From “What you can do now” to “Start now”

In recent years, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become very familiar in the media. This is a global goal for the period from 2015 to 9, adopted at the United Nations Summit in September 2030 and listed in the 2016 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Consisting of 2030 goals and 17 targets to realize a sustainable world, the Japanese government has established the SDGs Promotion Head Office, and public and private initiatives have begun.
The Riviera Future Creation Project, which all of us at the Riviera Group work on every day, can be said to respond to the international SDGs movement. We sympathize with the vision expressed by the SDGs and would like to move forward together. Committing to the SDGs is truly an ``investment in the future'' that will ensure the continuation of your business to the next generation.

Initiatives aimed at the future did not start with the SDGs as an opportunity.
In 2006, we began full-scale operation of the Riviera Future Creation Project based on our corporate philosophy of ``Living a fulfilling life in harmony with nature.'' We have continued to carry out over 30 unique initiatives, including practicing ``recycling organic farming'' centered on growing organic vegetables in our own gardens, implementing marine programs, cleaning local public toilets, and environmental conservation activities.
Furthermore, since 69, Riviera Tokyo, which started as the Japanese restaurant Hakuunkaku and has been in business for 1981 years, has been holding annual events to support producers of traditional ingredients, such as ``Kaiseki with Wine'' and ``Let's Do All Seasons.'' The purpose of this event is to propose new food cultures and pass down the traditional food cultures of each region. This is a challenge I started at a time when pairing wine with kaiseki cuisine was considered taboo.

It is also meaningful to continue contributing to society. Unlike corporate CSR activities such as donations to charities and support for the arts, each activity of the Riviera Future Creation Project is continuous. We will not waver because we started this initiative to solve future problems that became apparent as we progressed with our business.
Both the ocean program and circular organic farming methods not only protect the global environment and improve society, but also increase our contribution to our customers and help Riviera grow. ``Sustainable development'' is where investments in the future come back to us.

To create a prosperous future where people and nature coexist, and to sustain our business into the future.
The three basic sustainability policies of the Riviera Future Creation Project are: ``Live a rich life in harmony with nature,'' ``For the future of everyone involved in the Riviera,'' and ``Good old things,'' as exemplified by the restoration of Riviera's flagship ``Cinara.'' We aim to improve our skills and pass them on to the next generation.
At the Riviera Group, we use every opportunity, including regular monthly general meetings where all employees attend to communicate messages between management and the workplace, to engage in company-wide study and discussion about the future of our company and society.　
In July and September 2018, we held training sessions and workshops for all employees with the cooperation of Masahiro Kawatai of Hakuhodo DY Holdings, a well-known opinion leader in Japan on the SDGs.
Through this shared philosophy and concrete activities, the Riviera Group will effectively and sustainably engage in social innovation in order to create a "sustainable" future.

Mr. Masahiro Kawatai is an “SDGs promoter” who was among the first in Japan to work on dissemination and awareness.
The Japanese translation of the SDGs logo was also done by the Hakuhodo team led by Kawatei. We spoke to Mr. Kawatei again.

-- Mr. Kawatei and Riviera Group's relationship began when a company executive attended a lecture hosted by Kanagawa Prefecture. Mr. Kawatei's passionate talk really struck me as ``SDGs overlap with Riviera's philosophy!''

Mr. Kawatei: I visit various companies and organizations about 50 to 60 times a year to give lectures and study sessions on the SDGs, and I get the impression that everyone at Riviera really resonates with me. Their responses during the training were very proactive, and it was clear that they are highly aware of issues such as environmental conservation and sustainability on a daily basis. This may be due to the nature of the job, but another reason is the attitude of top management. Chairman Watanabe experienced the SDGs exhibition at the United Nations Head Office in New York, but there are very few managers who take immediate action and go that far.

--I think that means that the SDGs match Watanabe's long-held beliefs.

Mr. Kawatei: What the SDGs expect from companies is commitment from management. In order to realize the ideals advocated by the SDGs, company participation is essential, but only with the understanding of top management can concrete work within the company proceed smoothly.

--Both the SDGs and the "Riviera Future Creation Project" are more than just philosophies. The reason all employees can commit to this is because it is an indicator that is directly linked to work.

Mr. Kawatei: When it comes to corporate social contribution activities, people working in the field tend to think that they have nothing to do with their work.
However, at a Riviera training session, one person told us about his experience: ``While operating a resort club member's boat, a plastic bag held by a member's guest was blown away by the wind and fell into the sea.'' I was there. Discussions based on everyday experiences deepen the concrete discussion on how to prevent situations, and change business behavior. This is what it means to commit to the SDGs.　
What the SDGs require of companies is not charity or volunteer social contribution. In the first place, we cannot force commercial companies to do something for the earth for free. The SDGs state that ``this is what we want to be in order to continue doing business in the future society.'' In other words, promoting the SDGs is part of business. It is an ``investment in the future'' that allows us to continue our business. In fact, in Europe and the US, commitment to the SDGs has become a major factor in investment decisions.
Education regarding the SDGs has also begun at schools. Children, who are our “future customers,” know about the SDGs.

-- Companies that are not conscious of SDGs risk losing future customers. Commitment to the SDGs is truly "creating the future."

Mr. Kawatei: It overlaps perfectly with the Riviera Future Creation Project.