HIRAOKA contributes to the sustainable development of society by working to reduce the environmental burden through our business activities. Let us introduce here some of our diverse environment-conscious activities and those responding to “SDGs 17 Goals.”

Maximum ecology consciousness is to improve the life of products.

HIRAOKA has tried to design products to be used for as long a time as possible. Long and effective use of a product increases the added value of collected resources and there is no need for new energy inputs unlike reuse or recycling.

Improving durability is so to say the maximum ecology.
UM-200 is a good instance. The product keeps over 80% of the standard tensile strength in 15 years. HIRAOKA also conducts research to further increase resistance for its typical products such as canvases and curing meshes.

Contribute to energy conservation initiatives for CO2 reduction.

To slow down the global warming, it is necessary to curb CO2 emissions. What we can do soon is to reduce the volume of energy consumed in our life, that is, shift to the energy-saving society. According to a material from the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, if you raise the setting temperature of indoor air-conditioner (2.2 kw) by one degree (27°C→28°C), when the outside temperature is 31°C in summer, you can save electricity by 30.24 kWh a year, leading to 12.4 kg reduction of CO2 a year (operation time: 9 hours/day).
In this way, if you can reflect the infrared ray in summer before coming into a room to reduce the indoor temperature by 5 to 7°C, a burden on the air-conditioner decreases, leading to energy conservation.

HIRAOKA developed the CoolMax series, a thermal insulation membrane matrix product which decreases the temperature inside a seat by a maximum of 5 to 7°C by reflecting the infrared ray from the sun. Examples include ULTRAMAX Cool for tent warehouses, sheets for membrane structures such as canopies and SUNDREAM Cool.

Aggressively pursue to save resources, aiming to reduce a burden on the global environment.

There are two approaches to achieve the improvement of resource productivity, one of 2010 goals defined by the government (about 40% improvement from 2000).
The one is developing products with a high added-value and resistance, and another is to minimize resource inputs, namely activities to save resources.

To accelerate an effort for this goal, HIRAOKA has introduced the cogeneration system in Soka Plant as part of activities to reduce energy costs, including minimizing the consumption of organic solvents. We will continue to aggressively work on resource saving and seek to reduce burdens on the global environment.

Initiatives for SDGs by HIRAOKA & CO., LTD.

	Zero Hunger We will put an end to starvation, ensure the stable food supply, improve the nutritional condition, and promote the sustainable agriculture. We support the dissemination of green houses to globally improve the agricultural productivity by developing membrane matrix materials exclusively used for greenhouses and delivering them to the world-famous tent manufacturers.
	Good Health and Well-being We will ensure the healthy lives of all people and all ages and promote their well-being. We work to grasp and decrease the consumption of chemical substances. We work to curtail VOC emissions, including preventing the volatilization of fuel oil, solvents, paints, etc. We control the chemical substances under the chemical substance safety datasheet to communicate information on their safety. We make efforts under the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register. We employ a process and city gas fuels to suppress air pollution. We monitor and measure soot and smoke, and regularly inspect the exhaust treatment device for the proper control. We work on the prevention of noises, vibrations, and odors.
	Gender Equality We try to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. We conduct inhouse training for employees to prevent the infringement of human rights such as sexual harassment and power harassment. We put in place a working environment considering pregnancy, childbirth, child-rearing, caring, nursing, and other health-related conditions of our employees or their families.
	Clean Water and Sanitation We ensure access to water and sanitation under sustainable management for all people. We adopt the processes and devices which generate less water pollution. We properly install and inspect the wastewater treatment equipment, as well as monitor and measure drainages, etc. on a regular basis under appropriate control.
	Affordable and Clean Energy We will ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all people. We grasp and report energy consumption to reduce it. Proper control is given to air conditioners, including regular cleaning or replacement of filters. Lightning equipment is being replaced with energy-saving types such as LED fluorescent lights. We improve energy efficiency by introducing the gas-cogeneration system to smooth the electricity between day and night.
	Decent Work and Economic Growth Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all We create a safe and secure work environment that protects the right to work for all people, including those in developing countries.
	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure We try to build a robust infrastructure and promote the inclusive and sustainable industrialization, as well as enhance technical innovation. We aim to minimize resource consumptions for products with identical functions. We focus on the long life of products. We have established the industry-academia-government collaboration.
	Sustainable Cities and Communities We will make cities and people’s residential places inclusive, safe, strong, and sustainable. We work to reduce the final disposal of industrial wastes and their generation. We strive to grasp and reduce the chemical substance consumption. We work to curtail VOC emissions, including preventing the volatilization of fuel oil, solvents, paints, etc. We control the chemical substances under the chemical substance safety datasheet to communicate information on their safety. We make efforts under the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register. We employ a process and city gas fuels to suppress air pollution. We monitor and measure soot and smoke, and regularly inspect the exhaust treatment device for the proper control. We work on the prevention of noises, vibrations, and odors.
	Responsible Consumption and Production We ensure the form of sustainable consumption and production. We grasp and try to reduce discharged wastes and the final disposal volumes of wastes. To reduce the deficient inventory due to quality deterioration, etc., we make efforts to optimize the inventory quantity. We fully sort wastes by properly arranging waste collection and sorting boxes for paper, metal tubes, glass bottles, plastics, batteries, etc. We minimize the atmospheric emission of solvents by implementing the solvent collection system. We try to reduce wastes as we always work to improve the lifecycle of products.
	Climate Action We will make cities and people’s residential places inclusive, safe, strong, and sustainable. We are involved in the collection and proper treatment of specific chlorofluorocarbons. We work to grasp greenhouse gas emissions and reduce environmental impacts. When purchasing materials, we consider selecting products that do not use hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), perfluorocarbon (PFC), sulfur hexafluoride (SG6), etc. as much as possible. We have commercialized the CoolMax series which has a thermal insulation effect, thus contributing to climate change measures. We try to make plans and preparations to restore and continue business once we suffer disaster.
	Life Below Water We will conserve the ocean and the marine resources for the sustainable development and take advantage of them in a sustainable manner. We provide atoxic tarpaulins for cultivation of fish and shellfish. We provide membrane matrix materials to be used in aquaculture.
	Partnerships For The Goals Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. Not only have we been reusing the previously discarded production scraps by partnering with business operators specialising in this aspect, but we have also been making an effort through collaboration across different industries to upcycle by transforming the production scraps into new products with reinterpreted values, and supporting environmental education for local children through public-private partnerships.