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Welcome to the SDGs in the News Podcast.
This is Susan Yoshimura, Managing Editor of Japan 2 Earth, coming to you from Tokyo.
Today, we bring you another English article on Japan and the SDGs.
You can find the full text on our website. Just click the link in the episode notes.
Have a listen.
Women Stepping Up in the Resource Recycling Industry
A new women's council set up within an industrial association for resource
recyclers sets the stage for women to take on more prominent roles in the industry.
On November 18, a women's council was established within the Japan Federation of Industrial Waste
Management and Recycling Associations, a nationwide association for the industrial
waste processing industry. The council's aim is to promote more prominent roles for women in the
resource recycling industry. It will also provide a forum for networking through a community website.
Reiko Futagi, CEO of Otani Sayun, KK, a Japan 2 Earth partner company,
will serve as chairperson of the women's council.
Talk of setting up a countrywide group for women first came up at a roundtable discussion that
brought together Futagi and representatives from other district-level women's groups in the industry.
Some were reluctant, worrying that establishing a council of women would create a burden for
its chairperson and wouldn't necessarily lead to more business. Others noted that some areas of
the country had no women members, or that the existing youth council might be sufficient.
To address these concerns, a web-based survey was conducted among female employees of member
companies in 47 prefectures. A total of 578 people responded, including those who did not belong to
local women's groups. When asked if they would like to participate in a women's community,
approximately 70 percent of respondents selected strongly agree or agree.
In response to members who were uncertain or felt barriers to participation such as lack of time,
the decision was made to launch a community website. The idea was to provide an online
environment where members could interact and learn from each other at any time.
Futagi explains, we want to create a community where women can go to connect with like-minded
people and find support. A better working environment for women will contribute to
the development of the industry as a whole.
That brings us to the end of today's article. If you enjoyed this story, do let us know,
and check out our website by clicking on the link in the episode notes.
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so you never miss an episode. Until next time, this is Susan Yoshimura of Japan to Earth, signing off.
