Forests the size of 27,000 football fields
Climate change is causing deforestation to accelerate at an alarming rate. Between 1990 and 2020, the world lost approximately 420 million hectares of forest, and even today, around 10 million hectares—equivalent to 27,000 football fields—disappear annually. This massive loss not only threatens biodiversity but also presents an irreversible crisis.
To address this issue, Sompo Japan has partnered with local governments in eight regions across Japan to launch the “Sompo’s Forest” initiative, a program that focuses on forest conservation, maintenance, and environmental education through volunteer activities. Forest conservation requires a long-term commitment and collective effort, making ongoing engagement essential.
This is where the Sompo Chikyu (Earth) Club plays a key role. The organization recruits volunteers among employees across Japan, plans activities, and provides the funding to support the Sompo’s Forest initiative and volunteer activities in it.
More than 30 years of employee action
Over the decades, the Sompo Chikyu (Earth) Club has spearheaded a wide range of community engagement activities, including environmental protection, healthcare, social welfare, and disaster relief, tailored to the unique needs of different regions in Japan. Originally an initiative within Sompo Japan, it has steadily expanded to involve people from all the Sompo Group companies across the country.
While the company actively addresses social challenges, it also empowers individuals to get involved. Each company has designated sustainable management leaders, who encourage participation and raise awareness among its people. This approach has significantly increased employee engagement, with 12,450 employees participating in FY2023 alone. Moreover, in the same fiscal year, employees voluntarily contributed approximately 20 million yen to fund various initiatives.
Disaster relief, food drives, and more
Beyond environmental initiatives, the Sompo Chikyu Club is involved in a wide range of social impact initiatives, such as:
- Donations to volunteer organizations providing disaster relief
- Financial grants to NPOs chosen by employees by vote
- Assistance in managing and donations to SOMPO-style children’s cafeterias run by Sompo Care
The Sompo Group has a deep commitment to creating social value by also going beyond its main lines of business and proactively engage in initiatives for social welfare and the environment. I would like to think the Sompo Chikyu Club is one manifestation of that commitment in line with making the Sompo Group’s Purpose a reality.
