Ajinomoto Group’s Commitment at Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, Tokyo

As a member of the Workforce Nutrition Alliance, the Ajinomoto Group announced at the Nutrition for Growth Summit 2021 two specific targets for its workforce as components of its Commitment to Nutrition: 

• Improve employee health through four pillars: providing healthy meals, nutrition education, health check-ups, and maternity leave. 
• Provide nutrition education to a total of 100,000 employees by 2025.

Overview of Progress

Challenges Faced and Lessons Learnt

The Ajinomoto Group operates in countries around the world and recognized that a one-size-fits-all approach to workforce nutrition would not work. Instead, it encourages each Ajinomoto Group company to develop workforce nutrition improvement initiatives that take into account the local culture, needs and regulations in each country.

• Working closely with WNA, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. established self-assessment guidelines that allow each company to optimise and tailor its assessment to the specific condition of each workplace. Following the self-assessment process, best practices are shared back with companies, and directions are prepared to help companies plan and work with internal and external partners to deliver on the workforce nutrition commitments in a way that works for them.
• Nutrition education is tailored to the employees in each company to ensure it is appropriate and relevant. This includes a variety of formats like nutrition education seminars, e-learning sessions or distribution of newsletters, etc. using localised original materials or template materials provided by the Ajinomoto Group’s Japan headquarters.

While initiatives such as nutrition education and providing healthy meals at work are important, the Ajinomoto Group believes that the key to bringing about behavioural change is for employees to understand their own health status. The Ajinomoto Group has long recognised the importance of prevention based on its experience conducting health checkups at its headquarters in Japan and has been implementing measures to support employee self-care at its international companies, led by each company in accordance with the laws, culture and circumstances of each country, company and its employees.

By offering healthy meals, nutrition education, health check-ups, and seminars, the company has fostered a culture of wellness and self-care. These initiatives empower employees to understand health issues, reflect on their wellbeing, and take proactive measures to maintain healthy lifestyles. In a company survey, approximately 70% of employees said that the Ajinomoto Group’s health initiatives made them think about behavioral changes and take action. Employees feel supported in their health and well-being, leading to increased job satisfaction and productivity.

This positive correlation between employee health and Ajinomoto Group Creating Shared Value (ASV) underscores the value of its initiatives, creating a virtuous cycle of social and economic benefits. By prioritizing workforce nutrition and enhancing employees’ nutrition literacy, the Ajinomoto Group is able to equip them to collaborate with partners externally on health and nutrition topics, thereby contributing to its broader mission of enhancing global wellness.

Support from the Workforce Nutrition Alliance (WNA)

The Ajinomoto Group has been using the Workforce Nutrition Alliance’s scorecard to assess a baseline for its initiatives and provide a snapshot that helps identify areas for improvement. In 2023, 17 companies conducted annual self-assessments using the scorecard. By monitoring progress and making data-informed decisions, the company can continually refine its initiatives to better meet set goals. The scorecard provides visibility into the company’s efforts, ensuring that its workforce nutrition programs are aligned with long-term objectives and can be adapted as needed to remain effective.

The Ajinomoto Group’s purpose is to contribute to the wellbeing of all human beings, our society and our planet with “AminoScience”. The company aims to help extend the healthy life expectancy of one billion people by 2030 and help resolve the food and health challenges associated with dietary habits and aging. The company believes that the wellbeing of its employees is fundamental to this purpose.

By joining the Workforce Nutrition Alliance and registering its commitment at the Nutrition for Growth Summit 2021, the company has been able to tangibly demonstrate to its employees its company-wide dedication to workforce nutrition.