Non-Financial Highlights (ESG Initiatives)

Based on its Group CSR Vision, the Sompo Holdings Group strives to address social issues and create new value as part of the process of its transformation into a “theme park for the security, health, and wellbeing of customers” and to thereby help realize a resilient, sustainable society together with growth for the Group.

Group CSR Vision

We, the Sompo Holdings Group, will positively engage our stakeholders in forward-looking dialogue, respect international standards and codes of conduct, and address environmental issues of climate change, biodiversity, and social issues of human rights and diversity in the course of our business operations in a transparent, fair, and open manner.
By constantly maintaining a long-term outlook, and by providing services and products that contribute to security, health, and wellbeing, we will strive as a solution provider to promote the realization of a resilient and sustainable society.

Five CSR Material Issues

In April 2016, based upon the Group CSR Vision, the Sompo Holdings Group established the following Three Key Strengths to advance its CSR initiatives. Furthermore, the Group redefined its Five CSR Material Issues based on the latest developments and changes in its business environment, most notably the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the 2015 UN summit and the Paris Agreement at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, to realize a resilient and sustainable society by providing products and services that contribute to security, health, and wellbeing.

External Recognition of Our ESG Efforts
Inclusion in Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Indices

From an early stage, we have been actively involved in ESG, and our initiatives have been recognized by various organizations globally. The following outlines our major recent recognitions and awards (as of July 1, 2018).

Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI World)

Corporate Sustainability Assessment by RobecoSAM

CDP Climate Change Survey

FTSE4Good Index Series

FTSE Blossom Japan Index

MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes and MSCI SRI Indexes

ECPI Global Developed ESG Best-in-Class Equity Index

The Morningstar Socially Responsible Investment Index

SDGs Integration into Management and Business

Stakeholder Engagement toward Achieving the SDGs

A variety of international and domestic initiatives are forming partnerships to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.
The Group actively participates in various initiatives, making an effort to play a leading role in achieving the SDGs.

TOPICS

Revision of the Keidanren Charter of Corporate Behavior—Japanese Business Sphere Initiative Aimed at Achievement the SDGs

Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) is advocating contributions to the accomplishment of the SDGs through the realization of Society 5.0, a vision for an ultrasmart, human-oriented society, leading it to revise the Charter of Corporate Behavior and its implementation guidelines in 2017. Masao Seki, Senior Advisor on Corporate Social Responsibility Department of core Group company Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc., played a leadership role in this revision as the chair of the revision task force.
More than ever, attention is being turned to the role of companies, which have the power to transform society through their businesses, in contributing to the realization of the inclusive and sustainable future so desired by the world. As such, companies are now expected to incorporate the SDGs into their business strategies from a long-term perspective based not only on an understanding of the 17 SDGs but also on the fundamental principles of respect for human rights that lie at the core of these goals. The Sompo Holdings Group is fully aware of the significance of the revision to the Charter of Corporate Behavior, and it stands committed to accelerating its efforts for accomplishing the SDGs.

Progress of Initiatives Related to Material Issues—
Contributions to Accomplishment of SDGs

The Sompo Holdings Group has established CSR key performance indicators (CSR-KPIs) based on the Five CSR Material Issues to quantify the progress of initiatives related to these issues. We thereby strive to resolve various social issues, believing that these efforts will contribute to the accomplishment of the SDGs.

Material Issue 1 Providing Solutions for Disaster Preparedness

The Group analyzes huge volumes of accident data (big data) it has accumulated over the years to develop new products and services that contribute to disaster preparedness. In addition, our expertise of risk quantification is utilized to formulate measures for preventing accidents and reducing the damage caused by natural disasters. We also promote disaster preparedness education to improve awareness as many people as possible with accurate disaster preparedness knowledge. Our goal through these efforts is to help combat disasters while reducing the occurrence of secondary disasters.

Material Issue 2 Contributing to Health and Welfare

With a view to realizing its vision of “Japan, an affluent country that can boast to the world of a long and quality life,” the Sompo Holdings Group is working to become the most trusted provider of nursing care services in Japan based on consideration of the various risks that might threaten an aging population. To this end, we will swiftly cultivate a brand founded on security, health, and wellbeing through the provision of nursing care services of impeccable quality. Moreover, we seek to help people remain healthier for longer. Accordingly, we provide employee assistance programs, lifestyle disease prevention support, and other support services to contribute to the security, health, and wellbeing of customers.

Material Issue 3 Promoting the Manageability of Global Environmental Issues

Rather than simply viewing climate change and other global environmental issues as risks, the Sompo Holdings Group goes a step forward to provide various solutions for addressing these issues. Examples of these solutions include insurance products and risk consulting services that cover the risks associated with meteorological disasters and renewable energy operations. We also seek to provide products and services that respond to and help alleviate climate change, contribute to the preservation of biodiversity, and promote eco-conscious action. At the same time, we are working together with stakeholders throughout all areas of our business, from upstream areas to downstream areas, to take the initiative in reducing environmental impacts across the value chain. In these ways, the Group is approaching global environmental issues as opportunities to create and grow new markets.

Another area of focus is promoting the resolution of global environmental issues. To this end, we carry out environmental preservation activities and provide opportunities for environmental education to raise interest in and awareness of the environment and thereby increase the number of individuals capable of exercising autonomy in addressing such issues. The Group also collaborates with research and government institutions to conduct research on global environmental issues and transmit the results throughout society.

The SAVE JAPAN Project, a program for preserving scarce species in Japan, received the Chairman’s Award of Ecological Life and Culture Organization 2017.

Material Issue 4 Empowering Communities and Society

The Sompo Holdings Group sees empowering communities and society as an important corporate responsibility to be fulfilled by identifying social issues through communication with communities and society by the Group and by individual employees. In collaboration with NPOs, NGOs, and various other stakeholders, we take part in various initiatives for fulfilling this responsibility. At the same time, frameworks have been put in place to support all employees in utilizing the skills cultivated through their work to participate in activities for addressing social issues.
We believe that active involvement in the resolution of social issues will help employees grow to be more keenly aware of social issues and thereby facilitate future efforts to address social issues on both a local and global scale. Moreover, we hope that our efforts to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through the resolution of community and social issues will in turn enable the Sompo Holdings Group to earn greater trust from society while improving its brand value.

Material Issue 5 Supporting Diversity and Inclusion in Private and Public Life

Guided by its slogan of “Diversity for Growth,” which signifies our commitment to transforming diversity into strength and subsequently growth, the Sompo Holdings Group utilizes diversity to drive growth and to develop new products and services based on diverse values. We are also committed to respect for basic human rights, not just those of our employees but also those of our customers and various other stakeholders, and we promote diversity through products and services as well as through education.