Yakult Group Sustainability
The Yakult Group Basic Policy on CSR was established based on our corporate philosophy as well as our corporate slogan of “In order for people to be healthy, everything around them must also be healthy.” We will also contribute to the achievement of a sustainable society through initiatives based on the material themes identified in March 2021.
Basic Policy on the CSR
We at the Yakult Group will implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by generating tangible benefits in accordance with our corporate philosophy and realizing sustainable corporate growth. Specific CSR activities in accordance with this objective are articulated in our Basic Policy on CSR, which was established in April 2012.
By systemizing the CSR initiatives undertaken at Yakult Group units, we increase the clarity of Yakult’s CSR management policies and undertake appropriate disclosure of information to stakeholders.
All of us in the Yakult Group will strive through corporate activities based on our corporate philosophy to earn the trust of all the Group’s stakeholders and promote mutually beneficial relationships with all stakeholders.
Yakult Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct
We established the Yakult Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct to serve as guidelines for proper corporate activities.
Over time, we have appended more specific conduct standards and concrete examples of such standards while making revisions as needed. Most recently, we published the sixth edition in April 2020 to extensively update items and contents and discuss how each item of the Yakult Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct are connected to the SDGs.*
A pocketbook including the Yakult Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct has been distributed to employees so that they can easily refer to them at any time when they need to confirm a particular decision-making process.
* The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations in 2015, are 17 global goals aimed at achieving a better and more sustainable world for all by 2030.
For details, see the Yakult Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct
Sustainability governance
CSR Promotion Committee
The CSR Promotion Committee considers a wide range of management issues from the perspectives of the Yakult Group’s corporate social responsibility and sustainability. The Committee is chaired by the Divisional General Manager of the Management Support Division (a Senior Managing Executive Officer and Director), and is made up of executive officers from each relevant department.
The CSR Promotion Committee focuses discussion on policies and action plans that address environmental and social issues, and promotes efforts to resolve them. Meeting results are reported to the President for appropriate guidance. Among the deliberated topics, committee procedure stipulates that the Management Policy Council, which includes directors and Audit & Supervisory Board Members, as well as the Executive Officers Committee and the Board of Directors, must be consulted regarding important CSR matters relating to management policy. Considerations are presented to the Executive Officers Committee as necessary.
The CSR Promotion Committee holds meetings approximately three times per year to discuss CSR promotion measures and policies, including climate change issues, and to manage progress. In fiscal 2021 the committee examined our long-term environmental vision for fiscal 2022 and beyond, as well as our medium- and short-term goals. The committee also discussed subjects such as the progress and results of the CSR Action Plan, the promotion of human rights due diligence, and future supply chain management initiatives.
We have also established five specialized committees as subordinate organizations to carry out specific activities within each department as a way to promote sustainability/CSR initiatives throughout the Group.
Revised: April 2015
* as of March 2021
Signing the UN Global Compact
In May 2021, the Yakult Group signed the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the UN’s international framework for sustainable growth.
The UNGC calls on companies and organizations to take part in solving global issues and provides a principle-based framework for healthy globalization and a sustainable society.
The Yakult Group’s top management is committed to supporting the 10 principles of the UNGC relating to human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption, and we will work with the global community to apply these principles in all of our business activities as a good corporate citizen that contributes to society.
