Introducing “WDGs ~Women Development Goals~” to promote SDGs led by women, and our original bottle project! [SDGs Week Initiatives]

Hello!

The weather has suddenly become autumn-like, and a pleasant season has arrived. I’m PR Sunny-chan, looking forward to both the autumn of appetite and the autumn of reading! (Mainly the autumn of appetite…)

SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP has undertaken two projects in alignment with the UN-designated SDGs Week that began last week.

A project to promote “SDGs led by women” beyond corporate and organizational boundaries
“WDGs ~Women Development Goals~”

“5. Achieve Gender Equality” is one of the 17 SDGs goals. Did you know that Japan still needs considerable effort in this area compared to other countries around the world?

While countries worldwide are undertaking various activities to close the gender gap, the reality is that Japan has not seen significant changes in the situation.

In the 2019 “Gender Gap Index” by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 121st out of 153 countries (*), the lowest result to date.
*Source: World Economic Forum “Gender Gap Index” https://www.joicfp.or.jp/jpn/2019/12/19/44893/

To improve this situation even slightly, the General Incorporated Association Woman Innovation, which promotes activities related to “women’s empowerment and social revitalization,” and SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP have jointly planned the project “WDGs ~Women Development Goals~” to disseminate information and messages about “SDGs led by women” in alignment with the UN-designated SDGs Week.

For more details, please visit here.

This project centers on Goal “5. Achieve Gender Equality,” which can be considered a “cross-cutting” objective among the 17 SDGs goals, and interprets SDGs from a “women’s” perspective beyond the framework of affiliated organizations, companies, and industries. How do women living in the modern era confront and address each issue—poverty, education, welfare, energy? The project disseminates “the current state of SDGs led by women” and aims to foster social momentum toward achieving the SDGs goals.

Artist Sputniko!, Yuka Shimada (Director and Head of Human Resources and General Affairs, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K.), Kumiko Shimamoto (President and Representative Director, Getty Images Japan K.K.), Tomoko Nishikawa (Public Relations and Marketing Team Leader, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology “Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN”), and women from various industries have endorsed this project.

Please see here for a list of endorsers’ comments. (Updates are ongoing!)

The goal of “5. Achieve Gender Equality” cannot be achieved by women alone. Beyond gender boundaries, each individual’s effort to “seek knowledge and take action” may bring us closer to achieving the SDGs goals.

We hope that this project will increase interest in the gender gap in Japan, even slightly, and bring us closer to realizing a society where all people can shine!

Sunny-chan also deeply felt, after reading the comments from the women who endorsed the project, that it is important for each individual to think about how they can contribute to achieving the goals, even in daily life that tends to pass by without much thought.

Aiming to reduce plastic waste, we have created the second edition of the “SSU Original Bottle”!

The second initiative is the creation of the second edition of the “SSU Original Bottle,” following the first edition produced in alignment with “World Environment Day” on June 5 this year. (The blog from the first edition’s creation is available here)

When the bottles were distributed to members and their families last time, they sold out in no time. The second edition was created by incorporating feedback from within the company, aiming to further reduce plastic waste.

This time, we made them in a smaller size that fits easily into handbags. They were designed to be carried casually in daily life!

To allow members to choose colors that match their individuality, we offer five colors! In addition to the corporate color yellow, we have prepared white, navy, light blue, and hibiscus.

Among them, light blue and hibiscus were so popular that they disappeared in an instant. Incidentally, President Tsugihara is currently using the hibiscus color, which brightens the mood just by carrying it.

Since starting to use the bottles, some people have begun making an effort to bring drinks from home, while others have stopped the habit of buying plastic bottles at convenience stores every day. Changes are being observed, albeit gradually.

Furthermore, it has become a good opportunity for each member to think about contributing to the SDGs, not only in terms of reducing plastic waste.

SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP will continue to advance activities that leverage our PR and communication expertise to contribute, even slightly, to achieving the goals by 2030.

See you in the next blog!

As it is gradually getting cooler, please take care not to fall ill.