Promoting CSR procurement with suppliers

Unveiling "Procurement Policy" and "CSR Procurement Standards"

To share a mutual understanding about CSR procurement with parts and materials suppliers, the Brother Group put its "Procurement Policy" and "CSR Procurement Standards" on the website in May 2008. The Brother Group has been committed to green procurement practices since FY 2001, when it started giving priority to purchasing environmentally friendly parts and materials. The new policy and standards have been expanded to cover human rights and labor, employees' health and safety, fair trade and ethics, product quality and safety, information security, social contributions, and other aspects. Meanwhile, the Brother Group organizes CSR procurement explanatory meetings and CSR workshops to assist suppliers with their CSR activities.

Organizing CSR workshops for suppliers in Malaysia and Vietnam in FY 2009

CSR workshop in Malaysia

CSR workshop in Vietnam

As part of efforts to promote CSR procurement, its explanatory meetings were held for suppliers at Brother Industries Technology (M) SDN. BHD. and Brother Industries (Vietnam) Ltd. in November 2008. Based on the questionnaire conduced in the meetings, in January 2009 on-site inspections were performed at some of the suppliers to confirm the status of their legal compliance. In addition to the explanatory meetings, in September 2009, CSR workshops were held to promote a better understanding of CSR among the suppliers. This is the third attempt following Brother Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd. and Zhuhai Brother Industries, Co., Ltd., and these workshops were attended by about 30 representatives from major suppliers to Brother Industries Technology (M) SDN. BHD. and Brother Industries (Vietnam) Ltd.

The CSR workshops were intended to present the Brother Group's CSR procurement standards, and to request suppliers to comply with the standards and to work on CSR activities. The workshops began with explanations of Brother's CSR activities and CSR procurement standards, followed by discussions on CSR challenges faced by respective suppliers. At the end of the workshops, participants were asked to fill in CSR questionnaires and CSR activity reports. Comments like "CSR is essential for companies to stay in business" showed that the participants recognize the importance of CSR activities.

However, the participants of this time CSR workshops　are only a part of all suppliers, it is indispensable to drive more suppliers to get involved into the activities. We are also planning to use suppliers' CSR activities as an example with their permissions in order to help other suppliers address their CSR challenges.

Organizing CSR procurement explanatory meetings and CSR workshops in China in FY 2008

CSR procurement explanatory meeting in Zhuhai

In FY 2007, CSR procurement explanatory meetings were held in Shenzhen, China, and were attended by representatives from 250 suppliers. In FY 2008, the first CSR workshops were held where representatives from about 40 suppliers gave presentations on their CSR activities and exchanged views about ways to address major issues. In FY 2008, CSR procurement explanatory meetings were held in Zhuhai and Shanghai, China.

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

Comments from suppliers

	Improving reputation in the society
	VS Industry Vietnam Joint Stock Company Mr. William Lee

Brother Corporate Social Responsibility introduction had brought significant impact to us. We believe this CSR principles and practice, will help us to make operational efficiency gain, enhance relationship with communities, improve employer - employee relationship as well as reputation in the society. Our operation in Vietnam is expanding and growing. Our aim is to become the leading plastic injection moulding & finishing company in Vietnam .The Brother CSR management system will guide our company to growth together with our team member and our business associate, in line with our policy to serve our customer - "To deliver the highest quality product and services"

	Working with a strong sense of ethics
	Ojitex Haiphong Co.,Ltd. Mr. Yoshiya Takasato

The Oji Paper Group has instituted a Code of Conduct to ensure that it operates with (i) awareness as a corporate citizen and (ii) a strong sense of ethics to gain public trust. The guiding principles include: 1. Compliance with the law 2. Harmony with the environment (forest recycling and paper recycling) 3. Supply of safe, useful products and services 4. Social contribution activities 5. Coexistence with the international community (respecting cultures and customs of respective countries and contributing to local development in overseas operations) 6. Achievement of employee satisfaction In Vietnam, all employees work on CSR activities as a team to bring greater satisfaction and security to each customer.

	Helping us upgrade CSR activities
	TechnoPLAS (HK) Limited Mr. Masakazu Kawamura

CSR can be defined as corporate efforts to fulfill economic, environmental, and social responsibilities to stakeholders. Companies are thus expected to meet the needs of stakeholders while ensuring quality and profit. TechnoPLAS has been committed to building a production framework for quality manufacturing that considers quality, cost, and delivery time. An emerging issue is how to increase the retention of Chinese employees. We will review ways to enhance employee satisfaction in the workplace through personnel management reflecting local cultures and practices. I am confident that being part of Brother Group’s CSR procurement efforts will help us upgrade our CSR activities.

	CSR activities - the key to corporate survival
	TOMIYAMA TECH LTD. Mr. Tsukasa Murakami

"Growing in partnership with our customers" "Achieving both corporate and individual development" "Striving to improve employees’ standard of living" "Contributing to the development of China and the local community" These are the guiding principles of the corporate management of TOMIYAMA TECH. The Brother Group’s CSR workshop was an excellent opportunity to learn from many other suppliers, and motivated us to step up efforts to fulfill our guiding principles. Recognizing that CSR activities are the key to corporate survival, we will work with all the employees and suppliers to expand the CSR network.

 past activities

	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".