Supply Chain Management
As a company handling a diverse range of products and services across the globe, ensuring that our supply chains operate sustainably is crucial to our business. In order to reflect this, MC outlines our standards in the Mitsubishi Corporation Policy for Sustainable Supply Chain Management and shares our fundamental position towards the themes addressed in the Policy, which include human rights, labor rights and environmental conservation.
Core Principles
Since its foundation, MC has adhered to Three Corporate Principles which have guided its corporate philosophy and which place considerable emphasis on the importance of its corporate social responsibilities. Moreover, our Corporate Standards of Conduct outlines our commitment to comply with all relevant laws and international regulations and to act responsibly with respect to the highest social standards. Our Corporate Standards of Conduct further elaborate on our commitment to preserving the global environment and pursuing sustainable development through all aspects of our business activities.
Mitsubishi Corporation Policy for Sustainable Supply Chain Management Updated: August 2018
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Policy
Mitsubishi Corporation (hereafter ‘MC’), as a global company with business in a wide variety of products and services, has established the Mitsubishi Corporation Policy for Sustainable Supply Chain Management, a policy which outlines MC's actions to address human rights, labor rights, and environmental issues in the supply chain. This policy serves to convey MC's fundamental perspective to its suppliers around the world, and expects all suppliers to understand, embrace and abide by it.
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(1) Forced Labor
Suppliers shall employ all employees of their own free will with no employee being subject to forced or bonded labor.
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(2) Child Labor
Suppliers shall not employ people under the minimum legal working age of the country in question.
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(3) Safe and healthy Working Environments
Suppliers shall work to provide employees with safe and healthy working environments.
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(4) Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
Suppliers shall respect the right of employees to associate freely and engage in collective bargaining as methods of negotiating working environments, wages and other matters with employers.
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(5) Discrimination
Suppliers shall strive to ensure equal opportunities in the work place and shall not engage in discrimination with regard to recruitment and employment practices.
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(6) Abuse and Harassment
Suppliers shall respect employees' human rights and must not tolerate abuse or any form of harassment.
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(7) Working Hours
Suppliers shall ensure that employees' working hours and use of leave entitlements are appropriately monitored and that excessive overtime labor is prohibited, so as not to infringe upon any statutory regulations.
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(8) Suitable Remuneration
Suppliers shall pay employees at least the statutory minimum wage, endeavor to pay at least the living wage, and shall not unreasonably reduce wages.
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(9) Anti-corruption
Suppliers shall engage in fair business practices, avoid corruption including bribery and extortion, and comply with applicable laws and regulations.
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(10) Environment
Suppliers shall endeavor to protect the environment and consider the impacts of their business activities on local communities and ecosystems, while paying special attention to energy use efficiency, climate change issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable use of resources, waste reduction, and air, soil and river pollution.
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(11) Information Disclosure
Suppliers shall disclose information with respect to the aforementioned matters in a timely and appropriate manner.
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Monitoring
MC conducts regular surveys of suppliers to monitor the status of their compliance with basic policies and to strengthen communication with suppliers.
Furthermore, MC visits suppliers to confirm the status of their activities when it determines that site visits are necessary based on the regions where suppliers are active and their business activities. -
Response to Compliance Violations
If a violation of the basic policies is confirmed, MC will demand that the relevant supplier implement corrective measures and will provide guidance and assistance to the supplier as necessary.
If MC determines that the supplier is unlikely to implement corrective measures even after providing continuous guidance and assistance, MC will review its business relationship with the relevant supplier.
MC has established procurement guidelines for certain products.
Timber and Paper Products Procurement Guidelines
Timber and Paper Products Procurement Guidelines (Updated 1/7/2020) (PDF:101KB)
Palm Oil Procurement Guidelines
Palm Oil Procurement Guidelines (Updated 1/13/2021) (PDF:78KB)
Surveys and Supplier Visits
In order to ensure that the principles outlined in our Policy for Sustainable Supply Chain Management are being upheld in our supply chains, we conduct regular surveys of our suppliers that operate in higher risk industries such as agriculture and apparel.
In 2019, we conducted our survey and received responses from approximately 300 companies in approximately 30 countries and regions. Respondents answered questions pertaining to matters such as establishment of internal regulations, regulatory and legal compliance; prohibition of forced labor, child labor and discrimination; environmental conservation; and information disclosure.
In addition to the supplier surveys, we also follow up with supplier site visits by MC employees.
These supplier surveys and site visits provide a valuable opportunity for MC to communicate our sustainability commitments to our suppliers. We will continue to engage and work in partnership with our suppliers going forward.
Supplier Visits
In the year ended March 2019, MC employees visited B. Foods Product International (BFI), a poultry processing plant in Thailand which supplies fresh and processed poultry products to MC subsidiary Foodlink. Interviews were conducted with employees and company management in order to cultivate a better understanding of BFI’s sustainability practices. MC was able to confirm that BFI has a mechanism in place to internally communicate Betagro Group’s sustainability policies and the CEO message which states that BFI must consider environmental and societal impacts when doing business, and also that these points are being implemented into operations.
Through the interviews, MC was also able to confirm that employee rights are respected throughout the employment process including recruitment, execution of employment contracts, training and management of working hours. On the environmental side, MC confirmed that BFI has set targets to reduce greenhouse gas and waste emissions, and that wastewater is treated through an appropriate treatment process.
During visits to BFI’s plants, MC confirmed that adequate measures are put in place to prevent knife-related accidents within the facility. For example, employees appropriately wore uniforms and protective equipment, floors were kept clean to prevent slips and falls, and signs were posted within the facility to communicate accident prevention measures to employees.
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Plant inspection -
Employees appropriately wearing uniforms and protective equipment and working in a safe and hygienic environment
Minor issues relating to health and safety were pointed out during the visit. For example, it was identified that some equipment in the facility were situated close to the ground and that there was a possibility of employees injuring their heads, so MC requested safety measures to be implemented accordingly. Promptly after the visit, BFI considered necessary improvement measures and set up a warning sign written in three languages in order for all employees to be able to understand.
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After improvement: Warning sign set up to avoid injuries
In the event of an accident, BFI conducts an investigation and agrees on preventive measures together with employees, and this has contributed to reducing the number of accidents. From this example and from the way BFI adequately adopted improvement measures following the site visit, MC was able to confirm that BFI constantly reviews their operations and takes necessary actions for remediation.
Working in partnership with suppliers, MC will continue to promote sustainable operations throughout its supply chains.
Modern Slavery Act Statement for FY 2019
As a corporation that carries out business in the UK, MC has published a statement to comply with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Please refer to the link below for details.
Mitsubishi Corporation's Statement on Modern Slavery Act for FY2019 (PDF:163KB)
Our Bluefin Tuna Business
As a corporation playing a major role in the marine products business, MC recognizes the crucial part that we play in conserving marine resources and ensuring a sustainable supply for future generations. To find out more about MC's stance on Bluefin Tuna and the specific measures we are implementing, please refer to our most recent policy below.
Mitsubishi Corporation's Bluefin Tuna Sustainable Sourcing Policy (Updated 7/28/2017) (PDF:116KB)
