Using materiality to identify critical sustainability issues in our organization has allowed us to take a macroscopic view of the items that need to be addressed in our broad business domain. To achieve this, we considered our company's history, philosophy, and business direction and identified several social issues to be solved by leveraging our business reach and strengths.
We have created a long list of 300 items that we expect to resolve, with reference to the SDGs, ISO 26000, and GRI Standards for general social issues, and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) for industry-specific issues. Additionally, we have developed a shortlist of 49 items in which similar issues are integrated and their relevance to our focus areas are considered.
The shortlist was established based on the importance of an issue to the Tokyu Group and stakeholders, and materiality was tentatively evaluated.
Dialogues were held between external experts and executives to identify the material sustainability themes (Materiality).
*The affiliations and titles of external experts are current at the time of the dialogue.
Director and Lead Consultant MS&AD InterRisk Research & Cunsulting, Inc.
Naochika Tamura
When identifying the material sustainability themes (Materiality), it is essential to link it to the Group's slogan, philosophy, and business, as well as to the SDGs. To solve social issues, it is important to invoke a future-oriented value creation story and to realize it through business activities guided by the future expectations of various stakeholders. In both urban and community development and railways, we look forward to implementing initiatives that pioneer new technologies and serve as a model for other companies.
Executive Officer and Deputy Chief Research Officer, Development Bank of Japan Inc.
Keisuke Takegahara
Tokyu's business model is characterized by its long-term view and ability to solve social issues. It is very rare for a for-profit company anywhere in the world to achieve both. The Japanese origins of this corporate management model should be promoted with the phrase “sustainable urban ans community development” used to express the character of the Tokyu Group. The brand, attention to human resources, governance, and environment that underpin our current strengths are attracting attention, and we should communicate our strengths in terms of the long-term urban and community development we are pursuing.
Chief Exective Officer, Sustainability Forum Japan
Toshihiko Goto
In recent years, the 2015 Paris Agreement and the SDGs resolution have stood out as key global initiatives. They mark a major turning point in human history and a shift in the global paradigm. In the past, the Tokyu Group’s unique business model has been successful, but in an era when the nature of Japanese companies may change drastically, we need to respond to emerging trends. Additionally, given current global trends, our model should include a response to climate change and the importance of biodiversity.
After verifying the appropriateness of the materiality assessment based on recommendations from external experts, the issues were identified by the Board of Directors with reference to the medium-term management plan delivered by the Management Meeting. Additionally, we established the social issues relevant to each theme identified and the “Vision for 2030” and positioned them as the fundamental strands of our Long-term Management Initiative.
Ensuring safety is the foundation of all our operations. For the Tokyu Group, which is responsible for a wide range of infrastructure functions, providing safe and stable services is a core responsibility. In addition to our day-to-day operation activities, we will make sure to prepare for natural disasters, such as large-scale earthquakes, to ensure safety and the peace of mind that comes with it.
The sustainability of cities is an important issue for the Tokyu Group, which is engaged in a wide range of businesses that are closely linked to the daily lives of its customers with urban community development based on its railway business at its core. We will promote a variety of initiatives and will keep Tokyu’s rail service areas being the main focus.
The Tokyu Group's mission statement is “ to create beautiful living environments,in which each person can pursue individual happiness in a harmonious society.” The Tokyu Group provides comfort, security, quality, and satisfaction in a wide range of areas through its businesses so that every customer who lives and works along Tokyu railway lines can achieve self-fulfillment and lead a rewarding life.
In Japan, where the birthrate is declining and the population is aging, increasing productivity and pursuing innovation through the activities of each individual is a social issue. We will promote human resources development in two principal ways: proposing new workplace and educational and cultural activities, and creating an environment where employees can shine.
The destruction of the global environment is being addressed at a rapid pace on an international scale and Japan, like other nations, is required to take proactive measures to decarbonized society. We will promote environmental management across the entire Tokyu Group and address environmental issues through our business.
Recognizing that corporate governance is a fundamental requirement for corporate activities, the Tokyu Group will steadily implement a variety of corporate governance measures and compliance measures in accordance with the Corporate Governance Code.
