The DIC Group's Sustainability Program
Overview of Sustainability
The DIC Group defines sustainability initiatives as undertakings that capitalize on its businesses to contribute to sustainability for society, and conservation and improvement of the global environment, as well as to its own sustainable growth. In line with its basic sustainability policy, the Group promotes a variety of sustainability initiatives worldwide and works to maintain an accurate grasp of social imperatives pertaining to ESG-related issues. DIC also works with Group sites everywhere to comply with disclosure requirements both in Japan and around the world. The DIC Vision 2030 long-term management plan outlines sustainability strategies that are guiding activities to further drive sustainability initiatives across the global DIC Group.
Basic Policy on Sustainability (Partially revised in December 2024)
The DIC Group is dedicated to conducting its business while retaining a strong commitment to five key concepts: preserving safety and health, managing risks, ensuring fair business practices and respect for diversity and human rights, maintaining harmony with the environment and advancing its protection, and creating value for society through innovation and contributing to ongoing economic growth. Going forward, Group employees will continue working to deliver the value that its stakeholders—including its customers, suppliers, local communities, shareholders and investors, and employees—expect, showing ingenuity and a sense of responsibility. The DIC Group will continue striving to contribute to sustainability for society, as well as to the conservation and improvement of the global environment, by capitalizing on its businesses to achieve unfaltering growth, thereby enhancing its own sustainability.
Promoting Sustainability
Themes
The DIC Group’s sustainability framework comprises 13 key themes, which it categorizes as basic themes, themes that demonstrate unique capabilities and themes that combine elements of the previous two classifications. The Group implements a broad range of global initiatives that also take into account its responsibility to ensure proper product stewardship. These themes are reviewed as appropriate in light of changes in the operating environment and the progress of related initiatives.
Deployment
Guided by its Basic Policy on Sustainability the DIC Group has formulated medium-term (fiscal years 2022–2025) policies and creates an annual activity plan for each of its sustainability themes. Individual units, divisions and departments are responsible for implementing sustainability initiatives. The Group reports on the progress and results of related efforts in its DIC Report integrated report and on its global website.
Governance for Promoting Sustainability Initiatives
The DIC Group’s sustainability initiatives are overseen by the president and CEO, who since fiscal year 2020 has also chaired the Sustainability Committee. In addition to devising sustainability policies and activity plans, as well as evaluating and promoting related initiatives, this committee deliberates and makes decisions on other matters deemed to require its adjudication. The committee met four times in fiscal year 2024 to consider and make determinations on a number of proposals, including for a revision of the basic sustainability policy, update of the Group’s CO₂ emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) reduction plan, establishment of the Climate Change Working Group, and formulation of sustainability activity plans and key performance indicators (KPIs) for fiscal year 2025. The committee’s deliberations and the results thereof are reported to the Board of Directors. The basic sustainability policy and the medium-term sustainability policies are subject to resolution by the Board of Directors. Japanese-, English- and Chinese-language versions of the basic sustainability policy have been prepared and posted on Group websites to encourage awareness.
Members of the Sustainability Committee
Executive officers and others designated by the Board of Directors from among the President and CEO, Executive Vice President, the heads of the units, the general managers of the management units and product divisions, and the managing directors of regional headquarters. As part of the auditing process, one Audit & Supervisory Board member also attends meetings.
The DIC Sustainability Index
The DIC Group has established its own sustainability index. Deployment of the DIC Sustainability Index is contributing to efforts to increase sustainable products as a key component of its effort to transform its business portfolio. Policies for deployment and inhouse administration of the index will continue to be reviewed to reflect changes in the Group’s management strategies.
Responding to a Circular Economy
“Respond to a circular economy” is one of the DIC Group’s core sustainability strategies. In line with its propriety “5Rs” (reuse, reduce, renew, recycle and redesign) framework, the Group is promoting various initiatives aimed at helping realize a circular economy. As outlined in its circular economy message, the Group will continue to leverage its strengths and distinctive capabilities to encourage recycling and improve the competitiveness of its products and solutions.
Related Link
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
At the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, a proposal titled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” later summarized as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was adopted with the participation of more than 150 UN member states. The agenda, which succeeded the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), encompasses 17 goals and 169 targets. All UN member states are expected to mobilize efforts to attain the 17 goals, essential to sustainable development for the planet, by 2030. The DIC Group pledges to contribute through its business activities to the success of the SDGs.
