Business and Biodiversity Initiative

In recent years, Saraya has seen the rate of extinction grow faster than any other time. For this reason, the company feels responsible to make extreme progress to save and protect the threatened wildlife still left on the planet while re-evaluating the way its companies do business and regard the environment. Therefore, Saraya has committed itself to the implementation of the ‘Biodiversity in Good Company’ Initiative’s Leadership Declaration.

As Saraya’s main business centers on health and hygiene, which includes a variety of hand soaps and detergents made from palm oil, it considers itself to be connected to the environmental stresses palm plantations are causing on the Borneo rainforest. While palm oil based detergents and soaps are biodegradable, irresponsible palm planting without consideration for the local wildlife is breaking up natural habitats in Borneo. In response, Saraya supports and gives back to Borneo by helping establish the Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) NPO in Malaysia and BCT Japan to build a green corridor along the banks of the Kinabatangan River. It also sponsors the BCT’s activities that help threatened wildlife, such as the Borneo elephant and the orangutan.

Apart from the BCT activities Saraya is currently conducting various other projects. Additionally, Saraya is working on developing detergents and disinfectants that reduce the environmental burden along all steps of the supply chain. As a contributing member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Saraya specifically works on introducing products in the near future made from sustainable palm oil certified by the RSPO. Complementing the other efforts Saraya pushes environmental communication with stakeholders to promote environmentally sustainable hygiene and sanitation in professional, food and infection control industries and a sustainable lifestyle for household consumers.

Gaining Respect

Nikkei Business Publications conducted a survey of 20,000 consumers to select the top Environmental Brands. Over the years Saraya ranked 4th in 2008, first in 2009, and recently 9th in 2010 as well as being named in the Best 10 category.

Inviting Green Purchasing

In Japan, an annual sustainability report is vital for companies working to push green purchasing. Saraya’s efforts to protect biodiversity in Borneo have given the company the ability to provide a full and captivating sustainability report.

Recruitment Merits

Japan and many other countries are experiencing economic downturns and the employment market is getting more competitive. What Saraya has encountered in its activities to protect biodiversity starting in 2004, is that more and more young graduates and mid-career job transfers have brought an understanding of Saraya’s environmental activities to the interview. Its activities have become a way to attract more talent that is concerned about biodiversity.

Employee Motivation

Incorporating pro-biodiversity goals into the company identity increases company employees’ desire to commit to Saraya’s cause. Together this adds up to a large amount of time and energy being given back to society.

Public Recognition

Since 2006, Saraya has received 12 awards associated with environmental protection and education. This has led to a change in how the company is perceived. Before Saraya’s active engagement, it was simply a detergent maker, and now Saraya is regarded as an ecologically-minded/green company. This greatly benefits customer and industry relationships.

Saraya

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