Message from the Chair of the Sustainability Management Committee

Sustainable management is increasingly becoming a requirement for companies, with a particular emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in recent years. With the world facing various social issues, the common goal of society and companies is to enhance sustainability. In this context, what is important for a company to strive for sustainable growth by addressing societal challenges through its business activities.

With this in mind, our Group has organized its approach to sustainability management into a framework for sustainability management. Under this framework, we are working to further enhance corporate value by fulfilling our corporate social responsibilities and providing solutions to the needs of society through the provision of enhanced technologies, products, and services.

Our Group’s sustainability management is promoted under the initiative of the Sustainability Management Committee, an auxiliary body to the Executive Council, which undertakes the implementation of the management cycle for important issues. The Sustainability Management Committee promotes effective operation of activities by setting up subcommittees dedicated to specific issues of importance.

In fiscal 2024, the Company newly established Sustainability Management Meetings, consisting of all directors, as a forum to share understanding and exchange opinions on our Group’s major sustainability activities with executives and business divisions broadly and regularly, strengthening the Bord of Directors’ monitoring function.

In 2021, based on the Group Corporate Philosophy, we identified five items of materiality (key issues) that our Group should address to achieve sustainable growth and become a corporate group indispensable to society through providing solutions to the needs of society and promoting value creation over the medium to long term. Through the identification of these key issues, we have reaffirmed our Group’s view of the future and mission. We also have set indicators and targets for materiality items in order to take more concrete steps toward the realization of our Group’s materiality (key issues). The progress status is managed by the Sustainability Management Committee. Indicators and targets are regularly reviewed in light of changes in the environment surrounding business activities. From fiscal 2024, they were reviewed in conjunction with the consideration of the Kobelco Group Medium-Term Management Plan (fiscal 2024 to 2026). The Group will strive to achieve sustainable growth by tackling the five items of materiality.

Our Group has a diverse employee base as we operate a wide range of businesses at sites around the world. We are committed to developing diversity and inclusion, fostering mutual respect for the unique personality, individuality, and diverse qualities of each individual, and creating a work environment where every employee can work actively while performing to the best of their abilities. We will continue to work to provide solutions to the needs of society and create new value.

We have created ESG Data Book to provide information on our ESG initiatives in a more comprehensive form, reflecting our stakeholders’ input and ideas. We sincerely hope that this helps our stakeholders better understand the Group.

Executive Vice President and Representative Director
Chair of the Sustainability Management Committee
Hajime Nagara