Third-party Opinions Third-party Opinions
Professor Katsuhiko Kokubu, Graduate School of Business Administration, Kobe University
Professor Kokubu completed his doctoral program at the Graduate School of Business, Osaka City University, where he was conferred the degree of Doctor in Business Administration. After working as an associate professor at Osaka City University and Kobe University, he became a professor at the Graduate School of Business Administration in Kobe University in 2001. In 2014, he was promoted to Dean of the Graduate School. Professor Kokubu also holds posts such as Chairman of ISO/TC207/WG8 and Chairman of MFCA Forum Japan. His major publications include, 窶廣ccountability and Business Ethics,窶 (Yuhikaku Publishing, 2017), 窶廝asics of CSR窶 (Chuokeizai-sha, 2017), and 窶廰ow-carbon Supply Chain Operation窶 (Chuokeizai-sha, 2015).
Placing solution-oriented environment improvement at the heart of our environmental activities
NTT West Group was certified NTT Group窶冱 窶彜olution Environment Label窶 for the first time. The amount of NTT West Group窶冱 Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission shows the highest in the Scope 3 category, which covers the whole supply chain. This suggests that the reduction of all environmental loads through the supply chain, could become a significant activity. However, Environmental Grand Design, which NTT West is presently making great effort, is covering environmental loads generated from their own activities. Solution-oriented environment improvement which in other words, is the reduction of environmental loads from society through ICT solution will likely play an important role when it materializes. My proposal is for that NTT West to take a step forward in reducing CO2 emission reduction from the supply chain, although currently they are simply calculating CO2 emission from supply chain.
Promoting wide-ranging environmental activities
NTT West Group has been steering substantial activities for biodiversity conservation under the name, 窶廸TT West Midori Ippai project窶? NTT West employees are at the center of these kinds of activities, which appears to be significantly vital. When performing CSR and environmental preserving activities, it is essential that they are undertaken from a bottom-up approach adding to a top-down approach. NTT West is expected to continue activities that collaborate with local communities and enlightening employees who have aspiration for joining such activities.
Promoting dialogue between stakeholders
A stakeholder dialogue between executives of Kamigamo-Jinja Shinto Shrine and NTT West Group is covered in this year窶冱 report. This kind of example is extremely unique, and I read it with great interest. Supporting and promoting local activities should be an extremely significant social contribution for companies like NTT West Group, which has branches all over West Japan. It would be ideal if local communication activities of such kind could evolve into conclusive NTT West group窶冱 activities, in which individual branches are able to support local environmental activities. Linking it with the 窶廸TT West Midori Ippai Project窶 might be one proposal for these kinds of activities.
Cooperating with CSR Activities
A perception from an overall CSR point of view is crucial in the future to review environmental activities, while my opinions revolve only around the Environmental Report which is insufficient. Furthermore, it is significant to view how aspects of the environment and the society are perceived and how they are included in the conclusive company structure of corporate governance, adding to the evaluation of each activity.
Response to Third-party Opinions
NTT West Group has integrated global environment protection activities into CSR Report since last year, whereas various data and activities that were not included in the CSR Report are listed in the Annual Environmental Report for want of space.
Regarding the comments on Scope 3, we are considering estimation approaches that are able to reflect the offering of ICT solutions. We also intend to continue acquiring NTT Group窶冱 窶彜olution Environment Label窶 aiming to promote the offering of ICT solutions that could contribute to the environment. Furthermore, we will make a further effort to promote the 窶廸TT West Midori Ippai Project窶 that we are currently operating in collaboration with various communities. Regarding the comments on stakeholder meetings, we intend to continuously hold them and collaborate more with districts while receiving opinions from the outside. We then hope to integrate it all in the CSR Report including Annual Environmental Report, so that global environment protection activities seem a part of CSR activities.
All NTT West Group窶冱 employees, promise to work together and tackle global environment protection activities as part of CSR activities, while building on the opinions we have received on this occasion.
Environment Management Promotion Office
Technology Innovation Department
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation
