Can you discuss your or your company’s efforts relating to renewability, sustainability, or other environmentally friendly activities?  

Within OMRON, we have clear goals to shape the future for 2030. There are different initiatives in the different business companies that constitute OMRON, like empowering people through automation, Going for Zero cardiovascular events, among others. We are deeply committed to UN SDGs. 

In my role, I have been working to ensure the proper legal and ethical environment to implement those goals while supporting the business. It has not been an easy to gain a position on the decision-making table; however, showing the relevance of following the global needs to ensure the improvement of lives and the contribution to a better society with tangible results, has helped to remove the roadblocks.  

Working with multi-regional teams to ensure compliance with environmental regulations has taught me to broaden my perspective. As a lawyer, it is crucial to have a global vision and recognise that the presence or absence of regulations in one country does not exempt us from potential impact elsewhere. We are all in the same boat!  

The most challenging part lies in precisely measuring the return on investment: how to demonstrate the tangible benefits of adopting environmentally friendly practices. Is it merely quantifying the number of trees saved annually through electronic signatures, or showcasing the reduction in carbon footprint resulting from the use of new technologies? In the short term, it is not easy to answer. Nevertheless, the most important change comes inside the company with the creation of a new environmental culture among employees who will also bring that culture to their homes, with their friends, and with their social networks, ultimately fostering broader sustainability efforts.  

How green a company is can be likened to the question of how compliant it is. These are the daily challenges I face when being at the table or in any forum to ensure that the commitment comes from the top to help me as allies to set the tone and walk the talk, with real and tangible outcomes.