Initiatives for ESG

Participation in Initiatives, and Major ESG Evaluations

United Nations Global Compact

The Toho Gas is a signatory to and participant in the UN Global Compact advocated by the United Nations since May 2020.
The UN Global Compact is a voluntary initiative through which companies and organizations, by demonstrating responsible and creative leadership, act as good members of society and participate in the creation of a global framework for achieving sustainable growth.
The Toho Gas Group supports the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the four areas of human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption, and will promote resolution of social issues through business activities, together with contributing to achieving SDGs.

United Nations Global Compact

The Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact

Human Rights <Principle 1> Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
<Principle 2> make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labour <Principle 3> Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
<Principle 4> the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory Labour;
<Principle 5> the effective abolition of child Labour; and
<Principle 6> the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment <Principle 7> Businesses are asked to support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
<Principle 8> undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
<Principle 9> encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti- Corruption <Principle 10> Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

The Toho Gas Group announced endorsement in April 2020 of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to promote analysis of the risks and opportunities that climate change brings to business as well as disclosure of the information this yields. Together with this, we also became a member of the TCFD Consortium, which was established to serve as a forum for discussion by corporations, financial institutions, and other entities endorsing this initiative.

Endorsement of TCGD as part of efforts addressing climate change

Participation in Keidanren's “Challenge Zero”

The Toho Gas Group is taking part in Keidanren's Challenge Zero* project, and is promoting technical development oriented to future decarbonization. For detailed information, please visit the Challenge Zero website (https://www.challenge-zero.jp/en/member/119).

Challenge Zero initiative by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren)
Announced December 9, 2019This initiative encourages innovation and serves as a source point for the economic sphere to take up the challenges of investment and financing aiming to proactively publicize, support, and implement actions to create net-zero-carbon technology (including transitional technology) and innovation taken by companies and organizations toward a decarbonized society.

[Challenge 1]
Construction and operation of hydrogen stations and development of hydrogen usage technology for the sake of building hydrogen supply chains

Together with moving forward on the construction and operation of hydrogen stations for the sake of decarbonization in the mobility field, we are anticipating the building of hydrogen supply chains and working on the development of hydrogen combustion technology in industrial fields. We will contribute to the attainment of net zero carbon in multiple fields through the use of hydrogen.

[Challenge 2]
Establishment of both advanced energy management and enhanced resilience for the sake of spreading renewable energy and distributed power sources

Through feasibility evaluation of virtual power plants (VPP), we are working on developing technology for electricity supply and demand coordination and are moving forward toward practical viability. In this way, we will contribute to expanding the amount of renewable energy installed. Also, through actual operation of smart energy systems composed of distributed power supply and heating equipment, we are accumulating energy management know-how that contributes to extremely minimizing CO2 emissions and enhancing resilience. We will also investigate and research CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) technology and combine the technology with the smart energy systems in order to contribute to the attainment of net zero carbon.

[Challenge 3]
Development of high-density heat storage technology that contributes to the effective use of heat energy

With the objective of working for the effective utilization of unused heat in a wide variety of applications, we are working on developing performance improvements for high-density heat storage materials as well as expanding the range of usage temperatures for heat storage materials and opening up applications for them. In this way, we will promote the utilization of unused heat in a wide variety of fields and contribute to further energy conservation.

Keidanren Carbon Neutrality Action Plan (formerly Keidanren Plan for Realizing a Low Carbon Society)

The Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) has announced, as its shared vision, the "resolve as members of the Japanese business community to harness our technological prowess and assume an instrumental role in the drive to halve global GHG emissions by the year 2020," and formulated its Commitment to a Low Carbon Society in 2013 (with revisions in 2017). Amidst the interest and hope for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is increasing, we have also set achieving this goal as our most important target and are promoting the new Keidanren Carbon Neutrality Action Plan.
The Japan Gas Association, which is participating in this commitment, formulated the Carbon Neutral Challenge 2050 and its action plan for the city gas business, which includes targets for 2050.
As a member of the Japan Gas Association, Toho Gas is pressing ahead with a variety of endeavors as measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and reaching targets in the city gas industry.

For more information about the Keidanren Carbon Neutrality Action Plan, check here.
https://www.keidanren.or.jp/en/policy/env.html

Keidanren Declaration of Biodiversity and Action Policy

Toho Gas endorsed the Keidanren Declaration of Biodiversity and Action Policy in July 2020. The company's endeavors are congruent with this declaration and action policy, and we will continue to devote effort accordingly.

Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation

The Toho Gas Group has been a member of the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation since FY2014.
Through the committee, we are providing aid for nature conservation activities by environmental NGOs in Indonesia and elsewhere around the world.

Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation

Main ESG Evaluations from External Agencies

FTSE4Good Index Series Continues to be selected as constituent since 2022
FTSE Blossom Japan Index Continues to be selected as constituent since 2022
FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index Continues to be selected as constituent since 2022
MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index* Toho Gas continues to be a selected constituent since 2017.
MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN)* Toho Gas continues to be a selected constituent since 2017.
Morningstar Japan ex-REIT Gender Diversity Tilt Index Newly selected as constituent in 2023
S&P/JPX Carbon Efficient Index Toho Gas continues to be a selected constituent since 2018.
SOMPO Sustainability Index Toho Gas continues to be a selected constituent since 2012.
CDP Climate Change 2022 [Climate Change]
Toho Gas received an A‒ rank evaluation (8 ranks from D- to A).
CDP Water Security 2022 [Water Security]
Toho Gas received an A‒ rank evaluation (8 ranks from D- to A).
Nikkei SDGs Management Survey 2022 Acquisition of ★★★★ overall rating
Certified Health &Productivity Management Outstanding Organization 2023 – White 500 In March 2023, Toho Gas was recognized jointly by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Health Council a White 500 Outstanding Health & Productivity Management Organization for 2023 for the fourth consecutive year.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Eruboshi" Certification for superior companies that promote women's advancement In July 2021, Toho Gas received "Eruboshi" certification under a certification program concerning women's advancement based on the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement in the Workplace.
Aichi Prefecture with "Aichi josei kagayaki kampani" In 2023, we were recognized by Aichi Prefecture with Aichi josei kagayaki kampani certification as a company where women can shine.
Recognized by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare with Kurumin Mark,Platinum Kurumin Mark certification as a company that supports childcare Toho Gas was recognized in 2018 by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare with Kurumin Mark certification as a company that supports childcare.
In 2023, we were further recognized for achieving a high level of support for childcare with Platinum Kurumin certification.
Aichi Prefecture as a Family Friendly Company In 2004, we were recognized by Aichi Prefecture as a Family Friendly Company that proactively enables its employees to maintain a balance between their careers and personal lives with activities such as childcare, nursing care, and community activities.
Childcare Support Company Nagoya City In 2008, we were recognized by the City of Nagoya as a Childcare Support Company that proactively adopts childcare-friendly policies.
Energy Conservation Communication Ranking System city gas retailers FY2022 We received a five-star rating as a city gas retailer from the FY2022 Energy Conservation Communication Ranking System conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Energy Conservation Communication Ranking System electric power retailers FY2022 We received a five-star rating as an electric power retailer from the FY2022 Energy Conservation Communication Ranking System conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
  • MSCI ESG Indexes
    THE INCLUSION OF TOHO GAS 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 TOHO GAS 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.

Major External Awards

Name Main sponsor Target Joint award winner
The 60th SHASE Award for Distinguished Technologies The Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan (SHASE) Achieving a low-carbon urban space through mutual co-creation between suppliers and consumers. Local production for local consumption smart energy network at Minato AQULS. Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
Mitsui Fudosan Residential Co., Ltd.
Toho Real Estate Co., Ltd.
Nikken Sekkei Ltd.
Nikken Sekkei Research Institute,
Takenaka Corporation
2022 Technology Grand Prize The Japan Gas Association SGP M450, 450 kW High-efficiency, gas cogeneration system Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger, Ltd.
2022 Japan Subscription Business Awards Honorable Mention Japan Subscription Business Association Franomista, a single-drink subscription service