Social Contribution Activities
Creation of Affluent Society
We believe that contributing to society is one of our most important management priorities, and are advancing social contribution activities primarily focused on priority themes: “health enhancement,” “support for child raising,” and "global environmental protection," considering the affinity of these activities with the life insurance business.
Health Enhancement
Sumisei Vitality Action initiative
Through the “Sumisei Vitality Action,” a social contribution program with the theme of health enhancement, which uses a characteristic approach of CSV called “collective impact,” we are working on the social issue of health enhancement with the cooperation of local governments, foundations, athletes, and others. Specifically, we began rolling out a program, centered on parent-child sports events hosted by top athletes of various sports, in 2017. We have held such sports events at 110 locations across Japan as of the end of fiscal 2020.
Initiatives related to cancer
We support cancer patient associations, etc. for the purpose of promoting early detection and treatment of cancer as well as the cancer patients and their families. Furthermore, under the supervision of the National Cancer Center Japan, we have created tools such as “Things to Know about Cancer,” and educate the public about cutting-edge cancer treatment and particle beam therapy. We also support pink ribbon campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. In addition, as part of the “Active Challenge,” one of the programs of SUMITOMO LIFE Vitality, we plan to start making donations to the Japan Cancer Society, an organization that supports cancer patients.
Initiatives related to dementia
We provide support to associations that engage in dementia care. In addition, through specified courses, we have been training “dementia supporters.” 47,155 supporters (as of March 31, 2021) have completed the course so far. Aiming to widely allocate dementia supporters to our branches, we have made a particular effort since January 2020 and trained 35,395 people nationwide. In recognition of our efforts to allocate dementia supporters nationwide and our activities to harness our knowledge in dealing with customers, we received the award for excellence for dementia supporter activities by corporations and occupational organizations in fiscal 2020 from the National Caravan- Mate Coordinating Committee. Under the supervision of dementia specialists and care managers, we created tools such as “Things to Know about Dementia” and are engaging in educational activities.
Support for Child Raising
Sumitomo Life provides support in child raising, mainly from before childbirth to later childhood, focusing on the concept of “a place for children,” in order to support the healthy growth of children and child raising in society.
Child raising project to empower the future
Sumitomo Life sponsors “Awards in Support of Child Raising” and “Sumisei Woman Researcher Encouragement Prizes” backed up by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The project started in 2007 and will enter its 15th year in 2021. We grant the Awards in Support of Child Raising to and thereby assist distinguished activities that support child raising across the country, while introducing them as role models in an effort to spread the good practice to other areas. The awards have been given to 157 groups so far.
The “Sumisei Woman Researcher Encouragement Prize” is a grant program intended to support both studies and child raising by woman researchers, and has been awarded in support of 140 researchers so far.
Sumisei After School Project
We have been running the “Sumisei After School Project,” another activity in support of child raising aimed at improving the child-raising environments in all regions of Japan since 2014. The project is supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. With the aim of creating a more enjoyable and safer environment for elementary school children to spend their time after school, we visit after-school childcare centers throughout Japan to offer classes under the themes of life, health, and the future. Classes are given to roughly 50 groups per year, and so far, we have provided opportunities for learning and experience to about 11,500 children in approximately 310 locations nationwide (as of the end of March 2021). This initiative has received various awards including the “2017 Good Design Award.”
Children’s Drawing Contests
Since 1977, we have also organized international children’s drawing contests to help the healthy growth of children. Over 11.5 million works have been submitted since the start of this program. The winning works have been exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris every year since 2000, inspiring the dreams of children. We also donate one yen for each drawing paper distributed and ten yen for each work submitted to support the activities of the Japan Committee for UNICEF.
The exhibition at the Louvre Museum was canceled, and applications were temporarily suspended in fiscal 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but we resumed accepting applications in March 2021, taking measures to prevent the spread of infection.
Global Environment Protection
To support healthy lifestyles, we have constantly carried out various activities in consideration of the impact of our business activities on the global environment. We will continue to actively engage in such activities while keeping abreast of the times.
Sumisei Environmental Policy
Sumitomo Life believes that maintaining and preserving the global environment is indispensable for our goal of realizing “a society of affluence, vitality, health and longevity.”
In keeping with the public nature of our business and our responsibilities to society, the Sustainability Management Policy stipulates that “We contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through efforts to solve social and environmental issues.” We will observe the following principles in our daily activities and carry out actions to steadily and sustainably protect the global environment.
- We shall fully recognize the importance of protecting the global environment and the environmental impact of our business activities, and promote global environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity through our business activities.
- Aiming to “the realization of a sustainable society”, we contribute to realization of a carbon-neutral society by facilitating the transition to a decarbonized society through initiatives as life insurance company and institutional investor.
- We shall pursue energy and resource conservation, introduction of electricity derived from renewable energy sources, waste recycling, and green purchasing for consumables, fixtures and equipment in offices.
- We shall raise the environmental awareness of each officer and employee of the Company, support their activities to protect the global environment, and actively contribute to society on the environmental front.
Addressing Climate Change
Adoption of TCFD recommendations
Sumitomo Life aims to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050, and has accordingly set the following reduction targets to be achieved by 2030. In March 2019, Sumitomo Life has announced its endorsement of the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) established by Financial Stability Board (FSB). We will redouble our initiatives thus far related to climate change while also enhancing our disclosure taking into account the TCFD recommendations. We disclosed information based on TCFD recommendations in Sustainability Report.GHG Emissions Reduction targets and Performance
Sumitomo Life aims to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050, and has also set an interim reduction target for 2030.In order to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society, in March 2023, the Sumitomo Life decided to aim for net-zero GHG emissions from Sumitomo Life Insurance Group by 2050, and set a Group reduction target for 2030 and revised Sumitomo Life’s reduction targets.
Sumitomo Life Group (*1)
| Category | 2030 Target | 2050 Target |
| Scope 1 + 2 + 3 (*2) | -50% (compared with FY2019) | Net zero |
*1 Scope of coverage is Sumitomo Life Insurance and its consolidated subsidiaries.
*2 Scope 1, 2, and 3 are concepts in the GHG emissions accounting and reporting standards for businesses stipulated by the GHG Protocol and refer to the following.
• Scope 1: Direct emissions from fuel use at Sumitomo Life Group
• Scope 2: Indirect emissions from use of electricity and heat purchased by Sumitomo Life Group
• Scope 3: Indirect emissions from business activities other than those in Scope 1 and 2
For Scope 3, the categories that can be reduced through proactive efforts by Sumitomo Life Group and our employees are covered.
The target categories are 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12.
Sumitomo Life (Non-Consolidated)
| Category | 2030 Target | 2050 Target |
| Asset Portfolio (*3) | -50% (compared with FY2019) | Net zero |
*3 For the 2050 target, this encompasses all assets excluding government bonds, etc. For the 2030 target, this encompasses domestic and overseas listed stocks, corporate bonds, loans, real estate for investment and infrastructure investment. The target Scope shall be Scope 1 and 2 of the investees. The reduction indicator expresses “GHG emissions proportional to the amount of balance held in the portfolio, in order to assess emissions excluding effects of asset size. It is measured by dividing the GHG emissions from the asset portfolio by the amount of balance held (intensity).
GHG Emissions Performance
Sumitomo Life Group
（Unit : t-CO2e）
| Scope/Category | FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope1+2+3 | 165,249 |
140,313 |
145,966 |
|
| Scope1 Gas consumption | 15,476 |
11,219 |
13,112 |
|
| Scope2 Electricity consumption | 38,795 |
30,514 |
30,432 |
|
| Scope3 Other indirect GHG emissions | 110,977 |
98,580 |
102,422 |
|
| Category1 Purchased goods and services | 38,046 |
35,918 |
41,630 |
|
| Category3 Fuel- and energy-related activities | 6,337 |
5,278 |
5,132 |
|
| Category4 Upstream transportation and distribution | 1,367 |
1,317 |
1,650 |
|
| Category5 Waste generated in operations | 2,022 |
1,690 |
1,981 |
|
| Category6 Business travel | 5,906 |
4,264 |
3,050 |
|
| Category7 Employee commuting | 56,933 |
49,843 |
48,611 |
|
| Category12 End-of-life-treatment sold products | 365 |
270 |
369 |
|
*Emission factors are based on energy-specific emission factors and utility-specific emission factors (adjusted emission factors) published in accordance with the Law Concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming.
Sumitomo Life (Non-Consolidated)
| Scope/Category | FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Portfolio | Intensity （t-CO2e/million yen） |
1.29 |
0.96 |
－ |
(reference)
| Scope/Category | FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Portfolio | Total emissions （million t-CO2e） |
8.7 |
8.0 |
－ |
External Evaluation of GHG Emissions Data
In order to enhance the reliability of GHG emissions of Sumitomo Life (non-consolidated) performance date, we have received third-party assurance review.
Initiatives as a life insurer
Energy and resource conservation
Each department takes the initiative in reducing paper and electricity consumption in its business activities, which has a large environmental impact. In addition, we began digitalizing new policy application in 2019 and commenced online application for new policies in 2021. These efforts are expected to further reduce paper consumption.
Environment-friendly print materials
We use environment-friendly print materials for calendars and product pamphlets we provide to our customers, and for in-house training materials. We also put our unique eco symbol on such print materials, raising environmental awareness of our employees as part of company-wide efforts.
Environment-friendly property management
We make efforts to save energy by installing energy-saving equipment and carefully setting the temperature of air conditioners at approximately 100 tenanted buildings owned by the Company across Japan.
Initiatives as an institutional investor
We have been promoting responsible investment (ESG investment and stewardship activities) with the aim of realizing a sustainable society while also improving our medium- to long-term investment returns. In particular, we have been promoting initiatives to reduce the GHG emissions of our investees including dialogue on environmental issues and investments that contribute to decarbonization. We are also a signatory to the “Climate Action 100+” and “CDP” international initiatives in order to motivate our portfolio companies in collaboration with other investors. We will continue to promote ESG integration, dialogue (engagement) with our portfolio companies, thematic investment including environment-related financing, thereby further augmenting our responsible investment efforts.
Please see the following page for specific initiatives.
- Asset Management
Support for the Environment and Social Contribution Activities
Addressing the marine plastic issue
We abolished the use of plastic straws and switched to paper straws at our Head Office and Tokyo Head Office in October 2019. In addition, the stores at our Head Office and Tokyo Head Office stopped giving out plastic shopping bags in July 2020 to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags.
In support of the Ministry of the Environment’s Plastics Smart Campaign, we also engage in efforts to reduce disposable plastics and in beach and river cleanup activities.