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Sustainable Lab Partners with Iwate Bank

Introduction

Sustainable Lab Inc., based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, is proud to announce a new partnership with Iwate Bank and the Iwate Prefecture Credit Guarantee Association. Starting from May 7, 2026, the collaboration will involve utilizing the company's innovative non-financial data management system, TERRAST for Management, in connection with the Iwate Bank's "Iwagin Sustainable Support Loan" initiative. This initiative aims to assist local corporate entities in visualizing their non-financial data effectively.

Background

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on the importance of utilizing non-financial information, specifically related to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, during financing assessments conducted by financial institutions. The combined efforts of Iwate Bank and the Iwate Prefecture Credit Guarantee Association in establishing the Iwagin Sustainable Support Loan serve to provide a financing scheme for businesses operating sustainably in Iwate Prefecture, based on the provision of non-financial data in line with sustainability disclosure standards.

Sustainable Lab aims to bolster sustainable management among regional companies by providing opportunities for loan-using corporations to utilize TERRAST for Management, thereby visualizing their ESG and sustainability management status.

Overview of Iwagin Sustainable Support Loan

Loan Eligibility Criteria

1. Corporations must provide non-financial data based on sustainability disclosure standards as set by the Sustainability Data Standardization Organization (SDSC) and commit to sustainable management practices.
2. Companies must have a positive operating profit (before depreciation) according to their most recent financial statements.
3. Firms must be eligible for guarantees from the Iwate Prefecture Credit Guarantee Association.

Use of Funds

The funds may be used for operational costs and capital expenditures.

Loan Amount

Loans range from 1 million yen to 200 million yen.

Loan Duration

• - Repayment via Installments: 10 years for operational loans (with a grace period of up to 1 year); 15 years for capital expenditures (with a grace period of up to 2 years).
• - Lump-Sum Repayment: Both operational and capital expenditure loans can be repaid within 5 years.

Interest Rate

The interest rate will be determined by the bank's prescribed rates (variable).

Guarantee Fee Rates

The guarantee fee ranges from 0.41% to 1.71% per annum as set by the Iwate Prefecture Credit Guarantee Association, with a notable 10% discount on usual guarantee fees available for select participating banks.

For more details, please visit the official Iwate Bank website: Iwate Bank Sustainable Loans

Our Role

Sustainable Lab’s non-financial data management system, TERRAST for Management, plays a crucial role in visualizing the sustainable efforts of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), facilitating the collection, visualization, and analysis of ESG and non-financial data.

Features of TERRAST for Management

• - Comprehensive collection, entry, and analysis of ESG and non-financial data.
• - Scoring based on standardized metrics (SDSC criteria).
• - Provision of quantitative evaluation materials for loan assessments.
• - Automatic generation of simple and detailed reports.
• - Utilization for assessments and feedback from companies.

By using TERRAST for Management, clients can transform what was previously a qualitative approach to sustainability evaluation into a data-driven visualization. The generated reports will be referenced by Iwate Bank and the Iwate Prefecture Credit Guarantee Association to guide companies toward enhancing their sustainability operations.

Significance and Future Outlook

1. Promoting Management Improvement Through Scoring: Reports will help visualize strengths and weaknesses, leading to concrete improvements in sustainable management.
2. Enhanced Dialogues Through Non-Financial Visualization: Organized non-financial data will foster constructive discussions with financial institutions.
3. Advanced Sustainable Finance: By promoting sustainable finance through cooperation with guarantee associations, we contribute to enhancing the sustainability of the regional economy.

Sustainable Lab is committed to furthering the sophistication of SMEs' sustainable operations by leveraging collaborations with financial institutions, local governments, and guarantee organizations, accelerating the social implementation of sustainable finance.

For inquiries, please visit our contact page: Contact Us

About the TERRAST Series

1. TERRAST: A non-financial data bank offering the most comprehensive ESG data for firms and investors in Japan, enabling industry comparisons and benchmark analyses.
2. TERRAST for Management: Facilitates the collection and management of non-financial data for companies seeking loans, with scoring and portfolio analysis capabilities.
3. TERRAST powered by Uniqus: A tool designed to assist in complying with regulations such as CSRD (ESRS) and SSBJ standards, overseeing everything from data collection to disclosure creation.
4. AI-Friendly Sustainability Disclosure Support: Ensures that disclosures are designed appropriately for AI access, assessing and improving existing disclosures and planning for future ones.

Sustainable Lab Inc. is an ESG tech company dedicated to implementing sustainable management through data, striving to connect social and environmental contributions with economic benefits seamlessly. For more information about our company, please visit Sustainable Lab.