Kikkoman Corporation

No leading practices were identified for the company in the governance and strategy measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the environment measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the nutrition measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the social inclusion measurement area.

Sustainable development strategy
While Kikkoman Corporation has set time-bound targets in its Global Vision 2030 that cover topics addressed by the three di of environment, nutrition and social inclusion, it has an opportunity to disclose a sustainable development strategy and how it identifies and prioritises the topics where it has the most impact.

Governance and accountability for sustainable development
Kikkoman Corporation discloses that it has a Corporate Social Responsibility Committee which reports directly to the chief executive officer. However, there is a lack of sufficient information regarding the company’s decision-making process and oversight responsibilities, as well as its highest governance body’s remuneration policy regarding sustainability, presenting an opportunity for the company for future reporting.

Stakeholder engagement
Kikkoman Corporation discloses the stakeholders it has engaged but does not provide an overview of its means of engaging them or the issues raised via these activities and how these have been integrated into the company’s sustainability strategy.

Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions
Kikkoman Corporation discloses quantitative evidence to demonstrate that it is reducing its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and it sets up reduction targets. However, the remains opportunity for the company to expand the targets to cover all its subsidiaries.

Protection of terrestrial natural ecosystems
Kikkoman Corporation does not disclose activities aimed at achieving deforestation and conversion-free (DCF) supply chains for its relevant high-risk commodities. It has an opportunity to increase its disclosure on commitments to source its high-risk commodities through recognised certification programmes or by disclosing targets for achieving DCF supply chains.

Food loss and waste
While Kikkoman Corporation discloses several initiatives to address food loss and waste in its own operations, it has an opportunity to disclose a commitment by setting targets to reduce food loss and waste across its own operations and supply chain and reporting progress against these targets.

Availability of healthy foods
While Kikkoman Corporation discloses that it introduces reformulated products such as soya sauce that contains 50% less salt and including more nutrients in its soya milk, it has an opportunity to provide quantitative information on its reformulation efforts, particularly relating to other key nutrients such as sugar, fat or wholegrains.

Clear and transparent labelling
While Kikkoman Corporation complies with national regulations regarding labelling and commits to providing nutritional information on key relevant nutrients through back-of-pack labels, it has an opportunity to make nutritional information more visible to consumers through the adoption of front-of-pack labels and any other consumer-facing nutrition label.

Food safety
While Kikkoman Corporation discloses compliance with national regulations and/or the Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene, it has an opportunity to strengthen its commitment by disclosing the percentages of its own operations that are certified to a food safety scheme programme recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) or other widely recognised certifications.

Child labour
While Kikkoman Corporation commits to prohibiting child labour in its own operations and requires its suppliers to adhere to the same standard, it has an opportunity to disclose a policy requiring its suppliers to have an age-verification system in place.

Forced labour
While Kikkoman Corporation commits to prohibiting forced labour in its own operations and supply chain, it has an opportunity to disclose a requirement that prohibits its suppliers from retaining workers’ personal documents or restricting workers’ freedom of movement.

Farmer and fisher productivity and resilience
The company does not disclose a commitment or examples of activities to support the resilience, productivity and access to markets for farmers and small-scale producers in its supply chain.

Although Kikkoman Corporation commits to respecting human rights and the labour rights of its employees, it does not disclose a publicly available commitment to any other topic related to respect for human rights. This includes an absence of evidence of a human rights due diligence process, demonstrating a lack of responsibility in protecting basic human rights in its operations and supply chain.

While Kikkoman Corporation public commits to creating a better work environment for women employees, it does not report on any key metrics in this area, nor does it disclose commitments or policies on all other topics related to providing and promoting decent work.

Kikkoman Corporation addresses data protection and bribery and corruption issues through publicly available statements and policies. However, it could improve its performance in these areas by increasing disclosure on key metrics. In addition, the company does not demonstrate a sufficient commitment to responsible lobbying and tax and does not report on key metrics for these topics.