In our sustainability activities, we strive to balance our principles with profitability, developing balanced business activities from social, environmental, and economic perspectives, while addressing the social issues surrounding our stakeholders.
Engagement efforts with each stakeholder
| Stakeholders | Engagement Initiatives |
|---|---|
| customer |
Through appropriate communication with our customers, we will continuously create services that help solve their current and future challenges. [Examples of initiatives]
|
| employee |
We create a fair and vibrant workplace through communication with our employees. [Examples of initiatives] |
| Business partners partner |
We consider you a valuable partner with whom we create value together, and we maintain an appropriate relationship based on trust. [Examples of initiatives] |
| Community and Society |
We create employment opportunities in local communities through our business, and at the same time, we generate new value through learning, culture, and art with the people who live in those communities, thereby realizing a prosperous society. [Examples of initiatives] |
| Shareholders and Investors |
We will continue to grow and evolve so that we can earn the trust of our shareholders and investors for many years to come. |
Benesse Stakeholder Dialogue
At Benesse, we believe that in promoting sustainability management, it is important to engage in dialogue with various stakeholders and to practice business activities that incorporate external opinions. Therefore, we continuously hold stakeholder dialogues as a forum for two-way dialogue with external experts and stakeholders on sustainability issues.
FY2024
- In November 2024, Toyoizumi (then Chairperson of the Sustainability Promotion Committee) took the stage at "SHIBUYA COP 2024," an event held annually in conjunction with COP (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). In a talk session that fostered dialogue and exchange across generations and industries, he presented Benesse's case study on the future of environmental education in Japan, and from there, discussed the challenges and future perspectives of environmental education in Japan, exchanging opinions with other speakers.
- In November 2024, coinciding with the United Nations' designation of "World Children's Day on November 20th," Benesse Wellbeing Lab and the after-school NPO Afterschool co-hosted an online forum on the theme of creating a society that realizes "children's wellbeing." On the day of the forum, Yoshiki Ishikawa, Representative Director of the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Well-being for Planet Earth and a fellow of Benesse Wellbeing Lab, gave a presentation on children's wellbeing, and a panel discussion was held with Mr. Ishikawa, Kuniyasu Hiraiwa, Representative Director of the after-school NPO Afterschool, and Toyoizumi, Director of Benesse Wellbeing Lab. Through these discussions, topics were raised and insights were shared, incorporating the perspectives of researchers, companies, and NPOs.
2023
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In June 2023, in order to address child poverty and educational disparities, we received opinions from Mr. Yusuke Imai, representative of Chance for Children, a non-profit organization that provides support to children from economically disadvantaged families, on how to solve social issues through educational projects. In the dialogue, Mr. Imai and Mr. Okada (at the time), Managing Executive Officer of Benesse Holdings and Chairperson of the Sustainability Promotion Committee, discussed educational disparities, the current challenges and support surrounding children and teachers, and collaboration with NPOs. The opinions received have been reflected in the process of reviewing our materiality.
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In June 2023, Ken Shibusawa, Representative Director of Shibusawa & Company, Inc. and Special Advisor to the Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), engaged in a dialogue with Mr. Okada (then Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chair of the Sustainability Promotion Committee) of Benesse Holdings, Inc., regarding expectations for solving social issues. Mr. Shibusawa provided opinions on the importance of human capital, diversity, and how to demonstrate goals, activities, and results. We have reflected these opinions in the review of our materiality and in the process of considering future information disclosure content.
2022
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Koichi Sakai, publisher of the ESG management magazine "Nikkei ESG" published by Nikkei BP, and Hitoshi Kobayashi (then President and CEO of Benesse Holdings) held a dialogue about their vision and transformations, aiming to build a value creation model that creates and circulates three types of value: "customer value," "economic value," and "social value," and to realize the basic philosophy of "Benesse (Well-Being)" through their business.
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We gathered managers from Chinese manufacturing plants that handle educational materials and toys, explained the importance of building a sound supply chain in production sites, including human rights issues and environmental considerations, and exchanged opinions. We also hold regular meetings with domestic printing and bookbinding companies and factories to exchange opinions on an ongoing basis. Through these stakeholder engagements, if areas for improvement are identified, we work together to implement improvements.
Foundation activities
Benesse Corporation's efforts to solve social issues through its business activities, supported by numerous stakeholders, align with the missions of the three foundations that promote social activities.
We aim to solve social issues by supporting foundations that strive to address social problems through activities such as "supporting the learning of children who will shape the future" and "supporting the Community development centered on education, culture, and arts."
Benesse Children's Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
Established in 2014, our organization aims to create a society where children, with their bright future ahead, can expand their potential in a safe and secure learning environment. We focus our activities on the following four themes, drawing from the diverse challenges surrounding children.
Fukutake Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
Our art activities are centered around three pillars: museum projects focused on Naoshima, Teshima, and Inujima; grant programs for regional development activities through culture and art throughout Japan; and independent and co-sponsored projects supporting events such as Setouchi Triennale. Through our art activities, we aim to create better communities where each individual can consider what "Benesse = Well-Being) means, and where the smiles of the elderly abound.
Fukutake Education and Culture Promotion Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
We support activities that aim to solve local community problems and create social value from both the perspectives of education and culture/arts, with the aim of contributing to human resource development and Community development in Okayama Prefecture. We conduct grant programs, award programs, and independent projects. We aim to create a more fulfilling community through the power of education and culture.
