9th ESG Advisory Board (2025)
Date: September 10, 2025
Participants:
- [Experts]
- Mari Kogiso
Co-CEO, SDG Impact Japan - Rika Sueyoshi
CEO, Ethical Association - Peter David Pedersen
Representative Director, Next Leaders' Initiative for Sustainability (NELIS)
Independent Outside Member of the Board, Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.
- [Internal Members]
- Katsunari Matsuda
Chief Executive Officer, President and Representative Director - Shinji Matsuoka
Chief Sustainability Officer, Managing Executive Officer - Youichirou Yamagata
General Manager, Corporate Development Dept. - Jirou Morita
General Manager, Sustainability Management Dept.
- Themes: Direction of the Meiji Sustainable Products Certification System
- Topic 1 B2C certification system: Post-introduction outcomes and issues
- Topic 2 B2B certification system: Introduction necessity and requirements
Topic 1 B2C certification system: Post-introduction outcomes and issues
It is crucial to boost employee motivation and ensure that the system takes root within the Meiji Group. The Group should actively publicize the system externally to strengthen communication with consumers.
Expert opinions
- During the introduction phase, implementing a mechanism aimed at internal adoption will be effective.
- Ensuring that employees understand how the Meiji Group’s products improve society will lead to the next innovation.
- It is important for the Group to refine its unique materiality. Communicating this corporate stance toward solving social issues with consumers—including areas that are currently unattainable—will earn their support.
Topic 2 B2B certification system: Introduction necessity and requirements
The Meiji Group should design a flexible system tailored to the characteristics of business partners and adopt a co-creation approach with financial institutions and government agencies. The Group should focus not only on business partners but also on the consumers beyond them.
Expert opinions
- The direction of the system design is appropriate. It is crucial for the industry leader to take the lead. A mechanism that avoids uniformly rigid certification requirements is desirable, such as establishing items tailored to the characteristics of business partners.
- It is important to establish a consortium in collaboration with funds, government agencies, and financial institutions to drive behavioral change.
- System design and communication must be mindful of both Meiji Group business partners and the consumers beyond them.
- Utilizing the Meiji Sustainable Products Certification System in business negotiations at sales sites and for building relationships with business partners will lead to enhanced corporate value.
