Hyundai Transys’ sustainable development

‘Sustainable development’ is the talk of the town. It refers to development that fulfills the need of the current generation while not hindering the capacity of the future generation to fulfill their own needs. As we live with limited energy source and food source, developing clean energy source and resource-saving technology while improving our lifestyle and consumption rationally is not a choice but a must. Then what could an enterprise do and should do for sustainable development? Hyundai Transys streamlined the organization and management system to better carry out the enterprise social responsibility and summarized the feat in their ‘2020 Sustainable Management Report.’ Here are various social contribution activities Hyundai Transys carries out to resolve social issues as a mobility solution enterprise.

Eco-friendly; the Answer Was Found in Discarded Car Seats.

Hyundai Transys produces upcycling products with social enterprises.

Car seat development is one of Hyundai Transys’ main businesses. As seats are something that customers spend most of the time in a car with, only high-quality leather that went through sensitive fire-resistant finish and safety experiment is used. In the car seat development and testing process, much waste seat and leftover leather is left behind. While metal waste is recycled actively among all automobile waste, recycling of leather seat and internal material is very infrequent, which costs a lot of money in handling the waste.

To solve such problem, Hyundai Transys launched ‘NEXT ZERO.’ Next Zero is a social contribution activity brand that recycles leftover leather from producing seats to produce card wallets, etc., to convey new values. Their first products were key holders, name card wallets, bill wallets, and card wallets; these design products were special in that they were the only one of their kind made from leftover bits and pieces into patchwork (handcraft that makes one big fabric out of pieces of fabric that differ in color, pattern, size, and shape). A social enterprise ‘Public Spaces’ is made in charge of manufacturing while a local small business is hired in collecting leather and processing fabric, which contributes to creating jobs. Hyundai Transys is able to recycle 12 tons of waste leather per year through Next Zero. They plan to continue with Next Zero in producing various products as promotional goods for not just employees but also for the customers.

Wage Sharing Donation to Support the Socially Vulnerable with Welfare Vehicle

Hyundai Transys donated Happy Power Cars to 5 social welfare centers in Seosan-si.

Hyundai Transys also carries out social contribution activities that reflects its business trait. ‘Happy Power Car’ would be the most prominent case, which contributes to the mobility convenience of local social minorities. The project involves donating vehicles to improve the quality of life for the disabled, children, and other vulnerable social groups who have difficulty with mobility. A total of 21 vehicles have been donated to the local welfare centers since 2013. There’s another reason why Happy Power Car is special; it’s that the campaign is carried out by Hyundai Transys’ employee wage sharing.

Hyundai Transys carries out the wage sharing campaign. For those who wish, employee donation is made every other month from their wage while the company also makes the donation according to the matching grant* system. In June, the yearly donation from wage sharing, around 120,000,000 KRW, was used to deliver 5 Happy Power Cars (3 Starex, 1 Ray, 1 refrigerator van) to 5 social welfare centers in Seosan. Wage sharing fund is used not just for Happy Power Car but also for afterschool children protection program ‘Happy Power School,’ local community’s ‘Emergency Medical Living Expenses,’ etc. Donation status and history are shared transparently to all employees through the company board every year.

* Matching grant: A social contribution fund program where an enterprise matches the same amount of money regularly donated to non-profit organizations or institutions by enterprise employment

Walking Frames Help Free Mobility of the Elderly.

Hyundai Transys supports walking frames for the elderly with mobility issues.

Walking frames are like arms and legs for the elderly with mobility issue. They go everywhere the elderly go. As they are supporting equipment related to movement, the government supports the purchase of walking frames for the elderly through the National Long-Term Care Insurance. But those who suddenly lose their livelihood or without insurance as they are the isolated minority shunned even by their children have difficulty purchasing a walking frame which costs about 200,000 KRW. Given the situation, many of these elderly people use discarded strollers as an alternative. You can easily see old people on the street walking with the help of a stroller. Discarded strollers often have abnormal, broken or worn out wheels which make the elderly prone to small and big accidents.

To improve the mobility rights of the elderly, Hyundai Transys began supporting walking frames with their mobility technology. This particular walking frame is equipped with a parking brake, a seat for a short break, and a basket, which all contributes to convenient and safe movement of the elderly. Also, with the Babyboomer Volunteer Group, continuous repair is provided so that they have no problem using this walking frame. As this is the season for a good walk outside, we hope that the elderly can enjoy a great day out with their walking frames.

Preventing Fire by Supporting Those Vulnerable to Fire as well as Fire Departments

Hyundai Transys donated training equipment to the fire department to prevent fire.

In April, a fire broke out on a hill in Seosan-si, Chungnam, which took more than 12 hours to hose down. When the weather gets dry, areas that are vulnerable to mountain fire require much attention throughout autumn. Hyundai Transys, which operates their factories based in Seosan, has been doating fire extinguishers, hose reel fire hydrants, gas leak detectors, etc., to those vulnerable to fire to help with the fire prevention in Seosan. This year, they decided to donate to the local firemen, who have been quietly helping with all the hard work for the vulnerable minority of the community.

Departments that received the support were Jigok Euiyong fire department and Seongyeon Euiyong fire department in Seosan-si; they were provided with training equipment set (PC set, etc.). Hyundai Transys sincerely thanked the Euiyong firemen and delivered training equipment as they have worked so hard in the Jigok and Seongyeon areas upon all fires, by dispatching men swiftly and taking down fires. Hyundai Transys will continue to carry out local community volunteer work and fire prevention projects with the fire departments in Seosan-si.

For a Warm End of the Year with the Local Community

Hyundai Transys carries out a social contribution event with the local minorities around the end of the year.

Winter is a difficult time for the lonely, isolated minorities as well as those with low income. This year, with COVID-19, even colder winter is expected as there is much difficulty in caring for these people. Last December, Hyundai Transys participated in the hope sharing campaign led by the Chungnam Social Welfare Joint Fundraising Committee and delivered the neighborhood love fund, 80,000,000 KRW. The fund was used for the local minorities and as scholarships for elementary schools, middle schools, and SeongBong school near its workplace while many activities for the development of local institutions were carried out.

The employees of different branches also took part in sharing. The Jigok factory supported Christmas presents for children of low-income families that they wished to have last December for 3 days from December 2nd by matching the gifts that were donated through the company fundraiser ‘Love Angel Tree’ campaign. The angel tree decorated with cards written by the children about what they wanted for Christmas was set up in the cafeteria of the factory. Employees read the cards, chose a child they wished to support, and donated gifts. It’s a much-awaited social contribution activity by the employees as they wish to play Santa for a dear child this year as well.

Hyundai Transys always thinks about the social role of an enterprise.

Hyundai Transys tried hard to be a trusted enterprise through various social contributions. They especially focused on activities for the local communities through volunteer work and donations. Also, the employees shared the value of sharing and the spirit of volunteer work through employee participation based social contribution activities as they together embarked on a journey for a better future.

Hyundai Transys now thinks about the social role of an enterprise required by the current society. They make use of their mobility technology to help local communities or resolve environment issues through upcycling. Looking into our society’s issues and taking the time to think about the solutions is the definition of Hyundai Transys’ ‘change and values created together.’