Sustainability

Sustainability Top

Supply Chain Management

Sustainability Data Book 2024​ ​(PDF:3.8MB)

Basic approach

artience group has approximately 60 Group Companies in approximately 20 countries and regions around the world, and is expanding its business globally. In addition, due to the globalization of business, supply chains are expanding and becoming more complex, and companies are required to fulfill their social responsibilities, including those supply chains. The Group considers the supply chain to be within the scope of its social responsibilities and promotes initiatives that take into account human rights, labor, and the environment.
Specifically, we established the Raw Material Procurement Regulations in June 1990 (revised in January 2024) and are promoting CSR procurement based on the Basic Policy on Procurement (established in April 2005 and revised in January 2024). With the aim of raising the level of CSR of each supplier and improving sustainability upstream of the supply chain, we have established the "Sustainable Supply Chain Guidelines" (established in October 2022 and revised in January 2024). These basic policies and guidelines cover a wide range of sustainability issues, including human rights, labor practices, health and safety, the environment, product safety, compliance, and information security, based on our basic stance of complying with and respecting the laws and regulations of the countries and regions in which we operate, international codes of conduct by the United Nations, the ILO, the OECD, and other organizations, and industry standards such as the RBA and AIAG. Japanese, English and Simplified Chinese versions are available, which are well known to Group Companies and suppliers at home and abroad.

サステナブルサプライチェーンガイドライン​

Promotion system

Group Purchasing Department artience Co., Ltd. plays a central role in promoting CSR procurement activities for suppliers based on the Basic Policy on Procurement and the Sustainable Supply Chain Guidelines.
In addition, risks related to CSR procurement are regularly assessed by Risk Management Committee, information is shared, and risks are prevented from occurring and risks are reduced.

Promotion of CSR procurement

Through CSR procurement, we hope to ensure legal compliance in the supply chain and contribute to the improvement of the working environment and the global environment. To this end, we are implementing measures to (1) disseminate the Basic Policy on Procurement and the Sustainable Supply Chain Guidelines, (2) conduct surveys, audits, and improve activities for suppliers, and (3) deepen the understanding of employees.
Since fiscal 2021, we have been preparing for full-scale procurement due diligence, and since fiscal 2022, we have been conducting sustainability surveys of domestic suppliers sequentially and feeding back the results of the analysis to our procurement activities.
The Group itself is also working to improve the sustainability of the entire supply chain together with customers by confirming efforts to respect human rights in procurement activities, conducting supply chain sustainability assessments through EcoVadis, and responding to CSR procurement questionnaires from customers.

Case Study​ ​(PDF:3.8MB)

  • Implementation of CSR Procurement Surveys
  • Initiatives for new suppliers
  • Response to Conflict Minerals and Avoidance of Complicity in Human Rights Violations in Procurement
  • Sustainability assessment by EcoVadis
TOPICS
Revision of the "Declaration of Partnership Building"
パートナーシップ構築宣言ロゴ
On May 27, 2024, artience Co., Ltd. revised its "Declaration of Partnership Building". The "Declaration of Partnership Building" was announced on October 31, 2022, and this revision is based on the "Guidelines for Price Negotiations for Appropriate Passing on Labor Costs" presented by the Cabinet Secretariat and the Fair Trade Commission in January 2023. As a revision, the following wording has been clarified in the declaration.
"We will not make unreasonable requests for cost reductions, and we will hold discussions with subcontractors at least once a year when determining transaction considerations, and strive to fully discuss with subcontractors to ensure that they can improve their working conditions, including their appropriate profits."
Going forward, we will continue to promote dialogue and collaboration with our suppliers with the aim of achieving further mutual prosperity.

Initiatives to address logistics issues

Efforts to address the 2024 logistics problem

Since 2020, artience Co., Ltd. has endorsed the "White Logistics" promotion campaign advocated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and has published a declaration of voluntary action. As an initiative, we will improve and relocate relay bases to optimize delivery and receiving.
In addition, with the understanding and cooperation of our customers, we will work together in the supply chain to reduce the burden on logistics operators, and strive to maintain and improve logistics, which is an important social infrastructure, by easing delivery lead times, shortening waiting times at delivery destinations, and reducing incidental operations.

Examples of past initiatives

  • Separation of trunk transportation part and collection and delivery part
  • Improving the efficiency of vehicle dispatch and loading rate through joint delivery at LogicNet Co., Ltd., which was established through joint investment with a company in the same industry (since 2000)
  • Participating in the “White Logistics” promotion movement (2020-)
  • With the cooperation of customers, we set order closing times that take delivery into account, reducing long working hours for logistics operators (from 2020)

Participating in the “White Logistics” promotion movement

artience Co., Ltd. (formerly TOYO INK SC Holdings Co., Ltd.) supports the "White Logistics" promotion campaign advocated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and in May 2020, announced a voluntary action declaration. . We aim to realize sustainable logistics by collaborating with raw material suppliers, business partners, and logistics operators to promote efficient logistics through appropriate transportation contracts and joint logistics.

Main items of our voluntary action declaration
Initiative items Initiative details
Separation of trunk transportation part and collection and delivery part We will actively work to separate the trunk transportation part and the delivery part to promote efficient logistics.
Separation of work parts other than operation If we receive a consultation from a logistics company regarding the separation of operational work and ancillary work other than driving, we will sincerely respond to the discussion.
Promotion of written transportation contracts We will promote the documentation of transportation contracts.
Separate contract for freight and charges When concluding a transportation contract, in principle, the consideration for transportation (freight) and the consideration for services other than transportation (charges) are entered into separately.
Optimization of subcontracting transactions We also request our own companies and the logistics companies with whom we have transportation contracts to ensure that, when outsourcing to subcontractors, we require ``written transportation contracts'' and ``separate contracts for freight and charges.''
Consideration of legal compliance status when selecting a contract partner When selecting a logistics company to contract with, we consider compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Cancellation or suspension of operations due to abnormal weather, etc. We will not make unreasonable transportation requests when abnormal weather such as typhoons, heavy rain, or heavy snow occurs or is expected to occur. Additionally, if a logistics operator determines that it is necessary to cancel or suspend operations in order to ensure the safety of drivers, we will respect that decision.
Promoting joint logistics We will collaborate with raw material suppliers and other companies to promote joint logistics initiatives.
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