Integrity in Corporate Activities
- Corporate Governance
- Risk Management and Compliance
- RICOH Quality
- Maintenance Services
- Human-friendly Products and Services
- CSR throughout Our Supply Chain
- Building New Sustainable Bases
Ricoh Group basic policy in procurement activities
The Ricoh Group, along with suppliers, aims to discharge its social responsibility in the supply chain, by conducting purchase activities on the basis of the following policy: 1) Coexistence and co-prosperity with suppliers by establishing long-term reliable relationships and cooperation, 2) Fairness of transactions (comprehensive evaluation of suppliers based on their participation in corporate social responsibility activities on the basis of economic rationality), 3) Establishment of an environmental management system and reduction of environmental impact through purchasing environment-friendly products, 4) Compliance with the law and 5) Respect for social ethics.
Ricoh Group basic policy in purchasing activities
Ricoh Group Supplier Code of Conduct
In January 2006, the Ricoh Group established the Ricoh Group Supplier Code of Conduct for our suppliers to make efforts to aim at a better society and global environment and sustainable development of society. All of our suppliers are required to comply with this code of conduct. The Supplier Code of Conduct includes clauses on human rights such as prevention of child labor and environmental conservation.
Ricoh Group Supplier Code of Conduct (18k)
Green procurement in partnership with suppliers
The Ricoh Group purchases materials and parts used to manufacture products in line with Green Procurement Standards. As part of our efforts to help suppliers promote environmental protection, we have developed Environmental Management System (EMS) Guidelines and Chemical Substance Management System (CMS) Guidelines to help the suppliers establish their own EMS and CMS Guidelines in line with those of the Ricoh Group. These guidelines are used to provide suppliers with training and education as well as support in operating the management systems.
Conflict Minerals Issue
The Ricoh Group views the Conflict Minerals Issue*1as an important CSR issue, and is constantly working to improve transparency in the supply chain together with its business partners, also ensuring responsible mineral sourcing practices.
- *1The issue that certain minerals mining or trading finances armed groups and fosters conflicts, or closely related to human rights abuses, labor issues or environmental destruction, etc.
Ricoh Responds to Conflict Minerals related rules of the U.S.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted the final rule pursuant to Section 1502 of Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, called Conflict Minerals provision, on August 22nd, 2012. The rule requires listed companies, etc., to disclose and report to the SEC about the use of conflict minerals *2 originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo or adjoining countries in their products.
Ricoh, as a member company of the "Responsible Minerals Trade Working Group", launched in May 2012 by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), is participating in a Working Group for the entire global supply chain. Activities of the working group include compliance with the rule, all part of Ricoh's commitment as a good global citizen.
- *2columbite-tantalite, cassiterite, gold, wolframite or their derivatives. Primary derivatives are tantalum, tin and tungsten
Promotion of efforts to address child labor issues
Child labor is one of the priority issues of the Ricoh Group's TRM (total risk management) efforts, and relevant departments have been engaged in various projects to address child labor issues. The Ricoh Group has already surveyed the compliance with laws that prohibit child labor by manufacturing sites in Japan and abroad. The survey results have confirmed that there have been no violations. The self-assessment results from supplier companies have also confirmed that there have been no reports of child labor violations. We will continue to monitor child labor.
Supplier CSR Self-Assessment System
The Ricoh Group Supplier Code of Conduct contains CSR-related standards, including environmental conservation and regulations regarding human rights such as the prohibition of child labor. We request suppliers to comply with these standards in their business activities. We have developed the Supplier Code of Conduct Guidebook and distribute it to suppliers to help them better understand the necessity of compliance with the Code of Conduct. In 2009, we held an explanatory meeting on the Ricoh Group's CSR activities, inviting all major suppliers in Japan to attend, with the aim of raising their awareness of the importance of making efforts in the CSR area and improving their understanding of the Code of Conduct in order to share our values.
Also in 2009, a CSR Self-Assessment System for monitoring the level of compliance with the Supplier Code of Conduct was introduced. Implementation of the system was initiated in Japan and has gradually been expanded to other countries. Based on assessment results reported to the Ricoh Group, activities needing to be improved are identified, results are fed back to the suppliers and advice and support necessary to further improve their activities are provided. The CSR Self-Assessment System has been applied to local suppliers in China since 2010 and is planned to be introduced to Thailand in 2013. The system helps suppliers to implement the PDCA cycle by themselves, and this will eventually enable them to meet society's needs and requests.
Application of the self-assessment system to Chinese legal systems and circumstances to be taken into consideration
Isao Inoue
Procurement Control Center
Global Procurement Division
Ricoh co., Ltd.
An explanatory meeting to improve suppliers' understanding of the Ricoh Group Supplier Code of Conduct and to seek their cooperation in self-assessment and other CSR activities was held in China in 2010, with invitations sent to 50 suppliers at five major production sites. Although issues related to excessive working hours and intellectual property rights have been reported sporadically in China, the country lags behind in fostering people's awareness of the development of legal systems and compliance with laws and regulations. Since we were concerned that due to the circumstances described above, merely translating the guidebooks into Chinese would fail to convey the true intended meaning, we prepared guidebooks exclusively for Chinese companies. Regarding actual implementation of the guidebooks in China, some items are difficult for Chinese companies to interpret correctly. However, the Ricoh Group has been working together with Chinese companies to aid them in establishing both environmental management systems and chemical substance management systems, and based on this experience, they have been actively introducing such self-assessment systems. Our goal is to grow together with our suppliers, placing emphasis on establishing and maintaining trusting relationships with them.
- Corporate Governance |
- Risk Management and Compliance |
- RICOH Quality |
- Maintenance Services
- Human-friendly Products and Services |
- CSR throughout Our Supply Chain |
- Building New Sustainable Bases
