OREANDA-NEWS. Ajinomoto Co., Inc. is encouraging all of the approximately 30,000 employees of the Ajinomoto Group around the world to participate in simultaneous global clean-up activities on October 22, 2013. This activity is part of the "Smile Earth!" program of participatory social contribution activities, in which Ajinomoto Group employees worldwide act for the good of the Earth.

Initiated in 2007, Smile Earth! is now in its seventh year, and these will be the seventh simultaneous global clean-up activities. Participation by business sites and employees has grown every year, reaching approximately 10,000 employees at 186 sites in 15 countries and regions in 2012.

This year in Japan, approximately 5,000 employees from 140 sites (total including the head office, branches and Group companies) throughout the country are expected to join in the effort.

The Ajinomoto Group will help solve the challenges facing human society in the 21st century - global sustainability, food resources and healthy lifestyles ? by contributing to significant advances in Food and Health and by working for Life, as stated in the Ajinomoto Group Philosophy. The Group will encourage its many business sites and employees around the world to participate in the simultaneous global clean-up activities as a unified Group effort.

The aim of Smile Earth! is to help raise awareness of the environment, society and the community by encouraging Group employee participants to put their thoughts and ideas on each into action. The program encompasses activities with three themes: "Clean up," which includes these simultaneous global clean-up activities; "Mottainai (What a waste!) & Eco," which includes the "Eat Well ECO" campaign and the donation of collected unused goods; and "Diverse Actions," which includes a human rights slogan contest. The Group will encourage its many business sites and employees around the world to participate in these activities as a unified Group effort.