CJ ENM, MSCI ESG Rating Upgraded to 'AA'

CJ ENM announced on the 16th that it has achieved a comprehensive 'AA' rating, up one level from the previous year, in the 2025 ESG evaluation by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), a global ESG rating agency.
MSCI is one of the most reputable ESG rating agencies worldwide, and 'AA' is the second-highest rating among the total of seven levels. Companies that receive 'AAA' and 'AA' ratings are classified as global leader groups leading ESG management. CJ ENM has been on a rising trend for three consecutive years, recording 'BBB' in 2023, 'A' in 2024, and 'AA' this year.
This MSCI rating upgrade was effective due to systematic execution across all ESG areas, including human capital management and eco-friendly business activities. In particular, leading talent management systems, such as employee engagement surveys to identify organizational culture improvements and the operation of various opinion collection and official grievance handling channels, were major factors. Additionally, active efforts to participate in the ECP initiative and reduce carbon emissions also led to positive evaluations.
Since 2021, CJ ENM has been publishing ESG reports for the first time in the entertainment industry, consistently expanding communication with stakeholders and striving to build a sustainable ecosystem in the content and commerce industries. The recently released '2024 ESG Report' also introduced differentiated ESG practices and achievements across all areas of Environment (E), Social (S), and Governance (G).
In the Environment (E) area, efforts to establish eco-friendly production infrastructure were highlighted. As a participant in the ECP initiative, CJ ENM participated in the development of the 'Eco-friendly Content Production Guidelines' by the Korea Creative Content Agency in 2024 and the research on the 'Carbon Emission Calculator for Broadcasting and Video Content Production'. Additionally, CJ OnStyle was the first in the distribution industry to introduce 'Real Curved LED Media Wall' in all studios, reducing broadcast set waste and enhancing resource efficiency and production flexibility through the extended reality (XR) studio. These eco-friendly innovations have been evaluated to not only save energy and reduce carbon but also increase customer shopping satisfaction.
In the Social (S) area, excellent human capital management and win-win management activities were mainly introduced. CJ ENM operates various capacity enhancement training and organizational development programs for the continuous growth of employees and conducts annual human rights impact assessments tailored to each business unit to systematically manage human rights risks. Furthermore, through the 'CJ Oncubating' program, it has comprehensively supported the market development, marketing, and global expansion of promising small and medium-sized health and beauty brands, and strengthened the foundation for co-growth by supporting consumer-centered management (CCM) certification of partners.
In the Governance (G) area, a global-level compliance system was established based on the ISO 37301 certified compliance and ethical management system. CJ established the global supply chain ethics policy and partner code of conduct to promote the spread of ESG culture across the industry and laid the foundation for sustainable growth and competitiveness.
A CJ ENM representative explained, "We are leading the establishment of a virtuous cycle-based sustainability system that the entire industry can participate in by promoting ESG management that aligns with global standard guidelines," and added, "We will contribute to creating a more valuable world by presenting attractive 'content and brand' experiences based on sincere ESG activities."

solidkjy@fnnews.com Koo Ja-yoon Reporter