With the world’s population increasing and economic developments vastly improving the standard of living in every country around the world, there is a heavy strain on the sustainability of fisheries, agriculture, and natural resources. Each is at risk of irreversible depletion. Furthermore, ventures and commodity exchanges challenge the stability of resources and can put risk on currencies, companies, or even the economies of countries. Having sustainable agricultural resources, effective recycling, and renewable energy is the true key to stable economic development in every industry.
The United Nations set new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 as an extension of 2000’s Millennium Development Goals. SARAYA aligns its own goals with the UN’s SDGs. We believe in pursuing sustainable development and true global wealth by protecting the environment as much as possible using sustainable resources and novel, waste reducing packaging. This is at the center of our company mission and dictates our company culture in every way.
President Yusuke Saraya
What are SDGs?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (or Global Goals for Sustainable Development) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations Development Programme. The formal name for the SDGs is: "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." that has been shortened to "2030 Agenda". The goals are broad and interdependent, yet each has a separate list of targets to achieve. Achieving all 169 targets would signal to accomplish all 17 goals. 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.
Hygiene, Eco and Health Solutions
SARAYA bases its contributions to society and nature around the world on 3 pillars.
Hygiene Solutions
Wash a Million Hands!
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 hand washing with soap. In 2010, SARAYA started the Wash a Million Hands! Project to contribute to hand washing education activities in Uganda. Millions of mothers with young children have been trained and many hand washing facilities have been installed with this program. Now we donate 1% of specific product sales to UNICEF to continue the project.
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100% Hospital Hand Hygiene
Aiming to solve social issues in Africa as well as preventing healthcare-associated infections, Saraya East Africa was founded in 2011 in Uganda, providing training to healthcare staff and introducing locally made hand disinfectant through the 100% Hospital Hand Hygiene Project. Saraya Manufacturing Uganda produces entirely locally sourced alcohol hand disinfectant, creating jobs along the supply chain and saving lives in the hospital.
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Safe Motherhood
Unfortunately, about 830 women still lose their lives through pregnancy and childbirth daily in developing countries. In order to fight this injustice, we are involved in different campaigns and projects with White Ribbon, allowing mothers to give birth in a safer environment. For example, we supported the construction in Tanzania of a maternal and child health center, the so-called "Milky House", which was completed with donations from the sale of Lactoferrin Lab. At an individual level, we encourage you to support them by joining the White Ribbon run every year.
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Food Hygiene Innovation
At SARAYA we are always working for innovation, as we believe that it is a great opportunity for those that have been left behind. Due to that belief, we are helping in the development of a cold chain in Africa, improving the cold chain in countries like Uganda, where due to the lack of cold systems for transporting food the thought of eating fresh food is still a dream for many. With the use of Rapid Freezer, we are changing this reality.
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Eco Solutions
The Green Corridor
The island of Borneo is densely populated with unique wildlife and vegetation, making it an important genetic resource for the world. However, many parts of the Borneo rainforest have vanished due to the sudden increase of oil palm plantations in recent years. While these plantations are important for our current lifestyle, it is important to create a balance between the environment and the industry. By acquiring lands along the riverbanks, the Green Corridor will form a safe migration route for the local endangered wildlife away from palm oil plantations to conservation lands. SARAYA has been supporting the conservation activities of the BCT since its foundation.
So far, SARAYA has purchased 7 land parcels in total which have been already given back to the local government.
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The Suspension Bridge Of Life
Complementing the purchase of land in order to create a green corridor, we are erecting bridges made from used fire hoses for orangutans, connecting "oasis" of forest along the river. Orangutans cannot swim and often huge plantations cut orangutans off from the rest of the forest. Six bridges have been erected to allow the orangutan population to migrate freely across river tributaries.
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Wildlife Rescue Project
Starting with the elephant that has been chased out of its habitat for the expansion of oil plantations, to the orangutan that lives isolated in fragmented forests, we work together with local residents for the rescue of these animals and their health recovery, to later free them back into the wild. This was the first environmental activity we did in Borneo, one that we continue to this day cooperating with the Sabah Wildlife Department.
SARAYA also collaborated with other Japanese companies in the creation of The Borneo Elephant Sanctuary Programme (BES) launched in 2012 for safer elephant rescue activities, finishing the first part of the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary in September 2013.
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Utilization of Sustainable Palm Oil - RSPO Membership
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.
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Blue Ocean Projects
Inspired by the upcoming 2025 World Expo that will take place in the same city where our headquarters is located, we are taking our sustainability initiatives to the next level. SARAYA is participating in projects and activities dedicated to preserving the oceans, which you can learn more about below.
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Health Solutions
Monk Fruit Sustainable Farming
With Lakanto, our monk fruit sweetener, we are already providing a healthy alternative to sugar that can help anybody, from diabetics to diet followers, to achieve a healthy lifestyle but our involvement in the improvement of society doesn't stop there.
Our Monk Fruit farms are located in pristine farms in the remote mountains of Guilin, China, hours away from the city pollution, farmed without pesticides and by hand by local farmers, supporting the local economy. After that, the fruit is processed in our zero-waste factory, close to the fields to maintain the freshness of the fruit in order to deliver a healthy sweetener.
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Read more in our Sustainability Report
For a more complete picture of SARAYA's activities and objectives, explaining what SDGs we are targeting to create a better world, read and download the latest SARAYA sustainability report.
