Materiality and progress

Materiality

Epson’s corporate management is rooted in the concept of materiality. Materiality is identified based on the impact of societal issues. We consider Epson’s business activities to be a means of directly addressing these issues. Epson sees achieving sustainability in a circular economy, advancing the frontiers of industry, improving the quality of life and fulfill our social responsibility as key themes for solving societal issues.

  • Achieve sustainability in a circular economy
    This entails initiatives aimed at driving sustainable economic activities by achieving closed-resource-loop systems through effective use of resources such as electricity, energy and water as well as reduction in usage of underground resources to control climate change.
  • Advance the frontiers of industry
    This entails initiatives aimed at transforming conventional processes to contribute to the resolution of social issues. It is intended to help to make improvements to environmental pollution, labor and other issues by converting manufacturing processes from analog techniques to digital, for example.
  • Improve the quality of life
    This entails making contributions on the health front to help people lead a healthy life, and making educational contributions relating to people’s growth and maturity. We will enable people to select diverse lifestyles through products and services offered by Epson, and promote initiatives that contribute to an abundant and colorful life.
  • Fulfill our social responsibility
    This means that Epson is committed to fulfilling its corporate responsibility required to achieve sustainability and enrich communities. It entails initiatives that help to realize the ideal state expected of a company by society, such as dialogue with diverse stakeholders, environmental and social responsibility related to materials procured and suppliers, respect for human rights and promotion of diversity, and capabilities to ensure business continuity.

Deciding Materiality

Epson has analyzed social issues and megatrends defined by SDGs, ISO26000 and others, examined its own strengths that can lead to social impact, and identified four materialities that are highly important issues for Epson to address to solve challenges in society.

Material Trends and Frameworks Referenced

  • The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  •  Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
  • Macro trends in the social and economic fields, including climate change (European Green Deal Policy, Paris Agreement, etc.)
  • Global Japan: 2050 Simulations and Strategies
  • GRI Standard
  • SASB Standard
  • ISO 26000
  • Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) survey items
  • Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Code of Conduct

Key Sustainability Topics, KPI, and FY2024 Results

Key Sustainability Topics

To increase effectiveness with which we can address the materialities, we mapped 12 key sustainability topics to the materialities, considered how we could contribute to solving societal issues, set concrete key performance indicators (KPIs), and then got to work.

Click here for an enlarged version. (PDF,348KB)

Key Sustainability Topics, KPIs, and FY2024 Results

The table below summarizes the key sustainability topics, key performance indicators (KPI), and FY2024 results. In FY2022, some of the KPIs were incorporated in evaluations used to determine executive management compensation, thereby clarifying management responsibility for sustainability.

1. Materiality: Achieve sustainability in a circular economy

Key Sustainability Topics RS
Index1
Initiative Topics Key Performance Indicators (KPI) FY2024
Targets
FY2024
Results
FY2025
Targets
Decarbonization initiatives Using energy-saving equipment and facilities, removing greenhouse gases, engaging suppliers, and pursuing carbon-free logistics to become carbon negative by 2050

Reduction rate of total Scope1+2+3 GHG emissions

- - 34% reduction from FY2017
Scope 1 & 2 total GHG emissions rate

Reduce by 80% compared to FY2017
(SBT: FY2025 target 34%)

Reduced by 81% compared to FY2017 Reduce by 80% compared to FY2017
Reduction rate of Scope 3GHG emissions (per unit of business profit) Reduce by 35% compared to FY2017
(SBT: FY2025 target 44%)
Reduced by 39% compared to FY2017 (Included in the totaltarget)
  Using renewable electricity Renewable electricity adoption rate Maintain adoption ratio of 100% globally Achieved an adoption rate of 100% globally Maintain adoption ratio of 100% globally
Closed resource loop initiatives   Becoming underground resource2 free by 2050:
  • Using resources efficiently by reducing size and weight, using recycled materials, etc.
  • Establishing closed-loop production systems that minimize production losses
Rate of sustainable resources3 35% 33% 38%
  Final landfilled rate4 ≤1% 0.59% ≤1%
Customer environmental impact mitigation   Maximizing avoided emissions with products and services that have a lower environmental impact5 Emissions avoided through products & services Avoid more emissions than in the previous year A3 color inkjet printer avoided emissions: 9,800t-CO2e*6 Avoid more emissions than in the previous year
Environmental technology development   Becoming carbon negative and underground resource free by 2050
  • Developing high-performance sustainable resource technology
  • High-added-value recycling technology for used metal
  • CO2absorption technology
Development process progress / State of progress in developing high-performance materials Expand the scope of practical application
  • Packaging materials : Verified the validity of EPS alternatives inpackaging
  • Housing plastics : Improved material performance
  • Recycled fabrics: Developed defibration technology for longer fibers
Publicly announce the results of development 
Development process progress​ / State of metal resource recycling facility operations Develop technology for high-value-added metal powders (molding material) for practical applications
  • Prepared to launch a refining plant for metal recycling
Start refineryoperations & conduct a closed resource loop trial within the Epson Group

State of development of CO2separation membranes & DAC systems

- - Develop a system for PoC 7

1 Executive compensation (restricted stock compensation) evaluation indicator
2 Non-renewable resources such as crude oil and metals
3 The ratio of sustainable resources (renewable resources + recycled resources + less-depletable resources) to raw materials
4 The percentage of production waste that goes to landfill versus the total resources input
5 A quantity that expresses the contribution by products and services to a reduction in society's GHG emissions
6 A value calculated based on a method verified by Mizuho Research & Technologies, Ltd. The difference between the weighted average of the publicly disclosed lifetime CO2 emissions of major laser printers in the global market and the lifetime CO2 emissions of the company's A3 color inkjet printer is multiplied by the number A3 color inkjet printers sold during the fiscal year. Due to a reexamination and revision of the calculation conditions, the assumptions used to calculate this year's value differ from those used to calculate the value disclosed in FY2023. (For reference, the value calculated for FY2023 under the same conditions is 10,700 t-CO2 e.)
7 A PoC (proof of concept) is a process to verify the feasibility and actual effects of new technologies.

2. Materiality: Advance the frontiers of industry

Key Sustainability Topics RS index1 Initiative Topics Key Performance Indicators (KPI) FY2024
Targets
FY2024
Results
FY2025
Targets
Increasing productivity through digitalization and automation   Leading the digitalization and automation of commercial and industrial printing with inkjet technology and an expanded portfolio of solutions and services to reduce environmental impact and increase productivity Average sales growth rate of commercial and industrial IJPs8 compared to the previous year 3% -1% 10% or more
Improving working environment and educational environment   Providing printing environments that meet societal needs by reducing environmental impact and increasing productivity through inkjet technology and open solutions Sales growth rate of high-capacity inkjet printers for SOHO and home use compared to the previous year 9 5% 6% 4% or more
  Eliminating labor shortages through automation using robots Number of labor shortages eliminated 10 29,000 persons 23,000 27,000
  Providing a fair, natural, and comfortable communication environment without boundaries, combining the real and remote, with both a sense of presence and information content Number of co-creation or collaborative projects and number of partners Co-creation: Continuation +​ ​3 implementations
Companies / partners: Continuing + 1 or more new companies
Co-creation: Continuation +​ ​3 implementations
Companies / partners: Continuing + 1 or more new companies
Co-creation:Continuation +​ ​5 implementations
Customers / Partners:Continuing + new development of at least one company
  Creating equal learning opportunities through smart, portable displays that enable large-screen communication in a compact form, to mitigate learning disparities stemming from differences in regional and social conditions Number of local demonstration programs through co-creation and collaboration Cumulative number of instances of use in education and awareness-raising:
40
Cumulative number of instances of use in education and awareness-raising:
40
Cumulative total nstances of use in education and awareness-raising: 60
Number of countries with PoC verifying mitigation of learning disparities in general education and awareness of societal issues. 2 countries 3 countries Total: 5 countries

1 Executive compensation (restricted stock compensation) evaluation indicator
8 Revised to align with the financial disclosure segments.
9 Changed to an indicator more suitable for assessing improvements in working and educational environments (year-on-year unit sales growth rate in emerging markets). (For FY2024, the average year-on-year sales growth rate was used.)
10 Calculated based on the effectiveness of Epson's internal projects

3. Materiality: Improve the quality of life

Key Sustainability Topics RS index1 Initiative Topics Key Performance Indicators (KPI) FY2024
Targets
FY2024
Results
FY2025
Targets
Proposing diverse lifestyles   Converting customer data obtained from sensor-based wearable products into value, providing health advice, and offering health and safety monitoring to enrich and support diverse lifestyles.

Percentage of revenue accounted for by the data business in support services11

28% 23% 20% or more
Realizing an abundant and colorful life   Providing attractive and high-quality products with our efficient, compact, and precision technologies and our artisanal skills, to enrich the diverse lifestyles of our customers. Growth in unit sales of attractive, high-quality products compared to the previous year  12% 2% 20% or more

1 Executive compensation (restricted stock compensation) evaluation indicator
11 Business model that provides value by converting data using algorithms

4. Materiality: Fulfil our Social Responsibility

Key Sustainability Topics RS index1 Initiative Topics Key Performance Indicators (KPI) FY2024
Targets
FY2024
Results
FY2025
Target
Increasing stakeholder engagement   Responding to needs and social demands by strengthening dialogue with stakeholders Monetary value of social assistance programs ≥0.1% of sales ≥0.1% of sales Monetary assistance equivalent to 0.1% of sales
  Number of discussions with shareholders and investors and reflecting their feedback to management ≥200 times 248 ≥200 times
  Evaluation indices of external evaluation agencies Earn high ratings12 Acquired high ratings Earn high ratings
Realizing responsible supply chains   Reinforcing supply chain BCM Impact on customers due to disruption and stagnation in supply chain  Zero sales impact Zero sales impact Zero sales impact
Realizing responsible supply chains
  • CSR risk levels of suppliers
  • SAQ collection rate (FY25~) 13
Direct materials: High risk 0%, medium risk 2% or less
​Indirect materials​: High risk 0%, medium risk 20% or less
Direct materials: High risk 0%, medium risk 22%
Indirect materials: High risk 0%, medium risk 9%
Direct materials & indirect materials:
High risk 0%
  • SAQ response rate: 100%
  Realizing responsible sourcing of minerals
  • Conflict-free (CF) ratio of products
  • Survey response rate 14
  • New products that are conflict-mineral free
  • 100% survey response rate
  • New products that are conflict-mineral free
  • 99.6% survey response rate
  • New products that are conflict-mineral free
  • 100% survey response rate
Respecting human rights and promoting diversity   Creating a free and open organizational culture Organizational climate assessment score for team and organization performance  Motivation cloud
  • Engagement rating: BBB (score of 56.0 or higher)
  • Number of workplaces rated D: 20
  • Rating: BB (score: 52.9 pts.)
  • Number of workplaces rated D: 36 (9 fewer than last time)

 Motivation cloud

  • Engagement rating: A (score of 58.0 or higher)
  • Number of workplaces rated D: Zero
  Number of high-risk workplaces in mental health assessments (total health risk)15 Reduce the number of workplaces rated high risk in terms of total health risk
  • Workplaces with 10 or more people: 12→10
High-risk workplaces for general health risk: 0
  Implementation of harassment prevention measures (education and training, case sharing, appointment process, etc.) & reporting of incidents to the Head Office
  • Continued harassment prevention training at different echelons
  • Regular training for advisory service staff
  • Start outsourcing advisory services and conduct a review.
  • Consider introducing external advisory services at domestic affiliates.
  • Conducted training for different echelons and advisory service staff as planned.
  • Started using an external advisory service and conducted a review.
Continuing FY2024 measures
  Respect for human rights through dissemination of the new Human Rights Policy within the Group Embedding and improving the commitment for respecting human rights, human rights due diligence (DD) and relief mechanism Establishing and improving the PDCA cycle for respecting human rights
  • Regular review of human rights policy
  • Continued implementation and improvement of human rights due diligence through RBA schemes, etc.
  • Understanding and improving the system and situation of overseas consultation services
Establishing and improving the PDCA cycle for respecting human rights
  • Regular review of human rights policy
  • Continued implementation and improvement of human rights due diligence through RBA schemes, etc.
  • Check the overseas human rights related consultation services
Continuing FY2024 measures
Utilizing human resources in a way that respects diversity
  • Female manager ratio (the Company)
  • One or more female executive officers by FY2025 (in Japan)
  • Female manager ratio: 6%
    Female supervisory position ratio: 9%
  • Ratio of female managers: 5.3%
    The ratio of female section assistant manager is 8.1 % (as of March 31, 2025​)
  • One female executive appointed on April​ ​1, 2025
  • Ratio of female managers: 8%​
    Ratio of female assistant managers: 10%
  • 1 or more women in executive officer positions
Fulfil our Social Responsibility Reinforcement of compliance management platform Incidents of serious compliance violations16 0 cases 0 cases 0 cases
  Enhancement of Group compliance level Implementation ratio of compliance training (online course) to all Group employees Completion rate in Epson Group: 100% Completion rate in Epson Group: 100% Completion rate in Epson Group: 100%
  Maintaining and strengthening the governance structure to realize transparent, fair, prompt and decisive decision-making
  • Ratio of outside directors on the board of directors
  • Ratio of outside directors on the Nomination & Compensation Committees​​
  • Maintain the ratio of outside directors on the board at ≥1/3
  • Maintain the ratio of outside directors on the Nomination & Compensation Committees at ≥80%
  • Maintain the ratio of outside directors on the board at ≥1/3
  • Maintain the ratio of outside directors on the Nomination & Compensation Committees at ≥80%
  • Maintain the ratio of outside directors on the board at ≥1/3
  • Maintain the ratio of outside directors on the Nomination & Compensation Committees at ≥80%
  Reinforcing information security Serious information security incidents 0 cases 1 incident 0 cases

1 Executive compensation (restricted stock compensation) evaluation indicator
12 Sustainalytics: Low, FTSE: ≥ 4 points, within the top 50 in Toyo Keizai's corporate CSR rankings
13 Changed the operation to focus on risk control to ensure that all high-risk suppliers who are asked to complete an SAQ will be asked to complete an SAQ and that the number of high-risk suppliers will be reduced to zero as a result of corrective actions.
14 Percentage of suppliers who submitted answers to the survey
15 Target value management is applied to workplaces with 10 or more respondents.
16 Serious compliance violations: Violations that fall under grounds for timely disclosure