Sustainability Management

  1. Basic Policy
  2. Initiatives for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  3. Promotion of Sustainability Priorities
  4. Sustainability Education
  5. Participation in Initiatives

Basic Policy

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

Initiatives for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Yamaha Group intends to contribute to the attainment of the "Sustainable Development Goals" (SDGs) through our business. In addition to our efforts to contribute to Goal 4 ("Quality Education") through our initiatives to spread music, we are also working on Goal 12 ("Responsible Consumption and Production") and Goal 15 ("Life on Land") through efforts to procure sustainable sources for timber. We are currently developing products and services with an awareness of the goals and targets of each SDGs, and endeavoring to improve our business processes.

[ 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 our business activities on the environment and society, as well as on stakeholders' expectations and societal demands.

Process for identifying priorities

  1. Identify sustainability issues
    Identify sustainability issues within the Yamaha Group value chain based on ISO 26000 (which provides international guidance on social responsibility) and sustainable development goals (SDGs)
  2. Evaluate importance of issues from the perspective of stakeholders
    Take into consideration feedback from customers, employees, and local communities; ESG evaluation items; opinions and requests from NGOs; and advice from outside experts, and then evaluate the importance of the issues identified.
  3. Evaluate importance within Yamaha
    Take the Yamaha management vision and medium-to-long-term management policies into consideration, and evaluate the importance of the issues identified.
  4. Identify sustainability priorities
    Select issues that must be promoted further based on the results of evaluating the importance of each issue, and then identify sustainability priorities through discussion among top management.

Set KPIs within related divisions to evaluate targets and progress for identified sustainability priorities, create an action plan, and then receive approval from top management. Have the Sustainability Division monitoring progress, and conduct annual reviews during Managing Councils headed by the President to promote initiatives for sustainability priorities.

[ picture ] Process for identifying priorities

Sustainability Priorities and Progress

Sustainability priorities Major initiatives FY2018 progress and results Future issues and targets Major related SDGs
Development of products and services with a focus on social/environmental issues Response to societal issues
Music Culture and Education
  • Released new digital materials to support music education (chorus and recorder lessons)
Universal Design
  • Released new "multilingual simultaneous interpretation guide" feature for "SoundUD™," and launched a subtitle support project for those with visual or hearing impairment
Health/Safety Solutions
  • Began supplying market with in-vehicle communication modules for emergency call systems
Workplace
  • Launched trial shared office project utilizing soundproof rooms and conference systems
Music Culture and Education
  • Propose comprehensive music education solutions
  • Expand range of electronic musical instruments equipped with functions required by local music cultures
Universal Design
  • Expand range of electronic musical instruments equipped with voice readout functionality
Health and Safety Solutions
  • Expand sales and use of in-vehicle communication modules
Workplace
  • Propose acoustic environment solutions for workplaces (make use of speech privacy systems to keep information private during conversations)
[ icon ] GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
[ icon ] QUALITY EDUCATION
[ icon ] DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
[ icon ] INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
[ icon ] REDUCED INEQUALITIES
[ icon ] SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
[ icon ] PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIOONS
[ icon ] PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
Response to environmental issues
  • Certified 53 models of Yamaha Eco-products (379 models total, 18% of sales)
  • Developed a thermoelectric power generation module which can utilize waste heat, and built a production system for it
  • Yamaha Eco-Products certification:40 models/year
  • Introduce waste heat power generation module into the automotive market
  • Develop non-organic solvent coating technology
  • Develop sustainable materials capable of replacing rare timber
[ icon ] AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
[ icon ] INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
[ icon ] RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
[ icon ] CLIMATE ACTION
[ icon ] LIFE ON LAND
Development of regional community-based business and social contribution activities Spread instrumental music education to schools
  • Provided a total of 260,000 students from 1,300 schools in Russaia and four countries in Southeast Asia and elsewhere with the opportunity to play musical instruments
  • Provided approximately 5,100 students from 63 schools in six countries in Africa and the Middle East to the experience of with the opportunity to play musical instruments
  • Donated musical instruments and provided education support to five migrant worker schools in five cities in China (total of 55 schools)
  • Provide opportunities to play musical instruments to a total of 1,000,000 students from 3,000 schools in seven countries in Southeast Asia and other locations
  • Provide opportunities to study musical instruments to approximately 8,300 students from 75 schools in seven countries in Africa and the Middle East
  • Donate musical instruments to migrant worker schools in China (support 18 schools in three years)
[ icon ] QUALITY EDUCATION
[ icon ] DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
[ icon ] SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
[ icon ] RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
[ icon ] PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIOONS
[ icon ] PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
Support for youth development orchestra/band
  • Held musical instrument maintenance seminars for seven organizations in three countries in Latin America (total of 29 organizations in five countries)
  • Established training program for repair technicians and held seminars in three countries in Latin America; produced a total of 19 certified repair technicians
  • Continue to provide musical instrument maintenance seminars and repair technician training in five countries in Latin America, and expand efforts to new areas and organizations
  • Provide support to additional countries in Latin America (two countries in three years)
  • Support the spread of wind instrument music and orchestras best suited to each country and region around the world
Community support
  • Worked with the Reconstruction Agency as part of a project to build communities through music (Oto-Machi)
  • Provide additional types of support within the Oto-Machi project (ten new projects in three years)
Lowering of greenhouse gas emissions Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions during business activities
  • Established reduction targets (SBTs) based on scientific knowledge
  • Implemented energy reduction measures, such as actively introducing energy-saving equipment and improving facility operations
  • Conducted third-party greenhouse gas emission verification
  • Promote reduction efforts toward achieving targets*certified by SBT
    *Scope 1, 2: FY2031 -32% (FY2051 -83%)
    Scope 3: FY2031 -30%
    (both figures compared with FY2018)
  • Gradually expand the ratio of renewable energy used (FY2022 target 3%)
  • Continue to conduct third-party greenhouse gas emission verification
[ icon ] AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
[ icon ] CLIMATE ACTION
Response to climate change
  • Formulated BCP in preparation for natural disasters, etc.
  • Analyze and disclose financial effect of climate change according to proposal by TCFD
Sustainable procurement of timber Avoid use of illegally lumbered timber; promote use of certified timber
  • Improved timber due diligence (DD) system
  • Conducted DD (including on-site inspections) on all timber purchased and judged 94% of purchases as low risk
  • Improved ratio of certified timber (29% of all purchased timber)
  • Improve DD (improve inspection accuracy) and judge 100% of purchases as low risk
  • Expand ratio of certified timber (FY2022 target 50%)
  • Develop musical instruments that use timber with a lower risk (such as for the cabinet material of pianos)
[ icon ] RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
[ icon ] CLIMATE ACTION
[ icon ] LIFE ON LAND
[ icon ] PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
Promote the procurement of timber with an awareness of cycle-based forest conservation
  • Conducted surveys to produce high-quality timber from African blackwood in Tanzania, and launched a tree-planting pilot project
  • Entered into an agreement to conduct comprehensive joint research with academia (Kyoto University)
  • Provide technical support to produce high-quality timber from African blackwood, promote the tree-planting project, and begin procurement
  • Promote joint research with academia (such as Kyoto University) to develop forest resources and optimize usage efficiency
Promotion of 3R in products Packing and packaging material
  • Implemented returnable packaging materials and reduced size of materials
  • Promote streamlining of packaging (introduce packaging/cushioning material with a low environmental burden, and step up efforts to reduce size)
  • Implement measures for shopping bags and other single-use packing materials (stop using plastic, etc.)
[ icon ] RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
[ icon ] LIFE BELOW WATER
[ icon ] LIFE ON LAND
Products
  • Promoted the reuse of products (Renewal Piano business)
  • Introduced system for replacing electric organ units (to upgrade to more advanced/newer models)
  • Implemented recycling of electric organs that were traded in (some models)
  • Formulate long-term vision and promotion plan for product 3R
  • 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 Develop system/structure
  • Added human rights management items to Yamaha Group rules and related guidelines
  • Held compliance seminars themed on preventing harassment
  • Establish human rights monitoring systems
  • Conduct internal training and promote awareness of human rights
[ icon ] DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
[ icon ] REDUCED INEQUALITIES
Promotion of supply chain management
  • Strengthened supplier CSR assessment system
  • Conducted assessments when beginning transactions (104 companies)
  • Held seminars for procurement personnel and suppliers
  • Conduct simultaneous surveys on supplier CSR assessments (every three years)
  • Conduct assessments when beginning transactions
  • Hold seminars for procurement personnel and suppliers
Promotion of diversity and human resources development Global human resources management
  • Established Yamaha Group standards on grading and development, and conducted trials
  • Promote HR management based on the Yamaha Group standards grading and development system
[ icon ] GENDER EQUALITY
[ icon ] DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
[ icon ] REDUCED INEQUALITIES
Promotion of the active role of female workers, response to diverse workstyles
  • Expanded work-life balance support system (established measures to provide more flexible working conditions, etc.)
  • Promoted the female manager development program
  • Increased ratio of female managers within Yamaha Group (worldwide total) to 14.9%
  • Expand work-life balance support system (open on-site daycare centers, establish measures such as working from home to provide more flexible working conditions, etc.)
  • Consider measures to develop female employees for the Yamaha Group, and implement program to support staff taking temporary childcare leave
  • Improve ratio of female managers target: 17% throughout Yamaha Group for the period from FY2021 to March 2022)
LGBT understanding and efforts to promote respect and support
  • Implemented internal study sessions for HR personnel, etc. (two sessions with a total of 90 participants)
  • Establish internal systems (establish help desk, improve systems, etc.)
  • Hold internal lectures to promote understanding/hold study sessions in industry organizations
  • Promote understanding in workplaces through such means as distributing "Yamaha LGBT Ally" logo stickers and creating an LGBT handbook

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

Sustainability Education

The Yamaha Group aims to promote sustainability throughout each aspect of its roles and business operations and in all levels of the work force, from managers to new recruits. We conduct training and seminars, and make use of resources such as our intranet site to educate employees and raise awareness on sustainability. Beginning in FY2017, each member of the Yamaha Group has worked to gain a deeper understanding of SDGs through posters, company newsletters, and internal events, in order to connect SDGs with their own work duties.

[ image ] Sustainability information site on company intranet
Sustainability information site on company intranet
[ image ] Posters and company newsletters introducing SDGs
Posters and company newsletters introducing SDGs
[ photo ] Sustainability education at new recruit training (attended by 60 employees in FY2018)
Sustainability education at new recruit training (attended by 60 employees in FY2018)
[ photo ] Explaining SDGs to upper- and lower-level managers
Explaining SDGs to upper- and lower-level managers
[ photo ] Promoting SDGs during a company event
Promoting SDGs during a 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 10 Principles. As a member of the Global Compact Network Japan, we also actively participating in subcommittees*.

* FY2018 subcommittee participation: Environmental Management, Reporting, Kansai, Human Rights Due Diligence, Human Rights Education, Disaster Prevention/Mitigation, SRI/ESG, SDGs, CSVG.