Steadily implement the Sustainability Promotion Plan
with respect to the three materialities:
Contribution in the Areas of Environment and Energy,
Creation of a Safe and Secure Society, and Global Compliance.
Steadily implement the Sustainability Promotion Plan with respect to the three materialities: Contribution in the Areas of Environment and Energy, Creation of a Safe and Secure Society, and Global Compliance.
The Group will unite in its efforts to promote sustainability
Nisshin Cotton Spinning Co., Ltd. was established in 1907, and in 2009, the company was transferred to a
holding company structure and renamed Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. Our sustainability management is to become a
company that has value for all stakeholders in society, including shareholders, investors, customers, employees,
and local communities. We have grown by constantly transforming our business portfolio to provide solutions to
the challenges facing society.
Currently, Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. has 39 domestic and 46 overseas consolidated subsidiaries with more than
19,000 employees. In this environment, in order to steadily promote sustainability management, all employees
must uphold the Nisshinbo Group corporate philosophy of "Change and Challenge! For the creation of the future of
Earth and People." It is important that all employees share the Group's corporate philosophy and implement the
Sustainability Promotion Plan based on VALUE and the Business Conduct Guidelines. As the person in charge of
sustainability promotion activities, I work with each department to ensure that the Group is working together on
the plan and report on reviews and issues to the Board of Directors and the Corporate Strategy Committee. Much
progress was made in FY2023, including the decision on the Human Rights Statement, completion of climate change
scenario analysis in all operations based on TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures)
recommendations, and the second annual global survey. This is the result of the united efforts of all Group
companies to achieve the Sustainability Promotion Plan. We will continue to make steady progress.
Human Rights Policy was decided and started to apply to all business partners.
One of the major advances in 2023 will be the promotion of human rights awareness activities in particular. We
have long stated in our Business Conduct Guidelines that Nisshinbo respect character and individuality of each
and every person and never allow all discrimination and violation of human rights. In 2023, the Board of
Directors has once again decided on a Human Rights Statement, which applies not only to employees but also to
suppliers and all people involved in the Group's business activities, and Nisshinbo has also initiated human
rights due diligence. Nisshinbo conducted a human rights questionnaire covering approximately 80 items for 81
affiliated subsidiaries to confirm the status of human rights-related systems and activities at each Group
company. The results of the questionnaire were reported at the January meeting of the Board of Directors, and
outside directors were given an understanding of the situation.
The next step is to get a grip on the actual situation at each site and make sure that human rights are
respected, protected, and promoted throughout the supply chain. In 2024, we plan to actually visit our business
sites, including those overseas, to hear specific situations and employee opinions. We will continue to deepen
our efforts, as having a correct understanding of human rights will become even more important for all of our
businesses. At the same time, Nisshinbo is promoting an understanding of human rights through video messages
from the president and training for employees. Under the new Human Rights Statement, each and every employee
will take a fresh look at their own workplaces, which will lead to the development of a better corporate culture
in which the diversity of each and every employee is respected.
Products that contribute to a sustainable society accounted for more than 50% of sales, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction significantly achieved its goal.
The Nisshinbo Group promotion plan in the environmental field is generally progressing smoothly. The Group has
set a target of increasing the percentage of sales of products that contribute to a sustainable society to at
least 60% by FY2024, and as of the end of FY2023, this percentage stood at 53%. Nisshinbo plans to further
develop its business to contribute to solving environmental issues, including disaster prevention and disaster
mitigation. For example, the Hitachi Kokusai Electric Group, a new addition to the Nisshinbo Group, will combine
its strengths in AI image recognition and state-of-the-art wireless communications technologies with the Japan
Radio Group's information processing technologies to provide total solutions, thereby helping to solve problems.
By focusing more on these businesses, Nisshinbo believes it is possible to achieve its target of 60% or more.
In terms of greenhouse gas emissions reduction, the goal for FY2024 was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at
least 35% from the FY2014 level, but by the end of FY2023, Nisshinbo had already reduced emissions by 46%. The
main reason for this reduction was the promotion of the use of renewable energy, such as the expansion and
stable operation of solar power generation facilities and the increase in the amount of green electricity
purchased. Nisshinbo will continue to implement a variety of measures to ensure that the Group will achieve
carbon neutrality by 2050.
Attract diverse human resources by enhancing both job satisfaction and ease of work
Nisshinbo is focusing its efforts on human resource development, which is becoming increasingly important. Since
its launch in 2015, the Management Succession Planning Program has grown to more than 100 participants, and by
the end of FY2023, 52% of the core company's executive officers had completed the program. In addition,
Nisshinbo has begun to develop the next generation of management executives on a global basis, for example, by
implementing training similar to that conducted in Japan at each of its companies in China. Nisshinbo will
create great synergy by sharing measures related to human resources throughout the Group.
In addition, a diverse workforce is also essential for the Company's growth. Nisshinbo has been promoting the
hiring of women, and in FY2023, Nisshinbo hired 50% of new graduates in administrative positions and 28 % in
technical positions, achieving the targets of the Sustainability Promotion Plan (50% in administrative positions
and 20% in technical positions). Nisshinbo is proceeding in the same manner in career recruitment, with 25% of
career recruitment slots being filled by women in FY2022 and FY2023 combined. Although the ratio of female
managers in only Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. was 7.4% in FY2023, it is not at all sufficient. While continuing to
strengthen recruitment, it is necessary to create an environment that facilitates the development of female
managers. As one example of the efforts of the Group, Nisshinbo created a network of female managers throughout
the Group companies in Japan, providing opportunities for information exchange and interaction. I feel that this
is a place where female employees can gain confidence and inspire each other, transcending business boundaries.
Nisshinbo will continue to rapidly improve the workplace environment for all employees, as well as women, so
that they can work and play an active role with peace of mind.
Furthermore, in FY2023, the Group conducted its second globally integrated Global Survey with 16,600
participants. The purpose of conducting the survey was to visualize the status of employees throughout the group
and to examine and implement the necessary measures to improve engagement. Overall, approximately 95% of
employees responded to the survey, indicating that they have high expectations of the Company. Nisshinbo also
received approximately 4,500 open-ended responses, and Group companies have begun to make improvements and
initiatives in response to each and every one of these comments. However, in order to meet the high expectations
of employees, senior management must make another major effort. Nisshinbo will create a source of growth as a
Group that attracts diverse human resources and generates innovation by providing both job satisfaction in the
form of providing valuable solutions to society and work comfort in the form of creating a workplace environment
that ensures psychological safety.
Nisshinbo will continue to steadily advance sustainability activities while meeting the expectations of shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders. We look forward to your continued support and encouragement.
Makoto Sugiyama
Executive Managing Officer
Senior Manager of Sustainability Development Department,
Corporate Strategy Center
Nisshinbo Holdings Inc.