What can a sanitary ware enterprise do to help China’s environmental protection -- on the work done by toto water fund in cooperation between Dongtao (China) Co., Ltd. and China Environmental Protection Foundation in the past ten years

When it comes to Zhangjiajie, you may have a lush scene in your mind. It’s hard to imagine that there will be a serious water shortage in the local area. Three years ago, personnel from China Environmental Protection Foundation and Dongtao (China) Co., Ltd. went to Zhangjiajie for field investigation. The investigation found that due to the influence of local karst landform, especially in the mountains, the surface is not easy to store water, and some local residents are facing the dilemma of serious water shortage.

In the water shortage season, the affected residents can only rely on the sprinkler to provide drinking water, which not only consumes human and material resources, but also cannot ensure the clean water quality.

After the introduction of “toto water fund drinking water project” in Xuanshui village, Zhangjiajie, local mountain residents can receive clean and sanitary tap water as long as they turn on the tap

After several inspections, Toto China introduced the “toto water fund drinking water project” to Xuanshui village, Zhangjiajie through the toto water environment special fund (hereinafter referred to as “toto water fund”) established in the China Environmental Protection Foundation: to build reservoirs, sedimentation tanks and disinfect rainwater locally. After the completion of the project, local mountain residents can receive clean and sanitary tap water as long as they turn on the tap.

So far, Toto water fund has assisted 10 natural villages and safe drinking water projects, including five schools, in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Gansu, Hebei, Jiangxi, Hunan, Jiangsu, Guizhou and other provinces, benefiting more than 12000 people.

General manager Ono told us about toto China’s unremitting efforts for China’s environmental protection as a multinational bathroom enterprise rooted in the Chinese market

Recently, we interviewed Katsuya Ono, vice chairman and general manager of Dongtao China in toto China’s office in Beijing. He told us about toto China’s unremitting efforts for China’s environmental protection as a multinational bathroom enterprise rooted in the Chinese market.

Implement safe drinking water project

In addition to solving the problem of safe drinking water for vulnerable groups in remote areas, Toto water fund also carried out water conservation publicity around the protection of water environment

General manager Ono first introduced the original intention of toto water fund to implement the safe drinking water project. Toto China hopes that through the implementation of the project, it will help the population in China’s low-income areas improve their production and living conditions, solve the drinking water safety problems of farmers, herdsmen and children, disseminate environmental protection science popularization knowledge, and make more people fully realize the significance of cherishing limited water resources for protecting the earth’s environment and human survival.

When it comes to how to implement, general manager Ono said that for the implementation of each drinking water project, Toto water fund will “investigate in advance, communicate with the local people, go to at least two or three places, and select at least one place to carry out the project according to the urgency of the beneficiary groups. After the completion of the project, strict acceptance will be carried out.”

After the project is put into use, Toto water fund will also pay a return visit to previous projects to understand whether the projects implemented in that year are still in use and the response of local residents, so as to decide whether further improvement is needed.

Toto water fund has been inherited for a long time

Toto water fund was established in 2008. It has been 15 years since its establishment, with a total investment of more than 18 million yuan.

Over the past 15 years, Toto water fund has never forgotten its original intention and projects, and has solved the problem of safe drinking water for vulnerable groups in remote areas with various projects and activities. Focusing on the protection of water environment, we have carried out water conservation publicity, popularized water environment protection and water-saving knowledge and technology, cultivated environmental awareness and improved the ability to protect water environment resources at all levels of society, and improved the water environment in small areas. The project affects millions of people.

When asked about the reasons for the establishment of toto water fund, general manager Ono replied: at the beginning of starting a business, Toto’s ancestors held the belief of making citizens have a healthy and comfortable life and improving their lives. Today, Toto, as a well-known bathroom brand, should take root in the local area and make certain contributions to local residents. This is the consistent concept of toto.

In 2005, Toto group established a global “toto water environment fund” in Japan to provide support for creating an environment-friendly, hygienic and comfortable living environment, and contribute to solving regional social problems and sustainable development. According to toto’s operation and business development around the world, enterprises feel it is necessary to establish a special water fund in the Chinese market.

Therefore, in 2008, Toto China established toto China water environment fund with the help of China Environmental Protection Foundation. Around the world, Toto group hopes to make use of its own advantages to make more effective use of water resources, develop more water-saving and environmental protection products, provide a healthier life for local residents, and make its own efforts to protect the local water environment.

Integration of operation and responsibility

Toto has been adhering to the concept of integrating the company’s business activities and corporate social responsibility activities

When asked about toto’s concept of public welfare undertakings, general manager Ono said, “whether in Japan or elsewhere, Toto hopes to focus on the sustainable development of local society while carrying out business undertakings. Toto has always adhered to the concept that the company’s business activities are integrated with the corporate social responsibility activities.”

For example, Toto continuously develops water-saving products in the business process. In the 1990s, the national standard for the pumping capacity of domestic toilet was 15 liters, while the minimum pumping capacity of toto’s intelligent toilet is only 3.3 liters. “The advent of this kind of water-saving products is also an important link for toto to realize the value of corporate social responsibility.” General manager Ono said.

In various social contribution activities carried out by toto, the concept of environmental protection is transmitted to consumers through communication, cooperation and coordination. It is hoped that through social public welfare activities, customers and employees can understand the company’s concept and improve the environmental protection awareness of the whole society.

In addition, Toto group launched the new common value creation strategy toto will 2030 in 2021, aiming to achieve “a sustainable society” and “a clean, comfortable and healthy life” by 2030.