WHO WE ARE

Fulfilling our mission as a packaging provider

This is a reprint of the lead column "Perspective" by Kiyoshi Otsubo, Representative Director, Chairman & CEO of Rengo Co., Ltd., as part of his serialized contributions to the magazine Keizaikai (March 2019 issue, No. 32).

With the arrival of the New Year, I imagine many of you have renewed your aspirations with hope in your hearts. This year marks not only a historic turning point as Japan transitions from the Heisei era to a new one, but also a period of heightened international attention, with global events such as the G20 Summit and the Rugby World Cup taking place in rapid succession. It is an extremely important year in which our nation's true value will be put to the test. The outcomes will have a significant impact on next year's Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Osaka Kansai Expo that follows, and even the achievement of the SDGs in 2030.
As a comprehensive manufacturer of packaging, Rengo Group is committed to fulfilling all packaging needs across every industry. In other words, we operate under the banner of General Packaging Industry (GPI). However, from the user's perspective, we are often referred to as a supplier. Recently, in conversation with executives from Europe and the United States, I came across an interesting observation: the term "supplier," they explained, tends to imply the act of merely providing what is lacking. In contrast, the term "provider" carries the nuance of anticipating needs and proactively delivering solutions.
In the world of ICT, the term provider is commonly used, and many people may primarily think of businesses that provide internet connection services.
Rengo has adopted "Less is more." as a key concept, promoting packaging development that creates greater value with fewer resources. Amid the pressing social challenge of a severe labor shortage, we take pride in having pioneered unprecedented demand through products that improve operational efficiency in distribution, both in brick-and-mortar retail and e-commerce. These include corrugated boxes that can be opened with a single action and placed directly on display, paper fixtures that allow sales spaces to be set up easily, and packaging systems capable of automatically assembling corrugated boxes of different heights according to product sizes.
We have also actively worked to create an environment in which diverse personnel can fully utilize their abilities, based on the belief that each working individual is a valuable asset and a source of creativity that generates innovation, with an eye toward addressing major social challenges such as the declining birthrate, aging population, and the SDGs. We have endeavored to identify the issues facing society at any given time, to determine what we as a company must do, and to engage sincerely in all aspects of our business activities, beginning with packaging development.
These efforts, though perhaps unintentionally, may well serve as evidence that the Rengo Group is already operating not merely as a supplier, but as a true provider.
This April marks the 110th anniversary of our founding, a major milestone for our group. Moving forward, we intend to fulfill our mission not as a supplier that simply manufactures and delivers products, but as a creative packaging provider that generates new demand and creates new markets.
Our challenge to become the world's leading company under the banner of the General Packaging Industry has no end. With renewed commitment, we will continue our tireless efforts this year as well, supporting logistics and daily life, and striving for the realization of a better and more sustainable society.