On this article, we are proud to introduce you to an entrepreneur striving to be the change and good of our global environment and its economy.
This is an interview with Yukiyo Ueno working side by side with our Nation as to achieve sustainable and environmentally healthy future together.
We conducted an interview as part of the initiative to celebrate 2020 earth day:22nd April.
You may have heard a keyword Sustainability Entrepreneurship, “entrepreneurial approaches used to solve social and environmental problems and that a positive contribution is made to sustainable development”.
Yukiyo Ueno not only checkes all the boxes she takes it further and eager to help the world navigate the future of sustainability.
Born in Japan on March 26, 1982. Yukiyo worked at a fashion E-commerce company carrying out a Merchandising and a buyer role in the company. She left the company at the age of 27 to pursue entrepreneurship. At the age of 30, Yukiyo founded Universal Trade Japan Co., Ltd.
In the beginning Universal Trade Japan Co., Ltd took part in the fashion industry mainly selling within the Japanese market of originally produced fashion goods manufactured in various countries such as China, South Korea and United States.
“When I used to travel to China in a monthly basis, I would often times realize certain differences in the environment. It made me question whether we are on the right path for the environmental and economic sustainability.
The experience also made me realize perhaps the products that are bad for the global environment are also ultimately bad for humans.
Which means the opposite could be said too, that is human-friendly products are eco-friendly.”
Yukiyo shared with us
“If we repeat the economic development methods that developed countries have repeated since the Industrial Revolution, in the current African countries that are growing rapidly the negative impact that could be caused in a global level could becatastrophic considering the future population explosion and the size of the African continent.
What’s more, the environmental damage will not be caused by people in African regions, but by companies in developed countries expanding into African continent and repeating unethical methods.
That’s one of the reason I chose African countries as the starting point for our greenbelt initiative.
There are so much we could learn form African nations and I believe its is where people are more appreciative of nature and coexisting with.
Thats we chose Africa and eager to protect nature and be part of healthier growth of the economy.”
Universal Trade Japan Co., Ltd launched a new business initiative World Green Belt Project. In November 2017 the initiative kick started Africa Green Belt Project. With the project Yukiyo and her team planted over 100 Neem trees across the land of Benin.
“It’s very important for me that people know we are not conducting “African aid project”. For me my aim and focus is at “co-creation“ achieving healthy and wholesome future with the entire world.
With a growing nation of Africa and people from the nation, I am focused to expand our initiative in the land of Africa as well as other areas and countries through out the entire world.”
From Africa to the world
Yukiyo is planning to launch her first organic brand “World Peace Love -Made with Nature-“ this summer of 2020.
While basing the operation in different African countries Yukiyo aim towards delivering to Japanese consumers, African plant based cosmetic products and healthy food products.
“We want to first launch shea butter cream. I am really hoping that many parents and children benefit from it. With our business model, if people use good organic product we can reinvest more into planting trees world wide and if we can plant more trees we can help more people utilize the benefit of natural products and ingredients”.
The big vision
When asked what is the big vision you would like people to know about of your initiative Yukiyo shared with us.
“My Ultimate vision is connecting the world and earth with green belt.”
The future of sustainable businesses is looking brighter.
As Yukiyo have shared, it is true that “Business” have often been behind societal demands for responsibility. But her initiative of “World Green Belt Project” reminds us that things may be starting to look up. While many companies are taking the lead in practicing and promoting sustainability it may be the only few that can sustain and work towards their promise.
Initiatives such as “World Green Belt Project” may be a great roll model and a helping hand to leading new breeds of companies and our environment forward.
UN.org
We cheer for the success of Yukiyo’s journey and we hope to see many more of entrepreneurs and driven initiatives with a combination of business growth and environmental awareness. Check un.org for information related to Earth Day 2020.
You can find more of Yukiyo Ueno’s work and initiative at below.
Social media page Facebook
Social media page Instagram
