Community Welfare Activities of Consumer Co-operatives

Transcription

1 European Economic and Social Committee Symposium on Active and healthy ageing: Social and economic challenges October 9, 2012, Tokyo Session 3: Silver economy: ageing society and new economic and social opportunities Community Welfare Activities of Consumer Co-operatives in Japan YAMAGIWA, Atsushi Manager, Welfare Activity Promotion Dept. Japanese Consumers Co-operative Union (JCCU)

2 JCCU is the national union of consumer co-ops ops in Japan. Japanese Consumers Co-operative Union Business Federations of Community Based Co-ops Prefectural Unions National Unions of Categorical Co-ops University/ Health & Welfare/ Mutual Insurance/ Housing Retail Co-ops Non-retail ilco-ops Community Institutional School University Health & Mutual Based Co-ops Teachers Co-ops Welfare Insurance Co-ops Co-ops Co-ops Co-ops Primary Co-operatives Housing Co-ops

3 Outlook of Community Based Retail Co-operatives operatives (Figures are in 2011) Membership: 19 million households One in three households is a coop member. Turnover: T 2,676 billion Home Delivery: 1,635 billion Number of Delivery Vans: 20, Stores: 919 billion Number of Stores: 1,020 0

4 We cover almost all communities in Japan throughout the retail network. Thus we share responsibility to support people s life in accord with changes in the society.

5 Our Activities Based on the worldwide principles of Co-operatives ICA (International Cooperative Alliance) 7th Principle: Concern for Community While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members. Within the local community, in addition to the retail operation, we are required to play more active roles in community affairs, such as welfare and contribution to "public assistance and public p interest.

6 As Japan s Society is Ageing Co-op Members are Ageing as well. We have to optimize our activities and business operations to cope with the needs of ageing g members and the ageing gsociety.

7 Concerns of Ageing People from a Government survey in 2005 Shopping 16.6 Medical care Traffic accident Public transportation Local roads Place for walking Pulic utilities such as library or meeting space %

8 Needs of Ageing gconsumers Frequency of interactions with neighbors has been decreasing Frequently Sometimes Rarely None or other 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

9 What co-op members think important for their future life from 2012 Members Survey by JCCU Health Happy family Peace of mind Safety Purpose in life Interaction with people %

10 Members are willing to participate in Public Activities including Welfare from 2012 Members Survey by JCCU Disaster relief Safety of food / life Hobby Welfare / mutual aid Diet / cooking Environment %

11 Policy of Community Welfare Activities of Consumer Co-ops ops by JCCU Study Committee for Community Welfare Activities in Co-ops basic role is to support lives of members and people in the community through h their business operation, especially food retailing. 2. Co-ops are to cooperate with municipalities, local social welfare councils and other organizations to form a local network of community welfare. 3. Co-ops are to provide members and local residents opportunities of study and civic activities. 4. Co-ops are to provide members and local residents consulting service on matters of their daily life, and to utilize the community welfare network to cope with the matters of consultation. 5. Co-ops are to make requests or proposals to and consult with the national and local authorities, if necessary, on the issues on community welfare they face during their operations and activities.

12 Our practice on the policy: Case 1 Age-Friendly Supermarkets Our New Supermarkets are designed to be age- friendly based on the government e standard. Call Button for Shopping Assistance Wider Parking Space

13 Our practice on the policy: Case 2 Providing Long-term Care Service for the Elderly Nearly one third of community based co-ops (50 co-ops)now provide the long- term care service regulated by the government. The service includes: Home visit by helper, Day-care, Short stay, Lease or sales of welfare equipments Annual turnover: 17.5 billion (2011)

14 Our practice on the policy: Case 3 Developing Age-friendly Products Develop and improve Co-op brand products with the Agefriendly concept. One example: Co-op canned soft drink Refresh with an easier to open pull-top Before: Shallow Dent After: Deeper Dent

15 Our practice on the policy: Case 4 Free Bus Service for Shopping for Remote Communities The bus service of Co-op Akita is used by 80 to 120 people, average age 70 year old, per day. The route map and timetable of the bus service provided by Co-op Sapporo in Akabira-city, Hokkaido.

16 Our practice on the policy: Case 5 Delivery service from store Some co-ops provide ageing or handicapped members delivery service from store with a small charge. Orders are made by telephone or paper. A staff member of Miyagi Co-op delivers ordered products to a member s house.

17 Our practice on the policy: Case 6 Mobile Grocery Store 14 Co-ops operate 65 mobile grocery stores for remote communities.

18 Our practice on the policy: Case 6 Mobile Grocery Store Inside of a mobile grocery store A temporary grocery store in a community also provides an opportunity of interaction among local people.

19 Our practice on the policy: Case 7 Co-op Community Center Co-ops provides local people p opportunities of interactions in various ways. Saitama Co-op operates a Co-op Community Center in a housing complex. Functions of the center are: Pick up point of goods ordered through home-shopping system Meeting and gathering gplace for members and local people p for Temporary shop, Food tasting, Culture event, Health Promotion etc.

20 Our practice on the policy: Case 8 Prepared Meal Delivery Operated by 32 Co-ops (20 more expected) 105 thousand registered customers 40,000 meals delivered per day (except Sat. and Sun.) Face to face communication through Monday to Friday Easy order by telephone Keep emergency contact phone number of the family Delivery by part-timers such as active ageing people and young mothers

21 Our practice on the policy: Case 9 Housework Support Business To Feed Pets To Water Plants To Pluck Grass To Discard Bulky Waste

22 Our practice on the policy: Case 10 Mutual Help Activities Among Co-op Members Co-ops organize Mutual Help Activities among their members, in which, members able to support give assistance to members needing help in daily life such as talking with the elderly or watering plants with small fee. Number of supporting members: 28,000 Total hours of help activities: 1.6 million hours per year

23 Our practice on the policy: Case 11 Activities in Interaction Salons Co-ops operate Interaction Salon for ageing members, as a place for various activities such as exercise, table talk with lunch or tea and health check.