With the Benesse Group's sustainability, we hold that each and every one of our employees will practice our corporate philosophy of “Benesse – well-being,” and carry it to their local communities, to society at large, and to the future.
We manage both principles and profit in our sustainability activities and expand our business activities, which are balanced between society, the environment, and the economy, while also working to solve the social problems faced by our stakeholders.
| Stakeholders | Engagement initiatives |
|---|---|
| Customers |
Continuous creation of services that address current and future customer challenges through effective communication. 【Example initiatives】
|
| Employees |
Development of fair and vibrant workplaces through communication with employees. 【Example initiatives】 |
| Suppliers and partners |
Treating partners as important collaborators in creating value together and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships. 【Example initiatives】 |
| Communities and society |
While creating local job opportunities through our business activities, we generate new value and build a prosperous society by collaborating with people living in the community through education, culture, and the arts. 【Example initiatives】 |
| Shareholders and investors |
We seek to grow and develop in a way that earns the long-term trust of our shareholders and investors. 【Example initiatives】
|
In promoting sustainability management, Benesse considers it important to hold dialogues with various stakeholders and to implement business activities in which external opinions are listened to. To this end, Benesse continuously holds stakeholder dialogues as a forum for an interactive dialogue with external experts, stakeholders and others on sustainability issues.
● In June 2023, Mr. Yusuke Imai, President of Chance for Children, a public interest incorporated association that provides support to children from economically deprived households in order to solve child poverty and education disparities, gave his opinion on solving social issues through Benesse's education business. In the dialogue, Mr. Imai and Okada, Managing Executive Officer of Benesse Holdings and Chair of the Sustainability Promotion Committee (as of 2023), discussed the education gap, current issues surrounding children and teachers, support for both, and collaboration with NPOs. The opinions received are reflected in the materiality review process and other processes.
● In June 2023, Ken Shibusawa, Representative Director of Shibusawa & Company Ltd. and Special Advisor to the Chairman of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and Okada, Managing Executive Officer of Benesse Holdings and Chair of the Sustainability Promotion Committee (as of 2023), held a dialogue on the Benesse Group's expectations for solving social issues. Mr. Shibusawa gave his opinions on the importance of human capital, diversity and how to show activities for movement from original targets towards the results. The opinions received are reflected in the review of the materiality and in the process of considering the content of future information disclosure.
● Koichi Sakai, Publisher of Nikkei ESG, an ESG management magazine published by Nikkei Business Publications, and Hitoshi Kobayashi, President and CEO of Benesse Holdings, discussed Benesse Holdings' vision and its transformation, which is to build a value creation model that creates and circulates three values - customer value, economic value, and social value - and realise the basic philosophy “Benesse = Well-Being” through its businesses.
● We brought together managers of production plants in China that handle educational materials and toys to explain the importance of building a sound supply chain at the production site, including human rights issues and environmental considerations, and to exchange views. We also held regular meetings with domestic printing and bookbinding companies and plants to exchange views on a regular basis. Through these stakeholder engagements, if improvements were found to be needed, we worked together to make them happen.
Benesse Group's solution for the social issue through its operations, which are supported by numerous stakeholders, go along with the missions of three foundations that promote social activity.
We work to solve social problems by supporting these foundations that aim to solve social problems through supporting the children who will carry the future and supporting the creation of good communities centered on education, culture, and art.
Last updated : 2024/07/18