About GUNZE

CSR Activities(Social Contributions)

Gunze's goal is to be a company that is in constant demand by society, and which seeks to attain sustainable development along with the society we live in. Gunze engages in social contributions by taking advantage of our technology, assets and human resources.

Gunze Love Earth Club

The Gunze Love Earth Club was set up as a commemorative project for the 110th anniversary of the company's founding. The club collects donations from its members, which consist of present and retired employees. Gunze provides matching donations and sends them to organizations of the members' choice. In fiscal 2006, the Gunze Love Earth Club provided support for 17 different organizations.

in 2006, support to

  • The Institute for Himalayan Conservation

  • Children's Cancer Association of Japan

  • Learning and Ecological Activities Foundation for Children (LEAF)

  • Guide Dogs & Service Dogs Association of Japan

  • Support Network for Sick Children, Kyoto

  • Tree-Planting and Environment Network

  • Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

  • Green Earth Network

  • Children without Borders

  • Setouchi Olive Foundation

  • Friends of Japan Leukaemia Research Fund

  • Akanoi-Biwako Environmental Citizens' Initiative

  • Human Rights Center

  • Special Olympics Nippon

  • ASHINAGA

  • Japan CliniClowns Association

  • apan Association for the United Nations World Food Programme

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Educational activities and student support
Co-sponsoring the Campus Venture Grand Prix

Gunze supports students who want to create start-up businesses through co-sponsorship of the ninth Campus Venture Grand Prix (CVG) Osaka, a new competition to promote innovative business ideas. Through this event, Gunze aims to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit among students, while enhancing their problem-solving capabilities and stimulating the development of new industries.

The eighth Campus Venture Grand Prix awarding ceremony

Innerwear seminer

Upon requests from local governments and schools, Gunze organizes innerwear-related seminars targeting junior high school students, teachers and PTAs. Topics covered include the functions of undergarments, comfortable ways to put on innerwear depending on the season, clothing-related TPO (time, place and occasion) and basic lifestyle habits.

Innerwear seminar (Photo courtesy of the Kyoiku Katei Shimbun)

Supported for students' creations-Gunze Fashion Design Award

As part of the company's 110th anniversary events, the Gunze Fashion Design Awards were established in 2006 to support creative fashion designs by students. During fiscal 2006, seven creations based on the theme "inspiration, excitement and dreams" won awards out of 1,697 entries.

2006 Gunze Fashion Design Award ceremony

Environmental classrooms on wheel

As part of the company's involvement with promoting environmental study for children, Gunze organizes "environmental classrooms on wheel" at schools in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture. This project won the 4th Partnership Grand Prix award sponsored by NPO Partnership Support Center in November 2006.

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Support for local manufacturing industry
Contribution to Industry and Technolog Support Center in Ayabe, Kyoto

In June 2007, the Industry and Technology Support Center in Ayabe began its operations. Established through collaboration with the government, industry and academia, the center supports local small/medium-size company technological innovation and new business development. Gunze contributes a part of its old laboratory land and building as well as equipment and materials for this project.

Giving golden quality at silver prices

The Gunze Group also co-sponsors sporting activities, assists victims of natural disasters, helps cleanups of neighboring areas for various Group sites, and organizes blood donations.

Continued inclusion SRI fund indices

Socially responsible investment (SRI) funds are designed to invest in and support companies that are committed to fulfilling social responsibilities. SRI rating criteria include governance/accountability, customer/consumer response, employment/human resources management, social contributions, environmental considerations and others. Gunze stock has consistently been included in the following SRI indices (renewed in March 2007):

  • FTSE4 Good Index Series <FTSE Group, UK>
  • Morningstar SRI Index <Morningstar, Inc., U.S.A.>

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