External Evaluation (ESG Factors)
Inclusion in ESG indices
Toyobo has been continuously selected for the following major ESG investment indices as of July 2025, in recognition of its initiatives related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
ESG indices for Japanese equities adopted by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF).
- FTSE Blossom Japan Index
- FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index
- MSCI Nihonkabu ESG Select Leaders Index
- MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN)
- Morningstar Japan ex-REIT Gender Diversity Tilt Index
- S&P/JPX Carbon Efficient Index
These indices are adopted by institutional investors, including the GPIF, and Toyobo has been selected as a constituent of all ESG indices for Japanese equities adopted by GPIF. This recognition indicates that Toyobo’s efforts to enhance long-term corporate value and contribute to a sustainable society are being positively evaluated by external stakeholders. We will continue striving to achieve sustainable growth while fulfilling our social responsibilities.
In addition, Toyobo has been selected as a constituent of the Sompo Sustainability Index, established by Sompo Asset Management Co., Ltd.
The FTSE Blossom Japan Index is designed to measure the performance of Japanese companies that enjoy high reputations in the area of ESG.
The FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index is designed to be sector-neutral, reflecting the performance of Japanese companies that exhibit relatively outstanding ESG actions in their sectors.
THE INCLUSION OF TOYOBO CO., LTD. IN ANY MSCI INDEX, AND THE USE OF MSCI LOGOS, TRADEMARKS, SERVICE MARKS OR INDEX NAMES HEREIN, DO NOT CONSTITUTE A SPONSORSHIP, ENDORSEMENT OR PROMOTION OF TOYOBO CO., LTD. BY MSCI OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES. THE MSCI INDEXES ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF MSCI. MSCI AND THE MSCI INDEX NAMES AND LOGOS ARE TRADEMARKS OR SERVICE MARKS OF MSCI OR ITS AFFILIATES.
The MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index is composed by selecting companies with outstanding ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings from within the constituents of its parent index, the MSCI Japan IMI Index. Approximately 50% of companies from each GICS® industry classification are targeted for inclusion.
THE INCLUSION OF TOYOBO CO., LTD. IN ANY MSCI INDEX, AND THE USE OF MSCI LOGOS, TRADEMARKS, SERVICE MARKS OR INDEX NAMES HEREIN, DO NOT CONSTITUTE A SPONSORSHIP, ENDORSEMENT OR PROMOTION OF TOYOBO CO., LTD. BY MSCI OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES. THE MSCI INDEXES ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF MSCI. MSCI AND THE MSCI INDEX NAMES AND LOGOS ARE TRADEMARKS OR SERVICE MARKS OF MSCI OR ITS AFFILIATES.
The MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN) is constructed on the basis of disclosed information concerning gender diversity. Companies that promote high-level gender diversity in the workplace are considered more capable of adapting to the risk of talent shortages in a future shrinking workforce, and thereby better able to yield sustainable earnings over the long term.
The S&P/JPX Carbon Efficient Index is designed to measure the performance of companies included in the Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX), which is calculated and published by the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The index assigns overweight or underweight positions to companies based on their carbon efficiency, specifically their carbon emissions per unit of revenue.
The Sompo Sustainability Index is an active index independently developed by Sompo Asset Management. It is based on ESG scores derived from the environmental management survey and ESG management survey*1 conducted by Sompo Risk Management, combined with Sompo Asset Management's own equity valuation assessments. The index is composed of approximately 300 companies with high ESG ratings.
Sompo Asset Management has been managing a long-term investment ESG product called Sustainable Investment*2 since August 2012, by constructing a portfolio that tracks this index using a buy-and-hold approach. This product has been adopted by multiple institutional investors, including pension funds.
- 1 Sompo Risk Management’s Methodology for ESG Evaluation and Survey (in Japanese)
https://www.sompo-rc.co.jp/services/view/259 - 2 Sompo Asset Management’s Sustainable Investment (in Japanese)
https://www.sompo-am.co.jp/institutional/product/06/
Other evaluations
Toyobo has received the following evaluations.
We have received a bronze medal in a sustainability assessment by EcoVadis (headquartered in France), which evaluates the corporate ESG-related initiatives. The Bronze medal is given to the top 35% of all evaluated companies.
EcoVadis has assessed over 130,000 companies (from 180 countries and over 220 industries) on corporate policies, measures, and performance in four areas: Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. The evaluation results are widely used as supplier selection criteria by many companies in Europe and the United States.
The Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations Recognition Program is operated jointly by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Nippon Kenko Kaigi. This program recognizes companies of varied size that practice particularly outstanding health and productivity management, based on initiatives rooted in community health issues and health promotion initiatives advanced by Nippon Kenko Kaigi.
Toyobo has been certified under the 2025 Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations Recognition Program in the Large Enterprise Category.
The Platinum Kurumin certification is awarded to companies that have achieved a higher level of initiative, such as the introduction and use of systems to support a balance between childcare and work, selected from among those that have received Kurumin certification as companies that support the childcare of their employees in accordance with the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising Next-Generation Children.
In June 2023, we were certified as a Platinum Kurumin in evaluation of our various initiatives.
The Eruboshi Certification is awarded to companies that demonstrate outstanding implementation of initiatives related to participation and advancement by women in the company under the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement in the Workplace.
Our company was recognized for achieving prescribed standards for items including "Employment",
"Continued Length of Employment",
"Working Hours and Work Styles", and "Diverse Career Paths", receiving two out of a maximum of three stars.
Toyobo received the highest “Gold” rating in the “PRIDE Index 2024,” which evaluates initiatives related to sexual minorities (LGBTQ+) in the workplace.
The PRIDE Index was established in 2016 by work with Pride as Japan’s first evaluation index for LGBTQ+-related initiatives by companies and organizations, with the goal of creating more inclusive workplaces for sexual minorities in Japan. The index consists of five categories: Policy (organizational declaration), Representation (building a supportive community), Inspiration (awareness-raising activities), Development (HR systems and programs), and Engagement/Empowerment (external outreach and social contributions). Companies and organizations are certified as Gold, Silver, or Bronze based on their total score across these categories, which is determined by the number of specified criteria met within each category.
Science Based Targets (SBT) are greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets advocated by an international initiative, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), jointly operated by the environmental NGO CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact, and others. When the SBTi recognizes that a company’s GHG emission reduction targets align with the levels deemed necessary by the latest climate science to achieve the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement, it certifies these targets as Science Based Targets (SBT).
Toyobo group has obtained certification for our goals of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 27%, and Scope 3 emissions* by 12.5%, from fiscal 2021 levels, by fiscal 2031, as these targets are recognized as SBT.
- The certification for Scope 3 emissions covers emissions related to activities associated with purchased goods and services (such as manufacturing) and emissions from the use of sold products.
“Natural Symbiosis Sites” are sites certified by the Ministry of the Environment, recognizing areas where biodiversity conservation is achieved through private sector initiatives and other efforts.
Toyobo group has obtained certification for our privately owned forest, “Toyobo Aya-no-Mori” forest, in Higashimorokata-gun district, Miyazaki Prefecture. We have entered into a comprehensive partnership agreement with the local municipality of Aya-cho to jointly promote proactive initiatives for biodiversity conservation in the Aya-no-Mori Forest.
In addition, Aya-no-Mori Forest is registered in the World Database on Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECM).
Toyobo was also selected as a recipient of the IT Award under the 42nd IT Awards 2024, presented by the Japan Institute of Information Technology. This award recognizes companies and organizations in Japan’s industrial sector that have achieved outstanding results through management innovation utilizing IT. This marks Toyobo’s first time receiving this award in the Management Category.