In recent years, the world around us has changed dramatically. Society now expects companies not only to address economic issues, but also to respond responsibly to global environmental challenges and human rights concerns. For many organizations, contributing to solutions for these social issues has become a core mission. The Yanmar Group expresses this commitment through our brand statement: “A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE―New Value through Technology―.” We strive to ensure that people can enjoy fulfilling lives for generations to come, while preserving the richness of nature. To support sustainable growth over the next 100 years, the Yanmar Group established a Sustainability Promotion Division in July 2024. We have set group-wide sustainability goals and are implementing initiatives to realize them, pursuing a uniquely Yanmar approach to sustainability. Prior to my current role, I served as the President of Yanmar Symbiosis Co., Ltd., a special subsidiary established to expand opportunities for employees with disabilities. Even then, my goal was to cultivate a culture of diversity and inclusion across the entire Yanmar Group. I believe that recognizing each individual’s unique strengths and creating organizations where those strengths can flourish is essential. At the same time, I aim to foster a culture that respects human rights and embraces diversity. In my current role, I continue to advance this vision as one of the key themes of our sustainability initiatives.
The Yanmar Approach to Sustainability
The history of Yanmar began with its founder, Magokichi Yamaoka, who sought to ease the burden of human labor through the power of machinery. His breakthrough—the world’s first compact diesel engine—reflected a deep commitment to using limited fuel resources wisely for the benefit of society. This guiding principle of “To conserve fuel is to serve mankind” continues to guide us today. Starting from technology that helps both nature and people, Yanmar has expanded its business from agriculture to land, sea, and urban solutions, continually creating new forms of prosperity. For Yanmar, new forms of prosperity means achieving a balance between human well-being and the richness of nature. I believe that realizing these two forms of prosperity embodies Yanmar’s unique approach to sustainability. Beyond the pursuit of profit and efficiency, we aim to deliver solutions that enhance quality and convenience, provide exciting experiences, and protect the planet’s finite resources—all in the pursuit of new forms of prosperity.
In promoting sustainability, we believe that the values embodied in HANASAKA are indispensable. We place great importance on fostering a culture where creativity thrives and challenges in new domains can be pursued at any time, all while building trust with our employees, customers, and partners around the world.
Beyond our core business activities, we also contribute to creating a prosperous society supporting the next generation through sports, culture, and community-based activities.
Enhancing Human Well-Being
Building an Inclusive Organization Where Everyone Can Thrive
To continue creating new forms of prosperity, we established “Diversity for Yanmar” as a key policy. Guided by the motto “Lively, Exciting, SMILE,” we aim to build a workplace where employees feel energized, respected and empowered to take on new challenges.
One example is the NEW PRODUCT Idea Contest, which the Yanmar Group has held since FY2022. This program is open to anyone regardless of position, tenure, or department. The only requirement is a spirit of challenge to drive projects forward. A total of 365 submissions were received—196 in Japan and 169 from other countries. Following the selection process, 9 ideas were formed into new business task forces and are now under active development. Ideas that pass the final evaluation will be cultivated as seeds for future growth businesses.
Creating an environment where people with diverse values and experiences can thrive is not merely a slogan; we are convinced that it drives innovation, improves the quality of decision-making, and strengthens global competitiveness. We view the growth and success of each employee as the driving force behind sustainable corporate development. Accordingly, we are committed to employee development and creating a supportive work environment. By providing training programs, career support, and flexible work arrangements, we aim to maximize both employee potential and corporate value.
Protecting and Enriching Nature
Our Drive Toward Environmental Neutrality and a GHG-Free Future
Since FY2022, the Yanmar Group has pursued its environmental vision through the YANMAR GREEN CHALLENGE 2050. Our goal is to achieve environmentally neutral and GHG-free operations by efficiently using limited natural resources and minimizing our environmental impact thereby contributing to a sustainable future. Through GHG (greenhouse gas)-free business activities, we also support the realization of a carbon-neutral society.
Since the launch of YGC2050, we have focused first on understanding key metrics across the group, including GHG emissions, waste, and recycling data. By making the group’s current environmental footprint visible, we have created the foundation to define concrete milestones necessary to achieve the targets set under YGC2050. Moving forward, we will promote initiatives to reduce environmental impacts, led by each company within the group, to ensure progress toward the overall group targets. At our production sites in Japan, starting from FY2024, we have added YGC2050 environmental indicators as one of the evaluation metrics for improvement activities. This integration is expected to encourage initiatives that consciously reduce environmental impacts even at the workplace level. We plan to expand this approach to sites outside Japan as well. Raising environmental awareness among individual employees and encouraging active participation in daily sustainability actions will lead to significant progress toward our group-wide targets. At the same time, we will ensure that progress, data, and relevant information are transparent and appropriately disclosed. As we move toward 2050, we will develop strategies based on concrete metrics and indicators, and the Yanmar Group will work together to advance to a new stage of environmental challenge.
Together with Our Stakeholders
To be a sustainable company and to advance Yanmar-style sustainability, we must be a trusted partner for all our stakeholders. With this in mind, we place great importance on our responsibility to customers and are committed to fair and transparent business practices. In addition to complying with laws and regulations, we are strengthening corporate governance that earns trust, such as respecting human rights across our entire value chain. We will also continue to enhance sustainability-related disclosure and prioritize open, honest communication with all stakeholders.
