In addition, we have established a specialized department that provides third-party assurance of the reliability of various safety-related test data generated during product development. We also conduct safety evaluations and quality assessments for raw ingredients and products, striving to ensure high quality and to guarantee customers' safety and peace of mind.

　The Yakult Central Institute promotes social activities through communication with customers and local communities.

Tours of the Shirota Memorial Museum and programs for junior and senior high school students
　In order to get as many people as possible to learn about the history of our research activities and our initiatives, we welcome the public to visit the Shirota Memorial Museum, which is located on the institute's premises, and conduct researcher-guided tours of the facility. We also have introduced a corporate visit program to promote career education for junior and senior high school students. In this way, we contribute to the development of future generations by inspiring them to learn more about research jobs and become interested in contributing to society through their work.

Cooperation with the Kunitachi City Science Independent Research Presentation
　To support science education in the local community, we participate in the Kunitachi City Science Independent Research Presentation, which is organized by the Kunitachi City Board of Education. Research products conducted independently among the city's elementary schools during summer vacation are selected for participation in the event. At the event, researchers from our Institute serve as judges and select outstanding works to be exhibited at the Tokyo Metropolitan Elementary School Science Exhibition.

Children's emergency shelter program (Pipo-kun homes)
　As part of crime prevention activities conducted in the area for children, we cooperate with Pipo-kun homes (homes and businesses marked with Pipo-kun [the mascot of the Japanese Police Agency] and the number 110 [the number of the police helpline], the combination of which indicates safe places where children can take shelter in an emergency).

　In 2021, the Yakult Group formulated the Yakult Group Environmental Vision and established Environmental Vision 2050 as our ideal vision for the future. Within this framework, the Yakult Central Institute has implemented a Centralized Monitoring System^*1, strengthened thermal insulation for steam piping, and reviewed operational methods and setpoints for air-conditioning systems, including temperature settings (energy conservation tuning). We have also introduced high-efficiency equipment and state-of-the-art technologies as part of our energy-saving initiatives.
　These efforts were recognized with the FY2022 Energy Conservation Grand Prize, receiving the Commissioner's Award, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (Chief Green Officer / Corporate Category).

　As part of our environmental initiatives aimed at contributing to the realization of a sustainable society, the Yakult Central Institute has also introduced Carbon Offset City Gas^*2. We also promote the use of renewable energy by installing solar panels on our research facilities and adopting a self‑wheeling system that transmits electricity generated at off‑site solar power plants through a power company's transmission and distribution network to our facilities.

　Guided by our core concept of being a "research institute surrounded by forest and water," the Yakult Central Institute strives to maintain harmony with its lush surroundings. We will strive to realize a low carbon society by continuously promoting energy conservation activities that consider the health of the environment.

　As a company with the slogan "In order for people to be healthy, everything around them must also be healthy," Yakult Honsha conducts research and development so that not only people, but all our surroundings, can be healthy. When conducting animal experiments in research and development, we place great importance on animal welfare. We believe that research objectives must be achieved while respecting animal life, minimizing pain and distress as much as possible, and using only the minimum number of animals necessary.

　Therefore, in accordance with the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals, as well as national regulations and guidelines issued by relevant organizations, and in compliance with our own internal regulations, we have established the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. This committee ensures appropriate management of animal experiments and facilitates compliance with the 3R Principles^*3, including the consideration of alternative study methods that do not involve animals. We also strive to ensure respect for animal life and ethical considerations through ongoing education, training, as well as self-inspections. As a result of these efforts, our animal experiment practices have been recognized as appropriate, and in October 2017, we received full accreditation from the AAALAC International^*4. 　Except in the case of legal obligations or when there are directions from government authorities, we have ended animal experiments in our food and cosmetics research.