North Africa: Japan’s Unicharm Corp. to Bring Affordable Hygiene Products to 36 Million Low-Income Women

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

New York/Tokyo — Japanese consumer products giant Unicharm Corp. has pledged to bring affordable diapers and sanitary products to 36 million low-income women in the Middle East/North Africa and Asian regions as part of the Business Call to Action (BCTA), a global initiative to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development through the development of inclusive business models.

Unicharm’s international expansion is expected to more than triple the company’s annual production of diapers and feminine napkins from 10 billion and 12 billion by the year 2020. Forty percent of Unicharm’s total hygiene products are expected to be manufactured and sold to low-income consumers in the Middle East/North Africa and Asia.

As part of its localization strategy, the company will also employ an additional 8,000 underemployed women throughout Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt–nearly doubling its female workforce in these countries.

“Through this initiative, we will expand our reach while alleviating poverty and supporting and empowering millions of women across the Middle East/North Africa and Asia,” Unicharm Corp. CEO Takahisa Takahara said. “We are delighted to contribute in this way to sustainable and inclusive development, and to further demonstrate that good business practices and good global citizenship complement each other.”

Source: All Africa (link opens in a new window)

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Environment, Health Care