External Evaluations

2025 Health and Productivity Management Outstanding Organization (White 500) Certification

We have been recognized for our efforts and certified as a Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization (White 500) for eight consecutive years. Also, our subsidiary Yokkaichi Chemical Co., Ltd. was certified for the fifth consecutive year as a “Corporation with Excellent Health Management.”

• Efforts in Health and Productivity Management
• Yokkaichi Chemical’s Efforts in Health and Productivity Management (In Japanese only)

Received the Highest Ranking in the DBJ Environmental Rating

Since formulating our GX strategy in March 2021, we have strengthened our initiatives to address climate change and disclosed sustainability-related information. In March 2025, we received a loan under the DBJ Environmentally Rated Loan Program of the Development Bank of Japan Inc., and were rated at the highest level for our particularly advanced eco-friendly initiatives. Our Medium-Term Management Plan SMART 2030 sets forth improvements of initiatives for reduction of GHG emissions with a view to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Going forward, our entire workforce will pull together to promote our environmental management under our basic philosophy and basic policy on environment and safety.

Awarded Bronze Certification for the Sixth Consecutive Year as a Sports Yell Company

On 31 January 2025, we were recognised as a "Sports Yell Company" by the Japan Sports Agency for the sixth consecutive year, in recognition of our proactive efforts to support and promote sports activities undertaken by our employees. We also achieved "Bronze" certification, awarded to companies recognised under this scheme five or more times cumulatively.

Childcare Support Company Certification

In November 2024, we obtained the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's “Kurumin” certification, recognising us as a company supporting childcare. To achieve work-life balance for our employees, we have implemented measures including a teleworking system, a flexitime system, and a childcare leave system exceeding statutory requirements. In fiscal year 2023, the childcare leave uptake rate was 100% for female employees and 58% for male employees (compared to 8% in fiscal year 2019). We remain committed to creating a supportive workplace environment, including childcare support, enabling our employees to fully utilise their abilities.

‘What is 'Kurumin'’ is

This scheme enables companies to apply for certification (Kurumin) from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare when they have formulated a General Business Operator Action Plan based on the Act on Promotion of Measures to Support the Development of the Next Generation, and have met certain criteria—such as achieving the targets set out in the action plan—through their efforts in line with that plan.

RSPO Supply Chain Certification

We use raw materials derived from palm oil in the production of some of our products. Although palm oil is efficient to produce due to its high yield per unit area, there are concerns regarding deforestation and human rights violations associated with palm plantation development. Since 2014, we have been a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and have obtained Supply Chain Certification. By expanding our lineup of sustainable RSPO certified products, we aim to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.

Recognised as an Eco Rail Mark Initiative Company for Environmentally Friendly Rail Freight Transport

We have been certified as an Eco Rail Mark initiative company by the Eco Rail Mark Management and Assessment Committee, introduced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and operated by the Railway Freight Association, a public interest incorporated association, for implementing rail freight transport that contributes to reducing environmental impact.
We will continue to provide safe and value-added products while actively working to reduce our environmental impact towards the realisation of a sustainable society.

What is the Eco Rail Mark

Environmentally friendly freight rail transport above a certain level^※This scheme certifies products or companies with the 'Eco Rail Mark', providing consumers with a benchmark for decision-making through the display of the mark.

• Eco Rail Mark Certification Criteria for Participating Companies Companies utilising rail for 15% or more of their land freight transport exceeding 500 kilometres. Alternatively, companies utilising rail for annual transport volumes of 15,000 tonnes or more, or transport volumes multiplied by distance totalling 15 million tonne-kilometres or more.

Selected as a 'DX Certified Organisation'

On 1 April 2022, we were selected as a "DX Certified Organisation" by the Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA), following its assessment, and certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Our company has been advancing its medium-term management plan "FELIZ 115" for the five years from April 2020. We are utilising digital technology to achieve key measures for realising this plan. Our integration of DX into our management foundation was recognised, including the implementation of preventive maintenance for manufacturing equipment through DX, DX training for all employees, and the establishment of a new MI Promotion Department within the Research Headquarters.
We shall continue to strive for technological and product development, aiming to become a leading company recognised for its distinctiveness and uniqueness.

What is the DX Certification Scheme

This certification scheme recognises companies that are DX-Ready – meaning they have completed preparatory work for DX implementation, such as formulating a management vision and establishing strategies and frameworks, in accordance with the Digital Governance Code stipulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under the Act on Promotion of Information Processing.

Sisterna B.V. has achieved a 'Platinum' rating in the EcoVadis Assessment.

Our group company Sisterna B.V. (Head Office: Roosendaal, Netherlands; Presidents: Miranda Huppers, Christel Vauters) has received the 2025 “Platinum” rating in EcoVadis' ^※1sustainability assessment. “Platinum” is an exceptionally high rating awarded to the top 1% of participating companies.
Sisterna B.V., which markets sucrose fatty acid esters,.^※2places great emphasis on sustainability as part of its corporate social responsibility. Its ongoing commitment to pursuing sustainability was highly commended.

• About EcoVadis
  Established in 2007, it is the world's largest and most trusted sustainability assessment organisation. The company provides sustainability assessments to over 100,000 companies. It evaluates corporate performance across four themes: 'Environment', 'Ethics', 'Labour and Human Rights', and 'Sustainable Procurement'.
  https://ecovadis.com/
• About Sisterna B.V.
  Established in 1992 as a joint venture between DKS Co. Ltd. and Royal Cosun (Netherlands). We market sucrose fatty acid esters primarily in Europe and North America.
  https://www.sisterna.com/

United Nations Global Compact

The DKS Group recognizes that human rights are the most fundamental aspect of its business activities and respects the human rights of all people.The DKS Group supports and respects international human rights norms, including the International Bill of Human Rights, which stipulates the fundamental human rights that all nationals of all nations should enjoy, ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of the International Labour Organization, and the ten principles set forth by the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). Based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Japanese Government Guidelines on Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains, we have established this Policy and will promote efforts to respect human rights.

Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

In March 2022, DKS pledged its commitment to the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), based on a recognition of how important the risks and opportunities of climate change are to our business. We will promote the disclosure of information regarding the impact of climate change on our business activities, and aim to achieve a sustainable society by striving to realize a decarbonized society throughout the entire supply chain.

Details on climate change-related disclosures

Selected as a Constituent of the FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index for the First Time

We have been selected as a constituent for FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index for the first time. The index is extensively used as a global ESG investment index. This index selects companies that are relatively excellent in their industry in terms of their ESG efforts. Our continued commitment to sustainability has been objectively acknowledged in light of global investment standards. As laid out in our Medium-Term Management Plan SMART 2030, in which we have positioned sustainability as the core of our growth strategy, the DKS Group is expanding its environmentally friendly products and acting to address climate change. By continuing to accelerate these efforts, we will balance the growth of our businesses and a sustainable society and strive to maximize our corporate value.