Ajinomoto : Sustainability Report 2024 and Appendices (Environmental Data, Personnel and Labor-Related Data, Tax Data)
2802.T
Ajinomoto Group
Sustainability Report
2024
Contents
Sustainability Policy and
Key Initiatives and
Help Extend the Healthy Life
Reduce Our Environmental
Social
Governance
Framework
Progress
Expectancy of 1 Billion People
Impact by 50%
Sustainability Policy and Framework
CEO Message
P003
Message from the Director of Sustainability
P004
Corporate Philosophy Framework Our Philosophy
P005
Materiality
Identification process of important issues
P008
(Materiality) for the Ajinomoto Group
Important issues (Materiality) for the Ajinomoto Group
P009
Our path toward achieving ASV maximization
P016
Ajinomoto Group Value Chain
P017
Framework for ESG and Sustainability
P018
Dialogue and Collaboration with Stakeholders
Stakeholder engagement
P020
Participation in initiatives
P021
Expectations and recommendations
P022
from external stakeholders
FY2023 Activity Report
Key Initiatives and Progress
A holistic approach to sustainability
P028
Key initiatives and progress
P029
Help Extend the Healthy Life Expectancy of 1 Billion People
Resolving Nutritional Issues
Initiatives to solve nutritional issues
P035
Disseminating information on MSG safety and benefits
P043
Solving Health Issues
Addressing health issues
P045
Reduce Our Environmental Impact by 50%
Environmental Management
P049
Disclosures Based on the TCFD Recommendations
Response to climate change risks
P053
Reduction of greenhouse gas
P060
emissions in the value chain
Contribution to a Circular Economy
Reduction of waste across product lifecycles
P067
Contribution to sustainable agriculture
P076
Reduction of Food Loss and Waste
Contribution to reducing food loss and waste
P079
Biodiversity
Consideration of natural capital risks and opportunities
P083
Sustainable Materials Sourcing
Initiatives related to priority raw materials
P086
Animal welfare
P090
Conservation of Water Resources
Conservation of water resources
P091
in production processes
Social
Human Resources Management
Human resources and organizational management
P095
Occupational Safety and Health
Occupational safety and health
P105
Human Rights
Respecting human rights
P108
Supply Chain Management
Responsible supply chain management
P117
Relationships with Local Communities
Contribution to community development
P120
Accessibility
Improving product accessibility
P121
Appropriate communications and information sharing
P122
Product Safety
Quality management
P123
Governance
Risk Management
P131
Compliance
P133
Information Security and Personal
P137
Information Management
Proper Utilization and Management of Intellectual Property
P139
Ajinomoto Group
- 001 -
Sustainability Report 2024
Sustainability Policy and
Key Initiatives and
Help Extend the Healthy Life
Reduce Our Environmental
Social
Governance
Framework
Progress
Expectancy of 1 Billion People
Impact by 50%
Editorial policy
The Sustainability Report is a report that describes the Ajinomoto Group's approach to sustainability and initiatives from the perspectives of health and nutrition, environment (E), society (S), and governance (G), along with numerical data. We hope this report, in combination with our ASV Report (integrated report), enhances the understanding of our stakeholders, including shareholders and investors, related to our approach to sustainable value creation.
This report conforms to GRI standards.
[ Related material system ]
Financial
information
Financial
Report
ASV Report
Results
Medium- t
long-term
perspectiv
Sustainability
Report
Sustainability
Website
Related content
Sustainability websitehttps://www.ajinomoto.com/sustainability/
Non-financial information
Organizational scope
This report covers the activities of the Group, comprising, unless otherwise noted, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. ("the Company") and its consolidated subsidiaries and equity-method affiliates (as of March 31, 2024). When comprehensive Group information is not available, the data parameters are explicitly defined.
Period covered by this report
Fiscal 2023 (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024)
Past circumstances, data, and recent cases outside of this time period are presented when appropriate.
The Ajinomoto Group Works with Society Along with societyhttps://www.ajinomoto.com/sustainability/society/
About the Ajinomoto Grouphttps://www.ajinomoto.com/aboutus
Web magazine "Stories"https://www.ajinomoto.com/stories
Ajinomoto Group
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Sustainability Report 2024
CEO Message
Dear stakeholders
SustainabilitySustaina i Policylicy andand
Key Initiatives and
Help Extend the Healthy Life
Reduce Our Environmental
Social
Governance
FrameworkFr rk
Progress
Expectancy of 1 Billion People
Impact by 50%
Taro Fujie
President & Chief Executive Officer
From origins in amino acid research, the Ajinomoto Group has continued to grow through our strengths in "AminoScience"*.
NO-MOTO® in 1909. Even now, over a century later, the founding aspiration of "Eat well, Live well." is being carried forward in the form of Ajinomoto Group Creating Shared Value (ASV), an initiative aimed at co-creating both social value and economic value through our businesses while helping to resolve social issues.
agricultural sector, that biostimulants, agricultural materials different from conventional fertilizers and pesticides have the potential for a significant positive impact on increased food production, the efficient use of agricultural land, and reduced GHG emissions. At the same time, we take on the challenge to further clarify specific measures in response to materiality for the Ajinomoto Group and the impact path toward generating results. We are currently creating visualizations for several easy-to-understand examples. Our challenge is to scale up and speed up our clarification of this impact path to organization-wide efforts at the Ajinomoto Group.
Ajinomoto Group
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Sustainability Report 2024
SustainabilitySustaina i Policylicy andand
Key Initiatives and
Help Extend the Healthy Life
Reduce Our Environmental
Social
Governance
FrameworkFr rk
Progress
Expectancy of 1 Billion People
Impact by 50%
Message from the Director of Sustainability
Striving to reduce negative impacts and generate positive impacts
Chika Morishima
Executive Officer & Vice President, in charge of
Sustainability and Communications
At the Ajinomoto Group, we incorporate sustainability into ASV management, at the very foundation of our corporate management. Based on the value creation framework for the new materialities established in 2023, we have identified Six Material Themes that we must currently address, and we aim to realize our Purpose by identifying risks and opportunities and promoting initiatives in line with these key themes. As part of our corporate responsibility to society,
we are vigorously working to reduce negative impacts, while at the same time pursuing maximum positive impacts by leveraging our strengths. We believe this is necessary for the Ajinomoto Group to continue to grow and thrive long into the future.
The first is that we address issues holistically. Since each sustainability topic has mutual influence over other topics, it is important to take a holistic approach rather than a topic -by-topic approach. For example, collaborating with suppliers upstream in the value chain can lead to solutions to various issues such as GHG emissions reduction, sustainable raw material procurement, biodiversity restoration, and resolution of human rights issues.
includes the heads of the Japan and four overseas regional headquarters (ASEAN, Europe and Africa, North America, and Latin America) and the heads of major businesses to discuss and share knowledge on important initiatives in order to enhance effectiveness. We believe that solving sustainability issues through our businesses and products will also lead to a sense of conviction and resonance among our stakeholders.
and through its businesses, aims to contribute to the well- being of all human beings, our society and our planet with "AminoScience".
Ajinomoto Group
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Sustainability Report 2024
SustainabilitySustaina i Policylicy andand
Key Initiatives and
Help Extend the Healthy Life
Reduce Our Environmental
Social
Governance
FrameworkFr rk
Progress
Expectancy of 1 Billion People
Impact by 50%
Corporate Philosophy Framework Our Philosophy
Corporate philosophy framework our philosophy
Our Philosophy
Approach
Since our founding, the Ajinomoto Group has engaged consistently in initiatives to resolve social issues through our business. These initiatives create economic value, resolve social issues, and lead to growth.
Corporate Slogan
Purpose
ASV
Ajinomoto Group
Creating Shared Value
Purpose
Contributing to the well-being of all human beings, our society and our planet with "AminoScience"
ASV Initiatives
Co-creation of social and economic value through our business
AGW
Ajinomoto Group Way
Values
Create new value, Pioneer spirit, Social contribution, Value people
Ajinomoto Group
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Sustainability Report 2024
Corporate Philosophy Framework Our Philosophy
Vision for 2030 of the Ajinomoto Group
Approach to sustainability for 2030 outcomes
The Ajinomoto Group aims to contribute to the well-being of all human beings, our society, and our planet with "AminoScience." To this end, we believe it is necessary to achieve two outcomes by 2030, namely, to help extend the healthy life expectancy of 1 billion people and to reduce our environmental impact by 50%.
SustainabilitySustaina i Policylicy andand
Key Initiatives and
Help Extend the Healthy Life
Reduce Our Environmental
Social
Governance
FrameworkFr rk
Progress
Expectancy of 1 Billion People
Impact by 50%
Contributing to the well-being of all human beings, our society and our planet with "AminoScience"
Reduce
Help extend the healthy life
environmental impact by 50%
expectancy of 1 billion people
Sustainable food systems
that are more resilient
Reduce
environmental
Promote better
impacts and regenerate
health and life
the environment
Respond to
climate change
Ensure the
Delicious and
sustainability of food
well-balanced
resources
diets
Conserve
biodiversity
Reduce
environmental
Greenhouse gases
impact
Delicious salt
Plastic waste
reduction
Protein intake
Food loss and waste
Secure food
resources
optimization
Sustainable
Workforce nutrition
procurement
improvement
Ajinomoto Group
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Sustainability Report 2024
Corporate Philosophy Framework Our Philosophy
"AminoScience"
Approach
Amino acids build muscles, bones, skin, and other body parts, while also making hormones and enzymes to regulate body functions, antibodies to protect the body, and neurotransmitters. Amino acids are a source of life for not only humans but for all living things on the earth.
SustainabilitySustaina i Policylicy andand
Key Initiatives and
Help Extend the Healthy Life
Reduce Our Environmental
Social
Governance
FrameworkFr rk
Progress
Expectancy of 1 Billion People
Impact by 50%
Amino Acids
The Functions of
Value Creation
A fundamental
Amino Acids
The Ajinomoto Group's
business activities
substance that all living
Flavoring function
beings are made of
Create delicious meals
Food products business
Responsible for a
Nutrition function
Businesses that apply
"AminoScience" to
range of functions
Promote growth,
Seasonings and Foods, and
within the body
development and recovery
Frozen Foods. (E.g.,
Amino Acids
Physiological function
Deliciousness Technologies)
Support physical health
Bio & fine chemicals
business
Reactivity
Businesses that apply
Create new functions
"AminoScience" to
Healthcare and Others.
Ajinomoto Group
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Sustainability Report 2024
SustainabilitySustaina i Policylicy andand
Key Initiatives and
Help Extend the Healthy Life
Reduce Our Environmental
Social
Governance
FrameworkFr rk
Progress
Expectancy of 1 Billion People
Impact by 50%
Materiality
Identification process of important issues (Materiality) for the Ajinomoto Group
The Ajinomoto Group identifies its important issues (Materiality) that have a substantial impact on our ability to create value in the short, medium, and long term through ASV management, taking into account changes in the macro environment for 2050. Once we identify opportunities and risks from materiality, we clarify their importance and priority, and then reflect these matters in our business activities.
2015
2016
2017
Select materiality items
Conduct surveys of the SDGs experts
Analyze the relationship between SDGs and materiality
STEP 1 Identifying issues and opportunities
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
A
These members of the Sustainability Advisory Council in the first quarter
B
identified 28 key issues and opportunities on behalf of their respective positions.
C
STEP 2 Classifying issues and opportunities
2018
︱
2019
2020
︱
2022
2022
︱
2023
Conduct dialogue with diverse stakeholders
Review and revise materiality
Conduct annual review of materiality
Redefine materiality based on the Sustainability Advisory Council report
ABC
1
2
3
4
STEP 3 Organizing connections
Members then further classified these issues and opportunities into four domains, after grouping them into 12 higher-order requirements.
The Ajinomoto Group organized the connections between each of these issues and opportunities as our process to achieve sustainable transformation and innovation.
This unique way of organizing the issues goes beyond organizing to show countermeasures from a long-term perspective.
2023
︱
2024
Approved by the Board of Directors in February 2023
Publish new materiality
Organize Material Themes into six areas
STEP 4 Organizing into Material Themes
Organizing
The Ajinomoto Group has organized our current Material Themes into six
into Material
areas from the perspective of what multiple stakeholders expect of the
Themes
Ajinomoto Group and the value it provides to society.
> Sustainability Advisory Council First Phase: Report to the Board of Directors
Ajinomoto Group
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Sustainability Report 2024
SustainabilitySustaina i Policylicy andand
Key Initiatives and
Help Extend the Healthy Life
Reduce Our Environmental
Social
Governance
FrameworkFr rk
Progress
Expectancy of 1 Billion People
Impact by 50%
Materiality
Important issues (Materiality) for the Ajinomoto Group
Important issues (Materiality) for the Ajinomoto Group are essential to the Group's ability to continue co-creating social and economic value over the long term. The Group identifies important issues (Materiality) through a process that reflects the thoughts and ideas of management and employees and the expectations from external stakeholders. The important issues (Materiality) are deeply embedded in our business strategies, our on-site operations, and our Purpose.
Value Creation Framework
"AminoScience" for Well-being
4.Shared value (ASV)
4
2
2.Seikatsusha* perspective
4.1
Living well
Holistic & inclusive
2.1
perspective
4.2
Co-well-being
Local community
2.2
perspective
4.3
Value creating
Scientific
Story of
Future generation
2.3
solutions
perspective
1.Co-creation
Possibilities
Wellbeing
3.Well-being
Human well-being
3.1
1.1
Transformative
innovation capability
Community
3.2
1.2
Transparent & objective
1
3
well-being
1.3
Constructive engagement
Planetary well-being
3.3
for co-creation
Material Themes
Achievement of a sustainable
global environment
Achievement of well-being
through food
Contribution to advanced medicine and prevention
Contribution to the evolution
of a Smart Society
Respect for diverse values and
human rights
Reinforcement of our
management foundation
What the Value Creation Framework Shows
The Value Creation Framework illustrates our approach to sustainable growth as a cycle that connects the power and potential of "AminoScience" (Scientific Possibilities) with the power of stories (Story of Well-being) that contribute to the well-being of all human beings, society, and the planet. The
cycle is (1) honing our co-creation capabilities, (2) taking the seikatsusha perspective (3) while achieving well- being, and (4) through our business activities return co- created shared value.
Ajinomoto Group
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Sustainability Report 2024
Disclaimer
Ajinomoto Co. Inc. published this content on September 27, 2024 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on September 27, 2024 at 01:23:03 UTC.