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Astellas approach focuses on contributing to society through our core business, creating a positive cycle that enhances both societal and corporate sustainability. We have identified several material and environmental issues that guide our sustainability efforts.
Representative Director, President and CEO
In recent years, rapid changes in the environment and economy have led to a growing expectation from stakeholders for the sustainability of society. We believe that companies are expected to contribute to make proactive and meaningful contributions through business activities. In the healthcare field, societal expectations are shifting to therapeutic areas with high unmet medical needs, and innovative healthcare solutions based on the next generation modalities and digital technology are eagerly anticipated.
Under our VISION of being “On the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients,” Astellas creates innovative new drugs and healthcare solutions that drive the improvement of patient access to healthcare and better outcomes.
Astellas ’sustainability is embedded at the core of our foundation. Alongside these CSP2026 goals, Astellas maintains our strong, company-wide commitment to sustainability that supports long-term corporate value.
Astellas will gain trust from our stakeholders by our effort to address societal issues through our business. It will, then, improve sustainability of Astellas’ own business and create a good cycle of further contribution to sustainability of the society. That will lead to realizing Astellas’ mission “Sustainable enhancement of enterprise value.”
Additionally, aligned with society’s high demand, we strive to fulfill social responsibility through our efforts to address climate change and other environmental problems.
Astellas deliberates important issues relating to our sustainability at the Executive Committee*1, chaired by the Representative Director, President and CEO, and approved by the Board of Directors, based on the corporate governance system.
In addition, annual sustainability activity results and activity plans for the following year are reported to the Board of Directors, which supervises the operation of business executions. To promote sustainability efforts through all divisions from a long-term, strategic and company-wide perspective, we established the Sustainability Committee and the Environmental, Social and Governance Working Group (E-S-G Working Group) as frameworks that drive our endeavors.
*1 The organization discusses material matters concerning business strategies, product strategies, corporate management, and personnel of the Company and Astellas Group companies
The Sustainability Committee discusses Astellas' key sustainability issues, including opportunities and risks, which relate to our business execution. The Committee is a cross-functional body that comprises members who are at the head level of Functional Units*2 and the chairman of the committee and members are assigned by the Chief Strategy Officer (CStO) to ensure a professional and effective discussion.
*2 Refer to organizational business unit directly reports to Top Management
Environment, Social and Governance Working Groups (E-S-G Working Groups) consist of cross-functional members, which identify issues and opportunities for Astellas to address Environmental, Social and Governance issues respective to changes in the external environment, principles and guidelines.
They also work with relevant divisions to plan improvements, set targets and monitor the progress of their initiatives to contribute to sustainability.
As a Functional Unit, Sustainability is responsible for working as a secretariat of the Sustainability Committee and each Working Group(E-S-G) and responding to sustainability issues throughout the entire Astellas Group, raising sustainability awareness internally and externally in collaboration with communication function.
Astellas developed the Sustainability Diagram with newly identified nine material topics related to sustainability. The nine material topics are organized under three pillars - Trust, Innovation, and People -and the Diagram illustrates how these interconnected topics create a positive cycle for both society and Astellas. By addressing these material topics through our core business, Astellas aims to create and deliver VALUE for society while simultaneously advancing the realization of our VISION.
Sustainability Diagram
Click here to learn more about the detail definitions of the 9 material topics(PDF)
All our business activities are only possible because of our trust-based relationships with our stakeholders.
Going beyond mere legal compliance including corporate governance codes to always making sound ethical judgements and acting accordingly in line with the spirit of the law and the societal norms that underpin it, is a prerequisite to promoting our business model and creating and delivering VALUE.
Astellas’ business model always puts patients first. Even when facing rapid changes in the external environment, such as geopolitical risks, with patient-centric decision-making as our top priority, we remain committed to maintaining and strengthening a resilient and sustainable business foundation ensuring the reliable production and stable supply of medicines needed by patients.
To achieve this, we actively pursue a variety of initiatives, including digital transformation, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire value chain.
To maintain and strengthen such a business model, Astellas fully recognizes that harmonizing our corporate activities with the natural environment is an essential requirement for management, and we are committed to proactively taking action for environmental sustainability.
With a long-term perspective, we are transforming our business model to prioritize environmental sustainability through the use of technology. Our initiatives aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy efficiency, harness renewable energy, protect biodiversity, and implement various other strategies to lessen our environmental impact.
With strong, trusting relationships with our stakeholders, Astellas aims to continuously create innovations that have a meaningful impact on patients and society at large.
We are committed to developing new healthcare solutions that address the needs of patients suffering from diseases for which there are no or limited treatment options, or where existing options cannot provide satisfactory outcomes. By providing comprehensive disease management – prevention, diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment care and management – we strive to improve patients’ quality of life.
Above all, we believe it is of critical importance to ensure that the healthcare solutions we create reach the patients who need them most.
For those who cannot access necessary healthcare due to geographical or socioeconomic factors, we are committed to exploring ways to provide a reliable supply of medicines and medical services, advocating and promoting social transformation toward the dissemination of access to health, and promoting innovations and patient support programs.
Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to the strengthening of a comprehensive healthcare system.
Continuously creating innovation and supporting for development of such a healthcare system requires collaborative efforts and a framework that extends beyond Astellas and the healthcare industry, involving a wide range of industries and sectors.
In addition to fostering open innovation among partners, we aim to stay at the forefront by working with stakeholders to create an ecosystem that ensures talented individuals have ongoing opportunities to take on new challenges, offers appropriate rewards and incentives to drive innovation, and promotes multi-stakeholder initiatives to remove barriers to healthcare access. We strive to stay at the forefront of co-creating this ecosystem with our diverse stakeholders.
Astellas strives to ensure that our innovations continue to present ‘hope’ for patients.
By consistently integrating diverse patient insights into new medicine development and patient solutions, and by encouraging a culture that promotes a conscious awareness of the patient in all corporate activities, we strive to be a source of comfort and hope for patients and their families facing diseases with high unmet medical needs and treatment challenges.
We believe that the well-being of our employees – the driving force behind Astellas’ innovation – is essential for our continued commitment as an organization.
We are dedicated to creating an environment where all employees can realize their full potential by providing opportunities for growth, fostering a culture of psychological safety where people with diverse values can support and inspire each other, ensuring a safe working environment, and promoting both physical and mental health so that every employee can achieve higher productivity. Through these efforts, we strive to become an "Employer of Choice," for both current and future employees.
At the very foundation of our business is a commitment to respecting the human rights of all people, both within and outside the company.
We comply with labor and employment laws in every country where we operate and respect fundamental international principles related to human rights and labor.
Ensuring that the inherent human rights of people around the world are neither denied nor violated is the cornerstone of Astellas' business activities, and something we are dedicated to upholding.
Astellas analyzed various references, such as SDGs-related frameworks (IIRC, SASB and GRI standard, ISO 26000the UN Global Compact's ten principles, TCFD recommendation), stakeholder engagement and communication, and topics covered by ESG ratings. With these, Astellas identified and assessed material Impact, which represents significant impacts on the environment and society, and material Risks and Opportunities, which represent significant risks and opportunities brought to business by environmental and social changes.
Astellas classified the material impacts, risks, and opportunities identified and determined Material Topics that Astellas should address.
In the identification process, we considered factors such as the level of interest among global stakeholder — including international organizations, governments, NGOs, investors, and industry associations— as well as opportunities for Astellas to contribute through our capabilities and assets.
Furthermore, interview and discussions with Top Management were conducted to refine and validate the Material Topics from the perspective of business strategy and long-term corporate value creation.
Material Topics were refined and validated through the information provided by a diverse range of including institutional investors, industry associations, NPOs, and NGOs, as well as through interviews with experts to ensure their reliability and objectivity.
The Sustainability Committee, a cross-functional governance body, then reviewed and discussed the findings. Subsequently, the Executive Committee deliberated on the Material Topics, which were finally approved by the Board of Directors.
The need to update the Material Topics is assessed by Sustainability (Functional Unit), taking into account the results of the Double Materiality Assessment, which is conducted in principle on an annual basis.
The assessment results are reported to and discussed by the Sustainability Committee and, where necessary, further reviewed by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. Through this governance process, decisions regarding the appropriateness of and potential updates to the Material Topics are made under the oversight of Top Management.
Click here for the Materiality Matrix through 2025
Click here for the detail definitions of Materiality
Astellas believes that our innovations will play a part in improving the sustainability of society. This will build trust from society, which will, in turn, also make Astellas more sustainable.
Expectations for companies that contribute to improving the sustainability of society are increasing. Astellas believes that it is important to meet the expectations from society and will disclose the performance and progress of its sustainability activities appropriately.
Based on our commitments, we continue to steadily promote our Sustainability Direction by setting Sustainability Directions Performance Indicators (SDPIs) and disclosing measurable and appropriate tangible actions.
In principle, the scope of coverage is global, and performance for the period or as of the end date indicated is disclosed.
Information about pharmaceutical products(including products currently in development), which is included in this SDPIs report is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.
SDPIs from 2026 onward will be disclosed within this fiscal year.
Click here for the SDPIs through 2025
Astellas has verified the efficacy of management based on global standards for the core subjects and issues of social responsibility addressed in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)’s guidance ISO26000. ISO26000 outlines the need to carefully consider seven core subjects: organizational governance, human rights, labor practices, the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, and community involvement and development. The following Astellas initiatives follow this guidance:
Astellas follows the United Nations Global Compact across our sustainability approach.
In October 2011, Astellas declared our support for the United Nations Global Compact, which consists of the ten principles set out by the UN on human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption.
Our declaration of support is based on our commitment realizing our business philosophy “contribute toward improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products”. We incorporate the ten principles of the UN Global Compact into our daily business activities and disclose them through reports, our website and other channels.
What is the UN Global Compact?
The UN Global Compact was set out by Mr. Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the UN, at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 1999. It is a worldwide initiative aimed at realizing sustainable growth through voluntary participation by businesses.
The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact
Astellas operates within a diverse network of stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, employees, shareholders, investors, business partners, and governments, all of whom are significantly impacted by our activities. Understanding and addressing their needs is crucial for maintaining trust and sustainably enhancing our enterprise value. We engage with stakeholders through various channels, such as town halls, shareholder meetings, and clinical trial updates, ensuring timely and impartial information disclosure. By fostering constructive dialogue and transparency, we aim to sustainably increase Astellas' enterprise value while contributing to the overall sustainability of society.
Astellas visualize and quantify Non-Financial Value to help drive sustainable growth in Corporate Value
| info | Multi-Stakeholder Policy
Astellas recognizes the importance of value co-creation with a diverse range of stakeholders, including employees, business partners, customers, creditors, and local communities. We are committed to engaging in appropriate collaboration with these stakeholders. |
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