Sustainability Topics (Society)

Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (TNSC) has commenced joint development with YMC Co., Ltd., on a full process from synthesis to refinement for difficult-to-express proteins,* which are expected to see demand in the biomedical field. As the protein market expands in the biomedical field, there is a growing demand for difficult-to-express proteins that cannot be easily expressed using traditional expression and purification techniques using live cells. Looking ahead, joint development using TNSC’s cell-free protein synthesis technology and YMC’s strengths in chromatography technology will enable them to supply customers in the drug discovery research reagent market and the biomedical market with products that are optimized for cost and quality. The two companies will strengthen their collaboration not only in the manufacture of difficult to express proteins through cell-free protein synthesis systems, but also in various other fields, such as the development of high-performance affinity columns, by maximizing their respective strengths in the process from synthesis to purification.

*Difficult-to-express proteins: Proteins that are difficult to produce in a form that functions correctly

“Minna Gas Shiru” (“Everyone Knows Gas”) is a package of services supporting autonomous safety activities. The name of the service expresses our desire for everyone who handles high-pressure gas to know more about gases. Centered on safety education videos about high-pressure gases, the service comprises hazard experience courses to give people responsible for safety management a real sense of the danger from inappropriate handling of gases, as well as an online salon providing comprehensive safety education. The service is available at a reasonable price depending on the number of participants. In April 2023, the service was officially released, and we started paid provision for customers. From April 1, 2024, we started providing the service for free to universities, vocational colleges, and industrial high schools. The provided package of services can all be used online and is customized for universities, vocational colleges, and industrial high schools to support self-directed safety activities around high-pressure gases. The package is centered on learning about high-pressure gas safety through watching videos, and also includes experiences of the hazards that arise from improper handling as well as various seminars to encourage noticing and reflection to promote the development of an organizational safety culture.

"Gas Shiru Learning" homepage screen 

Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation established the Diversity & Inclusion Office in April 2024. The focus of the office has been widened from promotion of women’s active participation to include promotion of active participation by diverse human resources, and it is working on training to eliminate unconscious bias and to develop female leaders, as well as improving systems that facilitate working while parenting. With the three pillars of the action policy for FYE2025—Action, Support, and Promotion—and under the leadership of a female executive officer, the office is expanding the scope of training programs, holding townhall meetings, and promoting stronger collaboration with the HR Division.

Nippon Sanso Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd. (NSHS) hosted the 5th Annual Learning Festival 2023 for our workforce in Southeast Asia and India on August 4, 2023. The theme was “Mentoring and Coaching: Building the Next Generation of Leaders.” The event began with a speech by Helder Teixeira, President & CEO of NSHS, who shared his valuable experiences in two mentorship programs in Nippon Gases. External speakers were also invited to share their insights on coaching and mentoring. With regard to coaching in particular, NSHS aims to cultivate a coaching culture through training on coaching techniques for middle management. The company will continue to hold regional events, aiming to cultivate regional Group companies into open, collaborative, and adaptable organizations.

Most of our employees take part in an engagement survey that measures whether employees feel motivated to contribute toward achieving targets, whether this motivation is sustained by a productive work environment and mental and physical well-being, as well as whether they have a sense of belonging to the organization. Greater engagement offers various benefits to both employees and the Company. We therefore analyze the information obtained from the survey for each operating company, and utilize the results in the formulation of action plans to improve our organization, such as enhancing productivity, job satisfaction, and diversity. We will continue to conduct the survey in order to make our action plans more effective.

At Nippon Gases Euro-Holding (NGE), we have introduced a development program called GOL: Growing Our Leadership. It is divided into 3 stages, and the middle step, called GOL II, is a nine-month training aimed towards managers. The first edition took place in 2020, and it covered several fields and business topics, working towards an all-round development on leadership skills and organizational support capabilities through productivity projects. In September 2022, out of all the projects that were presented, one team was chosen per region to attend the final event in Segovia, Spain. At this international session, among other activities and presentations, all participants explained their productivity projects which were judged by directors in the meeting. The winning project for this edition was on power management to achieve savings. To this date, over 250 managers have participated in the GOL II training, resulting in the implementation of 37 productivity projects that have led to significant cost savings. Since 2022, GOL I has taken place on a yearly basis for the company’s young high potentials; and GOL III, for senior leaders, is about to start.

Euroholding and IT team were awarded with the best project

Nippon Sanso Holdings Singapore held the 6th SEA+I HR Network Meeting on July 1, 2022 to discuss plans for the empowerment of female employees and the implementation of an engagement survey. Under the theme "Make Female Empowerment A Reality", the meeting started" with opening remarks from the management, emphasising that leadership can make a significant contribution to women's empowerment by supporting and promoting the advancement of its female employees. The subsequent keynote address outlined the company's policy and commitment to support women's empowerment in the region.. This followed two dialogue sessions held by the SEA+I HR Community of Practice (SEA+I HRCoP) to address the organisation's challenges regarding women's empowerment and employee engagement, and practical approaches were proposed to promote common initiatives. It was a great learning experience as participants shared their company's challenges and solutions for women's empowerment and employee engagement.

Participants in the 6th SEA+I HR Network Meeting 2022

The objective of the Supagas LEDA Program is to enhance the individual capabilities of each employee by learning and practicing skills required for leadership. In this program, participants learn leadership skills through various training sessions, including watching videos, reading literature, and conducting self-assessments. By the end of the program, participants improve their EQ (Emotional Intelligence) as professionals capable of properly managing subordinates and boosting their motivation. Participants learn to heighten their self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and trustworthiness, which enables them to connect with others and build relationships that are inspiring and empowering.

Group photo of participants

The doubly labelled water (DLW) method is the only international standard method able to measure with high precision the amount of energy expenditure of a subject under free-living activities, using oxygen-18 and heavy water. Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation has supported the spread of DLW and researchers around the world through long-term supply of the stable isotopes (Water-18O and D2O). In 2021, the results of an international research project into energy expenditure supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency were reported in the prestigious global academic journal Science (August 13, 2021 edition), further highlighting this work.

Nippon Gases Italia S.r.l. acquired a majority of the share of the Spanish medical equipment manufacturer Noxtec Development SL. This will enable the two companies to work together on technological improvements of medical equipment used for nitrous oxide treatment. Nitrous oxide has a vasodilatory effect in cardiopulmonary blood vessels, and is currently used to treat pulmonary hypertension. The inhaled nitric oxide therapy market is expected to grow going forward. Both companies have a high level of technology and knowledge related to medical equipment development and medical gases, which they will combine in an effort to further improve the quality of medical equipment and services.