Sustainability Approach and Structure

The Purpose of the Ajinomoto Group is to contribute to the well-being of all human beings, our society and our planet with “AminoScience.” We position sustainability at the core of ASV management. We advance specific initiatives under the Medium-Term ASV Initiatives 2030 Roadmap. These efforts align with the Six Material Themes identified as important issues (materiality) for the Ajinomoto Group.
Our business depends on sound agrifood systems that produces and consumes food resources, and on the rich global environment that supports this system. This system both faces environmental changes and contributes significantly to the loss of natural capital. Adapting to these changes and restoring nature are urgent priorities for society and for the sustainable growth of our business as the global environment nears its limits. To this end, we advance efforts in climate change, biodiversity, and the circular economy. We also implement various initiatives to help achieve better nutritional balance, greater emotional well-being through food, and progress in both treatment and prevention.
The Ajinomoto Group not only works to steadily reduce negative impacts through business activities but also aims to create stronger positive impacts across the value chain by leveraging our strengths in “AminoScience” and working with diverse stakeholders. Therefore, we strive for the sustainable enhancement of corporate value while implementing consistent efforts toward creating a healthy and prosperous society and healthier and more abundant lifestyles.

In the Ajinomoto Group, we honestly comply with the Ajinomoto Group Policies (AGP) that show the ideal way of thinking and action that the Group companies and their officers and employees should comply with, continue to develop and properly operate our internal control system, strengthen our system that considers sustainability as a framework active risk-taking system, and continuously enhance our corporate value. For the reflection of sustainability-related metrics in remuneration policy, please see “4. Status of corporate governance, etc., (4) Compensations* for officers in the Annual Securities Report for the 147th fiscal year.”
We are strengthening our sustainability promotion system to continuously increase our corporate value from the perspective of sustainability. As of the filing date of this document, this system is as outlined below.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has established the Sustainability Advisory Council, creating a system to provide recommendations about the Group’s approach to sustainability and ESG. It determines important issues (materiality) for the Ajinomoto Group that serve as guidelines for ASV management and supervises the execution of initiatives related to sustainability.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee has established the Sustainability Committee and the Risk Management Committee as subordinate bodies and selects and extracts risks and opportunities based on important issues (materiality) for the Ajinomoto Group, assessing the degree of impact, formulating measures, and managing progress. In FY2024, the Executive Committee received two activity reports each from the Sustainability Committee and the Risk Management Committee.

Sustainability Advisory Council

The Sustainability Advisory Council makes recommendations to enhance the corporate value of the Ajinomoto Group from the viewpoint of sustainability as a subordinate body of the Board of Directors. The Second Term Sustainability Advisory Council began in April 2023 and consists of four external experts, including investors and well-being specialists. An external expert also serves as council chair. The council meets at least twice a year to assess the efforts of the Board of Directors in the areas of materiality implementation, communication on implementation and information disclosure, and partnership building with stakeholders. The council submitted their final report to the Board of Directors in March 2025.

• Follow this link for more about the Sustainability Advisory Council.

Sustainability Committee

The Sustainability Committee works with the Risk Management Committee to select and identify risks and opportunities based on materiality as well as assess their impact on the Ajinomoto Group, making proposals to the Executive Committee. The Sustainability Committee then explores and formulates countermeasures for sustainability risks and opportunities and manages their progress. In addition, the Sustainability Committee formulates the entire Ajinomoto Group’s sustainability strategy, promotes action themes (nutrition, environment, and society) based on this strategy, makes proposals and provides support for business plans from a sustainability viewpoint, and compiles internal information on ESG.

• Follow this link for more about the Sustainability Committee.

Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee works with the Sustainability Committee to select and identify risks and opportunities based on materiality as well as assess their impact on the Ajinomoto Group, making proposals to the Executive Committee. The Risk Management Committee also develops and manages the progress of risk management measures to establish a strong corporate structure that ensures prompt and accurate responses to risks and crises, particularly with regard to risks that management should address (i.e., geopolitical risks, information security risks).

The year 2024 was the hottest on record, with average temperatures rising by more than 1.5°C compared　to pre-industrial revolution levels. It is our duty to ensure that the next generation can inherit a flourishing　global environment and healthy society, which are essential to the sustainability of our business activities. Stabilizing the climate is a particularly urgent issue. To do so, we must become nature positive ‒ that is, stop the loss of nature and put nature on the road to recovery. We must also simultaneously address other mutually connected issues, such as circular economy, nutritionally balanced diets, and human rights.

The Ajinomoto Group procures around 70% of its materials from the agricultural, livestock, and fishery industries, and therefore is highly dependent on the agrifood system, which itself is supported by the bounty of nature, or in other words, ecosystem services. The agrifood system accounts for more than 20% of all GHG emissions and is the second highest emitter behind the energy industry. Although on the one hand it has a significant impact on the global environment, it is also majorly affected by global environmental change. Moreover, around one-third of all food produced globally is wasted, and around one-third of the global population, or 2.8 billion people, do not have access to healthy food.

As above, there is significant room for change in the agrifood system. At the Ajinomoto Group, we have been working on a biocycle to transform fermentation byproducts into fertilizer and feed, circulating nutrients to support the production of agricultural and livestock products, and improving both the global environment and QOL for farmers. Based on these activities, more recently we have been working on businesses that reduce environmental impact and promote recycling in the agricultural and livestock industries. Moreover, throughout our 110-year history, we have supported nutritionally balanced food through products and solutions, in line with global food cultures and without compromising on taste. In addition to the nutritional benefits of food, it has also become clear through global studies that cooking and eating with others is linked to subjective well-being.

The Ajinomoto Group is engaged in a wide range of businesses based on its proprietary strength, “AminoScience,” including the Food Products business, which includes seasonings, processed foods, and frozen foods, as well as Healthcare and Electronic Materials. Moving forward, we will continue to make use of our tangible and intangible assets and work with scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and other global and local stakeholders to steadily reduce negative impacts. At the same time, we will aim to create more positive impacts for society throughout the value chain.

We consider human assets to be the source of all our intangible assets and fundamental to the above activities. We have therefore positioned employee engagement as a key factor to improving corporate value. We are also reinforcing our human resource investments to ensure that our diverse personnel with purpose can work more closely with consumers and customers to co-create innovation.

To achieve the Medium-Term ASV Initiatives 2030 Roadmap, we must identify risks accurately and respond to these risks promptly and appropriately. The Sustainability Committee and the Risk Management Committee work closely together to ensure no risk is left unaddressed between the two. The committees select and identify risks and opportunities based on important matters (Materiality) for the Ajinomoto Group and propose these risks and opportunities to the Executive Committee. The Sustainability Committee formulates response measures and manages progress on matters related to sustainability, including social, environmental, and nutritional issues. The Risk Management Committee handles risks that require management attention (e.g., pandemics, geopolitical risks, and information security risks).

We implement risk management processes at each domestic and overseas work site to identify risks and formulate countermeasures, taking individual business strategies and local political, economic, and social conditions into account. The Risk Management Committee improves these processes and compiles the risks identified by each work site and addresses those that management should take the initiative to address. In addition, each business and corporation has formulated a business continuity plan (BCP) in preparation for emergencies and The Risk Management Committee has established a system for constant verification of each BCP’s effectiveness and manages the risk response. Full-time Audit Committee members attend the Sustainability Committee and the Risk Management Committee to monitor risk management process.

The Ajinomoto Group is currently addressing Six Material Themes, and has set targets and KPIs associated with these themes not only for the reduction of negative impacts, such as environmental impact, but also for the creation of positive impacts across society using its proprietary strength, “AminoScience.”
The Executive Committee is responsible for checking the progress and performance of the Group’s main initiatives.