Kirin Holdings Recognized By The PRIDE Index As An LGBTQ+-friendly Workplace, Receiving Gold Status For The Eighth Year In A Row

TOKYO, November 15, 2024 –Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (Kirin Holdings) along with subsidiaries Kirin Brewery Company, Limited, Kirin Beverage Company, Limited, and Mercian Corporation, jointly received a gold rating – the highest ranking – in the PRIDE Index*1for its LGBTQ+-friendly workplace policies.
*1: A Japanese rating index for LGBTQ+ efforts by companies and other organizations, eveloped in 2016 by work with Pride, a general incorporated association that supports the promotion and establishment of LGBTQ+ diversity management.

The PRIDE Index recognizes LGBTQ+-friendly policies in five categories: Policy (declaration of action), Representation (LGBTQ+ community), Inspiration (educational activities), Development (human resource systems/programs), and Engagement/Empowerment (social contribution/public relations activities) and awards one of three levels overall: gold, silver, or bronze.

The Kirin Group has taken steps to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues through messages from management to all employees, human rights training, efforts to promote understanding among hiring interviewers, and the establishment of an external consultation service.

LGBTQ+-friendly Workplace Initiatives

In July 2017, Kirin Holdings revised its compliance guidelines to stipulate a code of conduct for employees stating that LGBTQ+ sexual orientation and gender identity, along with gender, age, and nationality, will not cause unfair discrimination or damage individual dignity. In 2018, we established a Human Rights Policy*2 to promote a better understanding of the various human rights issues involved in the countries in which the Kirin Group operates and declared that it will deepen its understanding of the various human rights issues involved and take appropriate action in each of the countries in which the Kirin Group does business. The Kirin Group has been making efforts to revise various internal systems, such as congratulatory and condolence leave, allowances, and company housing systems, which were previously intended for legal spouses and relatives, to allow same-sex marriages and de facto marriages to be used in the same manner as legal marriages at Group companies.
*2 Please refer to the Kirin Group Human Rights Policy and Strategy here: Kirin Group Human Rights Policy

In 2019, we formulated our long-term management concept, “Kirin Group Vision 2027” (KV2027), which calls for us to become “a global leader in CSV, creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals.” In January 2023, Kirin Holdings formulated the Kirin Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan to create an environment in which diverse human resources can maximize their abilities, including the LGBTQ+ community, and to accelerate innovation.*4
The Kirin Group will continue to promote initiatives that respect the human rights of all stakeholders in accordance with the Kirin Group Human Rights Policy.
*3 Abbreviation for Creating Shared Value. combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.
*4 "Kirin Group Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan" released on January 31, 2023 (Japanese)

About Kirin Holdings

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited is an international company that operates in the Food & Beverages domain (Food & Beverages businesses), Pharmaceuticals domain (Pharmaceuticals businesses), and Health Science domain (Health Science business), both in Japan and across the globe.

Kirin Holdings can trace its roots to Japan Brewery which was established in 1885. Japan Brewery became Kirin Brewery in 1907. Since then, the company expanded its business with fermentation and biotechnology as its core technologies, and entered the pharmaceutical business in the 1980s, all of which continue to be global growth centers. In 2007, Kirin Holdings was established as a pure holding company and is currently focusing on boosting its Health Science domain.

Under the Kirin Group Vision 2027 (KV 2027), a long-term management plan launched in 2019, the Kirin Group aims to become “A global leader in CSV* creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals.” Going forward, the Kirin Group will continue to leverage its strengths to create both social and economic value through its businesses, with the aim of achieving sustainable growth in corporate value.