We learned about Fujitsu’s regeneration strategy in development – see The Regenerative Enterprise: A New Sustainable Enterprise – and decided to follow up. This interview was conducted with Hiroshi Nishikawa, senior director of technology vision, and Cristiano Bellucci, technology vision strategist.
How does Fujitsu define its regeneration strategy, and what are its core objectives?
We live in a time which requires, in fact, demands Regeneration.
Reducing CO2 emissions is not enough. We need to do more than sustainability. That’s the reason Fujitsu set its vision of “being a technology company that realizes net positive through digital services.” We must advance people’s well-being – and technology must facilitate this.
Fujitsu’s regeneration strategy follows this vision. We set the mid-term-plan in 2023 and set three materiality challenges: 1) solve global environmental challenges, 2) improve people’s well-being, and 3) develop a digital society.
To collaborate with stakeholders to achieve this, we publish our technology and service vision. We propose the future of the enterprise is regeneration. A “regenerative enterprise” model fosters sustainable business growth and a healthy planet. Our core objective is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. We introduce the concept of regenerative enterprise and how technology enables this transformation into a regenerative enterprise.
Can you elaborate on how the Fujitsu Uvance initiative supports your sustainability goals?
The target year for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is 2030. At Fujitsu, the future we envision aligns with the SDGs—a sustainable society where no one is left behind. It’s a world where people, regions, organizations and things are connected and where innovation thrives.
However, in the face of climate change, cybercrime, poverty, and human rights issues, the challenges facing the world have become increasingly complex—no single organization or industry can confront them all. Building an ecosystem that promotes greater collaboration between governments, companies and individuals is now more urgent than ever.
Fujitsu Uvance is a solution designed to help customers improve their businesses and solve societal issues. By combining our many years of experience in advanced technologies with our expertise in diverse industries, we’re using data to connect disparate processes across sectors. Activating cross-industry collaboration will drive previously unimaginable approaches and insights.
Through this connective approach of intersectional solutions and services, we’re working with you to accelerate sustainability transformation.
Combining the words “Universal” and “Advance,” Uvance is a value-added set of business solutions that address societal issues and cross-industry challenges. It consists of seven key focus areas underpinned by five key technologies to support them.
Can you give us an example?
Of course – tex-tracer is a supply chain transparency platform which gives a brand an end-to-end line of sight into a product’s journey and footprint, from material source to retail. Combining this data with country risk indicators empowers you to make educated decisions on reducing scope 3 emissions and improving social standards. Customers of the brand can see who made their clothes, how they are made, and what they are made of, by scanning an on-product QR-code or selecting a webshop plug-in. Thus – verified transparency builds brand trust and increases customer engagement.
What role does sustainability play in Fujitsu’s broader corporate vision and purpose?
Our purpose states: “to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation,” and our vision is “being a technology company that realizes net positive through digital services.” Both our purpose and vision embed sustainability in our organization. In addition, we install sustainability in our management; our Sustainability Management Committee since 1993, aligns our objectives with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
What specific steps has Fujitsu taken to align its operations with sustainability and circular economy principles?
Through the committees, we set our targets: zero CO2 emissions within the Group by FY2030 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by FY2040. We all set Global Responsible Business Goals (GRB Goals) every year for the following topics.
- Human rights and DEI
- Well-being
- Environment
- Compliance
- Supply chain
- Community
In the current mid-term plan, Fujitsu set non-financial KPIs as follows.
- Environment: 50% reduction of Fujitsu group CO2 emission in Scope 1&2, 12.5% for Scope 3.
- Customer: NPS +20
- Productivity: +40%
- People: employee engagement from 69 to 75, Ration of female managers from 14% to 20%
How is Fujitsu leveraging technologies like AI, blockchain, and digital twins to enhance sustainability efforts across industries?
In the Fujitsu Technology and Service Vision 2024, we introduce our technology vision how technology brings value to environment, society and well-being. You see our technology collaboration with academia and enterprises using technology such as AI, HPC, and digital twin.
We see technology creating regenerative value:
- Environment: the fusion of AI and other technologies to accelerate the reduction of CO2 emissions.
- Economy: digital twin and blockchain technologies to create a digital society and regenerate the economy.
- Well-being: AI, computing and networking technologies to realize healthcare innovation and inclusive services – regenerating people’s wel-being
In addition, we commercialize technology to deliver sustainability solutions to customers. Fujitsu works with partners (e.g. the Japanese Ministry of Environment, IHI Corporation) to create a CO2 free, circular society based on ESG management platform. Digital Twins developed in Fujitsu’s labs is used in social infrastructure to monitor and prevent natural disasters.Fujitsu’s labs work on Genomic AI to use trustable and explainable AI in genomic medicine and cancer treatment.
Can you share examples of how your supply chain innovations, such as the “Track and Trust” platform, have improved transparency and efficiency?
The Track and Trust platform enhances supply chain transparency and efficiency by automating contract processes and providing tamper-proof data. This improves reliability, reduces costs, and increases visibility into trading processes.
We metioned tex.tracer: a supply chain transparency platform for the fashion industry which visualizes supply-chain data. Brands, retailers, and consumers can track their garment’s supply chain journey via a QR code. The ultimate goal is to extend the life cycle of clothing – and make it as long as possible.
Another example is optimizing EV charging infrastructure to decarbonize India’s trucking industry. Thanks to the collaboration between the private and public sectors, we were able to reduce 60% of carbon dioxide emissions, 13% of fuel costs, and 70% in charging time.
How do you integrate sustainability into your corporate culture, and how are employees engaged in this transformation?
Fujitsu fosters a culture of sustainability through 17 global virtual channels where employees collaborate on initiatives addressing various social and environmental challenges. Employees collect ideas and work together to reduce poverty and hunger; improve well-being and water quality; reduce inequality; and improve education, climate, peace, and justice. We engage employees through webinars, competitions, and collaborative projects, fostering a sense of ownership and driving innovation.
What internal changes have been made to ensure alignment with sustainability goals, such as in KPIs or leadership training?
Over the years, new KPIs have been introduced to improve specific sustainability goals.
The Fujitsu Group has reassessed its social role in light of the escalating global commitment to achieving carbon neutrality. The Group has elected to fast-track its previous commitment to achieve “zero CO2 emissions within the Group by FY2050”, instead bringing forward the committed Vision by 20 years to FY2030. The Group has set the additional target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions throughout the value chain by 2040.
We also prioritize human dignity and rights, increasing female leadership representation and focusing on workplace safety.
Fujitsu emphasizes collaboration in achieving circularity. How are you working with partners, governments, and other stakeholders to accelerate change?
Fujitsu actively participates in industry consortia like Catena-X (automotive) and CIRPASS 2 (Digital Product Passports for various sectors), collaborating with partners, governments, and other stakeholders to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
Fujitsu works with partners aiming for net-zero through visualization and data linkage of CO2 emissions. This is the goal of the WBCSD PACT Implementation program.
Our 2024 Fujitsu SX Survey shows that organizations still struggle to translate enthusiasm into real results. Of the executives surveyed, 70% agree that sustainability is now their top business priority; this is 13 percentage points higher than last year. Despite this recognition, only a small minority (26%) of organizations report tangible outcomes from their sustainability strategies. We can help change that.
What challenges has Fujitsu faced in advancing its regeneration strategy, and how have these been addressed?
Balancing profitability and sustainability remains a key challenge. Demonstrating a clear Return on Investment for sustainability technologies like AI is crucial. Another challenge is to maintain agility in a rapidly changing market: Fujitsu is focusing on improving its operational efficiency and fostering a culture of innovation within its large organization.
Looking ahead, what milestones does Fujitsu aim to achieve in its regeneration strategy over the next five years?
The first milestone for Fujitsu is to reach the financial and non-financial target in the fiscal year 2025. Fujitsu is preparing the next mid-term-strategy for the fiscal year 2026 to 2028. These are important milestone to realize our vision and our commitment to be carbon neutral.
To achieve these KPIs and long-term goals, we continue strengthen Fujitsu Uvance offerings as well as five key technologies.
How do you see technologies evolving to further support sustainability transformation in the long term?
Fujitsu aims to further develop and deploy technologies like Genomic AI for healthcare advancements and social digital twins for disaster prevention and crime reduction. We will leverage quantum computing to enhance AI and data modeling for improved solutions to social challenges. Our goal is to translate lab innovations into tangible improvements in quality of life.
Technology is paramount to a sustainable future. A robust ecosystem—connecting organizations, universities, research institutions, and startups—is essential for developing, distributing, and making sustainability accessible and valuable globally.
Thanks so much for your time. We look forward to seeing the net-positive impact of Fujitsu’s regenerative strategies on the world.
INTERVIEW by Christian Sarkar