Material Issue Evaluation and Identification Process
Updating the Material Issues
The future is difficult to predict in a complex world characterized by population growth, developed countries with declining birthrates and aging populations, rapid digital transformation, greater use of biotechnology, multipolarity in international relations, and a worsening climate crisis. Given the uncertainty the world faces, Konica Minolta has decided to identify the social and environmental issues it must help address. While reaffirming its corporate DNA, the company clarified the issues to be addressed by 2030, and then backcasted from that year to determine the targets it must tackle immediately.
Konica Minolta believes that a sustainable and decentralized society with greater individual autonomy is on the horizon. When it arrives, organizations and individuals will be creating all kinds of value utilizing an explosively expanding amount of data. Along with greater prosperity based on individualization and diversification, countries will be able to solve many pressing social and environmental issues. Advanced technology will be required both for greater prosperity and to solve issues.
After gaining insight into social and environmental issues expected to be critical by 2030 by examining the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), macro trends and various stakeholder requirements, Konica Minolta conducted a materiality analysis from the perspectives of social issues that must be solved and Konica Minolta's business growth. This led to the identification of five new material issues for Konica Minolta to tackle. By addressing these five material issues, Konica Minolta will support the human quest for purpose in life and contribute to global sustainability.
Evaluation and Identification Process
Step 1. Issue Awareness
First, Konica Minolta made a list of diverse environmental, social, and economic issues by referencing international frameworks and guidelines such as the GRI Standards and SDGs, as well as macro trends in each specialized field.
The list was prepared by referring to the Wedding Cake Model of the SDGs. This structural model was developed by the Stockholm Resilience Center* as a way to understand the SDGs, and it helps to clarify the relationships among the SDGs. With this model, the 17 goals are divided into three layered categories, like the tiers of a wedding cake. These tiers from bottom to top are biosphere, society and economy. The model illustrates that achieving the biosphere and society-related SDGs can help to build a sustainable economy and society, upon which companies can help build the foundation for a sustainable economy. With this relationship in mind, Konica Minolta identified the issues of greatest importance to its business.
During this identification process, Konica Minolta also considered social and environmental changes, regulatory and policy trends, and stakeholder requirements, all in light of the company's current and potential business areas as well as the corresponding supply and value chains.
Frameworks and Guidelines referred to:
- GRI Standards
- Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
- ISO 26000
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact
- OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
- Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD)
- Macro trends in various climate change and other specialized fields (the Paris Agreement, the European circular economy, etc.)
- International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), International Integrated Reporting Framework
- Stockholm Resilience Center’s Wedding Cake Model for the SDGs
Evaluations, dialogues and requirements for Konica Minolta from stakeholders
- Dialogue with investors and other stakeholders at IR briefings, business briefings, etc.
- Dialogue with CDP and other international NGOs and NPOs
- Items requested in various ESG surveys
- Dialogue with customers on sustainable marketing activities
- Dialogue with companies participating in the Environmental Digital Platform
- Dialogue with investors and other stakeholders at the TCFD Consortium Roundtable
Step 2. Issue Identification and Prioritization
From the initial list of issues, Konica Minolta identified fields that are particularly relevant to its business, and then conducted a prioritization process.
Konica Minolta's materiality analysis is unique in that it assesses both risks and opportunities. By evaluating both these aspects, the company aims to fulfill expectations for enterprises to tackle the SDGs. The expectation is that companies treat social and environmental issues as opportunities to grow their businesses, while helping to solve the issues through their business activities.
In performing the materiality analysis, Konica Minolta evaluated and prioritized the issues based on the two perspectives of importance to stakeholders and importance to the business.
Customers, business partners, shareholders, investors, and employees were defined as part of the analysis. Importance to stakeholders was quantified by scoring each issue from one to five. To analyze financial impact and importance to the business, each issue was similarly scored based on the amount of potential earnings for opportunity issues, and the amount of potential loss for risk issues.
【Opportunities for Each Material Issue】
Improving fulfillment in work and corporate dynamism | ![]() |
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Supporting healthy, high-quality living | ![]() |
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Ensuring social safety and security | ![]() |
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Addressing climate change | ![]() |
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Using limited resources effectively | ![]() |
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Cross-cutting opportunities | ![]() |
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【Risks for Each Material Issue】
Improving fulfillment in work and corporate dynamism | ![]() |
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Ensuring social safety and security | ![]() |
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Addressing climate change | ![]() |
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Using limited resources effectively | ![]() |
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Cross-cutting risk | ![]() |
Step 3. Results Confirmation and Issue Identification
As an organization that promotes the Group’s Medium-term Sustainability Plan, the committee confirmed the appropriateness of the material issue evaluation process and the prioritized issues. The selected material issues were then discussed by senior management and approved by the Board of Directors. The process used to identify material issues is reviewed annually, which guarantees the validity of the issues selected and the corresponding plan.