, Morinaga Milk and Lion.

JAHAS x INHAC 2019 co-sponsored presentation

2019-05-01T00:07:16+00:00

On the 23rd of April, the Japan Society for Halal Science and Technology (JAHAS) and the International Halal Conference (INHAC) celebrated the 4th International Halal conference in Osaka, talking about the challenges and prospects of the Halal industry in Japan.

As part of the event, Ms. Konishi, chief executive of the Global Operations Division, participated by explaining Saraya’s commitment to Halal products, being a company that sells in markets with Muslim tradition, such as Malaysia and Thailand, with Halal certified products.

Although Halal, based on religious beliefs, refers to what is permissible or lawful in traditional Islamic law, when talking about products, it also entails a high level of quality, safety and hygienic levels to ensure that they do comply with those laws. Quality management systems (QMS) and hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) have to be supplemented with an extra effort to reach Halal certification, so even if you are not a Muslim, you can enjoy any of Saraya’s products while being assured of its high quality.

Parallel to the increase in Muslim immigration to Japan, be it for tourism or for employment, JAHAS was launched last year and, based on scientific evidence, will promote its forum for discussing Halal, and the future of the Halal industry.

Saraya’s corporate philosophy is the improvement of sanitation, health and environment of the world. As part of our efforts in improving the lives of all people, we will keep developing products that are also meaningful to the Islamic world, and participating in events promoting them.

SARAYA is recognized for the Wash A Million Hands! Project

2019-05-07T00:04:43+00:00

SARAYA is pleased to announce that the company has received a certificate of merit (the business equivalent to a medal of honor awarded to individuals） by the Japanese government for its contributions to the well-being of the public, for improving hand hygiene in Africa with the “Wash A Million Hands! Project”, made in collaboration with UNICEF Japan.

When did SARAYA start fighting for Hand Hygiene?

With the spread of infectious diseases such as dysentery in the early post-war years, Saraya was the first Japanese company, back in 1952, that developed an antibacterial soap solution with its own dispenser that sanitized at the same time that you washed your hands, and we haven’t stopped improving since then.

With the intention of spreading handwashing around the world, on the celebration of our 60th anniversary in 2010, we started the “Wash A Million Hand! Project”, spreading hand washing using soap in Africa and the Republic of Uganda together with UNICEF Japan. 1%^1* of all sales of several SARAYA products (Arau being the main brand involved) were donated to UNICEF, an activity we still continue.

On the 18th of April, we received the certificate of merit from Mr. Hayami, the Director of UNICEF Japan, on behalf of the Japanese Government. This is an extra push to continue our partnership with UNICEF Japan, NGOs, local governments, civil society organizations, and other key role players to contribute to the improvement of sanitation in the Republic of Uganda.

Wash A Million Hands! Project

Uganda’s under-five mortality rate is said to be 55 per 1000 children, a major disease that can be prevented by proper handwashing. In order to reduce it, a goal initially set as one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), we were able to increase the handwashing penetration rate from 14% in 2007 to 32.7% in 2014. In 2015, these goals gave way to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically for this project, numbers 3 “Good Health and Well-being” and 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation”, something that only leads to more validation to our efforts.

A continuation of work in reducing newborn and under-five mortality rate is still vital. Despite efforts in incorporating appropriate hand washing and equal access to sanitation facilities, soap penetration rate in 2018 has only increased to 36.5%^2*. Things have indeed improved, but we will continue working on this project for the future of Uganda’s and Africa’s youth.

Wash a Million Hands! Website

*Sales of the maker.
*Source: UNICEF Japan “Uganda National Handwashing Initiative 2016-2018 Final Report".

Saraya’s Borneo activities recognized at the National Geographic Japan Advertising Awards 2019

2019-05-23T00:10:40+00:00

Nikkei Business Publications, book and magazine publisher (and owner of National Geographic Japan), recently celebrated the Nikkei BP Marketing Awards, which annually recognize the best marketing activities of companies that make full use of Nikkei BP media, content and research functions. Japan recognized jury members are invited yearly to review all the selected works, judging creativity, novelty, impact, positivity, and planning in them.

National Geographic Japan, with a screening committee including designer, Hiroko Joshino, and chairman of the Wild Bird Society of Japan, Yakyu Horoshi, awarded Saraya for their ad in its activities for the conservation of Borneo, shared on their website from March 19 until April 13.

On Borneo, Malaysia, large-scale palm oil plantations are expanding in order to increase the production of vegetable oils and fats heavily used in food processing, bringing the local wildlife living in the rainforest closer towards extinction. To fight this expansion, Saraya has been cooperating with the Sabah Wildlife Department since 2004 on rescue operations for injured Borneo elephants. Also, since 2007, 1% of the sales of “Yashinomi”, and “Happy Elephant” products go towards the support of the Borneo Conservation Trust, an organization working toward environmental sustainability. Saraya is also engaged in other biodiversity conservation activities by adopting RSPO certified oil, an environmentally and human-rights friendly palm oil as raw material for our products.

In this year’s awarded ad, together with the cooperation of Christel Takigawa, Japanese television announcer, we conveyed through an interview the importance of biodiversity in Borneo and the problems affecting not only its flora and fauna but also to the people around it connected directly and indirectly. In the eyes of Yagyu Hiroshi, it is an example of an ad that goes beyond mere corporate advertising with a forward-looking attitude.

Increasing Efforts On The Fight Versus Ebola

2019-07-01T00:00:35+00:00

The current Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which by November of 2018 became the second largest outbreak of Ebola in recorded history, still has no end in sight due to the combination of a violent virus and a humanitarian crisis in North Kivu, the affected area, occasioned by a military conflict with thousands of displaced refugees. Together with the fact that this area has a lot of cross border movement due to trade with its neighboring countries Rwanda and Uganda, containment of this disease is truly an enormous task, and sadly it has already claimed 3 confirmed deaths in the latter country.

Since August of 2018, the Uganda government, together with the vital support of the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO) and many non-governmental organization, is stepping up efforts in disease control at the border, with stricter health checks, proactive vaccinations of their health workers, and a focus in infection prevention through disinfection.

One of the disinfection tools that we have seen in many of the photos taken of the different health checkpoints is Alsoft V, our antiviral hand disinfectant produced in Uganda. Proper hand hygiene is indeed the first barrier in infection prevention and although our efforts are nothing compared with the hundreds of doctors, nurses and volunteers that are risking their lives on the actual “battlefront”, we are in a way proud that we are helping to make a difference.

BBC’s recent coverage of the Ebola crisis with a bottle of Alsoft V on the table. Original link to the news here.

Over the last month, we have increased our production of Alsoft V by Saraya East Africa to cover the sudden demand for our disinfection products. Not only is the UN dedicating a special budget through the WHO to the purchase of alcohol sanitizers, but demand from particulars and companies, even from other countries of the continent, has also dramatically escalated. To cope with the urgency, instead of our normal channel of distribution through freighters, we are using air transportation to have a faster delivery to our Uganda factory of the components and parts necessary for our dispensers and bottles.

Together with other organizations in Uganda, SARAYA is doing everything possible to help provide the best tools to fight this epidemic.

Up-to-date information on Ebola news: http://www.ebolavirusnet.com/

Saraya East Africa contact page: http://saraya-east-africa.com/index.php/contact

The Importance Of Access To Safe Drinking Water And Sanitation

2019-07-04T00:00:47+00:00

The United Nation (UN) declared access to safe drinking water in 2010 as a fundamental human right, and an essential step towards improving living standards for everyone. Poor sanitation and contaminated water can lead to the transmission of diseases and an increase in the mortality rate, with still too many people lacking access to safe water and sanitation facilities. Due to that importance, ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all is the 6th goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Providing clean and safe water, for drinking and sanitation, is an important goal to achieve, and a prerequisite to succeed in the implementation of many other dimensions of the sustainable development goals such as health, food security, and poverty reduction.

What is safe drinking water?

Clean and safe drinking water supply has to be available for all of us, but there is no universally accepted definition of “safe drinking water.”

It is a relative term, which depends on the standards and guidelines of every country. For instance, the standard of WHO, which defines it as “water that does not represent any significant risk to health over a lifetime of consumption, including different sensitivities that may occur between life stages” is not exactly the same as for the USA, or for the European Commission. In essence, the term “safe” depends on the particular resistance ability of an individual. Water that is safe for drinking in some African countries might not be safe in European countries, due to a naturally developed resistance of the population to local water-related diseases.

From a human consumption point of view, safe drinking (potable) water is the type that can be delivered to the user and is safe for drinking, food preparation, personal hygiene, and washing.

Inequalities concerning access to clean water and sanitation

According to WHO and UNICEF, there is still 1 in 3 people who don’t have access to clean drinking water in the world, revealing that although 1.8 billion people have gained access to basic drinking water services since 2000, there are still huge inequalities. Concerning access to toilets, in the least developed countries, people still practice open defecation, with no handwashing facilities. This lack of basic hygiene and clean water causes 4% of all deaths, as it not only can lead to diarrhea which increases the mortality rates among children, but also to other diseases such as cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, and typhoid.

To fight this lack of hygiene, the first inequality to face is nature. Despite the fact that there is sufficient clean freshwater in the world for everyone’s personal and domestic needs, these resources are unevenly distributed. Some countries don't have enough fresh water available, which is more visible the further of the main cities you go, with 8 in 10 people living in rural areas having no access to potable water due to the costs of these services. Water-related ecosystems are crucial to life, providing advantages such as transportation, natural purification, irrigation, habitats for biodiversity and wealth. However, with a population that keeps growing, the intensification of agriculture and an increase in urbanization and industrial production, it is more and more difficult for nature to fulfill its key functions and provide clean and safe water for all.

Money, as well, is an issue here, as sanitation facilities and water management do have a cost that some countries can’t afford for all their territory, and even if there is water, without a strong government natural water can lead to conflicts, violence and instability. According to a report, people living in fragile states are twice as likely to lack basic sanitation and about four times as likely to lack basic drinking water services as populations in a non-fragile situation.

Improving the water and sanitation situation is not an easy task, as it requires infrastructure such as roads, sews, pipelines, water treatment plants, but it must also be managed in order to sustain future developments and expansion of countries. These projects, often involving disruptive and expensive construction work, create a major challenge to any development effort. It needs strong legislation and guidelines, which can only be managed by national and local governments, who are the key actors in improving the development in the water and sanitation sectors. Authorities have to guarantee universal access, quality standards, and fair pricing for all.

Wash A Million Hands! Project

Another fact highlighted in the ONU report was that 3 billion people lack basic handwashing. With an under-5 mortality rate of 89 per 1,000 children in 2009, more than 75% of existing fatal diseases could have been prevented with simple handwashing with soap. On the celebration of our 60th anniversary in 2010, we started the “Wash A Million Hand! Project”, contributing to handwashing education activities in Uganda. thousands of mothers with young children have been educated in proper handwash, and many handwashing facilities have been installed through this program, which is funded by a donation of 1% of specific products in our line to UNICEF. In that way, we help to promote hygiene by spreading handwashing around the world.

Rewarding these activities, we received a certificate of merit from Mr. Hayami, the Director of UNICEF Japan, on behalf of the Japanese Government on the 18th of April, 2019. This is an extra push to continue our partnership with UNICEF Japan, NGOs, local governments, civil society organizations, and other key role players to contribute to the improvement of sanitation in the Republic of Uganda.

Yaroslavl Endoscopy Symposium - YES 2019

2019-07-12T00:00:53+00:00

On the 27th of June, the city of Yaroslavl became the capital of Russian endoscopy. The 21st Russian-Japanese symposium traditionally became the gathering place of the most prominent medical specialists of today. Medical specialists from Japan are widely considered the leaders of the modern endoscopy and with each passing year, the Japanese delegation on the symposium steadily grows in size. Top leaders of the Japanese School of Endoscopy, including the new president of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy & head of The Centre for Digestive Diseases of the Yokohama University Clinic professor Haruhiro Inoue, shared their experience and took part in the streaming of surgical showcase. They also held a unique workshop for screening colonoscopy which was attended by many specialists in the field.

The symposium was also the place for Russian leading experts to share their key experiences in endoscopy. Almost all physicians from the Endoscopy Department of the Yaroslavl State Hospital received training in leading clinics of Europe and Japan.

In the evening, more than 200 Russian and Japanese physicians took part in the running race in order to raise awareness of colorectal cancer. In total, they managed to run the 3200-meter distance across all of Yaroslavl.

On the 28th of June, the 19th Yaroslavl Endoscopy Symposium (YES 2019) was opened via the live endoscopy streaming. Leading Specialists from Russia, Japan and Europe demonstrated unique operations on 26 patients followed by the new format study for physicians.

The RANDO training-zone was open to visitors for the whole day. There, one could witness all the basic endoscopy manipulations and learn about the innovative endoscopy intervention on the newest training simulators.

The Medical Nurse Session, which was organized in conjunction with the ESGENA association, was the definite highlight of the 29th of June. The Association was presented by Yadranka Brlyak, the honorary President of the European Society of Nurses in the field of Endoscopy and Gastroenterology (Zagreb, Croatia).

During the session, Saraya presented its products, including dosing equipment, hand disinfectants and disposable clothes. All of these were used during the live demonstration of endoscopy procedures.

The Session was attended by more than 80 nurses from all around Russia.

The course was compromised of the discussion of poignant matters of the endoscopy ward workflow, role of the medical nurse & practical skill training.

SARAYA's Support to the Borneo Conservation Trust

2019-08-05T00:00:17+00:00

Saraya is dedicated to the improvement of health, environment, and sanitation worldwide. In line with this commitment, we have founded and contributed to different projects and campaigns that protect natural habitats and ensure a sustainable future, following our philosophy that every company should satisfy its customers while being socially and ecologically responsible. As a longtime provider of natural and eco-friendly products, Saraya understands the importance of preserving nature's balance.

One of the oldest projects that we support since 2006 is the Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT). The BCT, an NGO recognized by the Sabah and Malaysian governments, aims to protect and acquire lands in order to help the endangered wildlife and biodiversity in the Malaysian rainforest, playing a key role in the conservation of this threatened environment.

Background and Situation

The island of Borneo is densely populated with unique wildlife and vegetation, making it an important genetic resource for the world. In its rainforest, elephants, orangutans and hundreds of other forms of wildlife live in harmony with each other.

However, many parts of the Borneo rainforest have vanished due to the sudden increase of oil palm plantations in recent years, threatening the unique biodiversity of the island. While these plantations are needed for our current lifestyle, it is important to create a balance between environment and industry, as the ever-increasing demand for palm oil has led to the rapid destruction of Borneo’s diversity.

In 2004 a story about a young elephant that had been living with a painful rope around its trunk brought Saraya to Borneo. With this story we realized that simply thinking natural-based products are environmentally friendly is false. Sustainable production that considers the environment and people is necessary for a truly "eco" product.

Concerned by our use of palm oil in some of our products, we became members of the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil since its foundation, as the first Japanese manufacturer to do it. The RSPO is an international non-profit organization that helps to produce, supply and utilize palm oil in a sustainable manner, through the creation of sustainable palm oil policies and a supply chain that adheres to environmental and humanitarian regulations, ensuring an ethical production. Members include stakeholders from all parts of the supply chain and supporters such as farmers, manufacturers, distributors, NGOs and consumers. SARAYA has been developing household detergents and body care products with 100% sustainable palm oil since 2010.

The BCT program:

1. Land protection and management

SARAYA conducts environmental conservation activities to help make this coexistence possible. One of these activities, is the Green Corridor, project led by the BCT, to establish wildlife migration routes through the rainforest by the acquisition of lands along the riverbanks. So far, SARAYA has purchased 7 land parcels in total, with plans of acquiring even more in the future.

Another activity we are participating in is the erection of bridges made from used fire hoses along the river. Orangutans cannot swim and often huge plantations divide the rainforest, creating islands between plantations and cutting orangutans off from the rest of the forest. Six bridges have been erected to allow the orangutan population to migrate freely across river tributaries.

The BCT also promotes the sustainable management of the plantation and forest ecosystem, so that the important ecological corridor within the landscape ecosystem can be secured and restored.

2. Research programs

Another important work of the BCT is leading research developed in partnership with international and domestic research agencies. The aim is to ensure conservation programs are being continued and pioneered by local Malaysians. These programs will allow them to better know the needs of the local wildlife and biodiversity in order to help their conservation. Furthermore, all programs are monitored by plantation industries, forest management industries and local communities, with the aim of enhancing their knowledge and strengthening their support to the implementation of environmental and biodiversity conservation activities in Sabah’s Mega Biodiversity Corridor.

3. The Borneo Elephant Sanctuary

According to WWF, the elephants from Borneo are endangered as their habitat keeps decreasing, leading to an important elephant population’s loss. Due to the sudden increase of plantations, elephants can often wander onto farms, which can lead to aggression from the farmers or getting caught by snare traps for small game.

The Borneo Elephant Sanctuary Programme (BES) was launched in 2012 for safer elephant rescue activities, finishing the first part of the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary in September 2013 by the BCT in cooperation with Japanese enterprises including SARAYA. The Borneo Elephant Sanctuary has been specifically created to meet the needs of sick or needy elephants that have been injured by humans or were victims of incidents. The BES aims to become the center of conservation plans to manage the elephant population and connect their habitats.

SARAYA will continue to support this program for the sake of saving the endangered Borneo elephant and improve biodiversity in Borneo.

If you want to support

As an NGO, the BCT depends on donations in order to continue and develop its activities and programs, be it through companies or particulars. If you want to donate to the Borneo Conservation Trust you can go directly to their website and see the different ways you can collaborate.

At SARAYA we also support the BCT through the sale of our products containing palm oil, donating a portion of household brands such as Yashinomi, Happy Elephant and Cocopalm to the BCT, allowing customers to also be part of supporting an NGO that protects the Borneo rainforest.

We believe cooperation between the private sector and NGOs is the most effective way to make a lasting difference in the world. We also actively try to raise the consumers’ awareness on environmental issues, getting them involved in conservation activities.

Another Step in the Creation of the Wildlife Corridor

2019-10-11T00:10:15+00:00

Saraya made the news in Malaysia this week with the handing of 230 acres (93 hectares), together with the Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) Japan to the Sabah government.

With Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew present in the event, these acres will be included to the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, a very important wildlife conservation area, rich in wildlife including species such as the orangutan, elephants or the proboscis monkey. Furthermore, Saraya is contributing to the building, upgrading and operation of the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary, elephant rescue operations and proving food for nine rescued elephants.

Saraya actively supports the Borneo Conservation trust and over the years we have helped in acquiring land for the conservation of wildlife. We will keep this collaboration in order to complete the Green Corridor Project and save the Borneo forest and its biodiversity from extinction.

What the news says:

Daily Express - Boost for the wildlife corridor

Daily Express - Wildlife corridor needs 800 acres more

Malay Mail - Sabah chief minister vows to get tough on elephant killers

New Straits Times - Japan-based firm, NGO hand over Lower Kinabatangan land state govt for conservation

Welcoming Saraya Poland

2019-10-28T00:00:57+00:00

This year we are welcoming new colleagues from Poland! Saraya has acquired shares in the company V. Laboratories sp. z o.o., now known as Saraya Poland sp. z o.o. We are glad of this new partnership that will reinforce our presence in Europe, especially in the Eastern European markets.

V. Laboratories have been manufacturing cosmetic products for years thanks to its dedicated R&D team, offering a complete range of products for body, hair and face with brands like Vellie Cosmetics, Vital Pharma or Renovital, all made from natural ingredients such as goat milk and natural oils for the whole family from adults to babies.

Mr. Saraya giving a speech together with, from left to right, Mr. Nowakowski (C.E.O.) and Mr. Miczorek (Director) of Saraya Poland.

Now with Saraya Poland, we will further widen our range of products dedicated to consumers and professionals throughout our network of global companies as well as introducing popular Saraya brands to Poland. We are also excited to increase our range of professional hygiene products, complemented by the development of private label products, activity in which V. Laboratories was already one of the largest manufacturers in Poland.

We will continue with our use of natural ingredients, maintaining the highest quality in all our products, be it for the general public or for professionals.

Visit SARAYA Poland’s website here

Saraya Poland Facebook page

Meet the Haskap Berry, Saraya’s Boreal Superfood

2019-11-04T00:01:34+00:00

In the fertile reaches of the northwestern Rocky Mountains, Saraya Natural Products is cultivating an indigo treasure.

Following the successful handover of the North American Lakanto business to Saraya USA, Vancouver-based Saraya Natural Products (formerly Saraya Canada Ltd) has turned its attention to building the foundations of an exciting new natural health market breakthrough – the mighty Haskap berry.

This journey is already bearing fruit: just last month, after three years of diligent labour and following very strict rules for organic farming, we reached a major milestone and earned Certified Organic status for the growing operation. Our rigorous certification, provided by the Fraser Valley Organic Producers Association, is compliant with Canadian Organic Standards, as well as ISO 17065 standard and is accepted in the United States, European Union, Japan, Switzerland and Costa Rica.

Our philosophy is simple: healthy soil makes healthy berries! Organic farming reflects respect and appreciation for the earth. Savvy shoppers serious about their health and the environment choose certified-organic products, which signal a company’s commitment to ethical and sustainable agriculture. And with a global groundswell of environmental consciousness, the organic market is expected to continue growing, with the US market alone exceeding US$70 billion by 2025.

Our exclusive superberry's health benefits

Leading agriculturalists consider Haskap to be a superberry – as it packs more flavour, vitamins and antioxidants than any other commercial berry.

Leading agriculturalists consider Haskap to be a superberry – as it packs more flavour, vitamins and antioxidants than any other commercial berry. However, few outside cutting-edge agricultural research circles have yet to taste or even hear of Haskap. A boreal berry native to the cold and wetlands of Hokkaido, Japan, Kamchatka, Russia and the Kuril Islands, Haskap plants evolved over thousands of years to withstand some pretty extreme environments. Their survival is thanks to thousands of years of evolution that have packed Haskap berries with potent phytochemicals that grant extra defence against cold, UV radiation and pests. Luckily for us, these same compounds have beneficial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects when we humans eat them.

Haskap is full of vitamin C and bioactive compounds – often in levels beyond other fruits. They have far more nutrients by weight than blueberries, oranges or strawberries; high levels of antioxidants, anthocyanins, polyphenols and bioflavonoids account for Haskap’s rich colour and complex flavour.

There’s a long history of Haskap use by Indigenous and folk medicine, particularly in northern Japan and Siberia. The name Haskap comes from the Indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido, who used this berry for its medicinal properties and called it haskappu — “gifts at the end of a branch.” In recognition of its origin as a medicine plant, it is still referred to as the “longevity berry” in Japan. And in Russia, it is known as жимолость (zhimolost), a portmanteau of words meaning “life” and “youth”.

And now, because of its health benefits and amazing taste, Haskap is catching on as a global superfood and is being researched and developed in Canada and the European Union. The varieties we grow, including Aurora, Boreal Beauty, and Indigo Gem, are several times larger and sweeter than wild Haskap, thanks to extensive research at Canadian universities. Years of breeding for selective traits has produced a delicious berry while preserving the high vitamin C and other healthy compounds that made the berry such potent medicine so long ago.

Recent scientific studies published in leading biochemistry and medical journals show an unflagging interest in Haskap’s high nutraceutical and nutritional value, as well as quantifying the potential of the plant — berry, stem, leaves — as a medicinal source.

Echo Haskap - Our origin story

Nestled in a quiet valley, three fields slope gently towards a hidden stream. In the spring, thousands of young bushes bear pale, fragrant blossoms. In mid-June through the end of July, the valley is awash with a wild and aromatic blackberry-like scent.

Named after the neighbouring Echo Lake Provincial Park, our farm is called Echo Haskap, and we’re working to introduce healthy Haskap products to local and international markets. Our path was set three years ago when we purchased an undeveloped parcel of land in the Okanagan Valley with the vision to transform it and sustainably grow Haskap berries. Today, we are the largest certified-organic Haskap farm in our home province of British Columbia.

In the years to come, we intend to make a name for Echo Haskap as a keystone brand of Haskap innovation. We are working on developing a line of value-added products, including experimenting with different ways of using Haskap, such as freeze-dried powders, syrups, and even dyes.

To realize this vision, we are committed to working with other farmers and in synergy with SARAYA Global Companies, because we know the only way we will all flourish is if we work together.

We look forward to all the exciting things ahead – and invite you to work with us to build a strong international Haskap brand in Canada, the US, Japan and beyond. Through collaboration, we can all benefit from the health and market opportunities of the amazing Haskap Superberry!

SNP Co. Ltd.

Establishment of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Uganda in Osaka

2019-11-11T00:00:38+00:00

Mr. Yusuke Saraya, president of Saraya Co., Ltd. has been appointed by the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, as Honorary Consul.

In addition, an Uganda Honorary Consulate in Osaka was opened last Tuesday, November 5, for the purpose of economic and cultural exchanges between Uganda and other African countries with the Kansai region.

Saraya’s activities in the Republic of Uganda

In 2010, in collaboration with UNICEF Japan, Saraya started the Wash a Million Hands! Project, spreading the use of handwash in the country by training millions of mothers with young children in the use of hand wash and installing handwashing facilities.

The following year, in 2011, Saraya East Africa (Currently Saraya Uganda) was established in the capital Kampala, introducing local production of alcohol hand sanitizers and providing training to healthcare staff through the 100% Hospital Hand Hygiene Project, achieving significant results in preventing hospital infections. By 2015, our local factory was certified as a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility, being the first to produce hand hygiene disinfectants in Uganda and increasing even further its dissemination in hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Due to the recent pandemic of Ebola virus disease, demand for the hand sanitizer “Alsoft V” has increased, pushing us to increase our production in order to meet inquiries from UN agencies such as WHO and WFP, international NGOs, and trading companies.

Mr. Saraya’s address

On this day, I have been appointed honorary consul of the Republic of Uganda. Uganda has been a friend to me since the start of the “Wash a Million Hands! Project back in 2010. Thanks to that friendship, I become more familiar with Africa, once a place far away, getting closer over time and ending in today’s appointment as the Honorary Consul of Osaka.

I believe that as people of the Kansai region learn more about Uganda and Africa, it also promotes an increase in economic, cultural and personal exchanges, which will lead to the realization of a sustainable world, the essence of the SDGs. For that, I want to thank you all for your continued guidance, and your encouragement in this new activity.

Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Uganda in Osaka

Location: 2-2-8 Yusato, Higashi Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 546-0013 Osaka Prefecture

Office: 4-2-3 Bingomachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0051, in the Saraya Honmachi Building

Telephone: 06-6706-0600 (weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00)

SARAYA named “Excellent Company” at the 53rd Good Company Awards

2020-02-10T00:00:51+00:00

At the award ceremony held at the Keidanren Kaikan on February 3, Managing Director Saraya Itoku, on behalf of President Yusuke Saraya, was awarded a certificate of commendation by Konobu Maeda, President of the Small and Medium Enterprise Research Center.

About the Good Company Awards

The Good Company Awards, sponsored by the Research Center for Small and Medium Enterprises, is awarded to enterprises that have achieved excellent social and economic achievements. Applicants include corporations and individuals with a capital of 300 million yen or less and a minimum of three years since their establishment, excluding public companies or subsidiaries of companies with a capital higher than the mentioned figure above. The selection process is conducted once a year under strict screenings based on recommendations from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, the Chamber of Commerce and the Small and Medium Enterprise Investment & Consultation Company.

SARAYA was submitted by recommendation of the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry as well as the Japan New Business Conference. Since the first edition of the awards in 1966, who was won by Kyocera, it is said that its winners always experience significant growth after being rewarded.

Mr. Saraya’s comments

Managing Director Saraya Itoku during his speech at the commemorative party, which received compliments from the organizers.

"This award can be considered as a form of re-evaluation of SARAYA’s SDG initiatives. When talking about SARAYA’s approach to SDGs, one tends to focus on our involvement in handwashing and hand disinfection efforts in Uganda and conservation activities in Borneo. But our response to the novel pneumonia caused by the 2019-nCoV coronavirus is also a part of our excellent SDGs, helping to maintain the new social infrastructure of sanitation. Many, including us, may be confused by the situation around the current coronavirus, but I’m proud of how we are answering with our daily hard work, helping solve social issues, and by extension, making the world a better place."

SDGs Interviews: Talking gender equality with HR Director Masako Murai

2020-03-05T00:00:42+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement gender equality, as well as the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the first chapter of SARAYA’s SDGs interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve those goals.

“I find you can do many things when you try.”

Masako Murai

Murai is SARAYA’s current and first female Director of General Affairs and Human Resource as well as one of the two females at the board of directors currently on the company.

Born in a traditional Japanese family, Murai grew up in an environment where girls were often overly protected. Like everyone else at the time, she dreamed of becoming a full-time housewife who could look after her family, so she studied sewing at a junior college to learn the necessary skills to become a perfect housewife. She worked for an apparel company, got married, and like everyone else in Japan, quit her job to become a full-time housewife when she became pregnant.

However, her marriage abruptly ended and Murai had to begin working part-time. At 42, she discovered a job ad for SARAYA, applied, and was hired with an administrative staff position. Little did she know she would have such a pivotal role with the company’s gender equality movement, becoming one of the first female executives of SARAYA.

How did you come to work with SARAYA?

I started to work for SARAYA as a part-timer. At the time, I just finished a part-time job I worked at for 5 years and found an ad on a free job information magazine at a train station in Tokyo, mentioning a part-time job with an opportunity for a full time one. The phrase “full-time position” spoke to me. I was already 42 years old and I needed some security in my life.

You joined SARAYA in 2002. What did you do before?

After my graduation, I worked with an apparel company for 10 years, but I left the job as I got pregnant, as in those days it was common for Japanese women to leave. The company offered parental leave, but there was hardly anyone who took that leave.

I always dreamed of becoming “a perfect housewife”. To me, it meant a woman who can cook, sew, clean the house and take care of the family perfectly. In order to learn those skills, I studied clothing at Bunka Women’s Junior College in Tokyo, wanting to dress my family in my handmade clothes. I worked hard, but unfortunately, my marriage ended when my youngest son was 4 years old.

My parents welcomed me back home and offered to look after my children so that I could work, which I did as temporary staff at a corporate health management center. There, I saw many female nurses and laboratory technicians working until their retirement. It was eye-opening. I never knew that women could keep their profession like that. Inspired by the way how they balanced their works and home lives, I started to look for a full-time job, which I ended finding at SARAYA.

What was your trajectory in the company?

I started as a part-timer in one of the Tokyo sales offices. My boss told me to do accounting on my first day since an accounting staff abruptly left earlier, so after a 3-day crash course in another department, I started working as such. It was challenging, but I enjoyed learning new things. Because of that experience, I later was transferred to the Tokyo head office as an accounting staff member. This time again, I had only one week to learn the job. Since then, I worked on salary, health insurance, and sometimes did the hiring. In 2010, I was also appointed, with another female employee, to promote the active participation of women in leadership positions, organizing female leadership seminars and launching management mentorship program. We also published a weekly “Mind-up, Skill-up Newsletter” to bring more awareness of the active female participation at the management level. There were no female officers by then, but these activities got recognized in both in Tokyo offices as well as Osaka offices gradually and we had the first female executive by 2015.

What do you like about working at SARAYA?

I like that they let you do things your own way. They encourage a “Let’s Try” spirit. Even if you don’t have much experience, this open environment lets you try new things. I like that people in SARAYA are open to new ideas in this welcoming environment.

SARAYA currently has more female employees and implements gender equality in many ways. How was the environment for women when you joined the company?

The equal opportunity for women was already in the atmosphere when I joined in 2002, but somehow female employees did not seem to aim higher at that time. Women tended to underestimate themselves, even though they were capable.

What is it like to work for SARAYA as a woman?

I do not want to really emphasize that I am a woman when I am working, but women do have things they could do better in some fields than men. In those fields, I tend to be more active. I think the best thing is that men and women work in harmony doing what each one is good at.

What is it like to be a female manager in Japan?

I feel lonely sometimes as I am almost always the only woman when I attend executive meetings outside of the company. However, being a female manager brought a change in where I went and who I met. I do love that I get to learn new things and gain new experiences on new levels, also making me think about the company as a whole, not only limited to the job I had in my department.

What is your notion about gender equality?

The high school I went to had a school motto, "Before being a woman, be a human first." It was a girls-only school, though.

When I think about gender equality, I feel that it made my foundation. I believe that it is important to treat everyone equally with dignity as we are all the same "human", regardless of our gender, age or nationality.

Since you have children, how did you manage to balance your work and home lives?

I don’t really recall any hardship since my parents were always very supportive and looked after my children. What I learned from this is ‘time management’. Time is very important to find a balance at work and at home. I learned to appreciate the time with my children as I did not have much time. Also, I always tried to work efficiently so that I could go home early to spend time with them. Raising children is not easy, but it is quite rewarding. I hope our employees enjoy raising their children by all means.

What is your next goal as a director?

SARAYA has been implementing gender equality long before the United Nations started to talk about SDGs. The company stresses on diversity. Gender equality may have more priority at this point, but I hope every employee, no matter how old, where they come from, whether they are handicapped or not, can shine in what they do in SARAYA. We promote each employee’s ‘well-being’, meaning that each one of them realizes and enriches his/her ability and personality as a human being.

What are the next SDG related gender equality goals for SARAYA?

Regarding specific targets, the following numerical targets are set according to the “General Business Owner Action Plan” accompanying the “Act on Promotion of Women's Participation” promoted by the Japanese government.

The number of female managers in managerial positions as of the beginning of November 2021 will be increased by 14 compared to the beginning of November 2017 (SARAYA Japan)
At least one female general manager at the beginning of November 2021 (already achieved)
A new organization/team will be established as of the beginning of the fiscal year ending November 2021

We would also promote the necessary training and measures to achieve these goals.

HR Director Murai with President Saraya, holding the "Leading Companies with Actively Participating Women in Osaka City" 2020 Award.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy my life in Osaka, being the first time I have lived all by myself. Osaka is close to ancient cities like Kyoto and Nara, so I visit historic shrines and temples and collect "shuin" stamps whenever I find free time. I also enjoy going to restaurants to taste delicious food here. Many of my friends come and visit and I'll organize short trips for them. It’s like having mini-school field trips.

Could you give a message or advice for young people?

I have been working on gender equality for about 10 years. I know that there are many female colleagues who are still afraid to be promoted in Japan but they shouldn’t. When you get promoted, you'll find different learning experiences around you, which I think you can grow with when you work hard.

My message is:

Don’t be afraid. When you get an opportunity, be brave and step up to the challenge!

SARAYA’s New Kanto Factory Completed

2020-03-10T00:00:52+00:00

SARAYA Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce the completion of the new Kanto Factory in Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan on March 4th, 2020. This is SARAYA’s fourth manufacturing base in Japan, following the Osaka Factory (Kashiwabara City, Osaka Prefecture), the Iga Factory (Iga City, Mie Prefecture), and the Kumano Food Factory (Kumano City, Mie Prefecture).

Background and Purpose of The New Factory

In order to contribute to "hygiene, environment and health" of the world, we have been developing our business by building a global network and providing unique products and services.

This new factory built in Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture is the fourth manufacturing base of SARAYA in Japan. The factory aims to strengthen supply capacity, new product development, new business creation and business continuity in response to disasters. This factory will serve to meet the increasing demands of our valued customers as we are currently facing the limit to provide detergents and foods mainly manufactured in our Osaka factory (Kashiwara, Osaka Prefecture) and pharmaceuticals and disinfectants mainly manufactured in the Iga factory (Iga, Mie Prefecture).

Features of the Kanto Factory

The new factory with a site area of about 57,000㎡, has a three-story production building, a two-story management and research building, and four attached buildings.

In the production building, the size of equipment is reduced and the streamline operations are consolidated in order to respond to the diverse production of foods, food additives, quasi-drugs, etc.

The newly established ‘Food and Health Research Institute’ is fully equipped with research facilities for developing new products related to food, supplements, and beverages.

In addition, we have enhanced employee welfare programs, such as a nursery, a 1km running course, and an employee cafeteria.

Kanto Factory Overview

Completion date: March 4, 2020, Wednesday
Site area: about 57,000㎡
Building area: about 8,800㎡
Total floor area: about 14,000㎡
Building outline: 3-story steel frame (production building), 2-story steel frame (management and research building), and 4 attached buildings
Facilities: Kanto Factory, Food and Health Research Institute
Main products: foods, food additives, cosmetics, quasi-drugs, general cleaning goods, etc.
Location: 644-55 Hitana, Nakago-cho, Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture (within Nakago Industrial Park)

SARAYA Receives the Biodiversity Report Special Excellence Award for a 2nd Year in a Row

2020-03-23T00:00:26+00:00

On February 19th, 2020, SARAYA was awarded “the Biodiversity Report Special Excellence Award” at the Environmental Communications Awards Ceremony hosted by the Japanese Minister of Environment and the Global Environmental Forum (GEF) at Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo. SARAYA has won this award for the second consecutive year.

This prize was also rewarded to SARAYA in 2010 and 2014, making it four times in total. In addition, we have also received the "Encouragement Award" in 2016 and the "Environmental Report Excellence Award" in 2006. The following text was the review of this year's award:

The company’s top management participates in international events such as the "Business and Biodiversity Initiative Treaty", "Convention on Biological Diversity", "Business and Biodiversity Forum", etc., making active proposals. Because of the nature of their business, they take the initiative in many biodiversity businesses, also participating in RE100, having declared their intention to use 100% renewable energy by 2050.

SARAYA Tokyo President Shuji Saraya receiving the certificate of commendation.

SDGs Interviews: Talking poverty with Madoka Mori

2020-04-09T00:00:31+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the second chapter of SARAYA’s SDGs interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve those goals. In this second edition, we spotlight Madoka Mori, Assistant Manager of the Sales & Marketing Department and African Business Development Section at the Global Operations Division, as one of the leading person of SARAYA’s Africa business to talk about her story, and her involvement with SDG №1: No poverty.

“We need sustainable business to solve social issues in developing countries.”

Madoka Mori

How did you come to work with SARAYA?

In 2005, while I worked as a member of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) to teach at elementary schools in Nepal I saw social issues I had never seen in Japan. A school I visited had a child with white diarrhea, which may be infectious, in one corner of the school building. They had no toilet, nor clean running water to wash hands, nor any money to see a doctor. It was so shocking that I asked myself, “What can I do in an environment like this?” while realizing the limits of my power. That incident made me realize the need for investments and sustainable businesses to solve these social issues. After returning to Japan, I searched for companies that were doing serious business in developing countries and found SARAYA, which had just launched an African business section. I joined the company because I wanted to make the world a better place through sustainable business.

You joined SARAYA in 2013. What did you do before?

I studied education at Tokyo Gakugei University because I was good at teaching my friends when I was little, getting licenses of elementary school, junior high and high school science. After graduating from university, I had an opportunity to become a member of the JOCV volunteer group and got dispatched to Nepal. The JOCV volunteer group is a system of dispatching Japanese volunteers overseas operated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a governmental agency similar to the U.S. Peace Corps.

I was assigned as a school supervisor to oversee 20 elementary schools in Nepal for 2 years, 2005-2007. These were situated between 1,400m and 2,400m altitudes, scattered across 20km, with a very limited budget where you couldn’t afford materials to teach mathematics and science. I improved arithmetic instruction, proposed science experiment methods, and organized nutrition improvement events with schools. It was quite an experience, living like the local people with a very small budget, having electricity only 2 hours a day.

After completing my assignment, I returned to Japan and joined an outdoor manufacturer, Mont-bell, as I wanted to build business experiences by helping people in developing countries. I was in charge of managing not only about 80 retail stores and 4 franchise stores, but also promotion, marketing, public relations, and organizing events, including MC-ing and leading guided client tours. After I left Mont-bell, I worked at the JICA headquarter, providing career support for returning volunteers for one year.

Why did you want to do business in Africa?

When I was a fifth-grader in elementary school, I found a photo of Sadako Ogata, the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on my social study textbook. I was deeply impressed that a Japanese woman was playing such an important international role in Africa. Next to her photo, there was a photo of the Japanese volunteers of JOCV digging a well in Africa. I thought, “It might be difficult to become like Ms. Ogata, but I could be one of the volunteers of JOCV and go to Africa.” The dream of volunteering part came true when I later joined JOCV and worked in Nepal. But working in Africa part was yet to come. It was SARAYA which paved a way to Africa for me. It has been challenging, but at the same time quite rewarding. Very surprisingly, the Africa business of SARAYA with my profile photo was introduced as an example of a corporate role of SDGs in 2019. I never dreamed that the business I was involved with would be introduced on the same page where I found Ms. Ogata more than 20 years ago.

How was it like to work in Nepal as a JOCV member?

When I was in Nepal in 2005-2007, strikes, road blockades, and blackouts occurred frequently due to political uncertainties, with buses often not available and having to walk up mountainous roads for two and a half hours each way. There was a constant shortage of electricity (most of the electricity from hydropower was sold to India and not much was left in Nepal) and people lived on 2 hours of electricity a day. I quickly learned that the light of candles and the full moon were very bright.

The schools I was assigned with where in the area between Bhaktapur (a beautiful ancient city) and Nagarkot (2175m in altitude), training teachers. After working there for a year, I attended a meeting with 20 principals from the schools I taught. A principal was dissatisfied with me and said, “What are you doing here? You did not bring any funds to donate! What can you do without them?” Those words changed me and I decided to do things more proactively since then.

To come up with better teaching methods at low costs, I made teaching materials from scratch and distributed them to all schools. Most schools did not have the budget for study materials so students could participate in active learning, only blackboards and chalk, and teachers did not understand why children made mistakes. I did a case study of the occurring students' mistakes and organized training for teaching methods based on its results. When it comes to science experiments, I realized teachers hadn’t actually conducted any experiments described in the textbooks on their own, so we came up with new ones using materials available within the schools’ small budget, making children think and learn proactively while building the confidence of the teachers.

In my spare time in Nepal, I learned Buddhist paintings (tanka) and Nepalese dance. I challenged myself to dance in public, dancing at the 50th-anniversary ceremony of Japan-Nepal diplomatic relations as well as various school events, even appearing on a music video. When school was off, I went trekking into the Himalayas, climbing mountains such as Kala Patthar (5643M), Gokyo Peak (5357M) and Lantern Valley (4350M). These experiences made me fall in love with mountains and outdoor activities, and maybe that’s why I later ended up working at Mont-bell, the outdoor manufacturer.

Why did you want to work with Africa at SARAYA?

I joined SARAYA to find an answer to the questions I found in Nepal. What could we do to improve conditions in the developing world? As I mentioned earlier, I saw social issues in Nepal; lost lives with infectious diseases, unhygienic environments, no clean water, no toilets, no electricity, little to no funding for education and so on... All because of poverty. It was a time I strongly felt the limits of my power and realized that we need sustainable businesses to fight against poverty.

When I was looking for a job, I came across SARAYA. On top of being a company that creates sustainable business in developing countries, they manufacture hygiene products and promote hygiene where it was not available before. SARAYA promoted hygiene and introduced medicated liquid soap, saving lives in Japan in the 1950s when Japan was still recovering from World War II, and now they are reaching out to other countries to do the same.

Could you tell us about SARAYA’s involvement in Africa?

Not only limited to Africa, as we are also involved in other developing countries around the world, I know that there are lives you could save with the knowledge and methods available in developed countries. SARAYA, as a manufacturer of hygiene products, has means to save those lives. They predict that Africa will have a quarter of the world's population by 2050, a great reason to invest now in the continent, and a lot of business opportunities.

It's been eight years since I was appointed to the Ugandan market and we have made a significant growth despite the hardships. We found all kinds of issues like complicated regulations where the business flow is not very clear or the people in charge change often, poor prospects after the collapse of long-term administrations, unstable economic activity, undeveloped distribution networks… But despite that, I’m really happy about what we are doing. Ever since I saw those photos of Ms. Sadako in my textbook I always wanted to go to Africa and seeing the business we built in Uganda taking off makes me proud.

It was quite an effort, but we built the foundation, hired people, started manufacturing, and created a market. I feel that the company is fulfilling its CSR (corporate social responsibility) as I see the government of Uganda using our products for the national infection control such as Ebola and Coronavirus epidemic. I am also happy that our Ugandan employees have found the jobs rewarding and the growing demand for SARAYA products.

The staff has been working very hard at educating the public about hygiene. In 2012 and 2013, we conducted a hand hygiene experiment according to World Health Organization (WHO)’s guidance, installing alcohol sanitizers at the Gombe Hospital in Uganda and offering training to health workers on the importance of hand hygiene for infection control, making sure they follow the guidelines under our instructors’ supervision. The result showed significant improvement in both C-S sepsis and acute diarrhea cases. Again, it was thanks to our instructor staffs’ hard work.

As a result, they call disinfectants “SARAYA” in Uganda. The Japanese ambassador to Uganda told us that you see SARAYA products everywhere in Uganda due to this coronavirus pandemic. I have faith that our staff, both in Uganda and Kenya, will expand the market by themselves. Local staff who say that they can do anything, with the same mindset as venture entrepreneurs, have future potential for business in SARAYA. I am very proud to be a part of the African team.

Does SARAYA do anything tackling poverty, the SDG no.1, in Uganda?

There are two things we do in Uganda regarding the SDG1 - no poverty.

The first is that we create job opportunities as the first hand sanitizer manufacturer established in Uganda. We manufacture ‘Alsoft V’ hand sanitizer, with ethanol made out of molasses waste from a major sugar manufacturer in Uganda, to fight against infectious diseases, like Ebola and coronavirus.

Secondly, we try to help people who are at risk of poverty. We promote the “100% Hospital Hand Hygiene Project” which provides Alsoft V hand sanitizers in hospitals, especially maternity wards, as C-S sepsis, an infectious disease that kills pregnant women, is frequently reported not only in Uganda but in all East Africa. We have also launched the “Safe Motherhood Project”, which to supply hand sanitizer in hospitals to prevent maternal sepsis and protect pregnant women who are at risk of infection due to poverty. Part of the sale of SARAYA cosmetics in Japan is donated to an NGO that fights infectious diseases at clinics in Uganda.

What are your hobbies? What do you do during your free time?

From elementary school through university, I participated in track and field teams, so I love to exercise. I like outdoor activities, like camping, fishing, and trekking. Recently I started gardening, growing my own vegetable garden and looking forward to harvesting some peas I’m growing. I’m also a master in calligraphy, holding the 6th dan (level), practicing Japanese brushwork calligraphy since I was in kindergarten.

What is your next goal, be it SDGs or business in Africa?

Our Africa Team began creating markets from scratch in Uganda and Kenya, where people knew little about hand sanitizers. Sales were sluggish in the beginning, but now demand is six times more than that of the previous year and is expected to grow further, especially with this coronavirus outbreak. The team recognizes the responsibility of social contribution to fight against infectious diseases and commits to work to increase supplies. We will continue to grow for the benefit of Africa and other developing countries.

On the other hand, as a new initiative, I would like to create a platform where we can do more business with Africa and developing countries in Japan. There are many people who joined SARAYA because they are interested in our African business and with them, I hope to broaden our horizons to do business with Africa in many ways, like introducing “Good Africa”, a project that would translate on the sell of good products from Africa in Japan and beyond.

Could you give a message or advice for young people?

There is a proverb, "where there is a will, there is a way". I believe many things are possible if you really wish for them. I would like to further challenge African businesses inside and outside and I hope many more people will join us in making a difference.

SARAYA's Initiatives to Reduce Plastic

2020-04-21T00:00:45+00:00

In recent years there have been increasing concerns around the world that plastic waste causes marine pollution, harming ecosystems. Since its founding in 1952, SARAYA has always kept in its core the concept of creating products with natural ingredients gentle to people and the environment, something clearly visible in the production and reuse processes we have established in our home branch in Japan. Our product development and manufacturing teams have been continuously challenged on this issue.

A bit of sustainable history

Resource-saving since our establishment

In 1952, SARAYA developed and commercialized Japan's first medicated liquid hand-washing soap "Pearl Palm Liquid Soap" and its dispenser.

As you needed to dilute "Pearl Palm Liquid Soap" with water with 1:7~1:10 ratios before use, carrying labor, cost, the number of containers and storage space needed were greatly reduced, making it a groundbreaking product at that time.

Pioneers of the Refill Pack

In 1979, we launched ‘Yashinomi’, a dishwashing detergent made of botanical ingredients that have little impact on the environment, a first in the industry. However, all of the dishwasher bottles at the time were disposable, resulting in an enormous waste of petroleum resources and other materials. Therefore, in 1982, we aimed to reduce petroleum and plastic waste by launching the first standing dishwashing detergent refill pouch. Even today, we use this refilling method in many of our products, such as kitchen detergents and hand-washing soaps.


"Yashinomi" refill pack released in 1982	"Shavonette" refill pack

Regarding "Yashinomi", our pioneer product in detergent refill packs, we developed "Yashinomi Premium Power" in 2016, consisting of a recyclable pouch in a special holder with the aim of realizing a sustainable society of the 21st century. We analyzed the behavior of "refilling" from all angles, such as the transfer of liquid solutions, hand stains occasioned from spills, liquid left in the pouch, etc. and we came up with a design that allows you to easily and hygienically refill by simply replacing the pouch. The design was a high success and won numerous praises, including the 2016 Good Design Award.

Eco Mark and returnable containers for business use

In 2015, SARAYA Co., Ltd. and Tokyo SARAYA Co., Ltd. were awarded the "Eco Mark Grand Prize 2015 Gold Award" by the Japan Environment Association for their efforts in reducing their environmental impact. This award was given in recognition of many years of SARAYA’s efforts in active and continuous acquisitions of Eco Mark certifications for business-use products such as “returnable containers,” as well as its proactive usage of eco-marks on their product packages.

Volume-reducing bottles that reflect customer feedback

Our Product Development Department is continuously working on products suitable for all business needs. We obtain product development ideas through the market, collecting information from sales representatives as well as various customer feedback.

For example, our ‘Whip Wash Hand Soap,’ a product for business use, had its container improved in response to the feedback of customers in the medical field who wanted us to reduce the volume of waste discharged at their business sites. Now you can fold and discard the container, reducing the volume ratio of waste by about 70%. We have also succeeded to make the container thinner reducing the amount of plastic used by about 50% compared to conventional bottles.

Whip Wash Peach 500mL Volume Reduced Bottle

Integrating packaging and container

We are currently working on replacing the current bottles to B.I.B (bag-in-box) system in order to reduce waste and to recycle resources.

The BIB system is a package that integrates the packaging material and the container. A cardboard box contains an inner bag (made of polyethylene) containing the solution, with a special stopper attached to it that you can use as it is. After use, you separate the inner bag from the cardboard, recycling it in the paper recycling system, while the plastic can be thermally recycled.

Future Initiatives

As a member of the “Global Citizen” program, we will keep working on the reduction of containers and packaging and the development of new environmentally-friendly products based on SARAYA's environment policies, which protect the global environment through global warming prevention and protection of biodiversity and its ecosystems. As our long-term vision, we work to replace all our raw materials to suitable ones in a recycling-based society

SARAYA donates 10,000 face masks to the city of Sorrento, Italy

2020-05-01T00:00:47+00:00

With the pandemic Covid-19 infection spread across Italy, and as seen in the news these last months, all regions and cities of Italy have been in dire need of personal protective equipment. SARAYA, as a hygiene provider and due to extremely high demand, has had its resources stretched thin around the world, but we are happy to say that delivery of 10,000 disposable face masks to the city of Sorrento has been successful, with the below photos arriving as proof.

Sorrento is a popular tourist destination town overlooking the Bay of Naples in the south of Italy, also known for the production of Limoncello, a digestif liqueur, and although affected by a smaller number of cases compared with other regions of Italy, the lack of things such as face masks is a constant reality.

We wish for Sorrento, and Italy in general, success in the following stages of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and we are hopeful that in the not too distant future life can return to normal.

SDGs Interviews: Talking Partnership with Edson Kodama

2020-05-28T07:14:59+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the third chapter of SARAYA’s SDGs interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Edson Akitoshi Kodama, general director of SARAYA México and director of business development of Latin America at the Global Operations Division. Here is his story, and his approach to SDG №17: Partnership.

"If you share your dream with passion and you aim for good, good people will cross your path."

Edson Akitoshi Kodama

How did you come to work at SARAYA?

I have known Mr. Yusuke Saraya, the company president, since 1990 when we met at JCI (Junior Chamber International) World Congress in Puerto Rico, he as the JCI Executive Vice President and I the Director of Internationalism for JCI Brazil. He was very accessible, down-to-earth, and pleasant with everyone he spoke with, including me. Later, I went to work at the JCI World Headquarter and was appointed to be a liaison with JCI Japan (a country that always has a big presence in JCI) because I spoke Japanese, becoming also the director for the Americas and the Caribbean. I later became the director of Asia Pacific and thereafter Secretary-General. I always enjoyed communicating with Mr. Saraya throughout our time at JCI.

After I left JCI, he invited me to join his company, sharing his idea of expanding the business to Latin America. SARAYA promotes public hygiene and I remember seeing the logo, the soap, and disinfectant dispensers everywhere in Japan. When I saw their world map with all the subsidiaries around the world, I saw nothing below the USA. As a Brazilian, a Latin American, and a Japanese descendant, I felt I could bring something on the table to help SARAYA advance into a new frontier and make a difference in public hygiene with their sustainable business. So I joined in 2015.

What did you do before joining SARAYA?

I am a Japanese Brazilian from São Paulo, Brazil. My grandparents immigrated to Brazil from Kagoshima, Japan in 1932 aiming to make a small fortune and return to Japan within 5 years. Once they got to Brazil, they found out the reality was harsh, working on a plantation and never returning. My father grew up with no education. He worked on a coffee plantation starting from an early age and later moved to São Paulo with his brothers to work at an industrial laundry machine factory. Years later they started an industrial laundry machine maintenance business themselves and ran a small factory that is still running to this day. Because of their hard experience with no education, education became their first priority for our family as well as all other Japanese Brazilians, which is a bit more than 1% of the entire population of Brazil.

New year’s family reunion of the Kodama family in Brazil.

Although my father wanted me to inherit his laundry machine factory because I was his eldest son, I decided to pursue the career of an architect at age 12, working through the daytime and attending both high school and university at night. It took me 5 years to graduate from high school and 6 years from university. After I graduated from Mackenzie University with degrees in architecture and urbanism, I got a scholarship to study at Kagoshima University in Japan and became the first Kodama family member to return to our land of origin.

After university, I got a job at Nikken Sekkei, Ltd, one of the largest Japanese architectural project companies in Japan. I worked at their head office in Osaka and was part of a team that did many big projects including the Kansai International Airport. At the time, as I was about to transfer to their new firm in New York, I found out my father’s company was not doing well due to economic conditions in Brazil. I instead returned to Brazil and helped my father for about 2 years, and once the business was stable then started my own architectural company, the SEKKEI Arquitetos Associados Ltda. in São Paulo. Later on, I went back to Osaka to meet Mr. Kimiaki Minai, then the president of Nikken Sekkei, who granted my small company a technical support and cooperation agreement. Thanks to this partnership, we were able to win bids on some big projects.

You were Secretary-General of JCI before joining SARAYA. Could you talk about the JC (Junior Chamber) and the JCI?

When I was a student at Kagoshima University, I was invited to take part in an international cultural festival to organize a booth for Brazil, my home country. One of the festival organizers was JCI Kagoshima which I had never heard about at the time. After the festival, they invited me to some events to talk about Brazil, its culture, history, tradition, and the Japanese community in Brazil, the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. Years later, when I returned to Brazil and started my own business, I was invited to attend a presentation session at JCI Brazil-Japan in São Paulo. There I got reunited with several of my long-time friends and ended up joining the organization. The person who invited me to attend this event ended up becoming my wife.JCI UN MDG project - with volunteers from 36 countries around the world, most of them from Latin American countries.

Could you explain what JC and JCI are?

JC stands for Junior Chamber. The organization was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, USA in 1915, and it’s a nonprofit organization of young active citizens age 18 to 40 who are engaged and committed to creating an impact in their communities. JCI gathers active citizens from all sectors of society to develop skills, knowledge, and understanding to make informed decisions, and to take action through projects and activities, being present in more than 5,000 communities in over 120 countries around the world.

On the other hand, JCI stands for Junior Chamber International, and it has different levels, from local, regional, national to international. I joined JCI in my hometown of São Paulo, becoming, after serving several positions, the president of JCI Brazil-Japan, then Vice President of JCI Brazil, a position of national level.

Joining JCI gave me a perspective on the world, learning the harsh realities of Latin America and Caribbean countries, as well as other parts of the world as I moved up in positions in the organization. I was allowed to represent the organization on different occasions in over 100 countries around the world and learned how to deal with community leaders, grassroots movement representatives with different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and traditions, as well as government officials and world organization leaders to discuss matters of common interests.

A community project in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Do you have any memorable moments from that time?

In the early 1990s, when I was the JCI Director for the Americas and the Caribbean, I visited a small village in the countryside of Bolivia after hearing its high mortality rate by diarrhea among children below the age of 5, due to poor sanitation and hygiene conditions, with running water hardly available. Studying the situation I suggested the use of ORT (Oral Rehydration Therapy), a UNICEF method, to prevent the dehydration caused by diarrhea, that just needs to give the sick children glasses of clean water with a spoonful of salt, gathering a group of willing local young people and the local JCI chapter to address the problem.

We had PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) send us literature on the issue, but the majority of people in the village were illiterate, so there was no point in distributing fancy informative materials. Instead, we translated all the technical jargon and information in a way they could understand with the help of local young people since hygiene knowledge that may seem common in developed countries isn’t known in many places of the developing world.

We taught the young community members to conduct training sessions like a theatrical presentation, explaining and demonstrating how to boil water and let it cool before giving it to a child to drink, the importance of hand hygiene and how to wash your hands for the duration of happy birthday twice before rinsing, or concerning mothers, how to clean their breasts before breastfeeding their babies. In regard to the ORT method, we got the parents to give the purified water to the sick children with a spoonful of salt. Through these simple and basic practices, and in less than one year, we saw the rate of children mortality drop by 76%. “Magic!” people said.

Part of the team working at the Bolivia project.

The local young people were proud of the result as their action created a big impact in the community where they lived, with community leaders proudly saying, “In our village, our children do not die with diarrhea anymore.” That caught the attention of local authorities, then the secretary of health and the secretary of education in the country, and it culminated in a visit by the President of Bolivia, Hugo Banzer. It was the first time the president ever stepped foot in the village. Companies then became interested to support the movement and started donating their products like toothpaste, soaps, and even ice-cream, while Medical school students and nurses began to offer help, each bringing what they could provide to the table.

All came for one purpose, to reduce the mortality rate of children with diarrhea.

This initiative, soon after, served as the base of an agreement between PAHO and JCI to implement projects in several countries of Latin America based on a manual issued by PAHO named IMCI-Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses. This was the very first partnership agreement I produced after joining the JCI World Headquarters. Thereafter I was responsible as JCI Secretary-General to sign-build partnership agreements between JCI and UN Global Compact from the beginning, and UNESCO and other UN Agencies, PAHO-WHO, UN Foundation and ICC-International Chamber of Commerce. JCI still keeps these partnerships.

Mr.Kodama giving a speech at a UN conference.

I aim to do projects like this with SARAYA’s sustainable business and hygiene products.

Could you talk about your position at SARAYA and explain what you do?

I am the general director of SARAYA México and also the director for business development in Latin America. On behalf of SARAYA, I am in constant search for opportunities in Latin America, such as checking potential countries regulations in regard to our products as well as any incentives by contacting government officials or searching for local contacts to look for raw materials, sustainable supply chains, and logistic aspects for the implementation of our business. I have performed continuous case studies in many countries and check if it’s feasible for us to expand to those regions. We have SARAYA México incorporated in operation. Soon it will grow and be able to stand on its feet and move forward.

Latin America is the last frontier for SARAYA, and we’re only starting with Brazil and México in this region. Brazil and México are respectively the 8th and 15th largest economies in the world and if you look at Latin America as a whole, Brazil and Mexico combined are larger than the other 30 countries combined. Therefore we decided on Mexico due to proximity with the US where we have a strong presence with SARAYA’s Best Sanitizers (BSI). The initial plan was to bring our products for commerce in Mexico.

What was it like to build from scratch in Mexico?

While Mexico is a proud country for its culture and tradition, it is also a nation of contradictions. Its economic power translates poorly to the country’s populace, almost half of which live in poverty.

We initially thought of bringing BSI products to be sold in Mexico, however, we soon realized that the logistics hinder our ability to compete due to costs. We then made an OEM agreement with a local factory that had some experience in working with BSI in the past. In terms of hiring people, we try to have local people to be part of the team. Sometimes we rely on the language skills of potential candidates but we should focus on his or her experience in the Mexican business environment. There are unwritten norms and rules that would be the source of misunderstanding if one does not know the culture and the idiosyncrasy of the local business people. We also look for professionals that express interest in or have experienced Japanese culture or are familiar with Japanese administration tools that are popular not only in Mexico but in the whole region such as ‘Kaizen’ and the 5 S methodology (Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and Shitsuke, which means Organizing, Tidiness, Cleaning, Hygiene and Discipline).

After we established SARAYA México, we began by introducing ourselves since we were new and not known yet. However, like all countries in Latin America, they perceive Japan as a brand of trust, efficiency, and quality.

So, our approach in México was to introduce our product with “La calidad de higiene Japonesa pero hecha por Mexicanos en México “, which means “Japanese hygiene quality but made by Mexicans in México” to hit the pride of the local people. We are still working on the regulation processes in the healthcare segment with the local authorities.

Photo of the Saraya Mexico Team in 2019.

The proximity to the United States makes México a very competitive field for SARAYA México. We are small and do have a strong presence of US competitors in México, but we are an exciting group of people. We are continuously exploring characteristics that make us unique, so far being able to become the main supplier of a prominent Japanese restaurant chain in Mexico, providing training to its employees and adapting to their needs, all thanks to our SMX (SARAYA Mexico) team. As a Japanese based company, our next step is to build a network with the Mexico Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to target Japanese companies in the country that are already clients of SARAYA in Japan. On the same line, we are approaching companies that are clients of Best Sanitizers in the US that have subsidiaries or head operation offices in Mexico.

Coming up with innovative products is another aspect we are exploring with LAKANTO, our zero-calorie natural monk fruit sweetener, in which we see a good potential for growth within the food processing industry and consumer segment.

Another important thing we keep in mind is to approach socially well-established companies at both ends, as suppliers and as customers. Meaning that companies that hold certifications from ISO and standards of Environment and Sanitation, as well as the local COFEPRIS, and the Mexican Commission of Protection against Sanitary Risk. As we portray the company that provides Japanese quality hygiene products made by Mexicans, we must make sure we comply with the standards of quality with what we offer to our customers.

What is your goal regarding SDGs no.17, Partnership? How would you like to implement the SDGs into your work with Mexico and Latin America?

With my work at SARAYA, I hope I can accomplish the SDG #17, Partnership, in the countries I am involved in my work. As I mentioned before, we partner with companies that follow the SDGs tenets in their operations as well as companies that comply with strong CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) principles. In short, we look for companies that share the same principles of sustainability as we do at SARAYA. At a Mexican level, I hope we will soon be able to launch a national campaign to promote hand hygiene and help local communities by mobilizing different sectors of society involving different local NGOs and other key players including the government.

I´ve been in contact already with several civic organizations in countries that express interest in taking part as volunteers. In my free time during weekends, when I am in Mexico, I have the opportunity to give lectures to these groups about SDGs and hold workshops to come up with projects of positive impact. I still keep close contact with partners of the projects we did with PAHO while I was working for JCI. I believe both SARAYA and local communities could benefit through these partnerships in different countries.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon when he visited JCI World Headquarters in Chesterfield, St. Louis, MO.

On the same line, we have built relationships with key people in the government health sector who have the ability to engage and help in these activities. The goal would be to start such activities at local schools to create awareness on the importance of hand hygiene among children. I like the phrase: “Nobody knows about the future, but we know who owns it.” This is a reality no one can change. All the actions we take today will be for those who are coming after us. When it comes to our planet, a Native American proverb teaches us that “we do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” The commitment with the SDGs represents the ultimate test of humanity's conscience, as it is translated to the willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks we may not hear. But we all know in our conscience that it is the right thing to do.

We hope we can make people in Mexico connect the name SARAYA to Hand Hygiene.

Please give your message to the next generation.

I believe that ... "If you share your dream with passion and you aim for good, good people will cross your path."

So, be positive, be proactive, embrace failure and learn from it, do not be shy to ask for help and focus on what you believe. The coronavirus pandemic showed us what the important things really matter to us all. It showed us that we should work together to overcome the challenges ahead, so do work in teams, be a good team player.

The partnership allows each one of us to bring their best to the table and allows ordinary people and partner companies to perform better than they seem capable of. It brings out each other’s strength, helps us all achieve extraordinary results.

So, how do we measure if we are doing right?

You take a note on the number of smiles you manage to put on people's faces as a result of what you do.

The number of people who come to you to thank you for what you have done.

That's what matters…that's how you know you are doing good.

SARAYA COVID-19 Joint Research with Osaka University

2020-05-28T07:17:40+00:00

We are pleased to announce that SARAYA has signed a joint research agreement with the Osaka University Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (Masato Igawa Laboratory) to start an efficacy evaluation test using the new coronavirus pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) in our products and sterilized components.

Background

SARAYA develops evidence-focused hygiene-related products for medical, public, food-related facilities and general households, providing hygiene information such as infectious diseases and food poisoning prevention measures.

Particularly, for conducting microbiological evaluations, we have established a specialized unit to handle more than 500 strains of viruses and bacteria, adopting international standard test methods from early on to obtain world-class evidence data.

In the field of preventative measures of the worldwide new coronavirus infection, we provide many infectious disease prevention products developed based on the evaluation results of similar viruses and other various viruses.

However, as of now, it is only the result of evaluation using alternative viruses. In order to collect an even higher level of evidence and verify its effectiveness, it was necessary to use the “real” new coronavirus pathogen in the close-to-actual-use environment not only in medical facilities but also in food processing facilities, industries, public spaces and households.

Conducting verification tests at BSL-3 facilities

Pathogens are classified into four levels according to their risk level and must be handled in laboratories with standards up to their biosafety risk level (BSL). The handling level of the new coronavirus pathogen is BSL-3, which our research facility is not currently equipped to handle.

However, this joint research agreement with the Osaka University Institute for Microbial Diseases (Igawa Masato Laboratory) and with the cooperation of Professor Tatsuo Shioda, makes it possible to perform evaluation tests in their infectious disease laboratory, which is a BSL-3 facility.

In these tests, we adopted EN14476, a European standard as well as an international standard test method, which verifies effectiveness against viruses under conditions that imitate the actual environment of a load substance.

We hope to contribute to the prevention of infections and the expansion of the number of people infected by building, proposing and disseminating new measures against coronavirus infection based on the high-level evidence we obtain.

The results of this test will be updated through the official website and press releases.

Outline of efficacy evaluation test using new coronavirus pathogen

Location: Osaka University Institute for Microbial Diseases, Infectious Diseases Laboratory (3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture)
Period: May 2020 to September 2020
Contents: Effectiveness evaluation of products using the new coronavirus pathogen (SARS-CoV-2) based on EN14476
Applicable products: hygiene products, household / commercial cleaning agents, various sanitizing components, etc.

SDGs Interviews: Talking Life on Land with Nobuo Nakanishi

2020-07-09T04:24:38+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the fourth chapter of SARAYA’s SDGs interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Nobuo Nakanishi, Researcher of SARAYA. Here is his story, and his approach to SDG №15: Life on Land.

The more fun, the more people. When we have more people, we start a trend.

Nobuo Nakanishi

How did you come to work at SARAYA?

I joined SARAYA as a researcher in 2004.

I was a graduate student at Osaka University School of Human Sciences studying international cooperation and was referred to SARAYA by my professor. In August 2004, Mr. Saraya, the president of SARAYA, learned of the biodiversity crisis of Borneo, Malaysia while being interviewed on a television show called “Wonderful Spaceship Earth”, an environmental documentary series, on a chapter centered around baby elephants wounded by human traps. Palm oil plantations were causing great damage in the fauna, destroying habitats, and SARAYA, although just one of many companies using palm oil, received many complaints despite being the only one that didn’t refuse to appear in the program.

They immediately started to seek solutions, looking for someone who could do research and come up with suggestions. I was appointed to that role and flew to Malaysia to research, helping them to establish two non-government organizations, the Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) in Malaysia and the Borneo Conservation Trust Japan (BCTJ) in Japan. Ever since I have been involved with BCT’s Green Corridor Projects, buying pieces of land to conserve the wildlife in Borneo while I work as a researcher for SARAYA.

I also did research in Uganda before SARAYA started a hygiene business there and helped establish the company. SARAYA is a unique company that realizes its corporate social responsibilities by taking part in many good causes in various parts of the world.

I am happy and honored that I have this unique position as a researcher at SARAYA and able to contribute to the world through my work.

What did you do before joining SARAYA?

I was born into a family of dentists spanning four generations in Osaka, and as my family expected, I also became a dentist in 1984. At the same time, I kept a strong desire to travel to exotic lands. Since very young, I liked to read books about traveling, anthropology and overseas reports and knowing how people lived in different countries fascinated me. My first trip abroad was to New York when I graduated from university, but my turning point came when I visited India by myself in 1986.

After working as a dentist for 2 years, I got 10 days off and flew to India. I visited Delhi, Varanasi, and Calcutta (now Kolkata) staying at cheap hostels. I was overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the city, the smell of spices and incense, and many people living on the streets. At hostels, I met many world-traveling backpackers, some traveling the world for years. I was amazed to know that their minds were so free. I started to wonder about the traditional Japanese values of living to work without detours. It was then when I decided to travel for life.

As soon as I returned to Japan, I went back to work as a dentist and started a plan to travel the world, collecting travel information, and studying languages. In 1987, 2 years after my India trip, I arranged for my friend to take over my dental clinic, moved out of my apartment, removed my resident registration card and took off. My girlfriend, who later became my wife, quit her job at a trading company and joined me.

Our original travel plan was going from England to India through land, based on Kotaro Sawaki’s "Midnight Express", a very popular travel journal of his bus trip from Delhi to London, which inspired many Japanese youths including me at that time.

Since then, we made backpacker trips through Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, taking a couple of years each time. Every time I ran out of money, I came back to Japan and worked as a dentist.

Traveling through Cappadocia, Turkey.

Some of the most memorable moments were in Iran during the time of the Iran-Iraq War. It was surprising to know that we could enter a wartime country without a visa and that people lived normal lives on the outskirts of warzones. Sometimes people were so kind that they let us stay at their homes. I learned that the media covers only some parts of the facts.

When we were traveling in Indonesia, I realized that I did not feel the same excitement as before. That made me think about going back to school to study to become an anthropologist and make traveling a profession.

What was it like to go back to school after years of traveling?

In 1996, I entered the Doshisha University majoring in sociolinguistics, the study of language in relation to social factors, including differences in regionality, class, occupational dialect, gender differences, and bilingualism. It’s close to anthropology but focuses more on the usages of languages depending on social variables like ethnicity, religion, status, gender, etc. I thought that language was the most important tool when trying to understand the inner feelings and thinking processes of others. There, I met Professor Osamu Ono who inspired me with all his experiences. He was a literature professor as well as one of the founders of the Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (NICCO), a Japanese NGO which supports self-reliance among people in developing countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

When I was about to graduate and getting ready to do my master’s degree in Cairo, Egypt, he told me that NICCO was looking for a project manager for an environmental conservation agriculture extension with a microfinance project in Jordan. I told him that I could hardly speak Arabic. He said, “If you want to change your life, you have to fly.” I slept on it and decided to go to the Middle East, becoming the first paying job I took which allowed me to travel.

How was being a project manager of an NGO in Jordan?

My job as a project manager was to promote the method of environmental conservation type agriculture known as permaculture, to make a model farm locally and to provide training for residents, aiming to add value to the products by using environmentally friendly farming methods while improving the lives of local residents. It came with microfinance projects, providing loans for various purposes like the local customary farming method, sewing, beekeeping, etc.

I set up an office with the help of the residents in Joufa, a village about an hour’s drive away from Amman, the capital of Jordan, and one of the world's lowest villages at 400 meters below sea level. Developed from a refugee camp for Palestinians, its inhabitants are mainly second and third-generation refugees.

It was my first time to be involved with "environmental conservation", learning a lot. It was also my first experience working with foreign staff, with a good team that made the project run well. I completed my term in 2003, but the project still continues to this day, still keeping in touch with some of them.

How did you get involved with the BCT (Borneo Conservation Trust)?

While I lived in Jordan, some young Japanese people came and stayed with us. Through some of them that studied international cooperation, I learned about Dr. Yasuhide Nakamura, a professor at Osaka University, renowned pediatrician who was involved with many achievements in medical international cooperation projects. I thought he may be the right person to guide me in my career, so I went to see him right after I came back from Jordan. I ended up going to Osaka University Graduate School to study international cooperation under him in 2004.

Around that time, Professor Nakamura asked if I wanted to research Borneo.

Prof. Nakamura’s high school friend, the president of SARAYA, was about to start a project related to the environmental crisis in Borneo. He suggested that I write a thesis and help them. Although I have always been interested in Asia, this challenge just fell upon me despite having no prior connection. Realizing that I could get paid for my research, I couldn’t find any reason to decline, so I went to the company for an interview and got hired as a researcher.

Could you explain how the BCT (Borneo Conservation Trust) started?

To explain the situation in more detail, there was a Japanese TV program called "Wonderful Spaceship Earth – The Tears of Baby Elephants” filmed in Borneo in 2004. The producer who is a renowned animal journalist, meant to shoot the not-so-well-known Borneo elephants, an endemic species to Borneo and introduce them to Japan, but while filming in Borneo early 2004, she saw many wounded wild elephants from a type of trap called the "rope snare" set by humans.

Rope incrusted in the skin of the elephant due to rope snare.

The region of Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia, is a treasure trove of biodiversity, but it has an expanding large-scale oil palm plantation industry trying to meet the growing palm oil demand in the world, causing the loss of animal habitats as a side-result. Most of the workers employed on the farms were immigrants or illegal immigrants from abroad, often poor and lacking food, that used traps to catch small animals such as wild boars and deer as a protein source. Elephants were not the target of hunting, but child elephants are curious about such gimmicky traps and tend to bring their feet and nose too close. Once you get entangled, those ropes made of plastic won't come out. While small animals are caught as they are, elephants tear them off and return to the forest while part of the rope remains entangled and bites into the skin as they grow. The TV crew witnessed a lot of elephants draining pus from their noses and feet and learned that the cause was the development of oil palm plantations, including the ones that export to Japan. Palm oil is used in our food and detergents, and we consume it without knowing it.

The producer thought that interviewing manufacturers that use palm oil as a raw material was indispensable to complete the program, so they contacted several food companies, but all refused. At the time, she approached Mr. Gunter Pauli, a friend of President Saraya, who told her that Mr. Saraya may accept the invitation as he was quite understanding.

The TV show was completed with the interview of President Saraya and broadcasted in Japan in June 2004. In the interview, the president answered with an honest "I didn't know this was happening", however, the viewers were concerned that SARAYA's products were involved in the environmental destruction of Borneo, resulting in complaint calls and callings for a SARAYA product boycott. President Saraya felt a sense of crisis and decided to take action immediately, asking advice from his friend Professor Yasuhide Nakamura, my professor, who is familiar with support activities in developing countries. At the same time, the program producer was confused by the excessive reaction of the viewers. As they knew that President Saraya was taking action immediately, they decided to make a sequel to the program, adding how SARAYA was standing up to the problem.

The highlight of the sequel was the wounded elephant rescue project initiated by the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), a new organization that started to transform the market towards sustainable palm oil. They started to film at the end of 2004, me acting as SARAYA’s representative communicator between our TV crew and the local people, finishing the filming in January 2005. The rescue programs to take in wounded elephants and surgically remove the rope bitten into their bodies were successful, but it is not a solution by itself. Thus, this paved the way to establish the Borneo Conservation Trust in Malaysia and the Borneo Conservation Trust Japan.

In February after the TV crew left, I started to research on my own, gathering information on what SARAYA should do for Borneo’s future. I first asked JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) for help since they helped me with my project in Jordan, contacting Professor Nakamura, a well-known expert in the organization, to write a referral letter to visit the local JICA office to research various project sites in Sabah, Borneo. At that time, JICA was implementing a project called Borneo Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation Program (BBEC).

Through the BBEC chief program advisor, I met a Japanese expert named Toshinori Tsubouchi, who later became the director of BCT. He was passionate about conservation and social change and connected me with important people like the director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, JICA experts, and local people in charge. After returning to Japan, Mr. Saraya met Mr. Tsubouchi and we started to work on the establishment of the current BCT and BCTJ programs.

I also have to mention Dr. Isabelle Lackman, another important researcher when I visited the Kinabatangan district with our TV crew. A French primatologist who has been a researcher of orangutans since the 1990s, she lived in a village near the Kinabatangan River in Sabah and has been engaged in orangutan research and conservation activities. She later also became a key person in our orangutan suspension bridge project, the hornbill conservation project, and the early green corridor project that she is currently implementing.

What is the Green Corridor Project? What else does BCT do?

The Green Corridor Project is where we establish biodiversity conservation by connecting fragmented and shrunken forests around the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Borneo, by purchasing through the BCT land from farmers and residents. My main job is to run the trust, considered one of the National Trust movements, with SARAYA donating 1% of some of their product sales to the BCT.

The main activities of BCTJ are to raise awareness and funding in Japan while BCT executes environmental conservation programs such as the mentioned before. In addition to trust activities, BCT and BCTJ also have emergency projects such as elephant rescue projects and hornbill conservation projects as needed.

Another important project is the Orangutan suspension bridge project. Orangutans, the flagship species of Borneo's biodiversity, are thought to remain trapped in shrinking forests in some areas but they can’t swim in the river to move to better environments as other monkey species do. A local NGO came up with this suspension bridge project that wasn’t successful at the start, but after the BCTJ proposed a friendlier bridge using recycled fire hoses from Japan built with the cooperation of zoo personnel, we got proof of orangutans using them on camera only two years later.

What is your current role at SARAYA?

Apart from helping in running the trust I work granting applications and gathering information for future projects, and organize project site tours that I attend annually. The tour includes visiting the project site, explaining the local situation and meeting with local people, guiding journalists to local project sites sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, and realizing in-house site tours. At the same time, I have also been in charge of the hornbill conservation project, going into the field with volunteers and developing the project along with local residents and researchers.

Recently, we conducted a survey on civic group activities of the Indonesian side of Borneo, where we would like to expand our programs. The source of palm oil for Saraya was mostly from Malaysia in the beginning, but the amount of raw material coming from Indonesia is now increasing, so it’s vital that we are responsible for its use, one of the SDGs points.

Lastly, I am also involved in work related to the RSPO certification, attending the RSPO Annual General Meeting, proposing sustainable palm oil production to the oil palm industry and exchanging information with RSPO members.

While in Japan, we mainly conduct educational activities and lectures on sustainable palm oil production for various events and study sessions, bringing awareness to companies and organizations. I am often asked to give lectures about SARAYA’s activities in Uganda and Borneo at various schools including universities, and as part of the Borneo Conservation Trust Japan, I organize regular meetings with volunteer members in the Kansai region, expanding the circle of activities every month since 2007, reaching a number of volunteers that has become a major force in conducting events.

SARAYA won numerous awards in conjunction with these environmental activities including “The Asahi Corporate Citizen Award” by Asahi Shimbun Newspaper, a major Japanese national newspaper, for the rescue and biodiversity conservation projects in Borneo in 2006 and the Biodiversity Action Award by Japan Committee for United Nations Decades of Biodiversity in 2016.

We hope our network impacts the next generation and takes over our projects in order to build a better society.

Please give a message to the next generation

There are so many things I don't understand.

Human populations are increasing. Would it be better that we increase further and start going to space? Or is it better that we all disappear from this earth? Or should we just move on bit by bit? Nobody knows what’s good or what’s bad.

Whatever will be will be.

After saying that you may wonder, why have I been involved in biodiversity conservation activities for 15 years? And in a place called Borneo?

The answer is simply because there aren't many interesting things like it.

Through these projects, I have seen a lot of drama among people. A week after I witnessed some drama in Japan, I would again witness a similar but slightly different drama in a city in Malaysia, and then in a village in Borneo, where there is no gas, no water nor electricity. Isn’t the last one a bit more interesting?

At the same time, you can see the drama happening in the world of mammals, insects, and plants side by side with the drama of humans. Sometimes humans look great, but sometimes they look more stupid than insects. There are moments when you realize that you are controlled by plants, and If you go deep into the forest, you'll be bullied by the nature you're trying to protect, and in a really damaging way. Thrill, suspense, and horror aren't stories across the screen anymore. What a thrill I had when I came across some angry elephants and got away by chance! Sometimes nature is really scary, and you become the hero of your own story.

If there were no forests, if culture were all the same, if capitalism existed in every corner of the world, then we'll only witness the same problems. If you could only enjoy this special experience through the screen or VR goggles... that would be so boring! That’s why I protect the rainforests of Borneo and its biodiversity.

“Ah, you're doing it for your own fun, not for the sake of humanity or the next generation…” Some may say. I would say, “Of course, it is a major premise that it is for the next generation and humanity, but yes, I am doing it because I am having fun.” There is no better motivation.

The more fun, the more people. When we have more people, we start a trend. I hope more people will join this trend of fun. That’s my mission.

I hope you can all join me in having fun protecting the rainforests and preserving biodiversity!

Hand Washing, Coronavirus and How we Became the First Producers of Alcohol Sanitizer in Uganda

2020-07-09T04:43:11+00:00

Extract of AFRICA magazine N^o60, published by the Africa Society of Japan. Madoka Mori, in charge of African Business Development at SARAYA, talks about how SARAYA started producing alcohol sanitizer in Uganda, how it responded to the Coronavirus, the fight against Ebola, and the future of sanitation in the country.

The global pandemic of the new coronavirus

While the new coronavirus infection is spreading at a very fast rate, the Japanese government had no choice but to declare the state of emergency.

Since our company’s foundation, we have always felt that we have the responsibility to do what we can in order to help stop and prevent infectious diseases. Thus in order to help prevent nosocomial infections in Japan, we have been actively producing alcohol sanitizers. To keep up with the increasing demand, in addition to our newly built factory in the Kanto area, our factories in Osaka and Mie are producing alcohol sanitizers at full capacity.

Looking back at past epidemic outbreaks, the 2003 SARS Coronavirus, the norovirus in 2006, and the H1N1 in 2009 we can see that epidemic outbreaks are actually a regular occurrence. This time the novel coronavirus “Covid-19” has expanded to the world and has been classified as a global pandemic.

In Africa only a few cases were reported earlier this year, however, due to the recent economic growth and the influx of people, the number of cases will probably grow with time.

From my own memory and experience on the field, hospitals in Africa usually lack access to soap and alcohol sanitizers, thus the increase of new cases predicted and depicted in the media might be sadly inevitable. In countries where the healthcare system and medical treatments have flaws, getting infected could be a death sentence.

Becoming the first locally producer of alcohol sanitizer in Uganda

Saraya has been locally producing Alsoft V (alcohol hand sanitizer) in Uganda since 2014.

Uganda, located in east Africa, is a leader in the production of sugarcane in Africa. The molasses extracted after sugarcane is processed can be processed furthermore into ethanol, which is used to produce alcohol sanitizer based on a formulation developed in Japan.

Alsoft V was registered as the first alcohol hand sanitizer produced and sold locally in Uganda and East Africa, manufactured at Saraya Manufacturing (U) Ltd (SMU), and has already passed international standards and acquired the cGMP and the ISO9001 approval.

SMU sales model also features education on hygiene by hygiene instructors., since it is not only about manufacturing and selling our products. We believe in instructing our consumers on the right way of using Alsoft V, with proper education on hygiene as a very important step in the fight against infectious diseases.

There have been outbreaks of Ebola in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and in South Sudan in the past. Due to their experience with Ebola, health care workers in Uganda understand the importance of alcohol hand sanitizers, however at first, and due to the lack of government funds, the supply and demand chain wasn’t fulfilled and we were not able to deliver Alsoft V where it was most needed. Nosocomial infections deaths were very prominent, so unless health care workers and hygiene instructors raised their voices together to teach the importance of prevention, it would have been near impossible to introduce Alsoft V.

We have been teaching our prevention methods and the one developed by WHO (my 5 moments for hand hygiene) on the field through our hygiene instructors and local health care workers, with positive feedback being sent that by actively making campaigns about prevention an increased demand from the whole country via the government was observed.

It had been 2 years since we started to manufacture Alsoft V in Uganda. However, although there was an increase in demand it was not near enough the amount needed for the prevention of nosocomial infections. Meanwhile in the bordering country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, an Ebola outbreak started in 2019. Due to the outbreak, the Ugandan Ministry of Health took new measures at the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as a preventive measure, making it mandatory to disinfect your hands using Alsoft V when crossing the border.

Alsoft V has since then been used as a tool to prevent infections.

Demand for control measures against the new coronavirus infection surpass Ebola’s

Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, demand for Alsoft V swiftly increased. In February, JICA Uganda Office ordered and introduced 6000L of Alsoft V in public hospitals, surpassing the amount that has been ordered in the fight against the Ebola virus, displaying an impressive speed on this countermeasure. From then on, the demand for Alsoft V steadily increased, with demand 6 times greater in 2020 than the previous year.

The phone would ring non-stop, and with customers coming directly to the office we quickly ran out of stock.

As demand increased a rise in prices of Alsoft V started to occur in local stores. The price rose to more than 4 times the original price, with Saraya Uganda having to deal with angry and unsatisfied customers. Calls, emails, and even direct confrontation would occur, prompting Saraya Uganda to make an official announcement on March 24, starting a list of official distributors and a statement on how the prices were never altered by us. Right after the announcement, we observed an increase of demand for Alsoft V from consumers, which slowed down after the lockdown had been made official by the government from the end of March.

This experience showed us that Alsoft V was recognized not only by Uganda healthcare workers but also by the local consumers as the leading brand of alcohol sanitizers.

Sadly, although consumer needs had slowed down, problems had arisen on the production side. Buying new parts and importing raw material became harder as the logistic custom system weakened with time. In Africa, the number of local manufacturers is overwhelmingly low and a good percentage of the companies depend on trading and import for most of their material. This made it harder for Saraya Uganda to keep up with the real-time demand of Alsoft V and showed us one of the difficult sides of doing business in Africa.

Market changes caused by the novel coronavirus

Due to the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, the Ugandan government increased the number of certified alcohol sanitizer manufacturers, which up until now only included 1 competitor for Saraya Uganda to more than 10 different manufacturing companies.

Alsoft V was already renowned in the medical and public health sector, but measures were taken to improve our product competitiveness. Due to the outbreak, counterfeits imitating AlsoftV started to be sold on the market, with their effect on viruses and side effects on humans not even verified. As this could damage our brand, we are working on boosting our product efficiency and keeping the trust we have been building all along with our customers.

Why Uganda in the first place?

Uganda was the first country Saraya started doing business in Africa, now expanded to Kenya, Tunisia, and Egypt as of today.

Saraya was founded in 1952 with the original objective to lessen the spread of dysentery, a disease that was very prevalent in Japan post-war era, achieved with our green colored antibacterial soap and dispensers developed at the time. As our company was founded on the importance of clean hands, for the 60th anniversary of Saraya we wanted to share our knowledge and experience to countries in Africa that still lacked the knowledge and structure at the time.

After talking with Unicef in Japan one of their proposals was Uganda. Located just below the equator with an altitude exceeding 1000m, it is blessed with a mild climate, averaging a temperature of 28 degrees all year long. However the access to clean water is still scarce, thus an easy to use and set handwashing system was needed. This is why the “Wash a Million Hands!” Project was conceived.

We decided to donate 1 percent of our revenues from target product sales to Unicef in Uganda, with the money used to set “Tippy taps” and buy anti-bacterial soaps. However, donating money was not our only target, since the idea of doing business was also a goal. The fact that pushed us to start a business was “Waragi”, a locally produced gin drink highly consumed in the country. As Saraya hand sanitizers are mostly produced with ethanol, using locally produced ethanol for a new business sounded very appealing.

In 2011 a sales company was launched and from 2012 to 2014, a collaboration with the JICA program BOP was started. The demand for alcohol hand sanitizers, the needed materials, and items was investigated, successfully starting to manufacture Alsoft V locally.

How to create a sustainable sanitation business in Uganda

With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection, we experienced the rise of Saraya’s market value in Uganda. At the same time, due to the enormous increase in competitors, it is also true that future demand forecasts will be harder to determine.

Since 2018 Saraya Uganda has already begun to enter the food sanitation market in Uganda. From Rapid Freezer (a sharp freezer developed by Saraya) to Sanistar (slightly acidic electrolyzed water equipment) we are aiming to become a leading brand in the food sanitation market as well.

We also started to introduce Lakanto in Kenya. Lakanto is a 0 calorie sweetener and the Kenyan market was chosen due to its rise of diabetes-related diseases. Lakanto is as sweet as white sugar, and can also be cooked with heat.

Establishment of the honorary consulate of Uganda in Japan

Since 2011 Saraya has been working on sanitation projects in Uganda. During the TICAD7 held in Yokohama in 2019, our president Saraya Yusuke met Uganda’s president, Mr. Museveni. During the meeting, the president was notified of all past and present actions we performed in Uganda, which resulted in Mr. Saraya being appointed as the honorary consul of Uganda in Japan.

We will continue to share our corporate philosophy on health, hygiene and environment, expanding our business activities in Uganda.

Saraya Mystair, new branch of SARAYA in India

2020-09-03T02:04:23+00:00

We are pleased to announce the 70% stock acquisition of Mystair Hygiene Care Pvt Ltd. (hereinafter “Mystair”), which manufactures and sells hygiene-related products in India on July 6, 2020. The company name will be changed to "Saraya Mystair Hygiene Care Pvt Ltd." (hereinafter "Saraya Mystair") and we aim to strengthen the supply of hygiene-related products utilizing Japanese technology in the Indian domestic market.

Mystair is headquartered in the Gurgaon area near New Delhi, the country’s capital, and has eight sales offices in eight major cities in India with three manufacturing bases. The main factory produces detergents while their paper mill manufactures paper products such as toilet paper. It is one of the leading Indian companies in hygiene-related products whose main customers are airports, airlines, railway companies, and hospital chains.

The current COVID 19 has dramatically increased awareness of hygiene and hand sanitization in India, and the acquisition of Mystair Co. could maximize the synergistic effect of the hygiene product manufacturing and sales network cultivated by the company and Saraya's R&D capabilities. In order to further develop our business in India, which is rapidly expanding in the global market, we came to agree with Mystair Co., Ltd. of the acquisition to jointly make further progress in the sanitation business.

“Mystair will provide an exciting platform to tap into the rapidly developing Indian market with growing awareness of health and hygiene,” said Yusuke Saraya, President and CEO. “By contributing to the Indian market with our technical capabilities, we will focus on local penetration of the Saraya brand.”

With the aim of expanding business in the Indian region, we will strive to improve the sanitary environment in India through our products and services.

Saraya Mystair Overview

Headquarters: India Manesar (Gurgaon region)
Address: 253, SECTOR 6, IMT MANESAR GURGAON, HARYANA 122052
Representative: Rajesh Gupta (Current President)
Products: Detergents, dispensers, hand dryers, hygiene products such as air fresheners, various paper products such as toilet paper and kitchen paper,
Sales: 900 million yen (March 2020)
Production bases: 3 bases (Manesar, Pune, Bengaluru)
Sales offices: 8 (Manesar, Chandigarh, Indore, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai)

SDGs Interviews: Talking Responsible Production with Hirotsugu Daishima

2020-09-03T02:52:11+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the fifth chapter of SARAYA’s SDGs interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Hirotsugu Daishima, the director of the Corporate Communications Division, talking about his unique background and SDG number 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

You always come across something you never knew when you take action.

Hirotsugu Daishima

Could you tell us how a taxi driver came to work at SARAYA?

On a cold winter day in January 1995, I was driving around in Tokyo as a taxi driver. A well-dressed gentleman in his early 70s got in and asked me, in an Osaka accent, to take him to a place where he could find a book about land registration. I suggested that he go to Yaesu Book Center, one of the biggest bookstores in Japan next to Tokyo Station. As he did not have a clear destination, we started to talk. For a taxi driver, talking is part of the job, since if the passenger likes the driver, he could be a regular customer. I always tried to brush up my conversation skills as it saves a lot of driving.

He asked me why I was a taxi driver. I was in my late twenties and most of the taxi drivers in Japan were a lot older than me. I told him that I was a documentary filmmaker, but that job did not pay enough and I was married, just had a baby and needed money. Along the way, he realized I had FEN (Far East Network), an American military radio, on and asked if I spoke English. I told him I spoke some, that I was learning to speak English. The radio was for American military people outside of the US, but many young Japanese people who wanted to learn about American culture and speak English used to listen to the station back then.

The conversation got interesting and he asked me to stop the taxi and go to a coffee shop with him leaving the taxi meter ticking, which I had never done before. That gentleman was Mr. Shota Saraya, the founder of SARAYA.

He gave me his business card and introduced himself as the president of the company that makes Yashinomi kitchen detergent, which I told him that I used because I liked the bottle design. He told me about his company and after talking a while, he asked me if I was interested in working for his company.

A few days later, a package of SARAYA’s company profile booklet and product samples arrived at my house. A few days after that, his secretary called me and asked if I wanted to come for a job interview. I told her I had to talk to my wife first, to which she responded saying that she could come with me too, and sent 2 Shinkansen (Japan’s bullet train) two-way tickets to Osaka. I told my wife that we should at least go to tell my answer in person.

When we arrived at Osaka Station, the company car picked me up and took me to a very nice restaurant to meet Mr. Saraya and his wife. Afterward, I went to his office and met the company’s executives. I realized that it was hard to say ‘no’.

It has been 25 years since then, witnessing SARAYA’s growth over the years. Once upon a time, I wanted to become a successful movie maker, but I don't need to do it anymore as SARAYA itself became like a movie. SARAYA is a company full of stories and I am happy that I am a part of the story.

Could you tell us about your background?

I was born in Kumagaya, Saitama, a city 60 km (37 miles) northwest of Tokyo in Japan. My father worked at an automobile company in Tokyo and was a rice farmer on weekends, while my mother took care of my brother and myself while also working as a farmer. My 7-years-older brother, always cool to my eyes, became a film producer. Because of him, I was introduced to many great things like jazz and cinema at an early age. Jazz stars like Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and Sadao Watanabe were my heroes and I used to practice songs from the Charlie Parker Omnibook with my alto saxophone, dreaming of becoming a professional jazz saxophonist. In my high school years, I was a member of a school brass band and together with its members, I started a jazz big band. I used to sit in at local jazz clubs as well as clubs in Tokyo and had a part-time job at Toshiba factory making television parts after school to earn money to go to jazz clubs for about 2 years.

One day around that time, my mother seriously fell ill with a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Very luckily her brain surgery was successful and she was saved without any sequelae. It was a big wake up call for me to shape up my life.

It was time for me to turn around and make studying a priority. I aimed to go to Waseda University, a prestigious private university in Tokyo because they had a Modern Jazz Group, a popular extracurricular activity group where many renowned Japanese jazz musicians came from. As my high school score was not good enough to go to that university right away, my parents let me go to prep school in Tokyo for an extra 1 year, being later accepted into the university and majoring in western history, with a graduation thesis about witch hunts.

Once in university, my curiosity exploded again. Along with studying, I became a member of the Modern Jazz Group and had a part-time job as a proofreader at Recruit Holdings, a human resources company that published many popular recruiting booklets and magazines.

After graduation, I planned to enter medical school, working as a prep school instructor while I studied biology and science for the entrance exam. There, as I taught students who were getting ready to go to a high-ranking junior high school, I met a female colleague who would later become my wife. I didn’t end up going to medical school. I can’t say in detail what happened at that time.

I then worked as an assistant for my brother’s documentary movie project about a famous Japanese author named Shizuka Ijuin, followed him around for 3 months, meeting many interesting people around him. After that, as an editor for a car magazine called ‘NAVI’ (New Automobile Vocabulary for the Intellectuals), a popular stylish car magazine, discovering the new car models. Although the jobs I had were all interesting and exciting, none of them paid that well. So that’s why I became a taxi driver.

They say ‘nothing in life is wasted.’ and I can assure you that it’s true. I learned many different skills from all these experiences and have all been useful at some point in my life.

Did you create a lot of SARAYA's consumer products? What made you start non-additive, eco-friendly products?

When I joined SARAYA in 1995, although with plans to work in promotion and product development, I started as a human resources manager at the Tokyo office (Tokyo SARAYA) so that I could learn how a company functioned. I was in charge of hiring and visiting schools to talk about the company. I was lucky to have a boss, Mr. Kobayashi, intelligent and skillful that taught me a lot of things from how to write an agenda to business manners.

Once I was transferred to the Osaka office in Oct.1996, for the first two years, I visited the office of Mr. Shota Saraya every day. He was a great mentor and repeatedly told me, “As a manufacturer, we must create something unique, one-of-a-kind, new, that wows the world.” He also used to say, “When you have an idea, you must realize it.” I always remember his words full of passion and energy.

In 1996, there was an E.coli epidemic in Japan and we were busy having our factories in full production making disinfectants and sanitizers. That incident made me realize that I wanted to work in product developments and promotions. I got transferred to the product development and PR department and that’s what I have been doing for the last 24 years.

In terms of product development, I started in 1997 with a hand soap bottle with Pingu, a penguin character from a popular children’s television series my children used to watch. This hand soap series became a long seller that we still produce, combining a popular character with natural essential oils for fragrance instead of synthetic fragrance. Natural ingredients were always important for SARAYA, but somehow they still used synthetic fragrance, a change that I thought was important. I studied a book about aromatherapy written by Robert Tisserand and experimented with dosages of essential oils. We also came up with foam bottles for the first time so that children could have fun learning how to wash their hands. In 1998-1999, we won a competition and even did a collaboration to make shampoo for dogs.

After that project, I came up with the idea of natural laundry detergents, something that SARAYA did not do despite being known for kitchen detergent made of natural ingredients. It all started when I went to pick up my children at kindergarten and I saw children with scratched wounds all over their bodies. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, itchy skin inflammation that, often with swelling and broken skin, affects the whole body. The cause is still not yet known, but it is known that certain chemicals make symptoms worse.

I came to think about creating a new brand of safe, gentle laundry soap without chemicals for those children who suffer from skin problems, which with the help of many people, ended up with the creation in 2001 of the laundry soap series arau., which is gentle on skin, with 100% botanical ingredients, and free of additives such as synthetic fragrances, colors or preservatives. Arau means ‘to wash’ in Japanese, and was made with lavender (from the Latin word lavare, to wash) essential oils.

SARAYA is involved with many charities through their products. When did it start with cause marketing activities?

I believe the concept of arau. series was good, but the sales didn’t go as well as I thought. As we had a limited budget for advertising, we could not advertise it well. So in order to improve the brand image, we decided to try cause-marketing. Cause-marketing is marketing done by a for-profit business that seeks to both increase profits and to better society in accordance with its corporate social responsibility (CSR). I had been aware of some successful cases among companies that upgraded their brand image and enhanced sales while fulfilling their CSR. SARAYA has always been cautious about what they use as ingredients, one important reason why customers choose our products, so I thought this marketing style should combine well with our products.

We carefully sorted out which organization we could collaborate with and selected Save The Children, an international NGO that saves and improves children's lives around the world.

It was also an organization that Yusuke Saraya, the current president of SARAYA, was involved in establishing while he was the president of the Osaka Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1986.

Ever since 2004, we have been donating 1% of our seller sales to the NGO, growing the brand as an additive-free soap series gentle on the skin of moms and their babies. Since then, we have been focusing on cause-marketing in our corporate social responsibility in many ways with many of our consumer products. Currently, we donate 1% of our seller sales of many products like Happy Elephant and Yashinomi detergent series to the Borneo Conservation Trust, Hand Lab medicated hand soap and hand sanitizer to Unicef’s Wash A Million Hands Project and Lactoferrin, our cosmetic line with donations to JOICFP’s Safe Motherhood Project to protect mothers and babies in Uganda. We hope to have sustainable partnerships to make the world a better place, together with them as well as consumers.

What was the most memorable project with SARAYA regarding SDG12, Responsible Consumption and Production?

The most memorable moment was when I went to Borneo in Malaysia with Nobuo Nakanishi, our researcher in 2005.

They say ‘Seeing is Believing’ and it was truly so. It was fascinating to see that such a totally different world existed in Borneo. There are people who live in the forest which is a natural resource, living by the river. The world seems primitive, but they have mobile phones and satellite TVs, in which you can watch CNN or the BBC and know about the world while living in a rainforest. In the equatorial area, the sun is strong and it rains a lot, but they have no typhoons. All those things were new to me and everything was breathtaking.

And then, I saw the huge palm oil plantations created from the destruction of rainforests and habitats of elephants and orangutans. The fact is that we consume palm oil in Japan and other parts of the world, we are all connected to this destruction. It’s not their problem, but ours. I felt the responsibility to do something about it as a person who witnessed the situation.

In 2004, SARAYA experienced a crisis. A Japanese TV program called "Wonderful Spaceship Earth – The Tears of Baby Elephants” filmed in Borneo in 2004, showing some wounded wild Borneo baby elephants that had lost their habitat due to the expansion of palm oil plantations. Our company president, Yusuke Saraya was on the program as a manufacturer that resourced palm oil. He honestly said that he did not know what was going on in Borneo, but the viewers were shocked and we received many complaints as a manufacturer that bought palm oil from Borneo. After the initial stun, the company hired Nakanishi, a researcher to examine the situation and establish the Borneo Conservation Trust, which started conserving nature in Borneo by 2007.

My trip was in between those two events. I thought this was the distortion of capitalism. We make a comfortable living with unlimited goods and services, but because of that, these animals lost their habitat. What I saw in Borneo changed my view and I started to think about Company Social Responsibility.

SARAYA was always a company to think about sustainability from the beginning. We, as a manufacturer, have the responsibility to buy and produce for our clients, but we cannot destroy someone else’s land just because we want to have a comfortable life. That was my turning point. I started to think about what we need to do as individuals as well as a company.

Since 2007, we have supported the Borneo Conservation Trust to acquire land along the riverbanks, the Green Corridor, a safe migration route for local endangered wildlife away from palm oil plantations to conservation land by donating part of the proceeds to BCT. That was the beginning of our trajectory to work with organizations to make the world a better place.

What is the future like with SARAYA’s CSR and SDG12?

I think SDGs (UN’s social development goals) will be incorporated into general consumption more and more. We are living in an era of wasting assets of future generations and it has come to the point that we can no longer keep doing it. I would like SARAYA to become a company and a brand that people choose in terms of ethical consumption.

I would like SARAYA to implement the concept of SDGs in all areas of our company, especially on the consumption side. When we pay more attention to SDGs from an ethical point of view, the cost of the products tends to go up, but by having transparency and informing our consumers why I believe we could all understand its value.

SARAYA has its own laboratory and we experiment to create products for the future. We have “SOFORO”, sophorolipids, a biosurfactant produced by nonpathogenic yeasts with our own formulation to be used in our detergent and cosmetics, creating next-generation detergents as it is biodegradable. We will need more products like this to protect our environment, but it is indeed more costly than synthetic and non-biodegradable detergents. Our job is to promote not only the products per se but also why we need to use these products for the sake of future generations, as well as why we donate part of proceeds.

I hope more people will join our movement.

Please give a message to the next generation

I always try to take action. It may not be perfect, but I believe you always come across something you never knew when you take action. You’d also meet people along the way and that's how you learn, with many things happening when you meet people. Meeting the right people makes the right things happen.

Also, I try to interpret what is happening in front of me, the people I meet, and the inevitable consequences I come across. My policy is to make my own decisions. I never felt I was forced to do so. It's your life, so you make your decision.

My advice for the next generation is: as long as time allows, study whatever you are interested in well. If possible, visit the site to see things, listen to people's voices, make your own judgments. Take action to live without regrets.

Race for Water Arrives at the Port of Osaka

2020-09-03T03:48:26+00:00

We are pleased to announce that the Race for Water boat, owned by the Race for Water Foundation, an environmental organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, which we are supporting their activities in Japan, docked at the port of Osaka on Monday, August 24, 2012.

Race for Water Foundation and ocean plastic pollution

In recent years, plastic waste has become a growing concern around the world, as it is causing ocean pollution and negative impacts on many ecosystems. The Race for Water Foundation, a marine-related environmental organization founded in 2010 by Swiss entrepreneur Marco Simeoni, implemented the Race for Water Odyssey project to conduct research on marine plastic pollution while traveling across 17 locations around the world on a single yacht in 2015. During the project, they found that plastic waste is widespread in the oceans and on the beaches.

The red areas show zones with large amounts of plastic waste accumulation

The Race for Water makes port call at Osaka

Based on the above results, this second "Odyssey" project was launched in 2017 with the aim of conducting further research on marine plastics and microorganisms by investigating seawater around the world. In each port of call, the ship is also conducting educational activities for local government officials and children, scheduled to stop at various ports in Japan through 2020.

As a company that has been developing a variety of products made from natural materials, with people and their environment in mind since our establishment in 1952, we support the foundation's aim of addressing the marine plastic issue and are providing support to this project in Japan.

The Race for Water, on which the project researchers will board, is powered by solar and wind power and converts seawater into hydrogen from freshwater and stores it in fuel cells.

Race for Water's Schedule

Aug 24 (Mon) - 31 (Mon) , September 2 (Wed) - 3 (Thu): Osaka Kitako Marina, 2-13-18 Tsuneyoshi, Konohana-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Sept 1 (Tue): Nakanoshima Gate Park Umi no Eki, 1-1 Noda, Fukushima-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Guilin Saraya Biotech receives FSSC 22000 Certification

2020-09-10T05:26:48+00:00

Guilin Saraya Biotech Co., Ltd, our main Luo Han Guo (Monk Fruit) factory, has received FSSC 2200 certification that ensures the quality of production and management of the company. Providing us with another proof of our product quality, FSSC 22000 is an ISO-based scheme for 3rd party auditing and certification, vital in many countries to earn the trust of customers by ensuring affordable, safe, good quality products.

You can confirm Guilin Saraya Biotech's inclusion and other certified organizations on the following link:

https://www.fssc22000.com/

We hope that with this international certification our customers will trust even more that SARAYA and Lakanto stand for taste, quality, and health.

Echo Haskap Farm now a CanadaGAP Certified Farm

2020-09-30T16:32:12+00:00

Saraya Natural Products is happy to share that their Echo Haskap Farm has passed a third-party audit and is now a CanadaGAP Certified farm. In addition to our Organic Certification, CanadaGap Certificate is another confirmation of the high standard of farming practices for growing, harvesting, and processing our Haskap berry.

(GAP = Good Agricultural Practices)

With a small team that worked very hard to achieve this certification, we understand the importance of quality and food safety, especially in these challenging times. CanadaGAP Certificate is proof to our customers that our Haskap berry is safe and of the highest quality.

Benefits to the customer:

GFSI-recognized
Program has full Canadian Government Recognition
Objective, third-party Certification for food safety and traceability
Internationally accredited Certification Bodies
Ongoing oversight of Certification Body and auditor performance by CanadaGAP and international accreditation bodies

SDGs Interviews: Talking Clean Water and Sanitation with Koji Kihara

2021-01-26T02:00:43+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the sixth chapter of SARAYA’s SDG interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Dr. Koji Kihara, General Manager at the Global Operations Division Sales & Marketing Dept. and former Director of SARAYA Biochemical Laboratory, talking about making Alsoft, SARAYA’s signature hand sanitizer and SDG number 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

If you don't give up and keep working hard, you will find moments filled with joy.

Koji Kihara

Born in the city of Osaka in 1951 when Japan was still recovering from World War II, young Koji Kihara used to do his own science experiments with kits provided with the children’s science magazine, dreaming of becoming a scientist one day. This is the story of Dr. Kihara, who created Alsoft, SARAYA’s most iconic hand sanitizer that is gentle on the skin and currently experiencing a surge in demand as the world fights against the COVID-19.

Could you tell us how you joined SARAYA?

SARAYA was a small hand soap company not too far from where my parents lived. As they were nearby, I thought visiting them was a good idea, since I was about to finish my master’s degree in industrial chemistry at the Nagoya Institute of Technology, a national university, and was looking for a researcher job at a company with an R&D facility.

After meeting the HR department, I was introduced to Mr. Shota Saraya, the founder and former president of the company, who passionately talked about SARAYA and its business. By the next day, the head of their Nagoya office came to see me at university and told me the president liked me and wanted me to join. Since I wanted a research job and the president was quite interesting, I joined SARAYA’s research team with only 2 other members in 1977.

I didn’t know what laid ahead of me, but I can say without a doubt that I have no regrets that I joined SARAYA. I was and I am quite proud to be a part of the company to which I could contribute creating innovative products like Alsoft (named Hibiscohol in Japan), a hand sanitizer that is gentle on skin, and other products like environment-friendly soaps and detergents. We now sell hand sanitizer to prevent infectious diseases in many parts of the world. Also, I obtained my Ph.D. in chemistry with my research while working at SARAYA, so I am forever grateful to my bosses like Dr. Taro Furuta, Dr. Kunio Shimamura, and many others who guided me to achieve my goals.

When we developed Alsoft, everything was new and we had to do it from scratch, but we had the working spirit to do it right. We sought solutions in many ways and we even filed patents for Alsoft hand sanitizer in Japan and the USA. That was also something new for us. Dr. Shimomura, the general manager of our Osaka factory made sure that we wrote good reports, correcting my report so much that my papers often turned red with comments and corrections. He kept “raising” hurdles for us, but to make us better. Thanks to him, not only was I able to get to where I am today, but SARAYA’s performance levels of research and product quality were improved to standards that I am still proud to share today with you.

SARAYA promotes its employees’ growth. There are many who obtained their masters or Ph.D. after joining the company, like me. I submitted 10 theses based on the studies we completed, with half of them as the first author, to obtain my Ph.D. SARAYA has been a company with a great trajectory and vision.

Could you tell us about your background?

I was born to an average Japanese family of four (with an older sister) in Higashisumiyoshi Ward in Osaka, a residential part of the city. I was a curious boy who liked to create things, liking to check on many things like machines to know what’s inside and making things by myself, like when I needed a chair and I would just make it out of pieces of wood. Japan was rebuilding after World War II destruction and we didn't have many things available like nowadays.

I also used to do my own science experiments at home, with a subscription to a science magazine called “Kagaku” (science in Japanese) that included experiment kits. Sometimes the kit was an electricity experiment kit, another month it was a chemical experiment kit. I was anxious to experiment with them every month. Other than that, I used to run around outside with friends until it got dark. Maybe because of those science experiments I did in those days, I became a chemical researcher.

After graduating from high school in Osaka, I went to study synthetic chemistry at the Nagoya Institute of Technology (Nitech), a national university. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I worked for a textile dyeing company in Nagoya for one year, but the work wasn’t a research job, so I decided to go back to Nitech to major in industrial chemistry to study biomembranes, mechanism of membrane structure and how surfactant works on membranes for my master’s degree. There, I deepened my knowledge about surfactants, which I happened to work with later at SARAYA.

How was it to work at SARAYA laboratory, creating innovative products like Alsoft hand sanitizer?

When I joined SARAYA in 1977, there were only two other researchers, which not much later got reduced to one, Dr. Furuta, whom we now call ‘Dr. Handwashing’ as he is the hand soap development specialist of SARAYA. The original laboratory we had was a very small room in a not-so-pretty, prefabricated building without an air conditioner. Nonetheless, a lot of great things happened there.

Companions taking a break at the lab.

We were young and everything was new. As SARAYA is a company of hygiene, I started to do bacterial tests. They gave us themes and we did countless experiments every day. Although the lab was small, the way we conducted experiments was quite proper and we were obliged to make detailed reports about the results. That’s how I learned to write good reports. Moreover, we had to write academic papers to submit to international academic journals periodically, writing them in Japanese as well as in English. Imagine how many red corrections comments our papers there were! I learned so much after joining SARAYA. We struggled, but gradually our materials came to be selected and published in international academic journals.

As SARAYA initially made kitchen detergents for industry use, we continuously researched to make them better, with feedback collected by salespeople when making rounds visiting customers. I also accompanied the sales team, explaining things to customers and asking them directly about their needs. We conducted countless comparison experiments with competitor’s products in cleaning power, foaming and cost, etc. It was a fun process to see our products getting improved nonstop.

A young Kihara in the laboratory. Photo taken from Mr. Shota Saraya's autobiography.

We didn’t always stay at the lab. When we came up with new products, we did presentations. We did it not only to our company executives but also to clients with our sales representatives. I remember when we went to one of the major fast-food chains for a presentation with our detergents, that got complimented for excellent paperwork. The way we wrote papers at SARAYA was just like at the university laboratory and it was our usual procedure that Dr. Shimomura, the head of the factory, thoroughly corrected them like a university professor. They were so well-organized that the major fast-food chain, whom we won a deal with at that time, said they had never before seen such good papers. And, with those papers, I was able to earn my Ph.D. degree later.

I think the spirit of SARAYA always helped us. We had themes to study, but how we do was up to us. A family-like, free atmosphere helped us to excel.

How did you come up with Alsoft, SARAYA's groundbreaking hand sanitizer?

SARAYA came up with their first hand sanitizer in 1977, the year I joined. It was alcohol-based and contained chlorhexidine as a disinfectant. In theory, these ingredients are disinfectant and kill germs, but when you put it on your hands, alcohol can cause skin damage. To prevent that, we would mix emollient, a substance that moisturizes skin, but quite often emollients reduce the disinfecting power of sanitizer. So we began to research to find the right emollient which did not reduce that power.

We have studied our competitors’ products, checked on ingredients and experimented with many different solutions to look for the right emollient, conducting experiments to check on the effectiveness of bacterias like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The lab was boiling hot during summertime without an air-conditioner, but we had to shut all the windows and doors so that dust didn't fall on the Petri dishes we used to culture our samples. We had towels around our forehead so that our sweat did not drop on samples while cold wet towels rested on our shoulders to cool us down. In those days, we didn't even have micropipettes in our lab! Instead, we used regular pipettes to suck up the bacterial fluid, so sometimes the fluid got into our mouths and we would spit it out right away. I now fondly recall those incidents.

Our 5th researcher was a woman and the company finally installed an air conditioner. What a relief we had! We have researched many possible emollients for quite some time and finally, we found one. This emollient did not reduce the disinfecting power in hand sanitizer, but surprisingly it actually enhanced it. It was so exciting!!!

After a number of tests to confirm the effectiveness, we started filing patents. That was the first case at the company and no one knew how to do it, but we somehow managed with the help of a patent attorney in Osaka, getting it in Japan as well as in the USA. We named the product Alsoft (Hibiscohol in Japan). It hit the market in 1990 and it became not only a long seller but also widely available in many countries now. Especially with the pandemic. It is an important product to fight against infectious diseases like Covid-19.

What was the most memorable project with SARAYA regarding SDG6, Clean Water and Sanitation?

It’s definitely the Alsoft project, which took a lot of effort, creating it from scratch. We created a solution to fight against infectious diseases and what I like most is that it is still widely used. We are now expanding our business into many other countries to help their hygiene.

I can still vividly remember when the product came out. I think one of the reasons for the achievements was that we were involved with every process of development. Since I put so much effort and time into it, the product became like my child.

Although Alsoft permits sanitation without the use of water, even if we focus only on the “Clean Water” part of this SDG, SARAYA also has products that help to protect it. For example, I was one of the main researchers to create a hand soap without white turbidity agents (agents that add cloudiness to soaps, giving them their pearly white, liquid look) in 1999. These agents normally derive from petrol, so eliminating them from our products made them more biodegradable, protecting the purity of water after washing your hands. We no longer have this kind of product as we have shifted to foam type soaps, but “protecting water” and “biodegradable” were and will always be key concepts we follow at SARAYA, showcased in current products like Happy Elephant and the use of SOFORO, our natural cleaning agent.

I once wanted to go to work in a big corporation, but I wonder if I did it, I would have just become a cog in a wheel. SARAYA appreciated my achievements and I later became a director and head of our biochemical laboratory.

Launch of the SARAYA Goodmaid plant in Malaysia. Dr. Kihara second from left.

What are the future plans of SARAYA regarding SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation?

We plan to take products like Alsoft and the concept of hand hygiene to many different parts of the world. Currently, I am involved in projects with our factory in Malaysia, helping them maintain the quality of products. We want to spread our great products, backed by evidence and a sense of sustainability, not only in Asia but also around the world so that more people can enjoy sanitation while protecting the environment, which is part of Saraya's mission. We want everyone to be able to live safely and happily.

Mr. Kihara teaching employees in Malaysia.

Please give a message to the next generation

The reason why SARAYA is where it is today is because of its solid manufacturing practices. Maintaining a constant, high level of product leads to trust. Research evidence is important to maintain quality, something that all SARAYA’s products share as they are based on evidence and high quality. I hope this tradition will continue.

My message to the next generation is that you need to keep studying with curiosity and enthusiasm. And go abroad to broaden your horizons.

When I look back on my life, I really enjoyed my trajectory with SARAYA. I love every part of it. Of course, there were times when things were tough. But if you don't give up and keep working hard, you will find moments filled with joy.

SDGs Interviews: Talking Zero Hunger with Yuji Murata

2020-11-25T05:37:47+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the seventh chapter of SARAYA’s SDGs interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Dr. Yuji Murata, a doctor of applied life sciences who is Director of the Natural Materials Laboratory and Production Division, discussing the making of Lakanto, SARAYA’s groundbreaking innovation of zero-calorie sweetener made of all-natural ingredients, and SDG number 2: Zero Hunger.

Believe in yourself and never give up, no matter what.

Yuji Murata

How did you come to work at SARAYA?

"We need someone like you!" said Dr. Kunio Shimomura, the general manager of SARAYA Osaka factory. I was visiting their factory to check their R&D (Research and Development) facility. With my master’s degree in microanalytical chemistry almost finished, I already had secured a job at one of the major cosmetics companies, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at another company nearby.

I visited SARAYA after finding a job advertisement at school. When I visited, the laboratory was not only four employees in a prefabricated building with a floor that shook when you walked on it, but it was dirty and had even cockroaches. I thought it was out of the question for me to work there.

After a tour of the factory and the laboratory, I was invited to talk to Dr. Shimomura, the head of the factory, and other employees at the lab, which took up more than 2 hours of conversation. He was so full of passion that made me change my mind, ending up joining this company with a family-like atmosphere in 1983. Sometimes meeting just one person changes your life and that was what happened to me.

In the beginning, They only had basic laboratory devices, but over the years they acquired all the latest devices I wished to have. There, many innovative products were born including Lakanto, the zero-calorie natural sweetener I have been working on. The R&D department now has more than 60 laboratory researchers.

Osaka laboratory. Photo taken years after Dr. Murata joining SARAYA.

There's nothing more exciting than creating new products that have never existed in the world. Life has been good to me due to being able to achieve the many things I wanted to do in my life at SARAYA.

Could you tell us about your background?

I was born as the youngest of 3 siblings to a farmer family in Sakai City in Osaka Prefecture. Today, the city is well developed, but when I was growing up, it was a rural farming country. My parents were rice farmers, which didn’t have any modern farming machines, but a cow that helped us plow the rice fields. My job after school was to take care of the cow with my older brother through elementary school, feeding it, and handling manure. Other than those chores, I played with friends outside.

Maybe I was interested in growing monk fruits (Luo Han Guo) because of my early farming experience...

Later, I got my Ph.D. at Osaka Prefectural University in applied life science while working at SARAYA. The company helped me to obtain a Ph.D. degree.

Could you tell us about your current job at SARAYA?

Currently, I have a position as Director and General Manager of the Natural Materials Laboratory, Production Division. Until 2014, I had a position in the Product Development Division's Bio-Chemical Laboratory.

I work mainly on two projects. Firstly, I deal with a lot of things related to monk fruit - Lakanto (a zero-calorie sweetener made of natural ingredients) and secondly with natural surfactants, which means detergents made of natural ingredients.

In terms of Lakanto-related works, we do basic research on monk fruit like taste improvement, functional research, productivity improvement of monk fruit cultivation technology, and zero-emissions which includes effective use of monk fruit extraction residue. We also deal with the global development of the Lakanto brand, patent applications and registrations for monk fruit extracts in various countries.

Dr. Murata during a factory presentation. On the left, Mr. Saraya, president of SARAYA.

Concerning the natural surfactant related work, we are establishing a manufacturing process for soapberry extracts, which is a natural surfactant, and business development.

How did you come to be involved in the development of Lakanto, the world's first plant-derived zero-calorie sweetener at SARAYA?

SARAYA started as a company that manufactures and sells soaps and detergents. With a philosophy in "prevention" which has been in place since 1952, their first product was a medicated liquid hand soap to prevent infectious diseases. Lakanto, our zero-calorie sweetener, was developed with the same concept of ‘preventing’ illnesses.

It was the late Shota Saraya, founder, former president, and father of current President Yusuke Saraya, who proposed the development of a zero-calorie sweetener to replace sugar in order to "prevent" lifestyle-related diseases, especially diabetes and obesity, he himself being a diabetic. At that time, there was no concept of a zero-calorie sweetener but shortly after, through joint research among the Japanese industry, government, and academia, they succeeded in developing the technology for the fermentation and production of ‘erythritol’, a natural zero-calorie sweetener made from glucose. This led us to launch research and development of the world's first zero-calorie sweetener using erythritol.

However, erythritol's sweetness is only 70% that of sugar, which means that it’s not sweet enough, therefore required to be combined with some kind of high-sweetness sweetener. As SARAYA is a nature-oriented company, we researched plant-based sweeteners. We knew stevia and licorice extracts were sweet, but they had some funny aftertaste, so we started to look for new sweeteners in many thesis and research documents. One day I came across a document by a professor in Japan about monk fruit (Luo Han Guo), which is said to grow wild only in the region of Guilin, China.

Initially used for preventing and treating all kinds of illnesses, the monk fruit was called the "Fruit of Longevity" in the region. Local and monks living there have been consuming monk fruit as a raw material of Chinese herbal medicine for cough suppressants over hundreds of years. This long history of eating monk fruit is proof of its safety.

After long research and countless experiments, we managed to combine erythritol and monk fruit extract, creating the world's first plant-derived zero-calorie sweetener, Lakanto, in 1995. The name "Lakanto" is the combination of two Japanese words, “Lakanka”, the name of the monk fruit in Japanese, and "to" in Japanese, meaning "sugar".

Original packaging of Lakanto.

What was fun and what difficult about developing Lakanto?

When we started, little was known about the monk fruit. We didn’t have any knowledge about cultivation techniques, sweetness quality nor other botanical research results. Hence, all the work we did was always a first in the world. It was quite exciting to do something that nobody else had done before.

When I told Mr. Shota Saraya about the monk fruit, he got so excited that told me to get my passport ready right away. Soon after, Mr. Saraya, the founder, Mr. Yusuke Saraya, his son and current president, myself, and our Lakanto development team visited Guilin, China, starting basic research on the cultivation of the fruit. We did the fruit’s sweetness research and extraction technique development, setting standards, safety research, and performance research in collaboration with local universities and research institutes.

It was 1995 when we started selling Lakanto (crude and unrefined) and after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony for the Monk Fruit Sweetener Development Project in June 1998, a joint business agreement with the Chinese Guilin government was created, improving Lakanto even further thanks to the production of high-purity glycosides (refined), naming the new extract Lakanto S, standing for super, special and for Mr. Shota Saraya’s initials.


Signing of the Monk Fruit Sweetener Development Project in 1998.

The challenge was that we had to do everything on our own as everything was, as mentioned before, new, with no scientists to consult, nor decent academic papers to research. But after all the hard work, we were able to develop the world's first zero-calorie natural sweetener, “Lakanto” in 1995.

Thereafter, we had another kind of hardship. Since SARAYA was a company of detergents and soaps, never dealing with food until then, it was extremely hard to motivate our salespeople. Imagine, no one ever heard about monk fruit, and the price of Lakanto then was more than 10 times higher than sugar. It was a seriously tough job to explain the value of a product at the time when people still did not talk about zero-calorie or sugar-free products.

I accompanied the sales team to drugstores, medical clinics and high-end restaurants across the country to explain Lakanto. I can't even begin to describe how hard it was to coordinate with other departments to come this far. With all their hard work, it gradually gained recognition.

What is Lakanto Development and SARAYA in relation to SDG2, Zero Hunger?

Today China has become an economic powerhouse, but in the 1990s, the living conditions of the people of Guilin were hard, especially for the farmers engaged in agriculture, harsher than you could ever imagine. There was no electricity, no gas nor running water, and the roads were muddy.

Nowadays it is possible to grow monk fruit on the lowlands, but at that time it was difficult just to get to the farms, that had to grow on the steep mountain slopes about a two to three-hour drive from Guilin. It was routine for all of us to get out of the trucks and having to push them as we drove along the mountain roads to get there. Also, the trucks wouldn't go into the cultivation area, so we had to climb for the last 30-40 minutes to finally get to the site. When we got there, it felt like we had conquered the mountain.

Seeing this difficult situation, Mr. Shota Saraya, our founder said, "Monk fruit is a sustainable plant grown in Guilin. A foreign company must not come and monopolize this plant. Why don't we first focus on improving the lives of the farmers and revitalizing Guilin before we make profits for our company?”. President Saraya has been working on the SDGs goals like SDGs 2 Zero Hunger since before the concept of SDGs ever existed. Over the years, with our production multiplied, so did the monk fruit cultivations. The lives of local farmers improved significantly.

In 2015, we built a new factory, Guilin SARAYA Biotech Co., Ltd in Guilin, China, the hometown of monk fruit, capable of manufacturing monk fruit extract and "Lakanto" made from it, in order to provide customers the world safest, most reliable and tastiest sweeteners through thorough traceability and integrated production, from the cultivation of the monk fruit to the manufacturing of the final product of the Lakanto. By the way, monk fruit plants are prohibited to be taken out of the country, so all process to make the extract is done locally.

Photo of the monk fruit fields of SARAYA up in the mountains of Guiling.

We have signed contracts with selected farmers in Guilin to provide thorough traceability in the entire process of cultivating the monk fruit, i.e., breeding, cultivation techniques, harvest time, and management of pesticides and fungicides. Some may even wonder why we spend so much time and effort in the process of sorting the fruits at the time of arrival to the extraction plant, and even just before extraction, sorting out the moldy and damaged fruits. As a pioneer in the field of monk fruit, SARAYA's commitment is uncompromising and thorough.

In addition, the Guilin Plant has introduced new technologies in almost all of its manufacturing processes to improve the taste and quality of monk fruit extracts. We have applied for an international patent for innovative technology for the refining process that enables us to remove pesticides and odd flavor components, which are not available in other companies. Thus, we continuously focus on improving the quality and taste and aim to develop the world's safest, most reliable, delicious sweeteners. Of course, we hire many local Guiliners employees at SARAYA Biotech Co., Ltd.

Could you explain more about Lakanto as a brand?

Initially, Lakanto was a domestic brand in Japan, but now it has become a global brand, attracting attention not only in Japan but also in the United States, Canada and many other countries. Currently, Lakanto is actually more popular in North America, where awareness of healthy eating habits is high with interest growing in natural, organic, sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, low sugar, and low-calorie solutions.

Lakanto S Granules are made with calorie-free erythritol as the main ingredient and monk fruit extract blended with it. By combining these ingredients appropriately, it is possible to develop a wide range of Lakanto products. The most popular product of Lakanto is Lakanto S Granules, but we also market “Lakanto Liquid”, “Lakanto White”, “Lakanto Low Carb Sweetener”, and “Lakanto Powdered Sweetener”, depending on how you use it.

Lakanto S, the main product of the Lakanto family.

On the other hand, we have various derivative products of the Lakanto brand like Lakanto Jam, Lakanto Zero Calorie Candy, Lakanto Chocolate, and Lakanto Plum Wine, etc. Basically, the Lakanto brand is a brand that meets the concept of its main ingredients: natural, sugar-free, low sugar, and low calorie.

These products are popular among diabetics, obese people, and those who are on a diet, especially those who are concerned about their blood sugar level after a meal.

What is your future plan with Lakanto?

As for the future of Lakanto, we aim to develop a Lakanto brand that can be labeled with functionality (e.g., reduction of triglycerides and visceral fat, suppression of postprandial blood glucose increase, etc.) in addition to just the natural and zero-calorie concepts.

The reduction of triglycerides and cholesterol and the suppression of postprandial blood sugar elevation contribute greatly to the damage of vascular endothelial cells and lead to the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases, which have become a social problem worldwide in recent years. We would like to achieve the development of the next generation of Lakanto that helps people all over the world to manage their health.

Could you give us some words for the next generation?

The important things for a product developer are to establish basic research to clarify the evidence, to improve the formulation of value-added products, to register patents if necessary, to publish the results at an academic conference, and to prepare easy-to-understand materials for the sales department. However, these tasks are only part of their duties. Developer/researcher needs to provide a product or service to the world, to help people (customers), and to receive feedback. Then, you could be called a full-fledged researcher or developer.

To achieve this, you need to be able to think on your own and create something new that has never existed before, instead of just doing what you are told to do. You will face many doubts and hardships, but you need to overcome them through work hard and perseverance. Believe in yourself and never give up, no matter what. Be open-minded to understand failures and any harsh comments your boss may say, as even that is an important part of your experience. In the end, the important thing for a member of society is that you find joy in your daily work.

SDGs Interviews: Talking Sustainable Cities with Trang Linh Duong

2021-01-26T02:00:43+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the eighth chapter of SARAYA’s SDGs interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Trang Linh Duong, CEO of Saraya Greentek Co., Ltd., growing in Viet Nam, founding a company, and helping improve healthcare and sanitation, while tackling SDG number 11: Sustainable cities and communities.

If you believe in yourself and you are passionate about what you are doing, the rewards will come naturally.

Trang Linh Duong

How did you come to join SARAYA?

In early 2010, my Japanese brother-in-law, Hiroyuki Ishikawa, who had just joined SARAYA in Japan, told me that SARAYA wanted to establish a base in Viet Nam and asked if I was interested in joining their team as their distributor. To be honest, at that time, I had no idea what Saraya's business was all about. I only knew roughly that Saraya was a "soap and detergent manufacturer".

GDP per capita in Vietnam in 2010 was around US$1,318, which was very low compared to other countries in the region such as Malaysia ($9,040), Thailand ($5,076), Indonesia ($3,122)… and compared to Japan, whose GDP per capita back then was already $44,507, so Viet Nam was a long way behind Japan! Realizing that Viet Nam still had a lot of potential for growth and while the concept of hygiene, especially in personal hygiene and food hygiene, was still new to many people in the country at the time, I strongly believed then that SARAYA’s hygienic products and systems could help my people to improve our overall hygienic conditions.

In March 2010, in Ha Noi, I met with Mr. Hojo, who was then in charge of the global operations of SARAYA to express my wish to join the team. Mr. Hojo was concerned that I had no experience in the industry, but he was kind enough to give me a chance to try, provided that I could conduct market research about the potential of Saraya products in the Viet Nam market, including information about the competitors. I accepted his challenge. Three months later, I went to Osaka to meet with Mr. Saraya, the Company President, and other Executives at Saraya headquarters to present my market research report on the four business segments that Saraya has. After my presentation, Mr. Saraya shook my hands and said: “We want to work with you. And if we are happy with your performance in the first year, we will have a joint venture with you.” That is how I started working at SARAYA.
Coming back to Vietnam, I lodged an application to establish a new company, called Greentek Co., Ltd., with the company slogan: “Helping to make a better world”. Greentek means “green technology”, representing my dream to help the Vietnamese people to have a better place to live under “green technology” coming from Japan. The license was issued on 27/08/2010.

Initially, I set up an office on the first floor of my mother’s house where I worked by myself to obtain the necessary licenses in order to sell SARAYA medical products in Viet Nam. I was new to the industry, so there were a lot of things that I needed to learn quickly about the business, including all legal and sale-related matters. For registration of medical products, namely hand sanitizers, even legal firms in Ho Chi Minh City could not give me clear answers regarding what kind of licenses that we needed in order to import and sell the products. So, I contacted the Ministry of Health directly for guidance. After 5 months of lodging our applications, with many subsequent submissions of additional documents and information as per the M.O.H’s requests, eventually, I managed to attain the necessary licenses for all of our hand sanitizers. All licenses were ready, I moved the office to an office building, recruited sales and admin staff, and officially started to launch Saraya products in the market in April 2011. I was fortunate enough to receive help from friends, who were already doing business with hospitals. They taught me about how to sell and supply our products to hospitals through the tendering process.

After a year of operation, and based on our performance, Mr. Saraya decided to set up a joint venture with Greentek. Unfortunately, as it is a foreign-invested trading company, the process to obtain the JV license took almost one year. Eventually, the business license for SARAYA Greentek Co., Ltd. (SGT) was issued on 09/08/2013. (August seems to be my “destiny number” as not only was I born in August, but also Greentek and SGT licenses were issued in the same month!!!).

Could you tell us about your background?

I was born in a family of 5 children in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Sai Gon, the southern part of Vietnam. I am the second child of the family with three sisters and one brother. My father was a mechanical engineer working for an American company, then later on he set up a galvanizing factory in Sai Gon before 1975.

When I was 6 years old, after I finished year 1 at school, our family moved to the countryside to proceed with our plan to leave Viet Nam by boat, but our plan failed. Also, because of this plan, my study was interrupted for 4 years, so was my other brother’s and sisters’. In other words, I didn’t go to school from year 2 to year 5 as there was no school in the area where we lived in the countryside.

So, when our family moved back to Saigon, I had to “jump” class to year 6 to catch up with other children of the same age.

Going back to school, I was like a sponge that quickly absorbed the knowledge that I was given in my class. For the whole junior high school years from the 6th grade to the 9th grade, I always gained either first or second place in my class and was among the top 3 students of the school, averaging a score of 95% across all subjects. Back then, I wanted to follow the academic route that many members of my father’s family (from the north of Viet Nam) did. In our history since the 15th century, we had many family members who graduated first and second class with honor from the first University of Viet Nam, Quoc Tu Giam, serving the Emperors under different dynasties. I never thought that I would become a businesswoman one day!

Duong family temple in Vinh Phuc province, north of Viet Nam.

When I was 8 years old, my father started to teach us English at home with the hope that one day English would help us to have a better life, opening our eyes to the world, and later on, thanks to my father’s lessons, I was always ahead of other students at school when learning English by the age of 12, with an average score of 98%.


Quoc Tu Giam, the first university of Viet Nam, located in Ha Noi.	List of 46 first-class graduates with honor from the 13^thto 18^th century. Trang Nguyen Duong Phu Tu (n°35) is Trang's ancestor.

I wanted to become a teacher. At the age of 6 to 8 years old, I used to gather the children in my neighborhood and pretended to have a classroom. Somehow I managed to get other kids to listen to what I said.

When I was 19 years old, my father died of a stroke. My mother was just 42 and became a single mother with 5 young children. She never got married again.

I completed my university course in education, majoring in English in Vietnam in 1994. Upon graduation, I joined an Australian-based architectural and property development company as an assistant to the project manager. Doing this, I gave up my dream of becoming a teacher as I could not earn enough from this career to help my mother to support our family.

In 1998, the company sent me to Australia to be trained at their headquarters with the intention to promote me as the chief representative officer of their operation in Vietnam. While working in Australia, I completed my university course in business studies, majoring in finance. I took classes after work in the evenings and graduated in 8 years.

What was your profession before you joined SARAYA?

I got married in Australia in 2000. In 2003, my husband and I established Norstone Pty, Ltd., which is a trading company in natural stone products used in the construction industry, outsourcing stone products from different suppliers in Vietnam and selling them in Australia. In 2007, I went back to Vietnam and have lived there full time since.

In the same year, we built a factory in Binh Duong province in the south of Vietnam to process the stone that we outsourced directly from different quarries in Vietnam, exporting to different markets in the world, including the Middle East, Australia, North America, and Europe. The business is still operating now under my family’s management, providing jobs to more than 100 workers, I still hold the position of a chairperson and financial controller of the company.

Needless to say, all the experience that I have gained from different things that I have done in my life has helped me a great deal in what I am doing currently.

What is your role at SARAYA? Could you tell us about your trajectory?

I started out as the CEO of my own company, Greentek Co., Ltd., the company that I set up to conduct Saraya business in August 2011. In 2013, I officially joined the Saraya group as the CEO of SARAYA Greentek Co., Ltd. (SGT), a Joint Venture between Saraya Hong Kong Co., Ltd. and Greentek Co., Ltd.

We first started with food sanitation and consumer goods (mainly arau baby), then later on we launched public hygiene products, and lately medical hygiene products. As the concept of hygiene, particularly in the food processing industry, is still quite new to the country from the early days until now our strategy is selling products as “a package”, which includes our products, dispensers, and technical supports (including technical training onsite). This is in fact the concept of selling a “solution” rather than a “product” itself. With this strategy, we have managed to gain many loyal customers for our products and services for many years.

I will never forget the happy moments when I sold 4 units of GUD-1000, an automatic hand sanitizing dispenser, to a customer in Vietnam for the first time. It was only one week after I started the business at my mother’s house. This customer found Saraya dispensers and our company registration details online, then they called me to order the dispensers. Vietnamese people like Japanese products as they are reliable, however, I had nothing in stock then. To make this sale, I immediately contacted SARAYA Japan and had those dispensers shipped by air, and delivered them to our customer as soon as they arrived by motorbike (by the way, the most popular transportation in Vietnam is motorbikes). A dispenser was sold for about US$100, and the air freight was around the same cost. So, we made no money on this sale, but I was so happy as we had the first customer! This company still remains as our customer. The director usually calls me directly when he needs to place an order, or when he has any questions about food hygiene.

I also remember the bad moments when a customer returned Smart San hand soap H-1 to us because of the “unpleasant smell”. Later on, I found out that this customer was just not familiar with the natural odor of the raw materials of this hand soap as they were so used to the strong perfume of other competitors’ products. Ever since our team has been trying to explain to our customers about SARAYA’s efforts to protect the users’ health and the environment by using plant-derived ingredients in our product formulations. Gradually, we have made them understand and accept the non-fragranced products from Saraya. Believe it or not, this educational process took us about 5 years in order to change the consumers’ behaviors! Now, I’m very glad to say that every time a new restaurant opens and needs our products and service, they automatically request non-fragranced detergents, including hand soap from Saraya.

Chemical-use safety training for a hotel chain staff.

In 2014, when AEON, a big Japanese retailer, built their first shopping mall in Long Bien, Ha Noi, we set up a branch office in Ha Noi city, the capital of Viet Nam, to provide our local supports not only to AEON but also to other customers in the region. We now have 15 staff working in our Ha Noi office, and 30 staff working in the Ho Chi Minh City office.

At SGT, we have a young team who has joined us as fresh graduates from universities and gradually developed their skills during the time they are with us. Because they are young and energetic, we can explore the market in many different ways together. In order to encourage initiatives from young employees, particularly the engineers, we created a flat management system where all new ideas and opinions for improvement can be heard and practiced. They work in teams as everyone’s strength is different: Some are good at sales while others are good at technical support. So together we try to keep a good balance of skills among the members in each team to ensure that the sale targets can always be achieved. We have also set incentives for all teams depending on their monthly and yearly performance to encourage each individual member of the teams to try their best in whatever they do.

I always believe that making money is important because we all need to make a living, but making money while enjoying what we are doing is a lot more important. I want to see our members happily going to work every day as they love the jobs that they do. So, we usually set short-term and long-term goals to motivate our staff in many ways. As for me, I always try to inspire my staff in every way that I can so that they can enjoy and be passionate about what they are doing. Our end goal is always: Who we are today must be better than who we were yesterday.

This year, we will celebrate our 10th year anniversary to mark up our journey since the first SARAYA’s products were introduced in the Vietnam market. It is indeed a long journey, but a very enjoyable one. I have devoted all my time, my sweat, and tears to this business, but I have no regrets as I know that my team and I are contributing our part to the well-being of all people around us, including our families, customers, and most of all, our country, Viet Nam.
If you ask: What is our biggest achievement over the last 10 years of business in Viet Nam? I would proudly say: Our team has been helping many customers in Viet Nam to set up and maintain new hygienic standards and systems to improve their overall hygienic conditions. And also through many activities that we are doing and will continue to do so in the near future for the communities, such as an organic vegetable project, school education projects, plastic waste control project, etc., we will continue to contribute our part to make Viet Nam a better place to live.

SDG 11 aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. What role does Saraya Greentek play in achieving this?

Even though Vietnam is achieving rapid economic growth compared to other countries in the region, together with an emerging middle class, it is still a developing country that requires a lot of improvements. The current population is almost 98 million people with an increase of around 1% each year. Almost 40% of the population is under the age of 25 years old, and around 46% of the population are under the prime working-age group. Vietnam is a very young nation, which is indeed thirsty for knowledge and education in order to improve our living conditions.

For this reason, at Saraya SGT, we always see our main role as an educator in achieving SDGs goals to make our cities safe and grow sustainably. Our education focuses on helping the community to improve their hygienic conditions and the quality of life through many useful activities.

Food hygiene training class.

The immediate benefits of education that we can bring to our community include poverty reduction, higher income, promotion of equality, environmental benefits, health benefits, and of course, support of the economic growth of the country. Many of these benefits are interrelated in that they work together to improve a person’s conditions in life.

What future plans does Saraya Greentek have regarding that SDG 11?

To be honest, I didn’t know what “SDG” meant before Saraya started the campaign to promote these activities in 2019. But since the early days of our business, our team has been doing the things that we believe are “the right things to do'' for our customers and our country. Only now I realize those activities are all related to SDGs 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Here are some of our current projects which promote SDG 11 at SGT:

Collaboration with AEON Vietnam on a 5-year project called “Sustainable Education For the Youth'' in Vietnam, starting in 2020. This project promotes sustainable hygiene education for young children (from 3 to 10 years old) at 100 kindergartens and elementary schools across Vietnam. In the first phase of the school year 2020-2021, the chosen topic is “Clean Hands - Strengthen Future” and we promote hand hygiene in the area where AEON Vietnam has a business, ensuring a safe school environment for children during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond. We are providing the children with basic knowledge of hand hygiene and handwashing, forming good behaviors in them for personal hygiene.
Organic vegetable project. Since January 2019, SGT has been working with Seeds-To-Table, a Japanese NGO which helps farmers to survive and prosper in Vietnam’s market-oriented economy. We are helping the farmers at Ba Tri commune, Ben Tre province, to introduce their organic vegetables in AEON stores. With this project, in the long term, we aim at stopping the traditional farming practices by the farmers that rely on toxic chemicals. Doing this we encourage sustainable development that permits farmers to be more self-sufficient in a natural way that protects the environment while ensuring a regular income for them.

Meeting with farmers in Ben Tre.

Educating underprivileged children at orphanages on hand hygiene practice.
Providing support to leading hospitals in Vietnam with infection control guidelines from Japan in order to improve the hygienic conditions in healthcare settings while saving treatment costs for the patients.

Could you give us some words for the next generation?

I always believe that there are 3 types of people in the world:

One does not know what is happening
One knows what is happening
One makes things happen

It is entirely up to each individual to make himself/herself become who he/she wants to be.

Lastly, if you believe in yourself and be passionate about whatever you are doing, the rewards will come naturally.

Saraya Receives Biodiversity Report Special Excellence Award for the Third Consecutive Year

2021-03-01T00:40:31+00:00

The Saraya Sustainability Report 2020 Japanese version has won the Environmental Communication Awards 2021 “Biodiversity Report Special Excellence Award”, presented through an online ceremony held on February 24, 2021. This award is jointly presented by Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the NPO Global Environmental Forum to recognize outstanding environmental reports. Saraya's sustainability report has received this award 3 times in a row, for the fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021.


2021 “Biodiversity Report Special Excellence Award” mark.	Diploma award received by Mr. Saraya during the ceremony.

The following description of our company was given as the reason to be awarded this recognition:

Although the sustainability report focuses on biodiversity, health, and well-being (in this case, particularly infectious diseases), it also makes it clear that the company has been fully engaged through its core business due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In response to climate change, the report declares the company's commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2050 and introduces new initiatives to tackle the problem of marine plastic waste pollution. The start of the report clearly states what the company is working towards, listing the current SDGs targets and company initiatives in a table of contents.

As of now, we are working on the translation of the report to English and we will update this news to include the link as soon as it is available.

SDGs Interviews: Talking Innovation with Ryota Kihara

2021-03-17T05:23:16+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the ninth chapter of SARAYA’s SDG interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Ryota Kihara, Manager at the Product Development Department, and discuss the development of the cold chain infrastructure with SARAYA’s innovative Rapid Freezer and the SDG number 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

Having fun in what you do keeps you going!

Ryota Kihara

How did you come to join SARAYA?

I was studying plasma sterilization at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of the Ryukyus, a national university in Okinawa, Japan, for my master’s degree, when I met Mr. Tomomasa Itarashiki, SARAYA’s current general manager of the Product Development Department. He had joined our laboratory as a researcher, and getting to know him working together on research and looking up to him as this cool person, made me interested in the company that sent him to my faculty, especially because they had an advanced research facility on plasma sterilizers. So I had a job interview with them in 2011.

I was hoping to continue with my university's research of plasma sterilization at SARAYA, but for some reason, I ended up developing Rapid Freezer, our equipment that rapidly freezes food in chilled alcohol without causing any loss in its freshness and taste. SARAYA is a company that implements SDGs in many ways, and through the Rapid Freezer we are targeting SDG no.9, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, developing the food cold chain not only in Japan but in many developing countries, creating business opportunities. Thanks to this project, I have seen parts of the world that I would have never visited by myself, meeting interesting people, including local celebrities while traveling to countries like Uganda, Kenya, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia to install our Rapid Freezers.

As you know, things do not always go as planned, but I think that’s what makes life more interesting. I appreciate the experiences that the company provided me, opening new doors for me.

Tell us about your background growing up in the south of Japan

Kihara during Primary School.

I was born into an average Japanese family that loved sports in one of the islands of Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture. Amakusa, which means "Heaven's Grass," is a series of islands off the west coast of Kyushu, the southernmost of the four main islands of Japan. Those islands are nature-rich and the people there are nice and laid back.

I was a very active and somewhat bossy child who sometimes misbehaved and annoyed my parents. I played baseball and belonged to the school baseball teams throughout elementary, junior high, and high school, winning many local tournaments. I was a rather well-known catcher there if I am allowed to say so myself. I dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player until when I was a junior high school student.


As a catcher during high school.	Okinawa beach.

I was fortunate to live in places like Kumamoto and Okinawa for my studies. There, nature was rich and people were laid-back. Maybe that's why I became the free-spirited, optimistic person I am today. I also love Osaka, the big city where I currently work and live. Happily, I love all the places where I have lived.

Could you tell us about your studies in Plasma Sterilization?

I got my first job at SARAYA after graduating in engineering, where I researched plasma sterilization. Plasma sterilization consists of high-energy electrons in plasma colliding with atoms and molecules to create highly reactive radicals that react chemically with bacteria, essentially killing them. The advantage is that it’s a dry, non-thermal sterilization process that it’s environmentally friendly by not producing any harmful by-products. It’s a new sterilization system, often used to sterilize medical devices that cannot be heated.

I thought it was fascinating that lights could kill germs. My professor was a passionate person and let us do many experiments in so many ways, learning a lot from him. Unfortunately, my current job has nothing to do with plasma sterilization, but the investigation methods I learned there, like how to create projects and follow through with challenging problems, have been quite useful in what I do at SARAYA.

By the way, SARAYA does apply a plasma sterilization system in one of our medical sterilizing machines called “Steriace”, which sterilizes medical equipment with a hydrogen peroxide solution containing peracetic acid, enabling efficient treatment of sterilant components at low temperature after sterilization.

What is your role at SARAYA?

My job is to develop a rapid freezer and continuously improve it.

When I first joined the company, I was assigned to the Medical Unit and was involved in developing medical equipment, but in my third year, I was transferred to the Instrument Design Unit where they developed the Rapid Freezer. Boy, it has been several challenging years!

It was a totally new field not only for me but also for the company. The hardest part was that there was nobody I could ask for guidance, no one having any experience nor knowledge about this technology. I was lost and didn’t even know where to begin. But I thought, ‘Let's just try it for now!’ with my Amakusa spirit and I moved on. To tell you the truth, it wasn’t easy at all, but nothing comes out unless you do something! So I did my best to make the machine better in whatever I came to think of. Fortunately, we were joined by a technical advisor later, and the level of product development of the Rapid Freezer finally took a step forward, as we came to research it in a more theoretical manner.

The system of freezing food rapidly in alcohol itself is not new, but with a trial-and-error process, we were able to make our original model. Most of all, as a manufacturer of alcohol solutions like hand sanitizer, we have developed our own alcohol solution to freeze more efficiently. When I look back, we have come a long way, all thanks to our team members and advisors.

What is Rapid Freezer?

Kihara posing with SARAYA’s Rapid Freezer.

The Rapid Freezer is a machine used to rapidly freeze objects like food with an alcohol solution. Its freezing method consists of vacuuming pack food in a plastic bag and dip them in cold alcohol chilled to -30°C (-22°F). In that condition, food freezes within a few minutes while keeping the flavor and texture closer to what it normally is.

Foods tend to have water in them that crystallize when frozen. With food beginning to freeze at -1°C and almost reaching complete freeze at -5°C, the longer it passes through the maximum ice crystal formation zone (the temperature range at which ice crystals form), the larger the ice crystals become, and the more parts of the food are destroyed. To avoid this, instead of using a normal ice freezer, freezing with liquids will produce smaller ice crystals, since they freeze 20 times faster than gases. Rapid Freezer has a fast freezing speed, passing through the maximum ice crystal formation zone quickly and ensuring that ice crystals formed within the food are so small that they don’t end destroying cells, keeping any food fresh and tasty after it is thawed.

Thus, Rapid Freezer improves the quality of frozen foods. It reduces costs by bringing seasonal produce to the table all over the world all year round, prolonging their peak serving time, reducing food losses while cutting costs, since you can stock large quantities of food at their lowest price. For the food preparation industry, including restaurants, it can save manpower as you can prepare food way in advance without losing any quality, helping the time management of chefs.

Over the years, with my involvement as a development engineer, we have made several changes improving the original design, installing better filters, and simplifying its inner unit shape for easier cleaning. We also made sure to improve its isolation to prevent condensation, which can lead to hygiene problems.

On the liquid side, we also developed our own alcohol solution which makes food freezing more effective than other solutions. SARAYA is known for manufacturing hygiene solutions like alcohol hand sanitizers for decades, and with their know-how accumulated over decades, we have found an effective solution. Of course, as it is SARAYA’s nature, we will still keep working towards the improvement of our products.

Currently, we have 3 models which can freeze 5kg/hr, 10kg/hr, and 20kg/hr respectively. As Rapid Freezer gains popularity, we are now planning to make even larger machines for food processing factories, restaurant central kitchens, etc.

The project has been going on for 5 years and we are building up achievements thanks to our team members and advisors, as well as our distributors and customers.

SDG no. 9 aims to promote sustainable industrialization and infrastructure. What role does SARAYA’s rapid freezer play in achieving this?

I believe that building a solid cold chain is the key to the future, contributing to establishing sustainable industry and infrastructure around the world, and for that developing countries also need to be taken into account when developing technology. For example, since in certain countries replacement parts are not easily available, we have created modified versions of the Rapid Freezer to ease maintenance. While in Japan the cooling motor is installed inside the machine, our export models have it outside the main body, as a separate “air conditioner” unit that makes replacement easier in case of malfunction.

As I said before, only a few people within SARAYA had experience with Rapid Freezer and its field. When it came to overseas projects, it was even less. We had to check the operating environment, parts selection, laws and regulations, and so on. Having to communicate in different languages didn’t make it easier.

A Rapid Freezer being unpackaged in Kenya.

In recent times, since frozen foods go through a complete process of freezing, transportation, storage, and thawing before they are consumed, we are focused on improving the full food journey, not just the freezing part, to improving the quality of food in general. We are working on organizing information on how to properly treat food in all its stages so that people know how to correctly use Rapid Freezer effectively.

What is the plan in SARAYA regarding SDG9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure?

Rapid Freezer, together with Shut-Man, our food vacuum packaging machine, are products that can help you reduce food loss and labor shortage, preserving the freshness and quality of food while improving your hygiene and sanitation control (HACCP). Through the use of these products, I am convinced we can improve the food industry by working towards SDG No. 9, “Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure”, developing a food system solution (FSS) centered on the Rapid Freezer, in Japan and the rest of the world.


Rapid Freezer, SARAYA’s rapid freezing machine.	Shut-Man, SARAYA’s food vacuum packaging machine.

We are also advocating a new cook-chill and cook-freeze system using our Rapid Freezer to offer new and beneficial meal production processes. Cook-chill is rapid cooling of cooked food to reduce the core temperature to 3°C or lower within 90 minutes while cook-freeze is to freeze cooked food to reduce the core temperature of the food to -18°C or lower within 120 minutes, both for refrigerated storing.

To further enhance our solutions in hardware, software, and services, we have opened an experimental kitchen laboratory to experiment with the use of the Rapid Freezer in Osaka Municipal Wholesale East Market last August. There, we seek to develop a more efficient and effective way to use this fast freezing method.

Could you give us some words for the next generation?

I am not that old, so I don't have much life experience myself, but what I can say is that I appreciate the experiences at SARAYA so far. You do have “encounters” in your life. Encounters are sometimes “people” and sometimes “things”. I believe that encounters make your life interesting.

By encountering SARAYA and Rapid Freezer, my doors were opened and I was able to visit countries, meeting many interesting people that I would never meet. With those encounters, I continuously learned new things and adjusted myself. Encounters in my life gave me themes to explore.

Mr. Saraya, the company president, always encouraged me to have fun when working. I think having fun is what keeps you going. Sometimes you make mistakes and fail, but there is always room for corrections and improvements. Sometimes you can even start over. So don’t be afraid to take challenges.

Supporting the COVAX Facility Initiative in Uganda, Africa

2021-06-09T04:14:59+00:00

We are pleased to announce that SARAYA, in collaboration with UNICEF who is playing a leading role on behalf of the COVAX Facility, will donate 100,000 US dollars of SARAYA’s “Wash a Million Hands!” Project as emergency support against the new coronavirus in Uganda. This SARAYA donation will be made through the Japan Committee for UNICEF.

The “Wash a Million Hands!” Project aims to support the Republic of Uganda in East Africa, one of the countries in the world where handwashing, which is the origin of SARAYA, is still not sufficiently available. SARAYA donates 1% of selected product sales in Japan (manufacturer’s shipment value) of its hygiene products to the Japan Committee for UNICEF to be used in its handwashing promotion program in Uganda. However, while vaccination against the new coronavirus is currently underway in many parts of the world, especially in low-middle income countries, various issues are arising in the process of vaccination, such as procurement and transportation of vaccines. For example, vaccines need to be transported and stored at low temperatures, but it is not easy to operate refrigeration and freezing facilities in areas where a stable electricity supply is out of reach.

In particular, delays in vaccination of medical personnel can interfere with the treatment of life-threatening diseases, prenatal and postnatal care, and health services for newborns. The “Wash a Million Hands!” Project aims to prevent preventable diseases and save the lives of Ugandan children by educating people to wash their hands properly with soap. That said, the loss of life from other treatable diseases due to the effects of the new coronavirus infection is a situation that cannot be overlooked and requires immediate action.

Therefore, Saraya has decided to allocate US$100,000 from the “Wash a Million Hands!” Project to fund UNICEF's activities under the COVAX Facility as emergency assistance, and to support the UNICEF Uganda office's efforts in establishing a cold chain and vaccination system, providing also personal protective equipment and hand hygiene products. The funds will be used to improve the cold chain and vaccination system, purchase personal protective equipment and hand hygiene products, and disseminate correct information on vaccination.

About the COVAX Facility

The COVAX Facility is an international framework jointly led by the GAVI Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation (CEPI), and the World Health Organization (WHO) to jointly secure and equitably distribute vaccines for new coronavirus infections among multiple countries. Within this framework, UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund) is playing a leading role in efforts to procure and supply vaccines.

By the end of 2021, UNICEF aims to deliver 2 billion doses of vaccines against the new coronavirus infection to people in all countries participating in the COVAX Facility (currently 190 countries) in an equitable manner. To achieve this goal, UNICEF not only procures vaccines but also assists in securing and stockpiling related materials such as syringes and personal protective equipment (PPE), which are essential for vaccination, as well as developing the "cold chain" necessary to deliver vaccines quickly to rural areas as well as urban areas.

Sources:

SDGs Interviews: Talking Inequalities with Satomi Sasa

2021-06-21T01:42:32+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the tenth chapter of SARAYA’s SDG interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Satomi Sasa, Links, Co., Ltd. Director, a special subsidiary of Saraya, and discuss how companies can work with people with disabilities, tackling SDG number 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Doing it yourself is the best way to contribute to society.

Satomi Sasa

How did you come to join SARAYA?

When I was a child, we always had Saraya's kitchen detergent "Yashinomi" in our kitchen, and I loved its stained glass-like design.

When I was looking for a job after graduating from university, the world was starting to pay attention to nature and the environment and Saraya caught my attention as a company that made Yashinomi, a kitchen detergent that was friendly to people and the earth.

During my time with Saraya, I found my husband, took maternity leave, had a baby, and now I have a very rewarding job working with people with disabilities. I am grateful to Saraya for providing me with this opportunity and for the many people who have helped me come this far.

Could you tell us about your background?

I was born and raised as an only child in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. When I was in junior high school, I often watched foreign films. I thought Brad Pitt and other actors in "Interview with the Vampire" were very cool. It was fascinating to see them speak in English. I decided to study English to be able to speak like them, so I went to a private girls' high school with an English department and majored in English Literature at a women’s university. I had a great experience staying with an English-speaking local family in Canada during my college years. As for hobbies, I like creative and cultural things. I enjoyed doing the tea ceremony and Ikebana, the traditional Japanese flower arrangement, in college.

During my four years as a university student, I worked part-time at a wedding hall every weekend. I was in charge of serving the food at the wedding reception, but what made me happiest was working as a lighting person. I enjoyed being able to shine the spotlight on the bride and groom, the main guests of the reception as they moved. It was very rewarding to help add more excitement to the party. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I have been cooking a lot of snacks and sweets for my family. The other day, I made a pizza from scratch, and my family loved it. I also did collage art.

On the music side, I like nostalgic melodies and songs, and I collect old records. However, some people say that I am faking my age. Recently, I have started playing the shamisen, a traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument.

I am blessed with a loving family of three: my husband, who is working in Saraya’s planning department, and my daughter who is a freshman in high school.

What is your role at SARAYA?

At Saraya, I am currently part of the Business Development Division. I am also the director of Links Co., Ltd., a special subsidiary of Saraya, and head of the Operations Department. There, I am in charge of general affairs for the entire office.

The Links logo.

When I first joined Saraya, I was assigned to the Logistics Department. My job was to check for inventory discrepancies, and I worked until late every day. Later, I got married to someone I met at Saraya and went on maternity leave. After returning to work, I was assigned to the Mail Order Sales Department. That was 2005 when I began working with President Nagasawa of Links Co., Ltd., where I work currently.

I was transferred from the Mail Order Sales Department to the Sales Management Department, and then the Sales Management Department renamed later to the Business Development Division. There, I was assigned to work with people with disabilities, leading me to work with Links Co., Ltd.

How did you come to work with people with disabilities?

It was in 2014 that Saraya's sales management department was given the task of managing the huge list of customers in Saraya's database. This task required the involvement of people with disabilities. So we decided to hire a few people with disabilities in the sales management department, and I became their manager.

Since then, the number of people with disabilities we hired has increased along with the increase in the amount of customer list maintenance. As I interacted with them on a daily basis, I began to have a variety of thoughts. As I exchanged information and held study sessions with people outside the company who were involved in the employment of people with disabilities, I began to think more deeply about this issue and wanted to apply it to my actual work.

There are many things I have learned through hiring people with disabilities. In particular, I have learned that people with disabilities can be a solid asset to a company and realized that this will lead to increased productivity for the company, which in turn will lead to the SDGs.

How did Saraya come to employ people with disabilities?

At that time, the Japanese government imposed an employment rate for people with disabilities, which within Saraya had not yet been reached. Japan has a law called "Law for Employment Promotion of Persons with Disabilities," which currently requires employers to employ a number of persons with disabilities equivalent to their employment rate (2.3%). If this is not achieved, the company is legally required to pay a fine to the government. It was unfortunate that we were not able to achieve it then.

Initially, Saraya hired people with disabilities as a company, but as we worked together, and as we interacted with like-minded people outside the company, we realized that if we created a special subsidiary, we could take over the hiring of people with disabilities for the entire Saraya Group and create more suitable works in more suitable conditions.

When people with disabilities work in Saraya's various departments, they are subject to the company's work rules, which are not always the best for them, and they don't always work in a way that suits their situation. However, if a special subsidiary is established, new work rules can be created, working conditions can be taken into consideration, and special work environments can be created for people with disabilities, such as different working hours. In this way, I realized that people with disabilities could do work that suited them without strain. So, in 2005, together with my boss, Mr. Nagasawa (currently President of Links Co., Ltd.), I went to President Saraya to tell him our desire to create a special subsidiary. This led to the establishment of Links Co., Ltd., which I am currently in charge of.

Could you explain what your company, Links Co., Ltd. is about and what they do regarding SDG10, reduced inequalities?

Working at the "The Links" office.

Links Co., Ltd. was established as a special-purpose subsidiary to expand the range of jobs available to people with disabilities, providing a place where many of them can work and shine while expanding their capabilities and improving their work skills. “Links” means “connections.” We connect people with disabilities to other people, companies, and many other things.

To achieve the goal, we have specialized rules and environments for people with disabilities and are constantly working to expand their understanding while becoming an asset to our company, and by using their activities as part of our corporate strategy, we will be able to create social value. On the other hand, we fulfill Saraya's employment rate for people with disabilities, which corresponds to SDGs 10 “Reduce Inequalities” as well as SDGs 17, "Partnership for Sustainable Development.” I believe our approach can lead to a better future for the world and the company.

Meanwhile, our current work includes consignment of various operations within the group, such as information processing service-related business, general affairs, and recruitment and employment support services for the disabled. Some specific tasks that can be managed by the disabled are sales support, customer data maintenance, business card maintenance, product data maintenance, programming, document creation, sample creation, lamination, CAD work, scanning, etc. Many of these tasks are also done working remotely, something we already encouraged before the Covid-19 pandemic.

What was a memorable project?

There are several, but one I will never forget is a project relating to depression.

A woman had been diagnosed with a mental disorder due to depression. This was the second time we had hired a person with disabilities, but she was having such a hard time that she could not take the train. However, she joined our sales management department, and as she worked, her health and performance improved, was promoted to associate employee, and even got married. After that, she was able to reduce her medication and even have a baby. She gained such confidence while working in SARAYA's former Sales Management Department, achieving her life goals.

Was there any hardship? and how did you deal with it?

As for myself, while I was managing the employment of people with various disabilities, I was sometimes not sure where to draw the line between their characteristics and their personalities and habits, and I had a hard time deciding whether it was something I should take into consideration or if it was just my selfish opinion. There were even times when I felt depressed in various situations, but a certain hearing-impaired woman always cheered me up. She was great support for me.

Also, my boss, President Nagasawa, who was the closest person to me and who understood me well, listened to me and encouraged me whenever I was in need. I was also encouraged by the sight of the people involved who were working hard on their duties and was able to connect with many people from other companies who are also managing the employment of people with disabilities. Through this process, I came to realize that I was not the only one having a hard time.

Regarding how to overcome hardship, we try to do many things to learn about disabilities and prepare beforehand. For instance, the job of data maintenance itself is not a problem for disabled people. However, they have health issues, and when they suddenly get ill, they have to take unexpected time off. In such cases, we have a work plan with a sub so that other people can cover the person's work. Even if I am absent, I have a sub, so I can be flexible. The situation is also always shared with the Links team members.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, we had monthly study sessions, and sign language was part of the curriculum. We had people from other departments come and talk about their work. The program was designed so that the staff could feel what they were contributing. There was a hearing-impaired person and to communicate better with her, I taught myself sign language, learning a lot through this process.

We also have opportunities to talk about our disabilities. The term "disabled" is used to describe any person with disabilities, but each person has different disabilities that can be completely different from the rest. Even if you have a developmental disability, its effect depends on the environment, so we set aside time to introduce ourselves so that the staff could build good relationships with each other. Currently, we have stopped due to Covid-19, but everyone has been looking forward to the study sessions. There are many different kinds of people, but I think the most important thing is to try to understand each other.

When I see how hard everyone is working, it encourages me. I try not to do things that I would feel uncomfortable doing myself. For example, we lose motivation when we are warned in front of others, but people with disabilities get hurt more than normal people, so we need to be very careful when we speak.

When paying attention, first I think about what I can do to help. If the result is different from the instruction, I may point out the mistake if I were talking to an able-bodied person, but when working with people with disabilities, I need to stop and think about how and what I did before responding with firm words and compassion. If I still don't know what to do, I consult with a support organization. Thankfully, in Japan, some organizations support people with disabilities, and people with specialized qualifications are available for consultation.

On the left, Ms. Sasa. On the right, Mr. Nagasawa. Photo was taken during their video interview by https://shohgaisha.com/, a disability welfare informational media.

Along the way, I have obtained qualifications. I am currently certified as a vocational life counselor for people with disabilities, a company-employed workplace adjustment aid, a vocational supporter for people with mental disabilities and developmental disabilities, and a Class II employment environment maintenance worker.

Working with people with disabilities has allowed me to grow as a person.

What is the future of Links Co., Ltd?

I would like to make the company more aware of Links' activities, helping us expand our job scope and promote the employment of people with disabilities. In addition, to promote the fact that we are a special subsidiary of SARAYA, I would like to explore opportunities outside the company talking about Links' activities, sharing ideas on what is necessary for the employment of people with disabilities.

Lastly, I would like to collaborate with people who are involved in the employment of people with disabilities at other companies and start a project together that will help solve community and social issues through the employment of people with disabilities.

Could you give us some words for the next generation?

I am glad to have been involved with Links, a company that has focused on working with people with disabilities, since its launch. This trajectory has allowed me to learn and grow as a person, to think for myself, to do things on my own, and to move forward.

If I could meet myself in my early 20s, I would tell myself that doing it yourself is the best way to contribute to society.

That is the message I want to pass on to the next generation.

SDGs Interviews: Talking Affordable and Clean Energy with Hiroshi Fukuda

2021-06-28T01:48:51+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the eleventh chapter of SARAYA’s SDG interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Hiroshi Fukuda, President of KSN, Kansai Saishigen Network Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Saraya, and discuss their project to recycle food waste to charcoal on an industrial scale as well as their business in the UK which provides electricity generated with food waste, both projects tackling SDG number 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

Enjoy the reality of today and always try to make your tomorrow a little better.

Hiroshi Fukuda

Could you tell us about your background?

I was born in a tiny mountain village over 700 meters above sea level on the border between Yamaguchi and Shimane prefectures. In my childhood, I was blessed to play in the great outdoors. There were no traffic lights nor vending machines in my hometown, let alone convenience stores. I grew up running around in the mountains, catching beetles and mamushi snakes, a kind of venomous snake, which I would sell as an ingredient for reinvigorating mamushi sake. During summer, I went diving into rivers day and night to catch fishes with a spear, grilling and eating them on the spot. During winter, I skied at my elementary school ski slope every day.

My childhood dream was to become a steeplejack. When I was a child, I had a chance to see a steeplejack cleaning the Kanmon Bridge, which connects the islands of Honshu and Kyushu, and I was amazed. I dreamed of having such cool work, climbing high places when I graduated from junior high school.

Since I grew up in such a rural environment, I was inclined to do lots of physical exercises, especially individual sports, so I devoted myself to kendo, a Japanese martial art, since I was in kindergarten and later even made it to the national tournament representing Yamaguchi Prefecture.

By some twist of fate, I went to study applied microbiology at university in Osaka, which later led me to join Saraya. While I am committed to working as a company president at KSN, a subsidiary of Saraya which deals with innovative recycling business, I am blessed with a wife and two daughters at home.

What are your trajectory and current role in Saraya?

I have been working as the president of KSN, a subsidiary of Saraya, for 15 years now.

In 1995, upon my university graduation, I got my first job at Saraya as a food sanitation product sales representative at its Hiroshima office, being in charge of many hospitals in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures. After about 2 years, I got transferred to Osaka and got a new job, traveling all over Japan to maintain Saraya’s gargling machines and other devices.

Over time, the service department underwent a period of reform and was to start a business in clean water, and I was put in charge of it. We made a device to separate grease from wastewater for the foodservice industry, which led to a gradual shifting of our focus to the environment. As sales increased, a division was formed and the Environmental Business Promotion Office was established, with me as the first manager of the office in 2001. Under it, we created a water purification equipment, called GT Clean Grease Trap, which we successfully sold. It was exciting to work on a new business.

In 2003, I was 27 and was assigned to start another new business of recycling in preparation for this KSN project. KSN’s main business is to make charcoal from food waste. To prepare to establish the company, I was sent to another charcoal manufacturer located in Yamagata prefecture, in northern Japan, for six-month training. Afterward, I was stationed in Thailand for a few years to start a joint venture recycling business there.

What does KSN do?

KSN bases its contributions to society under 3 main pillars, renewable energy, material & thermal recycling, and carbon sink, helping in the achievement of the SDGs.

KSN, Kansai Shigen Network in Japanese or Kansai Recycle & Resources Network Co., Ltd. in English, recycles organic waste, mainly food waste. We recycle food waste by carbonization, making charcoal to use as an energy resource. Carbonization is a technology to immobilize carbon in organic wastes by pyrolysis, the thermal decomposition of materials at elevated temperatures, in oxygen-free or minimal oxygen states. This technology has been known for a long time as a process to produce charcoal, but we are the first company in Japan to use food waste on an industrial scale.

At the time of KSN’s establishment in 2004, various recycling laws were enacted based on “The Basic Law for Establishing the Recycling-based Society.” We, as part of the Saraya Group, came to develop a new food recycling market with carbonization as our core competence, to acquire new business opportunities with our customers by building a business that complies with Japan’s Food Recycling Law.

As Saraya offers food sanitation products, we were already familiar with the food industry and the food waste that comes with the industry, be it by supermarkets, convenience stores, food factories, department stores, etc.

The design of our factory plant was done by a mechanical engineering specialist and myself because it was too costly to outsource, and now we even have a staff member who specializes in mechanical design. It is a large, complex system that makes us proud as we built it ourselves.

KSN factory.

Our business model is to get a fee from the customer for processing the waste, and then sell the processed product, generating income from both sides. It sounds like a great model, but it also requires a permit to prevent illegal dumping, which is not easy to obtain.

After about five years of conducting various tests, we received approval from the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a new method under the Food Recycling Law (at the time, we were the only company in Japan to receive such approval), and we are now contributing to carbon neutrality. As you know, the world is gaining momentum for a green industrial revolution towards the 2030 SDGs and further towards the 2050 vision of net carbon neutrality.

At KSN, food waste is converted into charcoal. What type and how?

Powdered charcoal made from food waste at KSN.

We make powdered charcoal from food waste so, unlike ordinary charcoal made of wood, powdered charcoal burns quickly when set on fire, which is better for industrial use since a faster burn means a higher heat. Also, powdered charcoal has no odor and does not require a pressing process.

Iron and steel companies normally use coke, which is made from crushed coals, but this powdered coal is cheaper because it is already crushed. Therefore, the demand for the powdered coal produced here is high. Currently, the Covid-19 pandemic period brought us somewhat of a quiet time, but our sales schedule was full before it started.

When food waste gets delivered, the first thing we need to do is to separate it from plastic packaged materials, which we sell later as fuel, done by a machine we created capable of separating 90 to 95 percent of food and packaging. 5 to 10 percent of the plastic cannot be removed, but when heated at 500 to 550 degrees Celsius, it vaporizes and does not remain in the charcoal.



Different types of food waste received from a large shopping center. Plastic is separated and recycled, while food waste is converted into charcoal.

The next step is to process the food waste, done with a machine that carbonizes food scraps. Carbonization produces carbon monoxide gas and combustible gas, which makes charcoal highly flammable. To prevent the accumulation production of dioxin, a toxic substance, the waste gas is burned at a high temperature of about 800℃. The generated heat is transported and used as a heat source for operating machinery, as a co-generator.

Herriard Bio Power logo, KSN’s subsidiary in the UK.

Since 2020, we also have started a subsidiary, Herriard Bio Power Co., Ltd. in the UK. This company collects food waste, which is converted into biogas which produces over 10 million kWh of clean green energy every year – enough to power 2,200 homes. They also supply farmers in the region with thousands of tonnes of premium bio-fertilizer, another product of the process.

Herriard Bio Power food waste recycling process.

Do you remember any difficulty in particular that KSN had to overcome?

We had to overcome many difficulties over the years, but the hardest one was a fire incident that occurred on July 14, 2011, a date I will never forget.

A fire broke out at the factory. I was at Sakai City Hall and had a business meeting scheduled for 1:00 p.m. When I pulled into the parking lot, I got a call about the fire and rushed back to the factory. When I arrived at the scene, there were already 30 fire engines ready to spray water on the factory. Fortunately, no one was injured. I thought, "If they spray water, everything will be ruined! And it'll be the end of the company." Many thoughts swirled around in my mind. More importantly, then I suddenly realized that If they spray water, the steam will cause an explosion! I asked the fire department not to spray water since there was a possibility that the facilities were filled with carbon monoxide, which could explode when the water is poured. I told them not to spray water, as the fire should go out by itself in an hour.

I then waited with the firemen until the fire was out. It took about a few hours.

The accident was widely reported and a helicopter from a TV station hovered around the scene. We were suspended from business for one month. In times like this, what is needed is a transparent response. We immediately posted an explanation of the situation and an apology on our website.

It’s been 10 years, but I still remember it vividly. I am sure the equipment would have been ruined if water had been poured on it. We replaced some of the parts that were damaged by the fire, but we are still using the same system. You can still see black spots here and there from soot left from that time. It was an immense learning experience.

SDGs no.７ is "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all". What does KSN do to fulfill it?

As of 2021, we are producing 10 million kWh of renewable electricity and 14 million kWh of renewable gas per year from 50,000 tons of organic waste per year at our subsidiary Herriard Bio Power in the UK. All the electricity used in the production process is provided by our green power generation system, which supplies electricity to 2,200 nearby households.

Herriard Bio Power facilities where Food waste is converted into biogas.

By 2030, we will shift to a biogas business that uses biogas directly as gas, solving the issues that “traditional biogas” power generation faces, power storage and loss. For this purpose, we will upgrade and optimize the gas produced by our methane technology to concentrate natural gas (CNG) and liquefy it, to be used in carbon dioxide dosing in greenhouse horticulture.

While this doesn’t directly improve energy efficiency, by 2021 we will be receiving a total of 20,000 tons of organic waste per year and shipping 2,000 tons of the carbon material (fossil alternative fuel). This will result in a reduction of 1,000 tons of carbon fixation (net carbon), or about 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide on a primary energy basis.

Also, by 2030, we plan to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide by about 1.5 times compared to 2021. We will promote access to clean energy research and technologies, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and advanced fossil fuel technologies with low environmental impact, and strengthen international cooperation to promote investment in energy-related infrastructure and clean energy technologies.

Research and development of technologies and operational know-how for "renewable electricity" and "renewable gas," with methane technology at the core, will be conducted through affiliates in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, two leading renewable energy countries. These technologies will then be standardized and deployed horizontally in other countries, to make this modern energy available to more people and fulfill SDGs No.7 goals.

And regarding Japan?

With the global need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is an urgent need for three initiatives to redesign our socio-economy, especially in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, to achieve the 2030 vision stated in the SDGs. These are the realization of a “decarbonized society”, a “circular economy”, and a “decentralized society”. Inside these initiatives, climate-friendly growth strategies, a gradual increase of the carbon price, the introduction of a carbon price to support sustainable growth, ESG (environmental, social, and corporate) investments, ensuring fair and equitable intentions for green transformation, and the prevention of carbon leakage (transfer of production of emission-intensive industries to countries with low carbon prices) will need to be tackled.

In Japan we are taking a major step forward as a company that creates renewable energy, focusing on our management resources on the carbon recycling business, with carbonization technology as the core. Renewable energy answers the social demand for clean energy, which we provide through carbon recycling and carbon sinks in greenhouses. We will accelerate our business development as a company that practices carbon neutrality by simultaneously providing energy sustainability and socio-economic development through businesses based on carbonization technology in Japan, and the creation of renewable electricity and renewable gas businesses based on methane technology overseas. At the same time, we aim to enter the carbon pricing market based on the carbon cycle, which is becoming institutionalized mainly in Europe.

Be it the UK or Japan, we will continue to work hard to make the world a better place by developing businesses that address environmental issues.

Please give a message to the next generation

Young people have dreams, hopes, desires, disappointments, and various thoughts in their corporate and private life. On the opposite side, I believe that it is important to always be aware of the gap between ideal and reality. I think you won’t know whether your life was fulfilling, regrettable, or useful to society until you have one foot in your coffin.

So until then, enjoy the reality of today and try to always make your tomorrow a little better.

Celebrating Smart San's 10th anniversary

2021-07-07T02:18:48+00:00

Thanks to your support, Smart San is now available in about 15 countries of Asia, South America, and Africa.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, we filmed a promotional video, so that even more people could learn the benefits of Smart San’s products, which are easy to use efficiently by anyone thanks to its special colorful labels and customs manuals, which play a significant part in the improvement of on-site hygiene management with SARAYA’s easy-to-understand hygiene support.

Smart San’s main purpose is to bring smiles to the faces of customers and staff, that's why we wanted to emphasize how important it is to provide safe and secure food service to see a happy and satisfied look on your client’s faces.

For the next 10 years, we will continue to promote the values of the Smart San brand around the world and we hope you will keep supporting us, too!

Visit the Smart San Website here

Designing for the Future: Developing a Standardized Soap Bottle

2021-09-14T00:52:19+00:00

With the creation of infection control products that are safe and convenient in the medical and food hygiene fields, sustainability always acts as a third objective which SARAYA works to achieve. For that, on top of products that are easier to be recycled by our consumers, efficiency in production and transportation also needs to be in mind for a sustainable solution.

In the past, the number of 250~500ml soap bottles products at our factories was much higher than necessary, which made the cost of producing them, with its extra energy consumption, problematic. In order to reduce our energy and production costs, also reducing our footprint, we have consolidated our soap bottles into just four shapes to be shared in our products: 300ml and 500ml foam soap bottles, and 300 and 500ml liquid soap bottles.

From left to right, foam 500ml, foam 300ml, liquid 500ml and liquid 300ml bottle shapes that SARAYA will use.

Advantages

With these changes, we have achieved the following points:

Reduction of costs: By consolidating an excessive number of bottle shapes into only four types we also reduced the number of molds and production lines needed, cutting extra costs in manufacturing.
Standardization of the product line: The production line requires auxiliary equipment that holds the body of the bottle, which needed to be changed depending on the bottle shape. Although with slight changes in size and measures, all 4 bottles now share the same shape from their neck to the bottom, which means that in all cases the same auxiliary equipment can be used.
A shape that prevents residual liquid: The shape of the bottle is designed so that the pump tube touches the bottom no matter which direction the pump is facing (360 degrees). All the liquid inside can now be used without any waste.
Removing waste in logistics: The larger the size of the bottle, the fewer bottles that can fit into a cardboard box, increasing transportation costs. To improve space efficiency, we adjusted the width and depth of the bottles so they can be lined up inside the shipping carton without creating any gaps. The printed surface of the bottle is also slightly slanted to prevent labels from rubbing and scratching against each other during transportation. The result is a lean container that indirectly contributes to the reduction of plastic usage.

As a result of these changes, we were able to create a bottle design with less waste of internal liquid, easier to produce and transport.

Some examples

Hand Labo Medicated Foam Hand Soap	Shabonet Quick Rinse

Content volume: 300mL	Content volume: 250mL	Content volume: 500mL

We don’t even notice how many different surfaces our hands touch during the day. Even if those places may seem clean, they are still prone to bacteria and viruses. Keeping our hands clean to prevent infections has become an important part of our lives. For this reason, aiming for a simple design that many would find satisfying, everybody in the developing process worked towards the creation of a soap bottle that anybody could and would use.

We hope that this bottle successfully fits into people’s daily lives, becoming a design that will be used for many years to come.

SDGs Interviews: Talking Life Below Water with Yoshihiko Hirata

2001-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the thirteenth chapter of SARAYA’s SDG interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Dr. Yoshihiko Hirata, head of Saraya’s Bio-Chemical Laboratory, and discuss the making of SOFORO, our patented biosurfactant used as a third-generation detergent that keeps the environment safe without sacrificing cleaning power, tackling SDG number 14: Life Below Water.

Find a balance between uniqueness and cooperation. Never stop thinking.

Dr. Yoshihiko Hirata

Could you tell us how you came to join SARAYA?

It was around 1995 when I was a graduate student at Osaka University School of Engineering, I sent a sample of arthrofactin, a biosurfactant not yet commercially available, to Saraya. My major was fermentation engineering and my research overlapped with the company's research so my professor, who knew Saraya’s former president, introduced me to the company.

A surfactant is a chemical compound, commonly known as a main ingredient of detergent. When it’s added to a liquid, it reduces surface tension and spreads, so it’s used to mix liquids like oil and water, and many others. Normally it’s made from petroleum and not environment-friendly ingredients, but in the case of biosurfactants, it is made with microorganisms using natural ingredients, making it a biodegradable surfactant.

Later, when I was graduating and looking for a job, I came to have an interview with Mr. Shota Saraya, Saraya’s former president. He passionately talked about his aspirations for manufacturing. Somehow, I felt as if it was destiny, so I joined the company.

How did you become interested in research? Tell us about your background.

I was born to a family of three in Higashi Osaka City, an industrial city in the eastern part of Osaka Prefecture. My parents were hardworking tailors operating out of the home, sewing trousers all day every day. Japan’s economy was booming, and people were buying extra trousers to match their suits. I still live around the same area, but it was a lot greener before.

I was a curious child who loved to look at small living creatures like insects, especially mantises and grasshoppers. I would go to nearby parks or the mountains to catch insects and bring them home in my insect cage, giving them green leaves and watching them eat. Every little move they made fascinated me. Since I had no siblings and my parents were so busy working, no one disturbed me.

In the summer, I would go to the beach and spend hours looking for crabs and shrimps between the tetrapods, the concrete structure used at the seacoasts to prevent erosion caused by weather and longshore drift, while other kids were swimming. I would again spend hours looking at those marine creatures, being fascinated with their every move.

When I was a junior high school student, I used to cook instant noodles when I was hungry. And I would wonder where the bubbles came from when the water started to boil in the cooking pan. It wasn't until later that I learned that bubbles were not air, but liquid water turned into gas. I probably wondered "why" more often than others. I may have noticed the presence of science in ordinary things that surrounded me because I always wondered things like “Why does thunder make loud noises?” or “Why is there a rainbow here?” I think my way of thinking hasn't changed at all since then.

I adore nature and it has always been important to me. I’ve never liked the idea that man-made things were causing trouble for the environment and living creatures. I wanted to learn more about the environment and see if I could do something about it. That’s why I decided to study science and majored in fermentation engineering at university.

It was at the university that I encountered the invisible world of microorganisms and learned about the relationship between the microbial world and humans. Fermentation is a positive relationship between microbes and humans, but on the contrary, infectious diseases are a negative one. My research theme at university was about the manufacturing process and functional analysis of detergents produced by microorganisms. I chose this theme because I was amazed to know that microorganisms could make detergents. At the time, I had no way of knowing that my choice of research would lead me to Saraya, never dreaming that I would still be doing research and development on biosurfactants today.

Dr. Hirata, posing in front of SARAYA’s Yashinomi bottles over the years. Photo taken in 2010.

You are now the head of Saraya Bio-Chemical Laboratory, leading their research. Could you tell us about your trajectory?

I joined Saraya in 1997. Soon after, I was assigned to join a research team at Kyoto University, to research the fermentation and production of erythritol, the sweetening ingredient of Lakanto, Saraya's signature natural sweetener. In the end, we were not able to commercialize the production method I researched.

However, during my one-and-a-half-year research assignment, I learned about the differences between corporate research and academic research. At university, you are free to research anything, but at a company, you have to come up with research that is economically rational. I don’t mean that “expensive” is inherently bad since some people would pay a lot to buy anti-cancer drugs. But for erythritol, a sweetener, economic rationality was important as people would not spend a lot of money just to buy a sweetener. During my research at Kyoto University, I got to know great research companions and was able to complete an academic paper, a very important achievement for a researcher. Even now, I still feel the hardships I experienced those days paved the way for me to be where I am now.

I started working full-time at the Saraya Biochemical Research Institute at the end of 1998. It was a new beginning and I was assigned to do all kinds of things I never did before. I was involved with developing powder detergents and enzymatic detergents, the research on the practical application of biosurfactants (now SOFORO), and the development and implementation of medical device cleaning agents (now the MDR - Medical Devices Regulation Division). Today, each of these research projects was successfully implemented and is contributing to society through Saraya. It’s simply so moving and I am honestly happy that it’s happening. There were times when things did not go well and I was heartbroken but I cherished the moment and continued to work hard on my research and manufacturing with the motto of being steady, careful, and persistent. My achievement was accomplished because of the hard work and help of the people around me. I have nothing but gratitude.

SDG number 14 tackles the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources. What is Saraya's role in that matter?

Nothing is new about the ever-growing environmental impact caused by human economic activities. I believe that only humans, alias homo sapiens, are the only creatures capable of living in every corner of the earth. Most creatures are limited to live in certain places due to the climate, coexisting without disturbing each other's habitats while sharing the limited resources of the earth. Humans don’t. If we think of human activities done over the air and the sea beside the land, the environmental impact is immeasurable. The power of science made humans accomplish things that they could never do, which from a human race evolution point of view, makes what is happening today almost a miracle. Therefore, we must use this same power of science to create a sustainable society where all living things on Earth can live happily together.

Plastic is often mentioned as a main pollutant of the ocean. It is easy for the mass media to cover because it is visible. However, invisible man-made products are also damaging many organisms. Detergents, unlike plastics, are soluble in water and are impossible to recover. We only can leave it to the healing power of nature. The petroleum-based synthetic detergents we commonly use today were created in the early 1900s, but it has only been about 50 years since they became a daily necessity. We need to carefully observe how this rapid increase in the use of synthetic detergents will affect the environment. In this context, I believe that SOFORO, our third-generation cleaning ingredient that is neither soap nor detergent that we are researching and manufacturing is a great advancement towards a sustainable society.

Soforo sample at the bio-chemical laboratory.

What is SOFORO, Saraya's third-generation cleaning ingredient?

SOFORO is an organic substance created by yeast, an organism invisible to the human eye. It’s 100% made from biomass and is produced at a normal temperature and pressure, so we don’t have to burn anything to create heat. Furthermore, after use, it is safe for various organisms in the environment. It immediately decomposes into carbon dioxide and water, with carbon dioxide being converted into the next biomass. In other words, it is a natural material that is not only highly functional but also recyclable. You could say its manufacturing method is in harmony with nature.

In terms of function, it has a "non-foaming" characteristic, which is extremely rare among detergents and its washability is sufficiently high, making it suitable for machine washing, such as washing machines and dishwashers.

Our line of Happy Elephant products, as displayed by the SOFORO mark, are made with this bio-surfactant that ensures the biodegradability of the detergent after its use.

How did SARAYA come to develop SOFORO?

At our Bio-Chemical Laboratory, we have study group meetings once every two weeks to learn about research papers to follow academic trends for a long time. We study various topics, mainly related to hand hygiene and detergent with the concept of natural ingredients.

One day around 2000, someone suggested that we study biosurfactants at one of the study sessions. I was well aware of the difficulty of their practical application because I researched it at university, but I vaguely sensed the potential. I researched a lot of papers, thinking about how to commercialize it, and wrote a proposal.

Competitors may research biosurfactants, but they wouldn't seriously consider their implementation. The reason was simple: it was not economically rational. Especially in detergents, which are particularly inexpensive among many other chemical products, with thousands of surfactants already available. So why should you try to come up with a new surfactant when you already know it’s more costly? I think this is one of the true values of Saraya's principle of “clear stream management” that allows this kind of “odd research themes”. Thanks to that value, the biosurfactant research project began.

By the way, this value is also represented by the Yashinomi detergent formulated by Dr. Kihara, former head of the Bio-Chemical Laboratory, which is so transparent that it’s almost like water. It represents the legacy of Saraya.

What was hard in developing SOFORO? And how did you overcome it?

The process of SOFORO creation. Natural yeast, palm oil, and sugar are combined to create SOFORO through fermentation.

Our goal was to create a biosurfactant that was of good quality, could be produced stably, and above all, it needed to be economically viable. The research process for SOFORO was a series of trials and errors that took us about two years to find the optimal fermentation conditions, and about a year and a half to find the optimal formula, which we researched at the same time. The time limit given by the company was three years, and we barely managed to meet it!

To make SOFORO, you have to ferment it with yeast, which is a chemical process that breaks down glucose and other molecules in an anaerobic way. Imagine it as the foam part of the beer, as it looks very similar. Fermentation of sophorolipid is done in a jar fermentor. First, glucose (sugar) and oil are added to the water as nutrients for the yeast to grow. Next, the liquid containing these carbon sources is heat sterilized. Bacteria multiply faster than yeast, so you need to sterilize it by boiling and applying pressure at the same time to prevent burning. The yeast extract is then added to the heat-sterilized liquid containing the carbon sources of sugar and oil. Since there is no competition with other bacteria in the heat-sterilized carbon source, it grows rapidly, making the liquid cloudy. Sophorolipid is ready in 1.5 to 2 days.

The next step is purification. To extract only sophorolipids from the finished culture medium we apply a downstream processing method. The important points are to completely eliminate oil and sugar during the fermentation process and to control the temperature and airflow to facilitate the separation of the sophorolipids. It took us some time to find that sophorolipids sink better when the pH is in a constant acidic range.

Sample with the creation of SOFORO. The lower layer of liquid is the final result.

Once we got to this point, the next challenge was how to separate the sophorolipids. From the fermentation textbooks, we knew that the downstream process would be costly, and that was exactly what happened. We tried various methods such as crystallization and precipitation. Then we experimented with different temperatures, different amounts of oil, different amounts of sugar, and even mixing in different things like yeast extract, fish extract, and beef extract.

Sophorolipid has a higher conversion efficiency than other biosurfactants, with a yield of about 10%. Most other biosurfactants are about 0.1%, so it is a quite efficient biosurfactant.

To come this far, there were many heartbreaking moments, but I was blessed with good research colleagues and my supervisor, Dr. Furuta, who trusted me. I still recall fondly working with Dr. Sugitani and Dr. Igarashi until late at night. It was also helpful that Mr. Sugiura, who was the head of a research institute at a major pharmaceutical company, participated in our research, as he traveled all over Japan to find a suitable partner for us.

When we came to the implementation stage, we had again great new encounters. Managing Director Fukuda and General Manager Daishima of the Consumer Business Division took great interest in our achievements and made many appointments with consumer electronics manufacturers. I still remember how happy I was when our products were adopted by one of the major Japanese electronics manufacturers!

Looking back, Saraya has always had a tradition and culture of aiming for harmony with nature. Researchers could freely conduct research and development with a sense of playfulness, and the company took an interest in the technology, its social implementation, and delivering it to users. The most painful thing for a researcher is when the results of long and painful research are denied. And though some could consider this topic as “strange”, no one opposed this project in Saraya, which probably led to its success.

When I was just a researcher, I was only thinking about the research itself, but now that I am the head of the Biochemical Laboratory, I try to keep the motivations of researchers high and tell my researchers that during their work, they should look also at the benefits for users.

What is the plan like with SOFORO regarding SDG14, Life below water?

Taking advantage of SOFORO's ultra-hypoallergenic properties, we have started to develop products for human use, such as for babies and sensitive skin. We have also discovered emulsification properties, making it suitable for use in cosmetics and topical skin care products. Recently, we have also begun to expand into the field of regenerative medicine.

In other fields, SOFORO was used for decontamination after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, which caused a lot of secondary damage to nearby residents due to the spread of radioactive materials. SOFORO was adopted as a cleaning agent for roads in radioactive decontamination projects due to its reassuring performance of its non-foaming cleaning power, low impact on aquatic organisms, and high biodegradability.

Our project has won awards, and since last year, we have been participating in NEDO’s (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) "Development of Production Technology for Bio-based Products to Accelerate Carbon Recycling", a large-scale national project consisting of more than 50 research institutes, where we will further explore the environmental characteristics of SOFORO scientifically.

You may be surprised to learn that surfactants are used in many different ways. They are used to make cloths, concrete, even pesticides, as it helps improve its stickiness to leaves. Currently, these surfactants are mostly petroleum-derived surfactants, but if we could replace them with biosurfactants, the possibilities would be limitless.

Please give a message to the next generation

There are two important, simple things I learned in my life which would be my message to them: Find a balance between uniqueness and cooperation and never stop thinking.

SDGs Interviews: Talking Good Health and Well-Being with Fortunate Collins

2021-11-02T04:15:34+00:00

SARAYA is one of Japan’s leading companies that implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the twelfth chapter of SARAYA’s SDG interview series telling the story of those behind SARAYA and how they are working to achieve these goals. In this edition, we spotlight Mr. Fortunate Collins, general manager of Saraya Uganda, and discuss the health and well-being of Uganda and its inhabitants, tackling SDG number 3: Good Health And Well-Being.

Believe in yourself, since with hard work nothing is impossible.

Fortunate Collins

Could you tell us about your background?

I was born into a family of 3 boys in Nairobi, Kenya, to Ugandan parents. My father worked as an airline administrator in Nairobi, the reason why my childhood dream was to become a pilot, while my mother was a primary school teacher and we lived in that city until I was 15 years old, excluding a bit more than 3 years where we lived in the UK, period I attended pre-primary school. Later, we moved to Uganda, where I went to secondary, high school and undergraduate studies at Makelele University, the biggest and second oldest university in East Africa, established in 1924. Although I studied social sciences and communications there, I continued my studies pursuing a marketing course in marketing with the Chartered Institute Of Marketing (CIM-UK) and graduated as a professional Marketer in 2013, and a Master’s in Strategic Planning with Edinburgh Business School of Scotland, UK, both online courses while working in Uganda.

My work experience started with banking, working as a corporate sales representative at Crane Bank handling the company’s overall operations and general communication. Afterward, I shifted to the fast-moving consumer goods industry and worked for Uganda Breweries Limited, a beer brewing company part of Diageo International, the British multinational beverage company, as a customer relations representative. I had a chance to join the launching and branding of Tusker Light, the lighter version of the most popular beer in East Africa, spending 8 months in Kenya researching its formula and then back in Uganda working. But working in the beer industry means working late at night since that is when bars are open. I had a family, but I was not spending enough time with my son. To have a better life balance, I decided to find another job and started working at Unilever, which sold laundry detergents, foods, and personal care products in the country, as a territory sales manager for 4 years. It was a good experience and I learned to manage a business and different segments of business, like wholesale.

In November 2016, I was contacted through a Recruitment Agency about an opportunity at Saraya Uganda as Head of Sales and Marketing. I had never heard about Saraya or their products, but when I found out about the job description, I decided to go for it and find out more about the company and its products, because they have interesting hygiene products. After the interviews, I joined Saraya as Head of Sales and Marketing on 21st February 2017. The 2 companies I previously worked with were huge multinational companies that everyone knew, with room for limited growth. Saraya had a great company vision and their products, mainly hand sanitizers, were new to many people. I thought I could give it a try and grow with the company and make Saraya to be recognized in the country.

Most of my work experience has been in the areas of sales, marketing, business development, and customer relations. This made my marketing qualifications stronger. However, in preparation for more senior management, I opted to study strategic planning to help me with the skills required to manage organizations and companies better.

What is your role at SARAYA?

Currently, I am the general manager at Saraya Uganda, responsible for the company's overall operations, overseeing strategic objectives, goal setting, team recruitment and motivation, factory operations, and other responsibilities. At the same time, I am in charge of sales and marketing activities, which include target setting, product launches, customer acquisition and management, and many other roles.

My goal with Saraya is to see SARAYA establish itself as the leading company in public and medical hygiene solutions in not only the country but the region where it is. I would like to see Saraya out-compete other companies, and become a host of local ones as the leading provider of public and medical solutions.

I am, personally, very proud that people call hand sanitizers “Saraya” in Uganda. Hand sanitizer was a new concept in Uganda and we did a lot of activities in hospitals to make ourselves known as the only true hand sanitizer manufacturer in Uganda. Now you can find them at hospitals, airports, and many other places, with the hand sanitizer “Alsoft V” becoming a household name.

Alsoft V is also sold in Kenyan supermarkets.

So far the role is interesting but challenging. It has been a challenge to make people appreciate the products that Saraya offers because the concepts were new to Uganda but equally rewarding that we are now the go-to company when it comes to reliable hand hygiene products. Our challenge is now to make other products, like Lakanto the natural sweetener, become household names in Uganda and the region as a whole.

SDGs number 3, Good Health and Well-being. What role does Saraya Uganda play in achieving it?

As the only company that manufactured alcohol-based hand sanitizers in Uganda since 2010, Saraya has greatly contributed to the improvement of the general health of people visiting hospitals in Uganda, our main pillar of existence in the country. We pioneer the alcohol-based hand sanitizer market with the latest technologies and research, including automatic dispensers that avoid the need for touch, great for infection prevention. We provide the best alcohol-based hand rub in the region (Alsoft V), together with free lectures on how to improve the general well-being of medical professionals and communities. As examples of this last point, we have conducted lectures in government and private Hospitals about how to reduce nosocomial infections and their financial toll both on the patient and the healthcare systems. We also conducted research in 2014 in Gombe hospital, in its neonatal & maternity wards, demonstrating that consistent use of alcohol-based hand rub can reduce sepsis within mothers. Also, we have had lectures in secondary schools to educate them about the benefits of hand hygiene.

In terms of donations, over the years we have made several donations of dispensers, hand wash, and sanitizers. For example, working with an NGO called Peace winds, we conducted lectures together with hand washing equipment donations to the Bidi Bidi Refugee Camp in Yumbe, which hosts many refugees from South Sudan. SARAYA has played a great role in health crises like Ebola and Covid-19, as we were the only sanitizer Manufacturer in Uganda, and one of the very few within the East African Region. Every time the region has had a medical emergency (a pandemic), Saraya Uganda was the only option people would run to, like when in 2017-18 our hand sanitizers were used by the Ministry of Health in the fight against the Ebola outbreak. In the same season, we had very big exports to Western Congo as well for the same reason. In 2021, working with the Ministry of Health and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), we sold sanitizer for over $320,000 USD to be used as the Covid-19 Response.

Our role as a sanitation provider company is to be key opinion leaders in infection prevention and control (IPC) and general public health, using the latest research from credible information authorities like the World Health Organisation.

We do all this not only as an international company but also as a local one, producing locally with the Saraya Manufacturing (U) Ltd factory situated inside the Kakira Sugar Limited premises in Kakira-jinja, the biggest sugar manufacturer in East Africa. Thanks to a joint venture with the Madhvani Group, operators of the Karira sugar state, we are next to our most important raw material in order to make ethanol, a collaboration that we want to extend for many years.

Photo of the team working inside the manufacturing factory.

The provision of other healthy products, like Lakanto, also goes a long way in improving the general well-being of people.

2019 must have been a hard year. How did Saraya Uganda face the Covid 19 Pandemic?

Like many businesses across the world, we were not prepared for the pandemic.

We faced a shortage of production materials like allantoin, an anti-irritation ingredient used in some of our products which we get from Japan and China, as well as packaging materials because our local supplier could not meet the increased demand. All this was beside the reduced manpower we were suffering since some staff had to stay home because of the lockdown.

Our response to the challenges involved several, distinct actions. For the issue of packaging materials, we had to resort to importing some from outside of Uganda. For instance, we got 20,000 one-liter bottles from Vietnam to supplement our local supplier. Additionally, we got a new mold tool and gave it to a different manufacturer, making it so that we have 2 suppliers of the 1-liter bottle. In another case, when we ran out of the packaging materials of the 20 liters, BiB (bag in the box) bags from Japan, we resorted to using jerry cans that we got locally to ensure we continue supplying the market.

Example of the jerrycans used during the lack of packaging materials.

For the lack of chemical ingredients like allantoin, we got some shipped from China through DHL, but since most planes were not flying at the time, we still received it late but at least we continued with production.

Regarding the shortage of staff due to the lockdown, we finally accessed government stickers that were being given to "Essential Service Providers". These were few so only 5 of us were able to work, which together with shorter working hours due to curfew meant that our production was severely limited. Working to ensure supply, even from home after general working hours, was not rare.

What are your future plans regarding SDG number 3?

Mr. Collins addressed participants at one of the UNIDO training events where SARAYA participated.

SDG 3 is very close to our very existence. We will improve on our position as healthcare providers, with the continuation of research, support through donations, lectures, and seminars, while furthering our commitment to healthy lives with innovative products like Lakanto, our monk fruit sweetener. With it, we want to provide everybody in Uganda and Africa with a healthier option to sugar. To achieve that we intend to work with Food bloggers and nutritionists to promote the benefits of Lakanto, partnering with companies that promote healthy lifestyles. Already in high-end supermarkets and coffee shops, we are partnering with bakers and more to ensure that Lakanto becomes a household name in the healthy food market.

Please give a message to the next generation

Photo of the staff at the Uganda office including Mr. Collins, sitting on the sofa.

My message is simple, Believe in yourself, since with hard work nothing is impossible. When you work for companies, you grow with them. You may never realize the full potential you have if you don’t try, so stay focused.

Also, find someone who can guide you, they truly make a difference for your future. In my case, meeting my boss, Mr. Hojo, made it so.

SARAYA India Participated in 20th Medical Fair India, Being Held at Mumbai From March 14 - 16, 2014

2014-04-01T00:05:46+00:00

Saraya India showcased its product into Healthcare hygiene and Food sanitation along with "No touch" dispenser which attracted the chief guest of the event Dr.S. Narayani ( Fortis Hospital Mulund -Head of Medical Services ). she appreciated GUD1000 BT Dispenser as it helps in preventing cross-contamination of the microorganism in the healthcare settings and we were grateful to share details of other products like Hand Soap, Sanitizer, Antibacterial floor cleaner to her. We also received an overwhelming response from all the visitors from Healthcare settings, Food Industries and Distributors. This Medical Fair is the India`s number one trade for Hospitals, Healthcare centers and Clinics. Development report shows that rising incomes and growing literacy are likely to drive higher per capita expenditure on healthcare. An estimate suggests that by 2017 healthcare spending could contribute 9% of GDP and employ around 10 million people.

We thank every visitor from Hospital, Diagnostic center, Food Industry and distributor for showing interest in our products.

SARAYA Hygiene Malaysia participated in the 4th Borneo Infection Control Congress (BICC)

2014-05-27T00:12:54+00:00

Saraya Hygiene Malaysia was proud to join the 4th Borneo Infection Control Congress (BICC) held on May 15th and 16th in Kuching, Malaysia. Every two years the BICC is held on the island of Borneo in East Malaysia. This was the first year the congress was held in Kuching, Sarawak.

The BICC attracts participants from all over Malaysia, making it the most anticipated and active infection control conferences in Malaysia with a large community dedicated to learning and practicing the latest in patient safety and infection control.

The BICC is famous for bringing premiere speakers from all over Asia. This year participants were able to attend presentations by Prof. Seto, Prof. Patrica Ching, Prof. Ling Moi Ling and Professor Didier Pittet from Geneva University Hospital.

This year was especially exciting due to the release of "Clean Hands Save Lives" by Thierry Crouzet. This book was written based on interviews with Professor Pittet and his experience bringing hand hygiene to the forefront of patient safety, changing healthcare culture and saving millions of lives.

Saraya sponsored a book signing by Professor Pittet, and was a highlight of the BICC, attracting hundreds of nurses and doctors to meet Professor Pittet.

Hospital related infections kill millions of patients each year while in hospital care. Professor Pittet's work is dedicated to improving patient safety around the world. Please read "Clean Hands Save Lives," which is available from Amazon and your favorite book store.

Participation in ACIPC 2014

2014-11-26T00:40:32+00:00

Saraya Australia Pty Ltd participated in the 3rd Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC), held in Adelaide from November 24th through the 26th, 2014. Around 500 delegates attended the convention. Saraya Australia Pty Ltd. displayed its lineup of hand hygiene and sanitation products such as UD/MD-9000 hand hygiene dispensers, the all-new Sanilavo series of hygiene amenities, and the WS-3000BG no-touch hand hygiene system.

We are very proud to announce that among the 60 exhibitors, Saraya Australia won the Best Stand Award for small size stands at the ACIPC gala dinner. The stand was outstanding and we received a high evaluation from the participants. This was a great opportunity to reintroduce SARAYA to Australian health care participants, and we would like to thank all those who visited our booth.

Participation in Medica 2014

2014-12-01T00:53:40+00:00

With great pleasure, Saraya Europe participated in Medica 2014 in Germany held from the 12th to the 15th of November, presenting our new ADS-500/1000 Euro bottle dispenser for the German market. Medica is the world's largest medical trade show. For more than 40 years Medica has had the reputation of being firmly marked on every expert's calendar, and we are glad to participate every year. It is the best opportunity to showcase our range of products including the famous no-touch dispensers GUD-1000 and UD-9000 as well as the complete line up of the new Sanilavo washroom amenity series.

We would like to thank everyone for visiting our stand and we will be pleased to see you again soon!

Short Video Documentary

2014-12-31T08:28:52+00:00

SARAYA is pleased to introduce a short video documentary following Professor Didier Pittet from the University of Geneva and Yusuke Saraya, the president of Saraya Co., Ltd. recorded in Cambodia during the signing of the Clean Care is Safer Care pledge by the Ministry of Health. The Clean Care is Safer Care program was created by the WHO to reduce healthcare-associated infections in healthcare facilities in every country. There are many patients who develop infections while being treated in the hospital, and lack of hand hygiene is often the cause.

This happens not only in developing countries like Cambodia but also developed countries such as the UK and Japan. This documentary video will let you peek into the activity of spreading hand hygiene knowledge and practice by Professor Didier Pittet and Saraya Co., Ltd. We hope the video to be seen by many people and the importance of hand hygiene can be recognized by as many people as possible.

Complete version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUKSW2wzvqs
Short version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNYeFhAoTqM

SARAYA Supports the WHO's - SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands

2015-03-11T00:49:36+00:00

SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands is a healthcare campaign led by the WHO to promote hand hygiene to reduce infections in the hospital. Since 2010, Global Hand Hygiene Day has been celebrated on May 5th around the world to raise awareness and reinforce knowledge on hand hygiene.

This year's theme for the Global Hand Hygiene Day is "Strengthening Health-Care Systems and Delivery – Hand Hygiene is Your Entrance Door."

SARAYA, as a member of the Private Organizations for Patient Safety (POPS), supports the Global Hand Hygiene Day by providing promotional posters and other educational materials as well as local events. Please visit the WHO's campaign page and find out more about the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands!

Visit Webpage: http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/en/

The Opening of the 5 May Hand Hygiene Day 2015 Campaign Web page!

2015-04-22T00:45:31+00:00

SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands is a healthcare campaign led by the WHO to promote hand hygiene awareness to reduce infections in the hospital. Since 2010, Global Hand Hygiene Day has been celebrated on May 5th around the world to reinforce knowledge on hand hygiene and healthcare-associated infections. Saraya is celebrating this year with a special website. Many of our local offices around the world are supporting hospitals with their 5 May events. Take a look at the newly opened a campaign web page for information and educational tools such as posters and wallpapers to promote hand hygiene. You can also get an exclusive animated screen saver by taking a quiz related to hand hygiene!

Visit our campaign site and celebrate the 5 May Hand Hygiene Day with us!

Celebrate Patient Safety: SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands

2015-05-05T08:27:52+00:00

Saraya Co., Ltd. is proud to support the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign, which is celebrated yearly on May 5th. Those familiar to trends in healthcare hygiene and patient safety will know that May 5th is the official day of celebration and affirming commitment to patient safety through hand hygiene and the use of alcohol hand rub to prevent infections and the spread of pathogens in healthcare settings.

SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands is part of the larger program started in 2005, WHO Clean Care is Safer Care, pioneered by Professor Didier Pittet of the Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland. Clean Care is Safer Care was created as a foundation to cultivate a global understanding of the importance of patient safety and hand hygiene to reduce infections in the hospital. The project is dedicated to gaining the acknowledgment of governments in order to promote the development of patient safety policies and programs on the country level. Since the program began 10 years ago, hospitals in over 171 countries have committed to SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands.

Unclean practices and insufficient hand hygiene in hospitals account for unexpected treatment, extended stays and many deaths throughout developing and developed countries worldwide. In 2002, 99,000 deaths were attributed to healthcare-associated infections (1). The burden is great, but only until recently has the real effects of insufficient hand hygiene been understood. These numbers are climbing due to antibiotic-resistant organisms.

Since 2009, SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands has been celebrated annually on May 5th, represents the five fingers of both hands, or 5-5. This campaign is a ground-level initiative alongside the country-level Clean Care is Safer Care program, that enrolls the support and enthusiasm of healthcare workers around the world to generate awareness and support for reducing healthcare-associated infections. "System change" and creating a culture of awareness regarding hand hygiene are pillars of the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands. This year the WHO is using social media to create awareness via photos posted by supporters displaying the phrase, "#safehands". Images of supporters can be viewed at http://www.cleanhandssavelives.org/safehands/pics.php.

Professor Pittet is also challenging hospitals to record their own attempt at beating the Guinness record-holding hand hygiene relay this year. Information can be found on Youtube as well as the Clean Care is Safer Care website. SARAYA, the leader in healthcare hygiene in Japan, is proud to support and publicize this year's May 5th SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign, and our offices worldwide are excited to participate in May 5th activities at local hospitals. SARAYA'S website for May 5th is available at https://saraya.world/healthcare/pages/clean-your-hands-5-may for downloadable posters and a screensaver to support this year's activities.

As on of the WHO's initial members of the POPs committee, SARAYA is dedicated to the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands, and the active role the group takes in bringing hand hygiene to developing countries. The goal of POPs is to create collaboration between businesses for the sustainable good of spreading knowledge and opportunities for hand hygiene to developing countries. President Yusuke Saraya of Saraya Co., Ltd. has kept this policy in the creed of the company. "The only way to achieve change and a sustainable society is through collaboration between businesses and the non-profit sector. POPs reflects this ideal, just as SARAYA believes this to be the basis for its CSR projects," said Yusuke Saraya while visiting Cambodia to witness the signing in of the Ministry of Health's pledge to become a supporting member of the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands Campaign.

1. Stone PW, Braccia D, Larson E. Systematic review of economic analyses of healthcare-associated infections. American Journal of Infection Control, 2005, 33:501–509.

Participation at the ICPIC

2015-06-10T08:06:23+00:00

SARAYA is pleased to announce its participation at the 3rd International Conference on Prevention & Infection Control (ICPIC) to be held from 16 to 19 June 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland. We have been participating in ICPIC from the 1st year and been exchanging information and opinions with the world leaders of infection prevention and control. SARAYA is supporting the ICPIC from every aspect as a platinum supporter this year. You will see our IS-9000M stand with no-touch dispensers at the site keeping visitors' hands clean and hygienic.

For a closer look at our products, please visit us at booth No. 39-41. A wide range of products for infection prevention and control will be displayed at our booth including a newly developed Alsoft VB, the hand disinfectant which contains 2 kinds of alcohol as its active components and phosphoric acid to effectively work against a broad spectrum of microorganism and viruses. No-touch dispensers that to enforce the effect of hand disinfectant and more products for infection prevention and control will also be showcased.

We are looking forward to seeing you all at the ICPIC 2015!

Saraya CIS endoscope workshop at the Central Asian Gastroenterology Week

2015-10-21T00:03:21+00:00

Saraya together with Olympus participated in the International Congress "Central Asian Gastroenterological Week-2015," held on September 30th to October 3rd, 2015 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

At the congress, Saraya and Olympus held a workshop on the reprocessing and disinfection of flexible endoscopes using Acecide and Endoquick products. During the master class, different issues regarding medical instrument HLD and sterilization were highlighted. The advantages of using peracetic acid over the use of aldehyde-based products were also discussed. In addition, special training on hand hygiene treatment was also conducted during the event. All participants got certificates of attendance.

This event highlighted the benefits of using Saraya peracetic acid-based chemistry. It was a good opportunity to introduce Saraya products for Kazakhstan customers, with many visitors at the congress showing an increased interest in Saraya medical products.

16th World Sterilization Congress

2015-10-26T00:05:50+00:00

Saraya participated in the 16th World Sterilization Congress, held in Lille, France from October 7th to the 10th, 2015.

This year the STERIACE plasma equipment sterilizer was debuted at the congress. The STERIACE features new technology that utilizes peracetic acid instead of hydrogen peroxide at the sterilizing agent. The device was presented to the congress by Professor Kobayashi, Honorary Chancellor from the Tokyo Healthcare University Postgraduate School. Though there were many challenges preparing for such a well-known event, and the first time exhibiting the STERIACE, we had a great turn out at the booth and were pleased to meet many visitors from several countries. Because of the World Sterilization Congress's reach customers, not only the European region but also American and Asian countries visited our booth. Many questions about STERIACE such as the difference between sterilization by peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide were asked. In addition, our AR-40 Washer Disinfector was also popular due to its compact size that isn't normally found in European countries.

There are a lot of challenges for releasing this kind of products, however, this congress was a great opportunity to show our technology and understand to further improve. We would like to express our appreciation to all the visitors from the World Sterilization Congress.

Participation in Medica 2015!

2015-11-25T00:03:02+00:00

With great pleasure, SARAYA participated in Medica 2015 in Germany held from the 16th to the 19th of November. 130,000 specialist visitors from 120 nations came to Düsseldorf to see the world's biggest exhibition for medical products.

It was the best occasion to showcase our range of products such as our now-famous no-touch dispensers GUD-1000 and UD-9000, as well our Sanilavo complete line-up. We took this occasion to introduce our new system MedSense - a suite of communication solutions that support healthcare facilities in their efforts to efficiently deliver quality care by recording and reminding the use of hand hygiene in the patient care area. Our technology provides actionable insights that lead to a culture of continuous improvement and safety for hand hygiene, allowing hospitals to focus on what they do best: taking care of patients.

We would, therefore, like to thank everyone for visiting our stand and we would be pleased to see you again soon.

Join us at Medica 2016 in Germany

2016-11-08T00:25:51+00:00

Saraya will join the world's largest medical and healthcare-related exhibition in the world. Come join us at the latest in surgical instrument processing.

The Saraya booth is located at Hall 5, Row K-14.
This year we will be presenting our all-new high-level disinfectant as well as the best in Saraya hand hygiene and dispensers.
Join us on November 14-17.

SARAYA Joins Medica 2016 in Germany

2016-11-30T00:38:44+00:00

From 14 – 17 November, 130,000 specialists from all sectors of the health industry from around 120 nations came to Düsseldorf for Medica 2016, the world’s largest event for the medical sector.

It is the best occasion for Saraya Europe to showcase our range of products as our now famous No-touch dispensers that can be used in combination with our soaps and disinfectants as well as our Sanilavo complete line-up. Our drive for innovativeness, efficacy and stylish design throughout our whole range of products has prompted once again an absolutely positive response from our growing public during the four days of the event. Our technology provides actionable insights that lead to a culture of continuous improvement and safety for hand hygiene, allowing hospitals to focus on what they do best: taking care of patients.

We would, therefore, like to thank everyone for visiting our stand and we would be pleased to meet you again soon!

Participation at the ICPIC 2017

2017-07-05T00:15:15+00:00

From June 20th to the 23rd, SARAYA joined the 4th International Conference on Prevention & Infection Control (ICPIC), held in Geneva, Switzerland. ICPIC has become one of the foremost events for sharing research, knowledge and experiences in the prevention of healthcare-associated infection and control of antimicrobial resistance around the world. SARAYA has participated in this forum since the beginning of 2011.

During this year’s forum, we showcased our standard and newly developed products, such as hand sanitizers, no-touch dispensers, the Sanilavo series, the Power Quick series, the revolutionary Medsense monitoring system and other favorites. Visitors to the booth were able to sign and stick a hand-print to the booth in support of hand hygiene. Thank you to all the visitors and participants who came to our booth!

Newly opened hand hygiene websites!

2017-08-21T00:05:43+00:00

SARAYA has opened two new websites for its CSR initiatives in Uganda.

Wash A Million Hands! Project & 100% Hospital Hand Hygiene Project

For the Wash A Million Hands! Project, SARAYA has donated 1% of its sales of many household soaps and hand sanitizers to support the educational activities of UNICEF regarding hand washing. Since 2010, the Wash A Million Hands! Project has been able to reach millions of people, mainly mothers and children, with hand hygiene training. The 100% Hospital Hand Hygiene Project is a unique project where SARAYA has established a local manufacturing plant in Uganda to provide alcohol hand sanitizers to healthcare facilities in East Africa. The sanitizer is made from ingredients all made in Africa, and supports local businesses while preventing healthcare-associated infections in hospitals and clinics.

Please visit each website for more information!

Train the Trainers Program in Malaysia

2017-08-29T08:26:59+00:00

The very first Train the Trainer program in Malaysia was held in Kuching from August 15^th to the 17^th. This milestone project was fully supported by SARAYA and organized by the University of Geneva Hospitals, WHO Collaboration Center on Patient Safety with staff from Sarawak General Hospital and was endorsed by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia.

Over 80 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Practitioners and Healthcare Professionals from Malaysia and Singapore participated in the program.
The TTT program is an intense training course based on the WHO hand hygiene multimodal strategy, consisting of lectures, hands-on simulation, multimedia training, sharing experiences, and testing understanding. It is a unique approach to training ICP staff at the national/regional level for IPC experts, and the participants of the program are expected to lead the dissemination of the knowledge and the standardized hand hygiene training/activities to their countries/regions.

TTT program in Malaysia was the first to be held in Asia, following the experiences in Brazil, Spain, South Africa and Mexico, and was organized by Prof. Didier Pittet, Ms. Ermira Tartari, Ms. Carolina Fankhauser and Dr. Sarah Masson-Roy from the Infection Control Programme Team, University of Geneva Hospitals.

Dr. Suraya, Dr. Lee and Prof. Nordiah from MOH Malaysia, Prof. Pittet, Dr. Tartari, and Dr. Fankhauser from the University of Geneva Hospitals (HUG).

One of the highlights of this 3 day program was the role-playing simulation for 5 Moments identification training. Participants were divided into 7 groups and given detailed role-playing scenarios reflecting real situations of the patient care in the hospital. Participants played the roles of nurses, doctors, patients, paramedic and others according to the scenario. Each team tried to correctly identify the number of hand hygiene opportunities during the role-play. Because the patient care environment can be hectic, it is difficult to identify the correct timing for hand hygiene. This role-playing and interactive discussion session helped the participants better understand this skill. Being able to correctly identify hand hygiene opportunities is essential for calculating the compliance rate of a ward and contributes to better evaluations and feedback. Understanding the actual status of a hospital is essential to improvement.

Lectures by the University of Geneva Hospitals (HUG) team.

Dr. Masson-Roy from HUG and the participants reading the scenario for role-playing.

Preparing for the role-playing presentation and discussing hand hygiene opportunities.

Presentation of group role-playing, followed by the discussion with all participants.

On the last day, participants who successfully completed the program received a certificate.

TTT　program　bag　with　SARAYA　logo　design　and　Saraya　Goodmaid　Alsoft　A　hand disinfectant was　given to　all　participants.

HUG, MOH Malaysia and Saraya Goodmaid Team.

A short movie is available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/RZ9OABnQIk8

Celebrate the International Infection Prevention Week, October 15-21

2017-10-11T00:01:45+00:00

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), who touts "365 days of commitment" to infection prevention is holding it's International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW). This event is "7 days of focus" every third week of October to raise awareness on the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety. This is the first year SARAYA has supported IIPW with a social campaign.

The 2017 theme for International Infection Prevention Week is Antibiotic Resistance, and the APIC has made a great choice to voice their event with a memorable character and slogan.

Join your friends, family members, and healthcare professionals in celebrating International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), October 15-21, 2017!

We're also sharing posters. You can share them any way you want to remind others to think seriously about infection prevention.

Download all our posters here.


Download here	Download here

Various activities and information are available from the APIC campaign site.
http://professionals.site.apic.org/

News & Info on Antibiotic Resistance

- The world is running out of antibiotics, WHO report confirms
WHO:- http://www.who.int/medicines/news/2017/world-running-out-antibiotics-WHO-report/en/
- Drug-Resistant Infections: A Threat to Our Economic Future
The World Bank:- http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/infographic/2016/09/18/drug-resistant-infections-a-threat-to-our-economic-future

World Antibiotic Awareness Week

2017-11-07T00:24:37+00:00

Antibiotic resistance is one of the considerable global threats affecting the health of anyone in the world. Various infectious diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis are now becoming difficult to treat due to the resistance against antibiotics according to the WHO.

For more information about antibiotic resistance
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/antibiotic-resistance/en/

The “World antibiotic awareness week!” is a campaign organized by the WHO to address these situations. Detail information and useful tools to help to understand antibiotic resistance are available from the WHO website.

World antibiotic awareness week: program page
http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-antibiotic-awareness-week/en/
Infographics: useful tools with pictures to understand the antibiotic resistance
http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-antibiotic-awareness-week/2017/infographics/en/
Infection and prevention: general information on infection and prevention
http://www.who.int/infection-prevention/en /

Hand hygiene is one of the best methods to prevent the expansion of infectious diseases. Saraya offers useful tools to promote hand hygiene in any healthcare setting.

Saraya useful tools for infection prevention and controls:

Join us at MEDICA 2017 in Germany

2017-11-10T00:10:48+00:00

Saraya will join MEDICA, the world's leading trade fair for the medical industry in Dusseldorf, from 13-16 November.

Saraya booth is located in Hall 5, Row K-14.
Please visit us at MEDICA.

Participation of Medica 2017

2017-11-21T00:02:07+00:00

Saraya Co., Ltd. participated in Medica 2017, which was held in Dusseldorf, Germany from 13th to 16th November. The Medica is the biggest exhibition for medical products in the world and there were 123,500 visitors from 130 countries this time. Various visitors also visited SARAYA booth located in Hall 5, Stand K14. We were able to spend a lot of time with new and existing customers who had an interest in our products. This year we showed our latest dispenser line, UD-1600 and MD-1600. Thank you very much for those who visited our booth!

ISPM-2017 was held in Moscow, Russia!

2017-12-06T08:00:27+00:00

The Annual Congress on Control and Prevention of Healthcare-Related Infections (ISPM-2017) organized by Rospotrebnadzor Research Institute of Disinfectology and the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection of the Russian Federation was held on November 14-15, 2017 in Moscow, Russian Federation.

Saraya Co., Ltd. takes part every year in different projects and events relating to healthcare-associated infections and contributes to the development of studies and practices in the infection control field. President Yusuke Saraya was recognized by the All-Russian Scientific Practical Society of Epidemiologists, Microbiologists and Parasitologists for his contribution to infection control and healthcare-associated infection prevention.

Yusuke Saraya and Dr. Acam Akimkin

It was a great opportunity to deepen Russia and Japan ties, and for the first time this year, Professor Hiroshige Mikamo, head of the Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases and Head of the Department of Prevention and Control of Infections of the Medical University of Aichi, Japan, took part in the congress in Russia. The congress was honored to have Prof. Didier Pittet, Prof. Axel Kramer and Prof. Ojan Assadian to join and give lectures on the latest research in infectious disease prevention.


Prof. Axel Kramer	Prof. Hiroshige Mikamo

Russia has been highly evaluated by international healthcare institutions for making great efforts to reduce the influence of infectious diseases by innovative scientific and practical developments in various areas of Healthcare. Deputy Director for Centran Scientific Research Epidemiology Institute, academician Vasilii Akimkin was awarded by the Austrian Infection Control Society and by the WHO Geneve Collaborating Centre.


Acam. Akimkin with Prof. Assadian (Austrian Infection Control Society)	Acam. Akimkin with Prof. Pittet (WHO Geneve Collaborating Centre)

As the main sponsor of the Congress, Saraya Co. Ltd presented the latest developments for the prevention of healthcare-related infections, including dispensers, antibacterial soap, environmental and hand disinfectant, as well as personal protective equipment for patients and medical personnel. For the first time, Saraya presented new product Acecide Powder for manual washing, disinfection and sterilization of medical instruments.

SARAYA Presents Professor Pittet in Malaysia

2018-03-07T00:03:17+00:00

On 4th February, the Infection Control Seminar "CLEAN CARE IS SAFER CARE" was held in Penang, Malaysia with Professor Pittet from Geneve University Hospital by the Penang State Health Department and the Malaysia Ministry of Health.

Pulau Penang Hospital auditorium was packed with over 250 participants eager to hear Professor Didier Pittet.

Following a renewed statement pledging support for addressing healthcare-associated infections by local representatives, Professor Pittet gave three engaging presentations.

Professor Pittet made hospital ward visits to Hospital Pulau Penang and in Loh Guan Lye Hospital.

On the following day, February 5th, an Infection Prevention and Control Seminar was held in the UKM Medical Center at HUKM, The National University of Malaysia. More than 300 participants from 93 hospitals joined the seminar.

Topics regarding infection control were discussed in detail such as hand hygiene, monitoring compliance, antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship.

SARAYA and SARAYA Goodmaid Malaysia were proud to support the seminar and improving infection control and patient safety in Malaysia.

Opening of the May 5th Campaign site

2018-04-25T00:35:58+00:00

'SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands' is the healthcare campaign led by the WHO to promote hand hygiene awareness to reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections.
Since 2010, Global Hand Hygiene Day has been celebrated on May 5th around the world to reinforce knowledge on hand hygiene and healthcare-associated infections.
And this year's WHO 5 May hand hygiene campaign slogan is "it's in your hands – prevent sepsis in health care".

Saraya is celebrating with a special campaign website.
Please take a look at our campaign website for information and useful tools such as posters and wallpapers to promote hand hygiene!

Visit our page and let's join the campaign!

World Hand Hygiene Day

2018-05-05T00:05:54+00:00

Social Media messages

Official WHO video message: https://youtu.be/0Y3qwQLNx3c (or https://tinyurl.com/WHO5May2018)
Short 5 may promotional video: https://youtu.be/sjkvt7Zh3HU (or https://tinyurl.com/5May2018)

How to support the campaign:

Go to the campaign page on the World Health Organization (WHO) website
Register to the campaign by clicking "Join the campaign now!" on the top right of the page
Download, print and personalize the official promotional board
Grab your colleagues and friends to take a photo together with the board (or take a photo by yourself, it's perfectly fine too!)
Post the photo(s) on social media with #HandHygiene and #Sepsis and join the global hand hygiene community in celebrating World Hand Hygiene Day!

More resources for you

Celebrate the International Infection Prevention Week, October 14-20

2018-10-01T00:01:43+00:00

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), who touts “365 days of commitment” to infection prevention is holding its International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW). This event is “7 days of focus” every third week of October to raise awareness on the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety. SARAYA is supporting IIPW with a social campaign.

The 2018 theme for International Infection Prevention Week is Protecting Patients Everywhere.

Join your friends, family members, and healthcare professionals in celebrating International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW), October 14-20, 2018!

We’re also sharing posters. You can share them any way you want to remind everyone that Infection Prevention is Everybody’s Business!

Download all our posters here.


Download	Download	Download

Various activities and information are available at the APIC campaign site.
http://professionals.site.apic.org/

Join us at MEDICA 2018

2018-11-12T08:25:35+00:00

Join us at MEDICA, the world's leading trade fair for the medical industry in Dusseldorf, Germany, from today the November 12, till the 15th of November.

Saraya booth is located in Hall 5, Row K-14.

Please visit us at MEDICA.

World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2018

2018-11-12T00:08:06+00:00

Celebrate the World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 12-18 November!

Antibiotic resistance is a growing global threats which can affect anyone in the world. Various infectious diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis are now becoming difficult to treat due to the resistance against antibiotics, according to the WHO.

Misuse of antibiotics is a cause of generating resistance. Thus, it is important to know the situation and change behavior when prescribing or taking antibiotics for both healthcare workers and users. In addition, taking appropriate measures of infection prevention control is also an essential part of addressing antimicrobial resistance.

•	For more information about antibiotic resistance: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/antibiotic-resistance/en/

The “World antibiotic awareness week!” is a campaign organized by the WHO to address these situations. Detailed information and useful tools to help understanding antibiotic resistance are available from the WHO website. Let's join the campaign and promote awareness of antibiotic resistance!

•	World antibiotic awareness week. WHO campaign page: http://www.who.int/who-campaigns/world-antibiotic-awareness-week
•	Various advocacy tools are available from here: http://www.who.int/who-campaigns/world-antibiotic-awareness-week/advocacy-material
•	Infection and prevention. General information on infection and prevention: http://www.who.int/infection-prevention/en/

Hand hygiene is one of the best methods to prevent the expansion of infectious diseases. Saraya offers useful tools to promote hand hygiene in any healthcare setting.

SARAYA's useful tools for infection prevention and controls.

Participation in MEDICA 2018

2018-11-21T08:02:21+00:00

Saraya Co., Ltd. participated in MEDICA 2018, which was held in Dusseldorf, Germany from the 12th to the 15th of November. MEDICA is the largest medical trade fair in the world and many participants visited SARAYA's booth located in Hall 5, Stand K14. We were able to spend a lot of time with new and existing customers who had interests in our products.

It was also a great chance to showcase Atae Verde Professional, the complete line of eco-label certified professional cleaners and laundry products that offer excellent cleaning results in industrial and institutional applications areas while respecting environment and safety aspects.

Thank you very much for visiting our booth at MEDICA!

May 5th 2019 Campaign

2019-04-24T14:54:56+00:00

SARAYA, following our efforts in previous years, is participating again in the May 5th campaign lead by the World Health Organization (WHO) promoting hand hygiene awareness in order to reduce healthcare-associated infections. With the slogan “Clean care for all - it's in your hands” the focus this time around is to promote the global movement to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), i.e. achieving better health and well-being for all people at all ages.

This year we are also promoting this special day with our campaign site, with information and useful tools, such as posters and wallpapers, promoting hand hygiene.

Global Hand Hygiene Day has been celebrated on May 5th around the world reinforcing knowledge on hand hygiene since 2010. Join us once again, visiting the following link:

5 of May page

We also helped translate the official WHO campaign posters to Japanese, available at the following link:

https://www.who.int/infection-prevention/campaigns/clean-hands/pops-hh-posters/en/

As an extra bonus, this year there is even an official song! Click here to listen!

12th May: International Nurses Day

2019-05-12T08:17:21+00:00

Since 1965, we have celebrated International Nursing Day on the 12th of May to highlight the important role and contributions of nurses worldwide. For the last 2 years, the theme chosen by the International Council of Nurses is “Nurses: A Voice to Lead”, aiming for nurses to become more active and vocal in policy development and implementation. This year the emphasis is on “Health for all”, which means not only the availability of health services but a complete state of physical and mental health that allows a person to lead a socially and economically productive life. You can learn more on their website.

The date of the 12th of May refers to Florence Nightingale's birthday. She was a pioneer in modern nursing as well as in infection prevention and control. For her, education and training were a crucial foundation for improving hygiene. During the Crimean War, she improved living conditions in the hospital by implementing handwashing and training in other hygiene practices. Thanks to her leadership, hygiene improved in the war hospital, decreasing the death rate of patients.

The focus this year is about the challenge for healthcare workers to bring “Health for all”. At Saraya, we have been supporting the will to end exclusion and disparities in health for years. With our agreement to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we are willing to help in the improvement of sanitation in developing countries through various projects. For instance, with our “100% Hospital Hand Hygiene Project”, we are providing alcohol hand sanitizing systems in hospitals and we are promoting hand-washing education to nurses in order to prevent healthcare infection in East Africa. We think it is important to offer our help to the healthcare workers with the right products to use, as well as with the good education about. It is the best combination to fight infections, improve people's care environment for the well-being and health of patients and workers.

Nurses are main actors of the Global Health Challenge, as they are at the forefront to fight against infections. They are also crucial to improving “Health for all” as they are facing everyday injustices and inequalities. They are also sometimes the only persons that people can talk to. Nurses can give a voice to the most vulnerable and excluded people. They can also make an impact on those they serve.

On this 12th of May, we would like to remind you all about the important role and well work that healthcare workers perform every day! We want to thank especially all the nurses for their professional care.

Saraya CIS participates in the Republican Scientific Practical Conference, Uzbekistan

2019-08-12T08:00:00+00:00

On the 17th of July, the city of Tashkent (Republic of Uzbekistan) hosted the Republican Scientific-Practical Conference on the topical issues of prevention of infections associated with the provision of medical care from the perspective of an interdisciplinary approach, viral-surveillance effort, disinfection and sterilization of medical devices in medical facilities. The event was organized by the “Saraya CIS” company in association with the “StopMicrobe” sales firm.

More than 80 experts from Uzbekistan attended the conference. The line-up included specialists in the fields of epidemiology, disinfectology and endoscopy, research staff from the RIEMID Institute, representatives of the Red Cross International Committee, International Organization “Doctors Without Borders” and Red Crescent International Organization, and members of the Society for International Cooperation and Project HOPE.

The Director of both the Research Institute for Epidemiology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Ministry Clinic, Doctor of Medicine and professor Atabekov Nurmat conducted a welcoming speech at the opening of the conference. He concluded that the prevention of healthcare-associated infections is a common goal for nurses, doctors, epidemiologists and teachers of educational medical Institutions.

The first speaker was Allaberganova Nigora who is the Head of Health Facilities Department in the Republican Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance. She reported on the annually registered cases of healthcare-associated infections and factors contributing to the occurrence of healthcare-associated infections in hospitals and possible problem solutions in Uzbekistan.

The conference was attended by a leading researcher of the Moscow Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology – Ph.D. Grenkova Tatiana Arkadyevna. She spoke about the supervision of epidemiological safety in fiber-optic endoscopy, providing programs to improve hand hygiene in healthcare organizations. She also disclosed the epidemiological basis of disinfection measures in health facilities.

The participants of the conference discussed modern approaches to the prevention of healthcare-associated infections, interchanged views in implementation phases, and criteria for epidemiological efforts in hospitals. The event went hand in hand with a fruitful discussion, during which the lecturers answered the many questions of participants and guests.

The Saraya company offered an integrated approach to hand hygiene in medical institutions from the leading Japanese manufacturer and also means for disinfection and sterilization of medical products registered on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Ph.D. Grenkova Tatiana Arkadyevna, Moscow Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

Representatives of the "Saraya CIS" company visited several modern medical facilities equipped with the latest equipment. The Сenter for Cardiovascular Surgery "American Hospital", as well as Multidisciplinary Medical Centers "AKFA Medline" and "EZGU NIYAT" demonstrated a high level of equipment. All clinics are provided with dispensers with antiseptic agents for the prevention of nosocomial infection. In the wash-ups for disinfection and sterilization of medical instruments the latest disinfectants are used, thus taking into account the safety of the personnel. "Saraya CIS" company has received numerous positive feedback on the products provided, both for hand treatment and disinfection of medical devices, including flexible endoscopes.

SARAYA - Kenya - News

Agreement Reached for Taking Control of Malaysia Sanitation Company

Post-takeover Goodmaid Group Outline:

Official Launch of SARAYA Hand Disinfectant Manufacturing in Africa

SARAYA Co., Ltd. held a Ceremony to Welcome the Goodmaid Group

SARAYA International (Thailand) Co., Ltd. was featured on the World Now – JETRO Global Eye

Saraya Europe participated in International Expodental, in Milan Italy from the 16th to the 18th of October

President Yusuke Saraya Talks Biodiversity as a Company Virtue

Participation in APSIC

Saraya (Shanghai) Biotech Co., Ltd. 10th Anniversary Celebration

Bio-surfactant Sophorolipid (SOFORO) introduced in Inform Magazine

SARAYA Welcomes Students from East Timor

Saraya (Hong Kong Sales) Co., Limited awarded one of Hong Kong's Most Valuable Companies in 2016

Saraya wins 'Eco Mark Award 2015' Gold Prize

We're Reconfirming our Business and Biodiversity Pledge

Celebrate! Global Handwashing Day, October 15, 2017

Partnership Agreed in France for New Manufacturing Company

SARAYA wins Japan SDGs Award

Related Links

SARAYA’S Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals: 2018 Report

What are the Sustainable Development goals?

How is SARAYA helping to reach these goals?

What Goals is SARAYA pursuing?

SARAYA is certified as No.1 industry in Japan on the use of Palm Oil

The Green Purchasing Network (GPN) announced on September 7, 2018, that SARAYA has been awarded first place in manufacturing thanks to its efforts with palm oil.

What is the RSPO?

Halloween at Saraya Child Station

SARAYA wins the Sustainable Palm Oil Best Practice Award 2018

3 main reasons were mentioned for this award:

Mrs. Kawamukai receives the Sakuyahime award

Let’s commit to the SDGs in 2019!

Improvement of sanitation

Contributing to sanitation in developing countries

Healthcare Hygiene

Confronting the risk of infectious diseases

Public Hygiene, Food Sanitation

Preventing infections for the public

Improving the food value chain

Environmentally Conscious

Sustainable raw materials and conserving global biodiversity

Natural Consumer Goods

Delivering safe and natural products

Supporting Health through Foods

From concept to consumer

Global Expansion

Responding to the needs of the world.

Hand Hygiene Train The Trainers Programme 2019

Supporting Race For Water

What is R4W?

How does R4W help?

How is SARAYA involved?

SARAYA Receives the Biodiversity Report Special Excellence Award at the 22nd Environmental Communications Awards

Saraya Uganda acquires ISO 9001:2015 Certification

A word from Saraya Uganda

Currently Produced

Green Corridor Project SARAYA No. 7 Forest acquired!

About the acquired site and its surrounding environment

For the success of the G20 Osaka Summit

Joining the JaSPON platform for the use of sustainable palm oil

JaSPON main activities

JaSPON starting members

JAHAS x INHAC 2019 co-sponsored presentation

SARAYA is recognized for the Wash A Million Hands! Project

When did SARAYA start fighting for Hand Hygiene?

Wash A Million Hands! Project

Saraya’s Borneo activities recognized at the National Geographic Japan Advertising Awards 2019

Increasing Efforts On The Fight Versus Ebola

The Importance Of Access To Safe Drinking Water And Sanitation

What is safe drinking water?

Inequalities concerning access to clean water and sanitation

Wash A Million Hands! Project

Yaroslavl Endoscopy Symposium - YES 2019

SARAYA's Support to the Borneo Conservation Trust

Background and Situation

The BCT program:

1. Land protection and management

2. Research programs

3. The Borneo Elephant Sanctuary

If you want to support

Another Step in the Creation of the Wildlife Corridor