Japanese companies are said to comprise approximately half of the world’s companies that are more than 100 years old. The fact of this longevity is a testament to what we call “sustainability” today.

However, given the increasing unpredictability facing both management and society, including rapidly changing geopolitical risks and accelerating technological innovation, it is far from an easy task for businesses to steadily advance sustainability. It is for precisely this reason that continuous efforts based on a long-term perspective, together with the ability to evolve without fear of change, are widely sought.

Today, the definition of sustainability continues to expand, and expectations towards companies are becoming more diverse by the day. At ITOCHU Corporation, we seek to respond to the expectations of all stakeholders over the short-, medium-, and long-term. We do so by steadily achieving business results while simultaneously undertaking initiatives and information disclosures in line with domestic and international environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks, such as the Sustainability Standards Board of Japan (SSBJ), the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).
The answer to the question of how to ensure sustainability and social trust through these initiatives has remained unchanged since our founding: the ITOCHU Group corporate mission, “Sampo-yoshi” (“good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society”), which traces to the words of our founder, Chubei Itoh I.

With the spirit of “Sampo-yoshi” as our core, we have continued to create value through business over our nearly 170-year history. We seek not only to achieve profit but to meet the trust and expectations placed on us by our business partners, shareholders, investors, customers, employees, and various other stakeholders, advancing sustainability through our business activities while also helping to address social issues and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We believe that the philosophy of sustainably enhancing corporate value while simultaneously addressing social issues is a universal one, which also aligns with modern sustainability management.

At ITOCHU, we seek to build and maintain trust by responding appropriately to our stakeholders and meeting a wide variety of expectations, including by thoroughly applying our on-site approach to supply chain management and human rights due diligence, and giving consideration to the countries and regions where we do business while contributing to their economies.
Some concrete examples of our business that help address a range of environmental and social issues include natural rubber operations with traceability to prevent human rights issues and illegal logging, an energy-from-waste project that helped address health problems surrounding landfill sites while also reducing GHG emissions, and desalination business that responds to water risk.
Additionally, we have advanced efforts to strengthen our human capital, including through our Work-Style Reforms such as our Morning-Focused Working System and support for balancing cancer treatment with work, with the goals of increasing labor productivity and creating a challenging but rewarding workplace.

In an uncertain management environment, sustainability-related challenges will only continue to increase. However, the spirit of “Sampo-yoshi,” which can be said to form the roots of modern sustainability, has enabled us to overcome the challenges of many different eras. We will continue our efforts going forward, as a sustainable company and as a trusted merchant.