Basic Policy on CSR and Promotion System

ITOCHU reports on its policy regarding CSR, and the structures and methods it employs to promote CSR.

Approach to CSR promotion at ITOCHU Corporation

We at ITOCHU Corporation believe that fulfilling our social responsibility through our business activities is important. To make sure that CSR is systematically implemented involving the whole organization, we established basic policies for CSR promotion as a corporate-wide policy and drafted CSR action plans in each organization to promote CSR.

In addition, we communicate with our various stakeholders to grasp the expectations and demands of society towards our company and leverage these for the promotion of CSR.

Basic Policies for CSR Promotion

Alongside the drafting of its management plan, ITOCHU formulated basic policies for CSR promotion, with the aim of globally promoting CSR with direct linkages to the management plan.

In the “Basic policies for CSR promotion” during the period of the “Brand-new Deal 2012” plan, which covers fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2013, we made revisions to reflect the results of an annual employee questionnaire about the Company's CSR Report. Below are the main points of the new policy.

1.Strengthening communication with stakeholders through a front-line approach
Strengthening front-line capabilities is one of the basic policies of the medium-term management plan. At the business front-lines of all division companies, ITOCHU will work to understand the needs of stakeholders through more intensive communication with them by each and every employee, and take advantage of and reflect those needs in businesses and operations.

2.Promoting businesses that help solve social issues
A sustainable society is essential for ensuring the continuity of businesses. In order to ensure the continuation of one's businesses, a company must do what it can for society through its businesses to help solve social issues such as climate change and human rights abuses. ITOCHU aims to help solve social issues through businesses that respond to social needs.

3.Strengthening supply chain management (Respect for human rights and consideration for the environment)
As a company that develops business around the world, ITOCHU views supply chain management as an important issue to be addressed. Preventing human rights, labor, environmental and other problems, and working for improvement together with suppliers, ITOCHU in April 2009 formulated “ITOCHU Corporation CSR Action Guidelines for Supply Chains.” Based on these action guidelines, ITOCHU conducts annual supplier surveys regarding human rights, labor, the environment and other matters, and requests suppliers' understanding of ITOCHU's approach and supplier cooperation in putting it into practice.

4.Promoting education on CSR and environmental conservation
The expression of CSR rests in the hands of each individual employee. This is why it is critical that all employees correctly understand the kind of CSR that the ITOCHU Group should engage in. In a bid to have a CSR mindset take root among all employees, ITOCHU conducts education on CSR and environmental conservation through a wide range of training and other programs, and all organizations conduct lively discussions about CSR action plans.

5.Involving in and contributing to development of local and global communities
ITOCHU is a member of the local communities where it has a business base. At the same time, it is a member of the global community. Accordingly, in areas even outside the Company’s main business, ITOCHU aims to actively participate in society as a member of the local community and the global community and contribute to development at both levels.

CSR promotion through CSR action plans

ITOCHU Corporation conducts various businesses through five Division Companies, the Construction & Realty Division, and the Headquarters Business Organization. To reliably promote CSR in our businesses, each Division Company defines the CSR issues that are important in its business and formulates the “CSR action plans,” and execute them based on a PDCA cycle system.

In actual practice, the responsible sales divisions draft and execute the CSR action plans under the lead of the general manager of the Planning and Coordination Department and the staff in charge of CSR promotion of each Division Company.

CSR action plans are also formulated and exercised by each organization such as the Headquarters' administrative divisions, domestic branches and offices as well as overseas bases in line with the respective businesses and functions. A pillar of our CSR promotion is that every employee understands the plans and steadily executes them in his or her job.

CSR Action Plans

CSR promotion system at ITOCHU Corporation

CSR promotion system

At ITOCHU Corporation, in April 2011 the CSR Promotion & Global Environment Department was moved into the Corporate Communications Division, with the aim of enhancing communication with stakeholders. This department plans and proposes strategies for promoting CSR, which are deliberated and discussed by the CSR Committee. ITOCHU also forms a CSR Report Editing Taskforce, which is made up of members from each Division Company and administrative divisions. This taskforce discusses production of the CSR report and CSR promotion measures.