In March 2010, Benesse officially declared its support for the United Nations Global Compact - a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. By adopting these principles, global corporations can promote responsible management activities and contribute to a sustainable society.
| Category | GC Advance Standards | Initiatives | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Strategy and Implementation of the 10 Principles | |||
| Principle 1: | We explain how the 10 principles will be introduced into the corporate structure and on the business level | The Sustainability Committee has been established to ensure that there are no inconsistencies between business functions in sustainability initiatives and goals. | |
| Principle 2: | We explain to what extent value chains are practiced | We have expressed our support for TCFD and are conducting scenario analysis regarding the Company's risks and opportunities, also including value chains (up- and downstream). | |
| In the Value Chain Committee, management and the Business Infrastructure Division discuss priority issues in the value chain from a medium- to long-term perspective based on business strategy (after selecting priority themes based on risk analysis) and also carry out the PDCA cycle for periodic audits. | |||
| Human Rights | |||
| Principle 3: | We explain our strong commitment, strategies, and policies with regard to human rights | We are discussing and formulating Group human rights policy in the Sustainability Committee. | |
| Principle 4: | We explain an effective management system for incorporating the human rights principles | Every year, we conduct internal lectures at company-wide morning meetings (Human Rights Day) on human rights for all group employees, human rights training for new employees, and harassment training for managers and employees. Additionally, organizational assessments are conducted every year, and a review meeting is held with the management team. The results are reported to the head of each department and a PDCA cycle is implemented to improve the working environment, including human rights issues. | |
| To prevent abuse in the nursing care business, we distribute regular questionnaires to all nursing care workers to detect the seeds of abuse at an early stage and take appropriate action before abuse occurs. Improvement measures are implemented in response to the questionnaire responses. | |||
| We have established an internal reporting desk where employees can report and consult on compliance issues including human rights, discrimination, and harassment. Additionally, we have set up a consultation service for employees to consult with external organizations regarding harassment to ensure the effectiveness of the auditing function. The customer consultation service handles reports from outside the company. | |||
| Principle 5: | We explain mechanisms for effective monitoring and evaluation to incorporate the human rights principles | In accordance with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, we conduct human rights due diligence with the cooperation of external experts. Together with these experts, we conduct evaluations and report the results to the Sustainability Committee for discussion. | |
| The Risk and Compliance Committee conducts ongoing analysis of the Benesse Group's major risks and examines response policies. The committee meets twice a year under normal circumstances. | |||
| Labour | |||
| Principle 6: | We explain our strong commitment, strategies, and policies with regard to labor | Our corporate policy agrees with the aim of solving global issues as responsible corporate citizens as we promote initiatives based on the United Nations Global Compact's 10 principles and contribute to building a sustainable society. Moreover, we support the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which is part of the Benesse Group's human rights policy. | |
| We are creating a workplace where diverse human resources can play an active role regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, ideology, gender, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or employment status. We have established various systems to promote diverse work styles and support employee work-life balance. | |||
| Principle 7: | We explain an effective management system for incorporating the labor principles | We appoint employee representatives and have created a system for dialog for the sake of regular discussions and reviews of the Company's progress in improving labor standards. | |
| The "Speak Up Line" has been established as an internal reporting system for prompt consultation and communication in the event of illegal or improper acts, including labor problems or the discovery of acts in violation of the Articles of Incorporation or internal regulations. By appropriately utilizing this system, we are working to prevent and quickly resolve various labor problems and ensure the effectiveness of the auditing function. | |||
| We are aiming to increase awareness of the labor principles by various trainings offered by HR departments, interviews with employees, and other means. | |||
| Principle 8: | We explain mechanisms for effective monitoring and evaluation to incorporate the labor principles | As part of our human rights due diligence, we assess risks and impacts in the field of labor by identifying assessment items such as the promotion of work-life balance at each company. The results are reported to and discussed by the Sustainability Committee. | |
| We guarantee a system for tracking management and measurement of results based on business plans through interviews with employees and other means. In addition, we have a system for communicating with supervisors about strengths and future development themes as appropriate to individual learning, skill development, and work situations. | |||
| Environment | |||
| Principle 9: | We explain our strong commitment, strategies, and policies with regard to environment management | Based on the Benesse Group Environmental Policy, we expect environment-related laws, regulations, and rules to be observed by our employees and in our business activities. We also strive for ongoing improvements in our environmental management systems and environmental performance. | |
| We were the first education provider in Japan to endorse the recommendations of the TCFD (=Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) in July 2019. We have since conducted a scenario analysis of the company's risks and opportunities, including the value chain (upstream and downstream). We also endorse the TNFD (=Task Force on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures) in 2023 and are registered as TNFD early adopters. | |||
| Our basic procurement policy stipulates that we will strive to build a supply chain that reduces environmental impact, and we are working to reduce CO2 emissions at logistics centers. | |||
| We have actively promoted initiatives for global conservation, formulated medium- and long-term environmental targets (2030 and 2050) in accordance with SBTi and promoted the reduction of the environmental impact of our business activities. | |||
| We obtained ISO 14001 certification, an international certification standard, and were designated an "A" company in CDP Climate Change 2023. | |||
| Principle 10: | We explain an effective management system for incorporating the environment principles | We have deepened our previous analysis of the business impact of climate change risks and opportunities, in line with TCFD recommendations. We analyze risks and opportunities that affect our business based on the two axes of probability of occurrence as well as the impact it might have. We are promoting initiatives for each risk and opportunity. We also endorsed the TNFD in 2023 and conducted an analysis using the Biodiversity LEAP approach. For each risk and opportunity, strategies have been developed and initiatives have been implemented. | |
| We appoint environment committee members in each organization, hold trainings for environment officers every year, and promote continuous information campaigns through trainings within the organizations with the help of the environment officers. | |||
| We hold an environment online training for all employees every year. | |||
| The Benesse Group Speak Up Line was set up as an internal hotline to voice concerns and receive advice about environmental impact. | |||
| Principle 11: | We explain mechanisms for effective monitoring and evaluation to incorporate the environmental principles | By promoting our internal Environment Management System based on ISO14001 every year, we are promoting PDCA and continuously making efforts to improve. | |
| Medium- and long-term environmental targets (for 2030 and 2050) have been formulated in accordance with the SBTi, and the progress made toward the achievement of these is disclosed each fiscal year. The actual results are subject to third-party verification. | |||
| We promote consistent environmental activities from raw materials to the products that our customers receive by influencing partners in our supply chains. | |||
| Anti-Corruption | |||
| Principle 12: | We explain our strong commitment, strategies, and policies with regard to corruption prevention | Our corporate policy agrees with the aim of solving global issues as responsible corporate citizens as we promote initiatives based on the United Nations Global Compact's 10 principles and contribute to building a sustainable society. | |
| Our policy is to establish a system (internal control system) to ensure the legality and appropriateness of business execution, including the prevention of corruption and the prevention and management of losses, and to realize the appropriate and effective operation of such a system. | |||
| Principle 13: | We explain an effective management system for incorporating the corruption prevention principles | We appoint a compliance officer in each company, asking our Risk and Compliance Committee to analyze and assess continuously important risks for the Benesse Group, including corruption prevention, as well as to deliberate on countermeasures. Reports are made to the Board of Directors, who then supervises subsequent measures. | |
| Group-wide regulations prohibit illegal and illicit acts as well as ask employees to conduct their work appropriately and ethically, while the departments in charge of compliance arrange legal and compliance trainings for all employees on an annual basis. Through this, we ensure that everyone is well-aware of the Benesse Group's stance on corruption prevention, including the prohibition on illicit payoffs, the need to maintain proper relations with invested parties, and steps to prevent corruption. | |||
| The Benesse Group Speak Up Line was set up as an internal hotline to voice concerns and receive advice about corruption prevention. | |||
| Principle 14: | We explain mechanisms for effective monitoring and evaluation to incorporate the corruption prevention principles | The Risk and Compliance Committee analyzes the status of significant risks and examines policies for addressing them. The Plan-Do-Check-Action (PDCA) cycle is used to disseminate the results to Benesse Group companies, audit the status of improvement activities (including corrective actions, the implementation of preventive measures, education and training, etc.), support the promotion of important risk measures, and consider the results in the next risk assessment. | |
| In the event of an emergency, the situation is immediately reported to management through the "Emergency Case Reporting Office," and an "Emergency Response Headquarters" is established according to the level of importance of the emergency to establish a response. | |||
| UN Goals and Issues | |||
| Principle 15: | We explain how we are contributing to UN targets and solutions to problems in our key businesses | Through our education and nursing care and childcare businesses, we contribute in our products and services to our customers, and we achieve this by promoting ESG activities as the foundation to support these businesses. | |
| Principle 16: | We explain about our strategic social investments and philanthropy | We endeavor to make social investments and contribute ahead of time based on a sustainable vision in our education business, care and nursing business, and Benesse Art Site Naoshima initiative. | |
| We promote the creation of new value starting from our corporate philosophy "Benesse = well-being". We promote the solving of social issues through businesses supported by many stakeholders, as well as CSR initiatives centering on relevant foundations. | |||
| Principle 17: | We explain our engagement with advocacy and public policy | We support JCI's declaration to "join Japan at the forefront of the global effort to decarbonize" and endorse the "JCI Message: Ambitious 2030 Goals to Achieve the Paris Agreement in Japan. In order to leave a beautiful global environment for future generations, we support the "Paris Agreement" and the Japanese government's decarbonization policy. We also with national climate change-related laws and regulations such as the Act on the Rational Use of Energy (Energy Conservation Act) and the Global Warming Prevention Law, and annually report on energy consumption, and energy conservation. In addition, the company conducts environmental activities such as submitting an annual report to the government on energy consumption, energy conservation, achievement of energy conservation targets, and greenhouse gas emissions. We support the Japanese government's climate change policies, including the 1.5°C target, and has raised its own Scope 1 and 2 targets and is taking measures to introduce renewable energy. | |
| Principle 18: | We explain our partnerships and collective action | Our sustainability vision holds 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. With this, we are working to solve social issues that involve our stakeholders. Moreover, we are offering products and services in collaboration with the state, local governments, and other organizations through our education and nursing businesses. | |
| In each materiality, the Benesse Group develops together with the community and creates new value with the people who live in that community, utilizing Benesse's knowledge and expertise. Another distinctive feature of Benesse's community activities is its contribution to community revitalization through art through Benesse Art Site Naoshima, a place that embodies "Benesse=Well-Being,". By promoting collaboration with local communities, Benesse will respond to their unique needs and contribute to solving social issues. |
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| Sustainability Governance and Leadership | |||
| Principle 19: | We explain the commitment and leadership of the chief executive | Our corporate policy agrees with the aim of solving global issues as responsible corporate citizens as we promote initiatives based on the United Nations Global Compact's 10 principles and contribute to building a sustainable society. | |
| The chief executive leads the team in developing our sustainability strategy, stipulates targets, and supervises the implementation of the strategy. | |||
| Principle 20: | We explain the selection and supervision of the board (the Sustainability Committee) | We have established the Sustainability Committee based on the "Operating Company Management Regulations," internal regulations that stipulate management control and support rules for the Group to strengthen Group-wide efforts to realize a sustainable world. The Committee is chaired by the Executive Officer in charge of Sustainability. It consists of the CEO, CXO (Chief X Officer, the chief executive officer in each area (X)), Company Presidents and Deputy Company Presidents (responsible for the Group's businesses), and discusses ways to enhance the sustainability of the Benesse Group. The activities of the Committee are supervised by the Board of Directors and matters discussed by the Committee are regularly reported to and discussed by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. | |
| Principle 21: | We explain our engagement with stakeholders | The Benesse Group's Code of Conduct outlines the company's responsibilities to each stakeholder in “Our Promise”. | |
| We expand our business activities, which are balanced between society, the environment, and the economy, while also working to solve the social problems faced by stakeholders. Moreover, we decide our sustainability strategy, targets, and policies in consultation with principal stakeholders. | |||
| In FY 2023, over 4,500 employees from 28 Group companies participated in the Benesse Sustainability Study to learn about the themes to be addressed in the future. In FY 2021, we also launched a new proposal system called "B-STAGE", and we received approximately 1,800 entries in FY2023. The winning plans have been incorporated into business plans and are progressing toward realization. Several new services and business improvement measures have been created from these plans. | |||
Last updated : 2024/08/01
