Sustainability news

Notice about enhancements to the sustainability promotion framework and appointment of Sustainability Advisory Council members

March 8th, 2021

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. will enhance its sustainability promotion framework in order to continuously increase corporate value from the perspective of sustainability. Effective April 1, 2021, we will establish the Sustainability Advisory Council under the Board of Directors and the Sustainability Committee under the Executive Committee. In addition, the following decision was made on the appointment of Sustainability Advisory Council members.

1. Enhancements to the sustainability promotion framework

(1) The Sustainability Advisory Council will be responsible for the following 1) to 4):

1) During Phase 1 (FY2020 to 2022) of the 2020-2025 Medium-Term Management Plan, discuss Materiality with a long-term perspective (up to 2050) and reflect it into Materiality and the strategy for Phase 2 (FY2023 to 2025) of the Medium-Term Management Plan.

2) Review Materiality from a multi-stakeholder perspective and response plans to environmental changes (risks and opportunities) linked to Materiality, and in turn report to the Board of Directors.

3) Examine key points expected or requested of companies in 2030 and beyond along with review of appropriate involvement in the creation of social rules.

4) Discuss and review targets beyond 2030 concerning the creation of social value, including commitment to extend healthy life expectancy and environmental impact reduction.

(2) The Sustainability Advisory Council will meet semi-annually and actively disclose the details of its discussions by publishing meeting minutes and press releases.

(3) The Sustainability Committee will, based on the reports of the Sustainability Advisory Council, hold discussions on countermeasures to risks and opportunities posed by company-wide management issues and how to reflect these in business strategy, pursuant to Materiality and the strategic direction approved by the Board of Directors. The Sustainability Committee will report to the Executive Committee.

2. Appointment of Sustainability Advisory Council members

The following persons were selected to serve as members of the committee from among outside experts representing various fields, such as academia, emerging markets, millennials and Generation Z, and ESG impact investors, outside directors, and officers of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. including Representative Director, President and CEO.

Sustainability Advisory Council members

(Chair) Scott Davis

Professor, College of Business, Rikkyo University *1

Kraisid Tontisirin

Professor, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Thailand

Yoshiki Ishikawa

Representative Director of Well-being for Planet Earth Foundation *2

Takao Toda

Special Advisor to the President, for Global Health and Human Security JICA (Global Health and Human Security) *3

Yu Aoki

Founder and CEO, MATCHA Inc.

Mana Nakazora

Vice Chairperson, Global Markets, BNP Paribas Securities (Japan) Limited

Naoko Kimura

Membership Senior Manager, Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)

Kimie Iwata

Outside Director, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

Joji Nakayama

Outside Director *4, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

Takaaki Nishii

President and Chief Executive Officer, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

Kaoru Kurashima

Corporate Senior Vice President, General Manager of Global Corporate and Corporate Services Divisions *5, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

Hiroshi Shiragami

Corporate Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer (CIO), R & D supervision *5, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

  1. Outside Director of SOMPO Holdings Co., Ltd. and Outside Director of Bridgestone Corporation

  2. Co-founder of Cancer Scan Co., Ltd.

  3. Chief Operating Officer, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) (The job title scheduled as of March 15th, 2021)

  4. Will be appointed as Outside Director through the Company’s general meeting of shareholders scheduled June 2021

  5. The job title scheduled as of April 2021