Panasonic Vietnam sponsors the Mottainai Festival 2018

[13 October 2018, Hanoi] – The Mottainai Festival 2018 sponsored by Panasonic is held at the walking street around Hoan Kiem Lake with the participation of thousands of people in Hanoi. This is one of the activities to celebrate the 45^th year anniversary of Vietnam – Japan diplomatic relations.

With an unchanged business philosophy of contributing to society for the past 100 years, Panasonic has focused not only on business development but also on corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the fields of education, environment and sustainable development. In 2018, Panasonic is one of the main sponsors of the 6^th Mottainai Festival in Hanoi.

More than 140 members of management boards and employees of Panasonic Vietnam Group companies participate in the charity Mottainai Run, donated nearly 10 million VND to support orphans and children affected by traffic accidents.

Panasonic members to join Mottainai Run

Besides, Panasonic’s booth with a theme of “Recycled energy, filled with love” is an attractive place with many visitors thanks to its free Panasonic eco-battery exchange program. Visitors can exchange used batteries for Panasonic Alkaline batteries with superior performance and absolute safety. This is an eco-friendly battery type without harmful and dangerous heavy metals including lead, mercury and cadmium that can affect human health and environment.

The battery exchange program has been operated by Panasonic Vietnam since 2016 under the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. To date, Panasonic has collected used batteries with 70% containing heavy metals and exchanged nearly 30,000 Panasonic eco-friendly batteries in more than 15 provinces nationwide. The program aims to raise awareness of consumers about the use of non-toxic batteries, as well as proper battery treatment after use to avoid environmental pollution and human health effects.

Visitors joining the eco-battery exchange program at Panasonic booth

"As a leading electronics manufacturer, Panasonic pioneers in developing technologies, products and solutions with Japanese quality and CSR activities including the continuous development of Panasonic Risupia Vietnam, Kid Witness News film-making program, Panasonic Scholarship, or the annual planting tree "For a Green Vietnam”.  Each member of Panasonic is a positive nucleus of these activities. Participating in Mottainai Festival will help us spread the spirit of saving and sharing as the beautiful meaning of this festival”. Said Mr. Kazuhiro Matsushita, General Director of Panasonic Vietnam.

Visitors at Panasonic booth

Mottainai means “Extravagance” in Japanese language. Mottainai program is a prestigious event launched by Vietnam Women Newspaper based on activities of purchasing second-hand products to save money and avoid wastefulness in Japan. Through trading or auction of used objects, the program also aims to raise funds for unprivileged children, especially orphans or disabled ones. As an annual program since 2013, the Mottainai 2018, the sixth of its kind so far is organized from 7am-5pm on Saturday 13 October 2018 in Hanoi.