Promotion of Sustainability

Benesse Stakeholder Dialogue conducted

Tamotsu Adachi, Representative Director and Chairman and CEO of Benesse Holdings, and Kouichi Sakai, publisher of Nikkei ESG, talked about such themes as initiatives for human resources for the growth of Benesse from the perspectives of sustainability and ESG.

Held the tenth meeting of the Sustainability Committee

【Agenda】

• ・Reported on human rights due diligence and future actions
• ・Evaluated the ESG strategy
• ・Reported the Benesse Sustainability Study 2020 results and future actions
• ・Reported philosophy project progress

Gained the highest selection rank “Leader board” in CDP supplier engagement evaluation

The sharing of materiality practice cases in the morning assembly meeting on company anniversary

The conduction of the Benesse Stakeholder Dialogue to hear opinions from outside experts

• ・Invited professor Akie Iriyama from Waseda Business School, who is well-known for “Ambidextrous business” and set “Innovation” as the main topic for a dialogue with the Benesse Holdings’ CEO Tamotsu Adachi

Being evaluated as the highest rating "A" in the CDP2020 survey "Climate Change" for the third consecutive year

The conduction of human rights due diligence for the group companies

The implementation of “Benesse Sustainability Study 2020” e-Learning course for Benesse Group employees

• ・Approximately 4,000 people from 28 companies in the Benesse group participated
• ・Conveyed how corporate philosophy and sustainability are linked together. After that, through some example activities cases, the employees gained a more in-depth understanding of materiality. Furthermore, there were explanations to employees about the importance of sustainability in the new middle term business plan.
• ・The Sustainability Promotion Committee considered issues such as “which current actions should be further improved upon” and “which are new things that should be attempted.”
• ・Collected some materiality example activities cases that are currently in progress. There are approximately 3,600 cases being collected. We have planned to expand examples of materiality activities on the site.

Held ninth meeting of the Sustainability Committee

【Agenda】

• ・The report of Benesse’s Sustainability Study for 2020
• ・The report on the progress of the philosophy project
• ・The consideration for approaching the ESG field (specifically focusing on S – society area) and human rights

The disclosure of example materiality activities cases on the sustainability site

Held eighth meeting of the Sustainability Committee

【Agenda】

• ・Consideration for planning the philosophical project
• ・The review of materiality penetration and practicing enhancement plan

Held seventh meeting of the Sustainability Committee

【Agenda】

• ・The report on the impact of the new Covid-19 epidemic on social changes and sustainability activities
• ・The consideration of materiality penetration and practicing enhancement plan
• ・The review of human rights activity plans

The enactment of human rights policies by the Benesse group

The Chairperson, Mr. Adachi, was a plenary speaker at Sustainable Brands 2020 YOKOHAMA, where companies, local government bodies, and organizations from Japan and abroad gathered

• ・Reported on progress of sustainability for the group
• ・Introduced two examples of activities based on the Sustainability Vision

Reference article Benesse plenary session at Sustainable Brands 2020 Yokohama - Conveying "Live well" to society, conveying "Live well" to the future (March 18, 2020) (Japanese Only)

Held sixth meeting of the Sustainability Committee

• ・Details of the disclosure and identification of the Benesse Group's materiality
• ・Discussion on group's engagement with human rights
• ・Summary for the financial year and direction for next financial year

Held morning assembly on the anniversary of the company founding

• ・The Chairperson, Mr. Adachi, delivered a message to the employees on the group's materiality
• ・Employee presentation on case studies

Held External Seminar on Diversity

Planned as a corporate study meeting to learn how to make a friendly workplace to people of diverse backgrounds but primarily LGBT. HR and general affairs representatives from across the group participated.

Theme

Diversity

Guest

Mika Yakushi (representative director, ReBit Authorized NPO)

Held second Sustainability Meetup

Theme

Diversity

Guest

Miki Matheson (Education Committee Member, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Education Committee Member, International Olympic Committee (IOC))

Reference article “Meetup” is an employees’ study group on social issues: Education can both make and change discrimination and prejudices (Benesse's action on sustainability, December 24, 2019)

Held fifth meeting of the Sustainability Committee

• ・Reported results of the Sustainability Study
• ・Identification of the Benesse Group's materiality
• ・Progress of the group's ESG activities, future direction

Held training to experience SDGs at Benesse Group's Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute

Duration

Six days over September 26 to October 23

Details

Held training to experience SDGs (sustainable development goals) through card games, and to deepen understanding

Participants

Approximately 250 TIEI employees from across greater Tokyo

Reference article Wanting to talk to children about the SDGs in their own words: thoughts on TIEI’s new employee workshop (Benesse's action on sustainability, November 26, 2019)

Held first Sustainability Meetup in which we invited outside experts to help employees consider social problems

Theme

child poverty

Guest

Hyungsik Lee (representative director, Learning for All NPO)

Reference article “Sustainability Meetup” is an employees' study group on social issues: providing support for children dealing with problems (Benesse's action on sustainability, October 31, 2019)

Started the "Sustainability Study", e-Learning for Benesse Group employees

• ・With the email sent from the Chairperson, Mr. Adachi, approximately 3,000 people tackled the e-Learning over three months.
• ・Explained why Benesse engages in sustainability and SDGs with reference to the corporate philosophy, focusing on the employees' in-depth understanding.
• ・At the completion of the e-Learning, gathered answers in relation to the "What Benesse should be in 10 years time," which will be used for discussion for future materiality decisions.

Held fourth meeting of the Sustainability Committee

• ・Considered employee communication measures for FY 2019
• ・Discussed summary of the ESG evaluation, how to respond to issues, and opportunities for the Benesse Group.

Third meeting of the Sustainability Committee

• ･ Employee feedback on sustainability activities reported
• ･ Finalization of Sustainability Vision
• ･ Sustainability activities in FY2019

Training sessions to raise understanding in the group of the SDGs

• ･ Approximately 20 individuals from group companies participated
• ･ Qualified employees acted as instructors to provide hands-on experience of the outlook embodied by the SDGs through SDG card game

Morning assembly on company anniversary

• ･ Action on sustainability announced to employees by committee chairman Tamotsu Adachi

Second meeting of the Sustainability Committee

• ･ Second meeting to consider the Sustainability Vision
• ･ Re-verification of corporate philosophy in light of the Sustainability Vision
• ･ Discussion of materiality process

Press release announcing establishment of the committee

First meeting of the Sustainability Committee

Part 1

Inputs by invited outside experts on theme of "SDG "commitments required of companies in the future"

Part 2

First meeting to re-verify corporate philosophy and DNA, discuss 2030 social environment forecasts, and consider the Sustainability Vision

Establishment of the Sustainability Committee and approval by Benesse Holdings' Board of Directors

Group employees informed by committee chairman Tamotsu Adachi