From shared values to a living partnership

When Kyocera Document Solutions France first stepped onto the tatami with France Judo, it was a meeting of moral codes: humility, respect, discipline, mirroring the Kyocera Philosophy of “doing the right thing as a human being.” That overlap gave the partnership its centre of gravity and made it more than an event-day activation.

At launch, colleagues swapped stories, rediscovered old judogi (the traditional uniform worn in judo) and reconnected with the spirit of ‘rei’ – the bow that shows respect and gratitude. This alignment of virtue and ethics matters because it sustains momentum after the banners are rolled up at an event.

Culture travels, but values persist. That’s what turns a sponsorship into a shared practice inside the company. With France Judo, Kyocera France has supported initiatives that broaden access and community engagement – para-judo programmes, awareness campaigns, and the Federation’s drive to build more dojos for underprivileged neighbourhoods through its “1,000 dojos” initiative. Each thread is simple: make it easier for more people to participate, learn and thrive.

Naturally, this work flows from national events to the neighbourhood level. Kyocera France collaborates with local dealers and community actors across regions, connecting company teams with clubs and dojos near them. This proximity matters: it anchors CSR in day-to-day life.

How partners can get involved (and measure what matters)

Kyocera’s European sustainability approach emphasises practical, low-waste habits: durable design, energy-aware operation and services that cut materials and emissions over the device lifecycle. These choices are guided by the Philosophy and by decades of sustainable product thinking across ECOSYS and inkjet portfolios.

The takeaway for CSR teams: environmental responsibility scales best when it rides on a daily process.

Map the shared values

Write down the two or three principles you can stand behind. With France Judo, it was rather clear: respect, discipline, inclusion. Then, you should try to link them explicitly to your CSR priorities. This keeps virtue and ethics front-and-centre and prevents drift.

With Judo France, our common Japanese roots (where Kyocera and Judo were respectively created and invented) helped connect the dots more easily; find the right strand to start with.

Start where community already gathers

Local clubs, schools and associations are hubs that already exist. Aiming to take part in projects that increase access while aligning with your values (e.g., inclusive sport sessions, awareness activities with families) and bring colleagues into contact with people they might not otherwise meet.

When partnering with Judo France, we decided to prioritise family invitations (multiple entrance) over multiple single ones as Judo is a family-friendly setting.

Design for environmental responsibility by default

Plan logistics with reuse and low waste in mind – think reconditioned kit, consolidated deliveries and materials with a second life. Align with your existing sustainability goals so CSR and operations reinforce each other.

For example, when organising events with France Judo, local partners would provide recycled printers for administrative tasks to prolong their lifecycles.

Measure what proves momentum

Pick a small set of indicators: volunteer participation, number of local activations, inclusion-focused initiatives, and qualitative stories from participants. Connect these to your ESG narrative so boards, auditors and sustainable investing audiences can observe the impact.

For Kyocera Documents Solutions France, this meant connecting more deeply by activating the partnership through giveaways to employees, partners and clients.

Partnerships breathe when people do. Kyocera’s experience shows that small, regular gestures such as showing up and listening create trust. Over time, they add up to a sponsorship that is recognisably yours, rooted in place, and aligned with environmental responsibility. That is how community engagement stays fresh across seasons and beyond headline moments. 

Ready to explore a values-based partnership or bring a local pilot to life? 

Get in touch with our EU team and let’s map an approach that fits your goals and community.