Strategic Focus: Understanding ESG & Sustainability Regulations And Reporting In Japan
Access this research
Access all Corporate Sustainability Leaders content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report
Need help or have a question about this report? Contact us for assistance
Executive Summary
Sustainability is a critical consideration in Japan, with economic, social and geographical factors at play. The country frequently finds itself in the path of extreme weather and geological events. Its history of product innovation and – more recently – competition in a global marketplace have significantly contributed to the development of its macroeconomic strategy and social policy. Bringing each of these factors together, Japan’s government is focused on building a regulatory landscape that promotes resilience and transparency. This report provides executives with an overview of Japan’s sustainability landscape and how they can prepare for entering its markets.Historical influences and current necessities drive Japan’s ESG and sustainability agenda
Transparency and investor demand drive regulatory focus on resilience and opportunity
Firms in Japan should prepare themselves for the opportunities on offer
Figure 1. Japan’s key sustainability visions, policies and regulations
Figure 2. Timeline of circular economy models in Japan
Figure 3. Changes in Japan’s Corporate Governance Code
About the Authors
Callum Millard
Analyst
Callum is an Analyst at Verdantix, helping firms navigate the evolving ESG, sustainability, product innovation and product stewardship landscapes, to drive value creation and ...
View Profile
Kim Knickle
Research Director
Kim Knickle is a Research Director at Verdantix, bringing more than two decades of analyst experience to the evolving world of sustainability. Her current research spans ESG a...
View ProfileOther related content
Most sustainability leaders aren't using AI to its full potential. Concerns about data quality, regulatory risk, and potential inaccuracies mean AI is still widely seen as a compli...
Upcoming / 31 March, 2026
Industrial firms around the world are being hammered by operational dislocations and disruptions. Labour shortages, supply chain chokepoints, fast-changing import tariffs, rapid sh...
Upcoming / 25 March, 2026
Just seven weeks into 2026, and European sustainable finance supervision has already delivered two important signals to the market. First, the European Central Bank has fined Cré...
23 February, 2026
Energy price volatility, grid instability and geopolitical risk are exposing how vulnerable many organisations’ energy strategies really are. Energy, procurement, operations and su...
Upcoming / 12 March, 2026
On January 27, 2026, New York based Gigablue announced it had raised $20 million – its first close of a Series A funding round – to scale its ocean-based carbon removal operations....
05 February, 2026
Over 80% of executives now expect sustainability investments to demonstrate measurable financial returns. Yet many sustainability teams still struggle to quantify the ROI of sustai...
04 March, 2026