Brother's Social Responsibilities

Promoting CSR procurement with suppliers

Raising awareness via explanatory meetings and workshops

CSR procurement explanatory meeting in Zhuhai

In order to share a common understanding of CSR procurement with parts and materials suppliers, the Brother Group posted its "Procurement Policy" and "CSR Procurement Standards" on the group's website in May 2008. This information expanded the green procurement practices, that since FY2001, have prioritized procuring environmentally friendly parts and materials. This information covers human rights, labor, health and safety, fair trade and ethics, quality and safety, information security, and social contributions.

Moreover, the Brother Group added its support to supplier efforts to promote CSR activities by staging CSR Procurement Explanatory Meetings and CSR Workshops. Representatives from 250 suppliers attended the CSR Procurement Explanatory Meetings held in FY2007 in Shenzhen, China. In FY2008, CSR Workshops were held for about 40 of those suppliers, with everyone presenting examples of their CSR activities and sharing opinions on ways to deal with major issues.

Also, in FY2008, CSR Procurement Explanatory Meetings were held in Zhuhai and Shanghai, China, Vietnam and Malaysia. Brother wants to continue these kinds of awareness activities as a part of building trust and relations with suppliers.

<Procurement policy>

•The Brother Group acts fairly with all suppliers.
•The Brother Group respects the rules and spirit of laws in all countries and regions where we operate, and builds strong, respectful working relationships with suppliers for mutual growth.
•The Brother Group promotes environmentally friendly "green procurement," and reduces impact on the environment through the lifecycle of its products.
•The Brother Group places our customers first everywhere, every time, while remaining committed to delivering high quality products and services at reasonable costs.

<CSR procurement standards>

The Brother Group procures products and services from business partners that:

•respect fundamental human rights of all people, and do not enforce unfair labor practices and illegal labor of children.
•ensure the safety and health of employees and act to create a safe and comfortable working environment .
•take proactive measures to protect the global environment.
•respect the rules and spirit of laws, and act fairly with the highest integrity.
•work on building a framework for delivering safe, high quality products to customers.
•have a framework for managing information in place, and keep personal information and confidential information secure.
•make efforts to become a good corporate citizen, sharing our social, economic and cultural resources in all the communities.

Japanese version procurement policy and standards
Chinese version procurement policy and standards

Comments from suppliers

Contributing to society through "sincere" manufacturing

UMC Electronics Vietnam LTD.

Mr. Kazuhisa Takasu

Corporate social responsibility can take various forms, but we believe that CSR should be underpinned by social contributions through our main business of manufacturing. Our corporate motto is to "fully understand customers' needs, remain appreciative, deliver customer-oriented products, and make utmost efforts to that end." To fulfill our responsibilities to stakeholders, we will continue to contribute to society with our employees in Vietnam through "sincere" manufacturing.

CSR - a solid cornerstone that allows companies to achieve long-lasting growth

Shen Zhen Good Century Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Mr. Ricky Li

We believe that CSR is an effective tool to raise employees' awareness about the company's social responsibility, build a sophisticated corporate culture, give employees a sense that they are part of the company, and increase the sense of pride among employees. CSR activities eventually lay a solid cornerstone for achieving long-lasting growth of the company. Brother Group's CSR procurement system has motivated us to strengthen our corporate culture and to raise the CSR awareness further more, and has enabled us to identify issues that need to be addressed to become a leading company.

An efficient strategy will help to breakthrough global economic crisis

Central Label (Johor) SDN BHD

Ms. Esther Saw

It's glad most of the worldwide organisation are very concern and emphasis the importance of CSR, and continue to invest on this aspect even during this downstream period.
Although Central Label is a SMI company, we still acknowledge the value of CSR.
Towards this path, we need more effort to work with suppliers on environmental regulation awareness and compliance.
Besides, employees' training to further improve their understanding and knowledge of CSR also can't be negligent.
We believe an efficient strategy will help to breakthrough current global economic crisis and indirectly contribute to society and save the earth.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Ge-Shen Corporation Berhad

Mr. Melvin Wong Yee Keh

"To Strive For Breakthrough & Growth through Continual Improvement In Processes, System, People & Financial Stability", is our company mission.
We sincerely appreciate Brother for the CSR Management sharing with us. It makes us more aware and knowledgeable of our responsibility and commitment to our business partners, employees, share holders, environment and society.
Technical knowledge and Chemical Substances Management sharing from Brother have benefited us and enables quality and eco-friendly products producing. It is also strengthening in business partnership indirectly.
Employees are our most valuable asset. We continue to provide them with equal opportunity to grow and satisfying working environment. We seek to continue to contribute in local community and global society developing.
We commit to strive and fulfill our responsibility to all above parties and "Towards Growing Together".

past activities

Utilizing the characteristics of each individual group company

Sansei Precision Company Ltd.

Mr. Koji Isomura

I always thought that I was fully aware of the importance of CSR and particularly compliance, but, the CSR Explanatory Meeting that I attended reminded me of the necessity of further corporate efforts. As a partner of the Brother Group, we want to utilize the characteristics of each of our group companies in showing concern for society, the environment and employees.

Focusing on human resource development

J-Right Fastener Manufacturer (Zhongshan) Co., Ltd

Ms. Zhouli

We are making efforts to become an excellent supplier for major corporations under the principles of "fair competition," "excellent quality" and "efficient services." Besides providing assurances for product quality and manufacturing environments, we comply with national and local laws and regulations, maximize welfare to provide for employees, eliminate discrimination, build appropriate workplace environments, and guarantee legal benefits for employees. We also focus on developing human resources in order to solidify the foundations of development under a new paradigm as well as improve the quality of our workforce and corporate culture through diverse training programs.

Contributing to both the local community and society

Juken Technology Limited

Mr. David Wong Keng Yin

It is a great honor to be a part of the Brother Group's CSR procurement program. Based on CSR management, we are working to provide employees with a better workplace and to serve society as better corporate citizens. Moreover, we constructively promote to improve welfare/benefits for employees and to nurture eco-consciousness and good business ethics among them, which leads to increase public welfare and thereby contribute to both the local community and society as a whole.

Aiming for a tripartite responsibility framework

Fulai Plastic Technology (Zhongshan) Co., Ltd.

Mr. Toshihiro Uchida

How can we build an effective CSR framework, and successfully promote the operational mechanisms of CSR? We feel it necessary to deal with this question from three aspects: society as a whole, companies, and individuals. I think it important to establish a tripartite responsibility framework with each of these three aspects in mind: building a good social environment, encouraging companies to take initiative, and building awareness among individuals for voluntary participation.