CSR activities in FY2018
Relationships with Local Communities
and International Communities
Basic Approach
One of the credos of NTN SPIRIT “Collaboration” states that “we take care of the natural environment and maintain coexistence with local community.” In addition to contributing to society through our business activities, we also work on achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through various activities tied closely to local communities around the world.
Main Activities
■Breakdown of expenditures by area
Spreading the circle of “NTN Rotating School”
To promote harmonious coexistence with local communities, the Company organized NTN Rotating School in 2017 as a way to facilitate community interactions for our employees and education for the next-generation. This is a mobile school based on the concept of having children of the next generation learn about the environment and energy saving with fun. In addition to the title sponsorship of “Tour of Japan (TOJ),” Japan’s largest bicycle road race, we participate in various events held by public offices, and also hold events at business sites of the NTN Group.
In NTN’s third year of sponsorship of TOJ in 2019, NTN Rotating School in 2019 implemented a program incorporating music. Participants created their own songs with musical instruments that used bearings, or performed one-minute pieces all together with musical instruments making various sounds under themes they decided. All children and adults enjoyed the program, and the venue was always surrounded by a “smooth” atmosphere. In the classroom-style Nameraka Eco-Friendly class, we had participants think energy saving as their own issues. The mobile school’s various thinking-based programs attracted about 2,600 guests in the eight-day event. NTN Rotating School, in which employees acted as teachers, helps to aid their motivations by letting them deepen engagement between business sites and see smiles of guests.
In January 2019, NTN Rotating School was held overseas for the first time by NTN BEARING-THAILAND CO., LTD. in the Children Day, a science event held by the National Science and Technology Development Agency . A hand spinner contest as well as bearing assembling and friction experiences conveyed a fun of science while having them learn about the roles of NTN products and friction. The two-day event was attended by about 1,600 guests and ended in a great success. We will continue to develop the mobile school activities not only in Japan but also worldwide so that NTN Rotating School can entertain children all over the world.
Parents and children learning about energy saving in a Nameraka Eco-Friendly class
Enjoying making songs together with musical instruments that used bearings
Hand spinner contest in great excitement
Activities worldwide
Japan
To preserve biodiversity and contribute to the local community, Kuwana Works cooperated in Waterside Nature Observation Walk sponsored by Kuwana City. In addition to preparatory work to ensure the event to run safely, NTN staff researched waterside creatures on the river of Tadocho, Kuwana City together with specialists, and explained about them to children on the event day. At the end of the event, children gave reports on creatures they captured, and shared their thoughts about the event. They looked much interested in waterside creatures they rarely came in contact with in their daily lives.
Children looking for waterside creatures
Americas
In August, NTN BEARING CORP. OF CANADA LTD. sends volunteers for bed making at the facility for homeless people operated by Good Shepherd*-Toronto. The volunteers are normally students, but during the summer holiday season for schools, NBCC employees take turns in the volunteering work every day. In addition, NBCC gives donations together with collaborators who endorse this activity, such as our business partners.
＊Good Shepherd : Good Shepherd: Non-profit organization sponsored by Christian associations. It establishes and operates facilities for homeless people through charities such as donations in an effort to rescue socially vulnerable people in the spirit of Christianity.
Bed making
Employees participated in the activity
Europe
NTN Kugellagerfabrik (Deutschland) GmbH, NTN Waelzlager (Europa) GmbH and SNR Waelzlager GmbH joined the village festival of Peacevillage International. Peacevillage International provides medical treatments in Germany for children injured in war and conflict worldwide, and returns them to their home countries. At the village festival, NTN staff set up a corporate booth to interact with children protected in the facility using building blocks and other toys.
Village festival filled with many children and volunteers
Asia
Staff of NTN MANUFACTURING (THAILAND) CO., LTD. visited a support center for people with disabilities in Chonburi Province on Children’s Day for the purpose of supporting autistic children. In addition to the donation of sweets, stationeries and play tools, a musical chairs game was held for recreation. NTN staff members and the children had sweets together, enjoyed their conversation, and deepened engagement.
Employees interacting with children
Dialog with university and high school students
As part of our CSR activities, we actively interact with students, who will shape the next generation. In October 2018, we invited eight students from Senri Senior High School in Osaka Prefecture to have dialog on our initiatives for diversity. We received feedback from the participants, such as, “the motivation to work overseas became even stronger after learning about NTN’s activities.” In January 2019, NTN staff visited Doshisha University to give a lecture and have a group discussion under the theme of “Corporate CSR Activities” on the importance of solving social issues through business activities and the need to permeate corporate philosophy through CSR activities.
Employees speaking about the significance of working overseas
Group works at Doshisha University