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| Students participate in a forest conservation program jointly organized by Yuhan-Kimberly, the country's leading personal and household care products company, and environment organizations, to support local schools in the creation of green sites on school campuses in this file photo. / Courtesy of Yuhan-Kimberly |
By Rachel Lee
Yuhan-Kimberly is not only a leader in personal and household care products but also a pioneer in the field of environmental sustainability.
The company has established a green growth initiative here by actively participating in corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs under the title "Keep Korea Green," beginning in 1984. The company was set up as a joint venture in 1970 between Korean pharmaceutical firm Yuhan Corporation and global personal care company Kimberly-Clark.
According to the company, "environment" in Korea was previously understood to mean someone's "background" rather than its use internationally referring to "ecological environment". This misunderstanding meant people didn't feel the need to take care of the natural environment.
"When we were about to start the campaign, our country was becoming active in restoring forests but the damage was nearly irreparable," said Son Seung-woo, a company spokesman.
"So we came up with the ‘Keep Korea Green' campaign so that everyone could start planting trees together and enjoy the forests."
The company has since begun to plant trees in both national and public-owned forests and provide opportunities for people to participate in various activities. It has also invited newly-wedded couples to participate in tree planting.
Since 1999, it has co-operated with the country's forest conservation organizations to select and support local schools in the creation of green sites on school campuses, such as gardens and small arboretums, or encouraging vines to grow on exterior walls. It has selected about 800 schools so far and provided trees, educational programs and expert advice for about three years.
Yuhan-Kimberly has also gone abroad with the campaign for the last 10 years. It has strived to prevent desertification and restore forests in Tujiin Nars in Mongolia. And it has offered various useful publications to deliver its key messages which outline the value of forests, promote the protection of life in forests, fresh air and decreasing air pollution.
"Apart from the forest conservation activities, we have internally participated in environmental management to cope with climate change. We are aiming to reduce green house consumption by 30 percent, increase the sale of green products by 30 percent by 2020," the spokesman said.
The company has made great efforts to minimize possible environmental effects coming from production of environmentally-friendly goods. It has done so by adopting the best purification technology, which has enabled the replacement of 50 percent of materials through recycling. About 50 percent of water has been re-used. Its diaper products have also become lighter; with their weight reduced by 40 percent over the last 10 years.
The results have been positive thanks to company employees who have been actively taking part in environmental preservation. About 32 percent of all staff members working in a factory in Daejeon Metropolitan City bicycle to and from work, resulting in the amount of CO2 generated per ton of each product decreasing by 4.3 percent.
"Our company has also suggested CSV (Creating Shared Value) models to both battle the country's aging population and to accelerate seniorcare business growth. It's about senior people becoming more active and us helping them get jobs and support in various ways so it will eventually contribute to the senior industry development. We are determined to continue seeking ways to grow together with society," Son said.
kjk@koreatimes.co.kr
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