The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2023 is pleased to honor 78 outstanding business leaders and enterprises for championing sustainable and responsible business practices. Presented by leading regional NGO Enterprise Asia, the AREA is the most reputable award recognition program recognizing organizational efforts in creating a culture of compassion, integrity, and in being socially responsible corporate citizens. The AREA serves as a badge of excellence to spur further innovation and best-practice for sharing about the organization and the world at large.
TAU Corporation (TAU) was among the recipients who were conferred with the Social Empowerment and Circular Economy Leadership Awards. TAU Corporation is a company that contributes to the reduction of global environmental impact through the reuse and recycling of cars. The company realizes a circular business by selling damaged cars purchased in Japan to 125 countries around the world including Japan through its website.
Receiving the Social Empowerment Award, the initiative named “Negai No Kuruma” translating to a “Wish-Fulfilling Car,” provides the opportunity for terminal care or cancer patients to go to places they wish to visit as the last trip of their life, completely free of charge. As inflation takes its toll, families of terminally ill patients grapple with economic and time challenges, intensifying the struggle to offer adequate care. Consequently, the earnest desires to fulfill the final acts of filial piety towards one’s parents and to realize final wishes of dear ones before passing are increasingly harder to achieve.
Thus far, TAU has facilitated realization of 58 final wishes and expanded the scope of its activities from Tokyo metropolitan areas to central and west parts of Japan as well. This initiative not only fulfills the cherished desires of patients in their final moments but also embodies the highest form of filial piety for their families. Moreover, it serves as a means for medical personnel to grant wishes that go beyond medical care’s capacity alone, allowing for the sharing of invaluable moments among all parties involved.
For its Circular Economy Leadership Award, TAU presents the “Car Triage” system. The system judiciously determines the ideal course of action for vehicles compromised in road incidents or environmental calamities. By categorizing these vehicles as “sale in current condition,” “repairable,” “suitable for spare parts,” or “valuable materials source,” the company efficiently directs each vehicle towards the most economical and environmentally conscious treatment pathway, thereby curbing CO₂ emissions.
TAU applies its “Car Triage” system on vehicles of all categories including damaged cars, trucks, forklifts, and construction equipment. As a result, over the 27 years since its founding, the company has recycled 1.2 million cars and reduced CO₂ emissions by 3.6 million tons (as of April 2023).
In addition to direct sales in their current condition, the “Car Triage” system’s categorization of damaged vehicles into “repairable,” “for spare parts,” and “for materials” has yielded substantial benefits for the economy, society, and the environment. Notably, when compared to the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing new cars, repurposing damaged vehicles results in a reduction of 1,320 kg of CO₂ emissions per car. This reduction is equivalent to the annual CO₂ absorption of 150 cedar trees. Leveraging the expertise gained in Japan, TAU is now extending its initiatives to countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and other parts of Asia.
Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its activities not only in Japan but also in Asia and the world at large to contribute to nurturing prosperous and compassionate societies. Moreover, by providing its know-how, systems, knowledge, and experience, TAU will contribute to the reduction carbon emission and curbing global warming by building a comprehensive car recycling framework model throughout Asia and the world.
About Enterprise Asia
Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine toward sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, in uplifting the economic status of people across Asia and in ensuring a legacy of hope, innovation and courage for the future generation. Please visit https://www.enterpriseasia.org/ for more information.
About Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA)
The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards program recognizes and honors Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship in the categories of Green Leadership, Investment in People, Health Promotion, Social Empowerment, Corporate Governance, Circular Economy Leadership, Corporate Sustainability Reporting, and Responsible Business Leadership. For more information, visit: https://enterpriseasia.org/area/.