Sustainability Management

Basic Policy
Initiatives Related to Sustainable Development Goals
Promotion of Sustainability Priorities
Sustainability Awareness Raising
Participation in Initiatives

Basic Policy

The mission of the Yamaha Group is to continue to create excitement and cultural inspiration together with people around the world by utilizing the assets, various resources, unique expertise, and sensibilities originating from sound and music. To put this philosophy into practice, Yamaha is working to understand the impact of its business activities on the environment and society and pursue dialogue with stakeholders while overcoming challenges toward the creation of a sustainable society.

Initiatives Related to Sustainable Development Goals

The Yamaha Group seeks to contribute to the accomplishment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of shared goals embraced by the international society, through its business.

In addition to our efforts to contribute to Goal 4 (Quality Education) through our initiatives to spread music, we are also working to help accomplish Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and Goal 15 (Life on Land) by means of efforts to procure timber from sustainable sources. In these and other manners, we are developing products and services and endeavoring to improve our business processes with an awareness of the goals and targets of the SDGs.

[ picture ] Sustainable Development Goals : SDGs

Promotion of Sustainability Priorities

The Yamaha Group has established sustainability priorities for the medium-to-long term based on the impact of its business activities on the environment and society as well as on stakeholder expectations and social demands.

Priority Identification Process

Identification of Sustainability Issues
Identification of sustainability issues within the Yamaha Group value chain based on ISO 26000 (an international guidance on social responsibility) and the SDGs
Evaluation of Importance of Issues from the Perspectives of Stakeholders
Evaluation of importance of identified issues out of consideration for feedback from customers, employees, and local communities; ESG evaluation items; opinions and requests from NGOs; and advice from outside experts
Evaluation of Importance within Yamaha
Evaluation of importance of identified issues out of consideration for Yamaha’s management vision and medium- to long-term management policies
Identification of Sustainability Priorities
Selection of issues warrants a strong approach based on results of important evaluations followed by identification of sustainability priorities through discussion among senior management

After the sustainability priorities were identified, targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) for evaluating progress toward the sustainability priorities were set by relevant divisions and for the Sustainability Division, and action plans were formulated with this regard. The targets, KPIs, and action plans have been approved by senior management. Through progress monitoring by the Sustainability Division and annual reviews by the Managing Council, which is chaired by the president, we are promoting efforts to address our sustainability priorities.

[ picture ] Process for identifying priorities

Sustainability Priorities and Progress

Sustainability priorities	Major initiatives	Classification under the new medium-term management plan, Make Waves 1.0	Fiscal 2020 progress and results	Future issues and medium-term management plan targets
Development of products and services with a focus on social/environmental issues	Response to societal issues	Culture/Society	Music Culture and Education Developed music instruments for performing traditional music, released regional models for Indian market, conducted local surveys in Indonesia and the Middle East Universal Design Released multilingual simultaneous interpretation guide feature for SoundUD™ Achieved SoundUD Consortium membership of 322 companies and organizations Received Grand Award of IAUD International Design Awards 2019 for SoundUD Consortium, etc. Conducted verification tests of new Remote Cheerer powered by SoundUD remote cheering system that transmits vocal encouragement from homes to stadiums Raised ratio of touch screen-equipped electronic musical instruments with voice readout functionality to 75% Health and Safety Solutions Launched five new headphones and earphones equipped with Listening Care function for reducing burden on ears Workplace Communicated telework examples and promoted understanding regarding remote communication and teleworking Remote Solutions Unveiled SYNCROOM online remote ensemble performance service allowing users to enjoy performing in ensembles remotely	Music Culture and Education Expand range of electronic instruments with functions necessary for performing traditional music in emerging countries Universal Design Promote SoundUD through government project, distribute development kits for applications for inbound tourists, and began offering translation services Expand range of electronic musical instruments equipped with voice readout functionality Health and Safety Solutions Equip over 70% of headphones and earphones with functions for reducing burden on ears Workplace Provide approximately 200,000 teleworking opportunities (people/places) over three years and implement workstyle reforms Remote Solutions Propose solutions matched to new lifestyle patterns
	Response to environmental issues	Environment	Certified 46 models of Yamaha Eco-Products (aggregate total of 425 models, 18% of sales) Commenced joint assessments with automobile manufacturers of thermoelectric power generation module that can utilize waste heat Promoted development of organic solvent-free coating technology Promoted development of alternatives for scarce timber resources	Certify 40 models as Yamaha Eco-Products a year Introduce waste heat power generation module into the automotive market Develop organic solvent-free coating technology Develop sustainable materials surpassing scarce timber resources
Development of regional community-based business and social contribution activities	Support for spread of instrumental music education	Culture/Society	Delivered musical instrument performance experiences to aggregate total of 390,000 people in 1,500 schools in five countries through School Project Provided aggregate total of approximately 7,500 students from 77 schools in seven countries in Africa and the Middle East with the opportunity to play musical instruments Donated musical instruments and provided education support to five migrant worker schools in five cities in China (aggregate total of 60 schools)	Provide musical instrument performance experiences to aggregate total of 1,000,000 people in 3,000 schools in seven countries through School Project Provided aggregate total of approximately 8,300 students from 75 schools in seven countries in Africa and the Middle East with the opportunity to play musical instruments Donate musical instruments to migrant worker schools in China (support 18 schools in three years)
	Support for youth development orchestra/band		Held musical instrument maintenance seminars for 36 organizations in six countries in Latin America (total of 40 seminars) and held seminars for cultivating repair technicians for 27 individuals in six countries Commenced trial initiatives in two new candidate countries for support activities	Continue to provide musical instrument maintenance seminars and repair technician training in Latin America and expand efforts to new countries and organizations Expand scope of supported countries (two countries in three years) Support the spread of wind instrument bands and orchestras best suited to specific countries and regions around the world
	Community support		Conducted seven new support initiatives as part of a project to build communities through music (Oto-Machi)	Provide additional types of support within the Oto-Machi project (10 new projects in three years)
Lowering of greenhouse gas emissions	Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions during business activities	Environment	Acquired certification for medium- to long-term emissions reduction targets from the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and announced targets^* * Scope 1, 2: fiscal 2031 –32% (fiscal 2051 –83%) Scope 3: fiscal 2031 –30% (all figures compared with fiscal 2018) Began sourcing power from renewable energy (sourced approximately one-third of head office power and 1% of total Group power) Upgraded to high-efficiency air-conditioning equipment and switched to LED lighting Advanced logistics downsizing initiatives Received third-party greenhouse gas emission verification	Advance emissions reduction initiatives to achieve targets based on Science-Based Targets (SBT) Gradually expand the ratio of renewable energy used (fiscal 2022 target 3%) Continue to receive third-party greenhouse gas emission verification
Lowering of greenhouse gas emissions	Response to climate change	Environment	Declared endorsement of Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations and began disclosing information based on recommendations	Identify risks and opportunities and ramp up analyses and disclosure pertaining to material items
Sustainable procurement of timber	Prevention of use of illegally lumbered timber; expansion of use of certified timber	Environment	Improved timber due diligence (DD) system Conducted DD on all timber purchased and judged 98.8% of purchases as low risk (excluding OEM/ODM products and non-Yamaha brand products) Increased forecast for ratio of certified timber in fiscal 2021 to 46% (28% in fiscal 2020) based on surveys and negotiations Examined possibility of switching to lower-risk timber	Improve DD (improve inspection accuracy) and accomplish 100% rate of purchases at low risk Increase ratio of certified timber (fiscal 2022 target 50%) Develop musical instruments (such as for the cabinet material of pianos) that use timber with a lower risk
Sustainable procurement of timber	Procurement of timber with an awareness of cycle-based forest preservation	Environment	Began procuring African blackwood from supported areas in Tanzania and advanced tree-planting projects in this country (total of 5,500 trees planted over 3 ha area) Conducted investigation of link between site environment and tree growth (in collaboration with Kyoto University) Assessed social impact of initiatives on target areas (JICA base of the pyramid (BOP) cooperative business)	Provide technical support to produce high-quality timber from African blackwood and promote tree-planting projects Promote joint research with academic institutions (such as Kyoto University) to develop forest resources and optimize usage efficiency
Promotion of 3R in products	Packing and packaging material measures	Environment	Downsized packaging and examined possibility of adopting low-environment impact packaging/cushioning materials Investigated measures for reducing and eliminating use of plastic shopping bags	Promote streamlining of packaging (introduce packaging/cushioning material with a low environmental impact and advance downsizing efforts) Implement measures for shopping bags and other single-use packing materials (stop using plastic, etc.)
Promotion of 3R in products	Product measures	Environment	Set long-term roadmap for product 3R initiatives Began offering piano retrofitting services (installation of silent functions and upgrades to higher-grade or newer Disklavier models)	Promote 3Rs in relation to products based on long-term vision Enhance services to allow customers to continue to use the musical instruments they cherish (piano retrofitting, etc.)
Systematic initiatives for the respect of human rights	System/framework development	Society	Completed addition of human rights management items to Yamaha Group Policies and Rules and related guidelines Published human rights education booklets and conducted human rights meetings on an individual workplace basis Held power harassment prevention seminars	Introduce human rights management items into Yamaha Group Policies and Rules and perform monitoring in accordance with policies and rules Entrench internal training and initiatives to promote awareness of human rights
Systematic initiatives for the respect of human rights	Supply chain CSR management	Society	Performed simultaneous assessments of 3,748 suppliers (98.6% response rate, corrective measures completed at five of 11 applicable companies) Conducted assessments of 117 new suppliers Held seminars for suppliers	Conduct simultaneous supplier assessments (every three years) Perform assessments when beginning transactions Carry out education and awareness-raising activities targeting procurement personnel and suppliers
Promotion of diversity and human resources development	Global human resources management	Society	Established core positions and globally uniform grading standards	Promote human resources management based on the Group-standard grading and development systems
	Empowerment of female employees and accommodation of diverse workstyles		Introduced teleworking systems for childcare or nursing care purposes and established childcare facilities at business sites Converted shortened workhour systems for childcare or nursing care purposes to flextime systems Increased ratio of female managers within Yamaha Group to 16.3% (worldwide total)	Expand work-life balance support systems Implement programs for supporting development of employees on or returning from childcare leave Improve ratio of female managers (target of 17% on Groupwide basis for fiscal 2022)
	Efforts to promote understanding and support of the LGBT community		Established helplines and revised rules pertaining to work regulations, etc. Conducted Companywide seminars, prepared handbooks, and distributed Yamaha LGBT Ally logo stickers Awarded with the highest rating of gold in the PRIDE INDEX recognizing initiatives for supporting sexual minorities	Establish internal systems Conduct awareness-raising activities to promote understanding inside and outside of the Group

The Make Waves 1.0 medium-term management plan, launched in April 2019, defines social contribution through our business as an important strategy and sets KPI targets as non-financial management goals related to our sustainability priorities of spreading instrumental music education within emerging countries and of procuring sustainable timber.

Sustainability Awareness Raising

The Yamaha Group aims to promote sustainability throughout the roles and duties of all members, from managers to new recruits. To this end, we conduct training and seminars and make use of resources such as our intranet site to educate employees and raise awareness on sustainability. Since fiscal 2018, we have been promoting deeper understanding of the SDGs through posters, Company newsletters, and internal events in order to help all Group employees realize the connection between their work and the SDGs.

[ image ] Sustainability information site on Company intranet — Sustainability information site on Company intranet

[ photo ] Sustainability education course as part of new recruit training — Sustainability education course as part of new recruit training

[ photo ] Lecture explaining the SDGs to lower- and upper-level managers — Lecture explaining the SDGs to lower- and upper-level managers

[ photo ] SDGs exhibition at Company event — SDGs exhibition at Company event

Participation in Initiatives

With a commitment to cooperating and forming ties with global society as we work toward building a sustainable society, Yamaha signed the UN Global Compact in June 2011 and is working to adhere to the Ten Principles. In addition, we actively participate in subcommittees^* of Global Compact Network Japan as a member.

* Fiscal 2020 subcommittee participation: Environmental Management, Kansai, Human Rights Due Diligence, Human Rights Education, Disaster Prevention/Mitigation, ESG, SDGs, and Reporting

UN Global Compact

Sustainability Management

Basic Policy

Initiatives Related to Sustainable Development Goals

Promotion of Sustainability Priorities

Priority Identification Process

Sustainability Priorities and Progress

Sustainability Awareness Raising

Participation in Initiatives

Sustainability Management

Activities Report

Related information and data

Policies and Guidelines