Materiality (important issues)
Message from the CEO
"An attitude towards sustainable management derived from learning and practice"
During my university years, I majored in environmental studies, deepening my understanding of the harmony between humans and nature and social issues. I then studied finance and economics at graduate school, systematically acquiring knowledge directly related to corporate management and financial operations. This academic foundation has become a major guidepost when considering the role that companies should play in realizing a sustainable society.
Since then, I have been involved in founding my own company and have gained a wide range of experience, from launching an organization to actually running it. As I have advanced my business, I have come to realize that management that lacks an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) perspective cannot support long-term growth, and I have become keenly aware of the importance of placing sustainability at the heart of corporate activities.
Even though we are a small company, S&P aspires to become a trusted presence in society by consistently engaging in honest and responsible activities. By utilizing the experience we have gained from both learning and practice, we will continue to promote ESG-conscious management and contribute to creating a better future.
Focus Areas
Environmental Considerations
Daily environmentally friendly efforts
We strive to reduce the environmental impact of travel by utilizing shared offices and introducing remote work and flexible work arrangements as needed. We also digitize contracts and internal documents as much as possible, promoting a paperless society that minimizes the use of printed materials and paper resources.
Sustainability spreads through everyday actions
Even in our daily work, we value small, incremental steps such as reducing the use of plastic bottles and disposable materials. Furthermore, we are participating in and applying for environmental certification systems, and will continue to work to contribute to the creation of a sustainable society through public frameworks.
Respect for talent and diversity
Multinational teams and equal opportunity
In addition to a small core team, we collaborate with approximately 15 partner personnel, working on projects in a multilingual environment, primarily in Japanese, English, and Chinese. Hiring and evaluation are based on job content and results, with strict rules for role visualization and information sharing. We are committed to expanding opportunities for women to participate and creating an environment where talent is reflected regardless of nationality or background.
Flexible working styles and growth support
We combine shared offices and remote work, and offer flexible working hours to help employees balance productivity and their personal lives. We ensure security through device management and access rights, while also providing onboarding, a mentoring system, and assistance with obtaining qualifications. We also clarify the harassment consultation channels and promote the creation of a workplace where employees can safely share their opinions.
Governance and honest management
A foundation for transparency and compliance
We create checklists for the basic flow of contracts, credit, and payments, and operate them with double approval. We thoroughly standardize NDAs, procedures for handling personal information and intellectual property, and electronically store minutes of important decision-making meetings. We collaborate with external experts to conduct regular reviews of tax and legal matters, and checking clauses excluding anti-social forces is also a standard procedure.
Fair trade and open collaboration
We document transaction terms and division of roles in advance, and visualize progress, risks, and costs to facilitate consensus building. We continuously share information with stakeholders, and when issues arise, we respond quickly through a corrective process. We take advantage of the agility that comes with being a small company and build partnerships that build trust.
Sustainability Performance
S&P has been striving to realize a sustainable society by respecting diversity, promoting flexible working styles, and being environmentally conscious. Here we introduce the major initiatives and results that have been achieved so far.
Increasing the ratio of female employees
S&P places importance on creating an environment where employees can thrive regardless of gender, and currently women account for approximately 40% of our employees. We actively promote women to managerial and project leadership positions, and reflect diverse perspectives in decision-making. We will continue to create a system that allows more women to grow into leaders through development support and mentoring systems.
Realizing telecommuting and flexible working styles
Approximately 80% of our employees utilize our telecommuting system, enabling them to work in a way that is not bound by time or location. We have put in place digital tools and information-sharing systems to ensure smooth operations even in a remote environment. We will continue to respect diverse working styles and pursue both efficiency and work-life balance.
Building an international team
S&P has placed an emphasis on internationality since its founding, and approximately 60% of its employees are foreign nationals or bilingual. By having members with different cultural backgrounds work together, new ideas and value are generated. We will continue to promote the appointment of diverse talent and further strengthen our international business foundation.
Reducing environmental impact through digitalization
We have digitized over 90% of our internal documents, significantly reducing the amount of paper we use. This not only improves operational efficiency but also contributes to reducing CO₂ emissions. Going forward, we aim to operate in a more environmentally friendly manner, including by utilizing renewable energy.
Future Initiatives
Although we are a small trading company, we steadily implement initiatives in our daily work in three key areas: environmental considerations, human resources and diversity, and transparent partnerships. Rather than setting grand goals, we fulfill our social responsibility through everyday practices, such as streamlined working practices, promoting digitalization, and building trustworthy relationships with business partners. Precisely because we are a small company, we believe that each and every choice and action we take determines the future of our company. Therefore, we always value integrity and our commitment to continually seeking ways to contribute to society. With this resolve in mind, we aim to continue growing as a sustainable and trusted company by steadily taking steps forward.