Sustainability Advisory Board 2017

ITOCHU Corporation management and outside stakeholders held a CSR Advisory Board meeting at the Tokyo Head Office on January 15 to discuss sustainability. The Sustainability Advisory Board (former CSR Advisory Board) was set up to facilitate a dialogue with external stakeholders about whether the direction of ITOCHU's sustainability approach matches the needs of society within the context of the diversification and expansion of ITOCHU's business activities.
In fiscal 2018, in response to the social circumstances and changes in the business environment, such as the adoption of the SDGs and the entry into the Paris Agreement, discussions were held on issues including material sustainability issues (materiality), which were reviewed by taking Brand-new Deal 2020, the new medium-term management plan that starts in fiscal 2019, as the opportunity to do so, as well as on the shift to a low-carbon society, human rights, and the supply chain. Experts from diverse backgrounds, including an investor, a specialist in human rights in Europe, and a person who worked for a global business corporation provided their frank opinions based on such matters as the investment environment and other companies' trends during the lively discussion. They also expressed their expectations for ITOCHU by making comments such as "The perspective of ESG will be important. We request that you think about the impact society and the environment will have on your corporate activities in the medium and long term and cater to social needs with ITOCHU's solutions." ITOCHU will continue addressing those issues by expanding its businesses, taking environmental changes, such as climate change, as business opportunities. The opinions and input that the advisors provided will be reflected in future sustainability promotion efforts and, through dissemination of information, lead to enhancing understanding among stakeholders about ITOCHU's business activities.