Main

Sustainability Management

Mitsui & Co.’s Stakeholders

Mitsui & Co. places emphasis on interacting with and having dialogue with society. For this reason, we closely assess the effects of our diverse and global business activities on society and identify and acknowledge stakeholders of particular interest.

In particular, we are committed to the development of relationships based on mutual trust with a diverse range of stakeholders, including local communities, business associates & consumers, NPOs & NGOs, employees, shareholders & investors, and government bodies, through proactive information disclosures and continual communication with our stakeholders.

Through interactive communication with stakeholders, each of Mitsui's employees and officers is endeavoring to acquire a firm understanding of what society expects from and requires of Mitsui. Based on this understanding, we strive to respond to changes in market environments, and constantly evolve to create new value through our business activities by exercising our unique capabilities, and thereby contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

Interactive Communication with Mitsui & Co.'s Stakeholders

Please scroll horizontally to look at table below.

Stakeholders Overview Communication
Local Communities We contribute to the sustainable growth and development of societies and economies through our wide-ranging business activities and society-centric contribution activities in countries and regions throughout the world. We also aim to achieve harmonious coexistence with local communities through contributions in such areas as local industry development, creation of employment opportunities, infrastructure development, enhancement of the quality of life of local residents, and the improvement of educational environments.
Business Associates & Consumers We identify the needs and expectations of our business associates and consumers, supply safe and reliable products and services, disclose accurate corporate information, and take measures to address problems in supply chains.
NPOs & NGOs We pursue solutions for environmental and societal issues through networking and collaboration with various NPOs and NGOs. Through the Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund, we provide support for research and initiatives by NPOs and NGOs that are working to solve environmental problems.
Employees In order to support our diverse group of employees to work energetically and exert their capabilities, we strive to carry out diversity management by enhancing workplace environment, developing various internal rules, providing human resources development programs, and placing the right people in the right positions. We are committed to being an organization with integrity on a global group basis with each employee possessing a high level of awareness of compliance.
Shareholders & Investors We strive for continuous improvement of our corporate value and appropriate market recognition by realizing transparency and accountability in management with timely and accurate disclosure of information, and by engaging in interactive communication with shareholders and investors.
Government Bodies We are committed to complying with related laws and regulations formulated by government agencies and local governments of Japan and the countries and regions where we engage in business activities. Furthermore, through cooperation with governmental agencies and local governments, we propose and promote business projects that align with their policies and make efforts to contribute to the development of nations and industries in a way unique to Mitsui.
  • Participation in policy councils
  • Participation in consultation and advisory meetings with government agencies and offices
  • Support for human resource development through trainee-receiving programs for staff members of local governments
  • Activities through business and industry groups

Stakeholder Dialogue

To promote sustainability in our corporate management, we believe it is crucial to conduct dialogue with various stakeholders and respect their opinions regarding our business activities. To this end, we have continued to hold interactive stakeholder dialogue with external experts such as university professors and representatives of various NPOs and NGOs, as well as with the next generation of young leaders, including those representing Gen Z.

Stakeholder dialogue in the fiscal year ending March 2024 – Expectations for Business and Human Rights

Stakeholder dialogue in the fiscal year ending March 2024 – Expectations for Business and Human Rights

In July 2023, we facilitated a stakeholder dialogue event on the theme of business and human rights, where members of our Sustainability Committee were joined by Akiko Sato, Liaison Officer – Business and Human Rights at the United Nations Development Programme and Attorney at Law at KOTONOHA Law Office, and Daisuke Takahashi, Attorney at Law at Shinwa Sohgoh Law Offices and member of our Sustainability Advisory Board.

During the dialogue session, Ms. Sato talked about the expectations of external stakeholders regarding respect for human rights, and Mr. Takahashi discussed trends in the formation of rules regarding business and human rights in various other countries, their impact on Japanese companies, and expectations for Mitsui. This was then followed by a lively exchange of opinions.

The participants shared the importance of further spreading awareness of human rights as a basic right of every individual, and those efforts to resolve human rights issues are an integral and desired part of business. At the same time, given that human rights issues require efforts that take into account the varying structural and legal systems of each region, along with social and cultural context, they acknowledged that not all issues can be resolved in the short term, and discussed the need to set priorities and patiently continue initiatives to address each issue from the standpoint of the rights holders, while taking into account international standards such as the UN Guiding Principles and the national laws and regulations of each country.

Both guests also expressed their hopes for Mitsui to lead Japanese companies by promoting good practices in resolving human rights issues through its activities across a wide range of industries around the world, sharing such practices with stakeholders, and communicating its effort in a transparent manner.

*Titles were current at the time of the event

Stakeholder dialogue in the fiscal year ending March 2023 – Business and Natural Capital

Stakeholder dialogue in the fiscal year ending March 2023 – Business and Natural Capital

In September 2022, Yasushi Hibi, Vice President, Conservation International (CI), an international environmental NGO, and Managing Director, CI Japan, Makoto Haraguchi, Fellow at the MS&AD InterRisk Research & Consulting, Inc., and members of our Sustainability Committee, held a stakeholder dialogue session regarding the relationship natural capital including biodiversity and business. During the dialogue session, VP Hibi and Fellow Haraguchi explained what natural capital is, why it is attracting attention now, and what the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) aims to achieve. They also explained initiatives of leading companies as well as their expectations of Mitsui, after which there was a lively exchange of opinions.

The participants discussed natural capital based on the differences from climate change, such as the existence of multiple indicators to measure natural capital, location-based characteristics including the general irreplaceability of nature that cannot be regained through protection or restoration in other places, and the difficulty of trading credits internationally for this reason, along with the importance of developing partnerships with local stakeholders on the ground. Although global targets and disclosure frameworks are still under discussion, we reaffirmed the need to keep a close eye on external trends, and for Mitsui to be prepared as well. As a global company with diverse businesses in all regions, we also reconfirmed the importance of identifying natural capital risks and impacts, including in the supply chain, as well as addressing new opportunities and businesses that will contribute positively.

*Titles were current at the time of the event