Our Environmental Approach

‘Shiseido’ comes from a phrase in the Chinese classical text, I Ching: ‘Praise the virtues of the Earth, which nurtures new life and brings forth significant values.’ Respect for the planet, society and people has been embedded in our culture since our foundation in 1872. In everything we do — from development and procurement to production — we work to preserve the global environment that we all depend on. That is how we create sustainable value. In this chapter, we report on the strategic actions we have taken to contribute to the health of our planet.

Since 1992, when Shiseido Eco Policy, a set of the companyʼs principles on environmental considerations, was formulated, we have worked to preserve the global environment. Today, the inherited passion appears in “With Society and the Earth,”one of the Shiseido Code of Conduct and Ethics. Following this spirit, we praise and try to preserve the blessings of the Earth, and conduct business with a sincere commitment to peopleʼs desire to “live beautifully.” That is, we believe, our purpose.
We believe that conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of water resources are important for “the preservation of the bounty of the Earth.” Regarding the former issue, we organized “the concept of Shiseidoʼs biodiversity” in 2010 as follows.

Shiseido is grateful for the benefits of the Earth, the source of new values. Recognizing that the resources of the Earth are limited, we will use them wisely and fairly for the sake of future generations. Moreover, we will work proactively for the conservation of biodiversity to realize a sustainable society.

We will aim for sustainable water use with respect for the healthy water circulation and the water-related culture practices of the local community. First, we will create an understanding of the actual situation of our water use through the value chain of our business activities. Then, based on it, we will work towards minimizing the impacts on the water circulation and the local water-related culture.

At Shiseido, we are working to promote sustainability across the entire company, including our brands and regional businesses.
In 2020, we launched and held regular meetings of the Sustainability Committee, a dedicated forum to ensure timely management decisions and thorough recognition of this theme. The committee discusses Group-wide sustainability initiatives, decides on strategies, policies, and specific action plans, and monitors the progress of medium-to-long-term goals. It consists of a representative director and executive officers in charge of Corporate Strategy, R&D, Supply Network, Corporate Communications, Social Value Creation and our brands, with other corporate officers participating on an as-needed basis according to the matter at hand. In addition to the Sustainability Committee, other significant issues related to sustainability were also discussed with the Executive Committee, the Innovation Committee, and the Board of Directors, for a total of 12 meetings in 2020.
Particularly important matters are submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.