The Marubeni Group’s Approach to Materiality
The Management Philosophy of the Marubeni Group is to aim at being a business group that contributes toward economic and social development and toward safeguarding the global environment by conducting fair and upright corporate activities, in line with the spirit of our Company Creed, “Fairness, Innovation and Harmony.” We believe that, for the Marubeni Group, sustainability means putting our Management Philosophy into practice.
The challenges faced by customers and society are diverse and constantly changing. Continuing to anticipate these issues in advance and provide solutions is how the Marubeni Group creates value, and is a major source of growth for us.
To stay ahead of the changes in sustainability issues, the Marubeni Group continues to evolve, using four key aspects of diversity—1. human capital, 2. regions, 3. sectors, and 4. business models—as an important differentiator. This is a major strength for the Marubeni Group. To further enhance this strength, we have identified three categories of Fundamental Materiality, and we have identified four categories of Environmental and Social Materiality that we must focus on to address environmental and social issues.
Identifying and Reviewing Our Materiality
The Marubeni Group identified its Materiality (the material issues for sustainability) in 2019. However, we believe that we need to constantly review the major issues relating to sustainability in light of the changes taking place in society and in the environment, and how they affect the Marubeni Group.
Marubeni has been working to enhance sustainability as one of the basic policies in the Green Strategy that forms part of the GC2024 Mid-Term Management Strategy. Each Business Division has drawn up its own green strategy that identifies existing and potential environmental and social issues in each related sector and assesses the opportunities and risks, and has formulated initiatives to address these based on the potential impacts on both the Marubeni Group and the environment or society. The precise content of these initiatives varies significantly depending on the Business Division, but there are commonalities in the overall approach to addressing. While taking respect for human rights as a prerequisite, the strategies outlined in the initiatives aim for a nature-positive approach that will contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society and of the transition to a circular economy, to achieve a society that is in harmony with nature. The new GC2027 Mid-Term Management Strategy continues to embody an approach that aims to enhance corporate value through Green Initiatives, and in 2025 we reviewed our Materiality to maintain consistency with this strategy.
Fundamental Materiality
The Marubeni Group has identified three categories of Fundamental Materiality for realizing our Management Philosophy and accomplishing the goal of ensuring sustainable growth for the Group.
| Materiality | Approach | References |
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The Marubeni Group believes that human capital is the most valuable asset of the Marubeni Group. Based on this guiding principle, our value-creating human capital will continue to drive innovation that anticipates the needs of the environment and society and provide solutions proactively. The Marubeni Group visualizes human capital that creates new value as follows:
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We have identified Robust Management Foundations as the second category of Fundamental Materiality, as we believe they are necessary both for maximizing the potential of our human capital and for maximizing corporate value. |
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We will endeavor to increase corporate value based on robust management foundations in which value-creating human capital develops innovative ideas and continues providing solutions. |
Environmental & Social Materiality
The Marubeni Group has identified the following four categories of Environmental and Social Materiality that we must focus on to address environmental and social issues.
Collaborating with Our Business Partners on the Building of Sustainable, Resilient Supply Chains
The Marubeni Group engages in a diverse range of trading and business activities on a global basis, and has a large number of suppliers. With the international community increasingly demanding sustainable supply chains, we recognize that implementing the Marubeni Group’s Environmental & Social Materiality (including contributing toward initiatives that address climate change, toward the realization of a society that is in harmony with nature, and toward the building of a circular economy, as well as demonstrating respect for human rights and realizing co-development with local communities) throughout the supply chain is directly linked to strengthening competitiveness and differentiating ourselves from competitors, and can be an important factor in helping to enhance corporate value. We will continue to collaborate with our business partners on strengthening measures aimed at building a sustainable, robust supply chain. For more details about supply chain management, click here.
| Materiality | Recognized Issues and Our Approach | Initiatives Policy | Initiatives Status |
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The Marubeni Group recognizes climate change as a global and highly urgent issue, and strives to anticipate issues and changes linked to climate change and to create growth opportunities while mitigating related risks. One part of the Marubeni Group’s growth strategy is to create new businesses that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Through ongoing efforts to flexibly revise its business portfolio, the Marubeni Group aims to establish a diversified business portfolio that is highly resilient. |
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The Marubeni Group has business operations all over the world in a wide range of different sectors. We recognize that each of our businesses has at least some degree of impact on the natural environment and biodiversity, and that all of our businesses are built on nature’s benefits. Besides aiming to anticipate the issues of degradation of the natural environment and to realize a nature-positive approach, we believe that promoting a transition to a nature-positive economy (both within and outside the Group) will contribute to our own growth. |
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The Marubeni Group recognizes that transition from a linear economy and reducing the risk of resource depletion is vital for realizing a sustainable future. By working together with our stakeholders to build a sustainable society, for example through the effective utilization of resources, enhancing sustainability, and improving the efficiency of energy usage, we can build a sustainable business model that will achieve further growth and development for the Marubeni Group. |
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The Marubeni Group engages in a variety of businesses around the world in diverse cultural situations. We respect the human rights of all stakeholders who are related to the Marubeni Group’s business, and we are committed to taking a sincere approach to dealing with human rights issues facing the international community. Demonstrating respect for human rights also helps to foster trust, both within and outside the Group, and will contribute to enhancing Marubeni’s corporate value and building long-term competitiveness. |
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