Sustainability Management

The Yamaha Group is advancing initiatives for contributing to the realization of a sustainable society based on the Yamaha Group Sustainability Policy. We are also actively contributing to the accomplishment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a set of shared targets embraced by global society, through our business activities.
The goals and targets of the SDGs are emphasized in the development of products and services and in efforts to improve business processes. Specific examples of these efforts include advancing music promotion activities to contribute to Goal 4 “Quality education” and practicing sustainable timber procurement to help achieve Goal 12“Responsible consumption and production” and Goal 15 “Life on land.”

[ picture ] Sustainable Development Goals: SDGs

Under the guidance of the Board of Directors, Yamaha Corporation established the Sustainability Committee as an advisory body to the president. This committee is tasked with discussing directives for Groupwide sustainability initiatives, monitoring initiatives by the respective divisions, and reporting to the president on these matters. Reports on the details and results of discussions by the Sustainability Committee are issued to the Board of Directors.
Five working groups—the Working Group for Climate Change, Working Group for Resource Circulation, Working Group for Procurement, Working Group for Human Rights, DE&I, and Working Group for Social and Cultural Contributions—have been formed under the Sustainability Committee to formulate activity policies for important Groupwide themes and monitor trends in their respective areas. The working groups establish frameworks for advancing initiatives based on the following themes, plan and implement related activities, and monitor these activities.
Working Group for Climate Change: Decarbonization, disclosure based on Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, water risk response measures, etc.
Working Group for Resource Circulation: Circular value chains, eco-friendly product designs and packaging, etc. Working Group for Procurement: Timber due diligence, sustainable timber procurement, Tone Forest activities, supply chain human rights due diligence, response to conflict minerals, etc.
Working Group for Human Rights, DE&I: Human rights due diligence; promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion; etc.
Working Group for Social and Cultural Contributions: Popularization of music, community outreach, etc.

Fiscal 2022 Sustainability Committee Meetings

Meetings: 10
Major Agenda items:
  • Revision of material issues
  • Medium- to long-term targets and measures related to carbon neutrality, resource conservation, waste reduction, sustainable timber procurement, human rights, and diversity
  • Priority areas for contributing to social issue resolution and social and cultural outreach through products and services
Sustainability Promotion System

The Yamaha Group has defined material sustainability issues for contributing to sustainable development and medium- to long-term improvements in corporate value based on the impact of its business activities on the environment and society as well as on stakeholder expectations and social demands. Initiatives for addressing these issues are currently underway.

Identified Material Sustainability Issues

Environment

Response to climate change
  • Reduction of CO2 emissions at business sites and in logistics, and through collaboration with suppliers
  • Energy savings in products
Sustainable use of timber
  • Sustainable sourcing and utilization of timber
  • Promotion of forest cultivation
Resource savings, reduction of waste and hazardous substances
  • Resource savings and improved resource recycling of products and packaging
  • Reduction of hazardous chemical substances (VOCs, etc.)

Society

Contribution to an equal society and comfortable lives

  • Mental and physical safety and health
  • Remote communication
  • Consideration for universal design and accessibility, etc.

Respect for human rights in the value chain

  • Human rights of workers at suppliers, etc.

Culture

Spread and development of music culture

  • Products, services, and activities that contribute to the promotion and development of music culture
  • Contribution to the development of the next generation

Human Resources

Increase job satisfaction

  • Human resources development, safety and health, work–life balance, etc.

Respect for human rights and DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion)

  • Initiatives to respect the human rights of people who work with Yamaha (Human rights education and due diligence)
  • DE&I promotion (gender, nationality, etc.)

Foster open organizational culture where people can proactively take on challenges

  • Employee engagement surveys, creation of opportunities for dialogue, etc.

For more details, please refer to the following website.

Material Issue Identification Process

Sustainability issues pertaining to the Yamaha Group’s value chain were identified with reference to the SDGs. The level of priority of these issues was then assessed based on input from customers, employees, and community members; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) evaluation criteria; opinions and requests from NGOs; advice from external experts; our corporate philosophy and vision; and medium- to long-term management policies. We thereby identified the material issues requiring an enhanced approach. In fiscal 2022, we revised our material sustainability issues.
Details regarding the identification process are as follows.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) for gauging the progress of measures related to the identified material sustainability issues by the Sustainability Committee working groups and relative divisions was established along with related targets and action plans. The Sustainability Committee is responsible for monitoring the progress of initiatives pertaining to material issues.

All members of the Yamaha Group, from new employees to senior management, are promoting sustainability in their respective roles and jobs in order to contribute to the accomplishment of the SDGs. In addition, sustainability education and awareness-raising elements are being incorporated into the rank- and field-based training and seminars, intranet postings, internal events, and company newsletters. In addition, we began arranging sustainability quizzes that offer an easy way to learn about sustainability and the SDGs in order to further promote understanding within the Group. We intend to issue 10 such quizzes a year.

Sustainability information site
Sustainability quiz
Sustainability education course as part of new recruit training
Sustainability training for lower- and upper-level managers

With a commitment to cooperating and forming ties with global society as we work toward building a sustainable society, Yamaha Corporation signed the UN Global Compact in June 2011. We are also participating in a variety of other initiatives.