Chemical Management

As a chemical manufacturer that handles a wide range of chemical substances, the artience Group (hereinafter referred to as the “Group”) aims to create a sustainable society in which chemical substances are properly managed and handled, by minimizing the environmental impact caused by chemical substances, and by ensuring the health and safety of those who work with chemical substances and use the Group’s products, at all stages of the product life cycle—from raw material procurement to development, manufacturing, transportation, storage, use, disposal and recycling.
Based on this basic approach, we have established this Basic Policy on Management of Chemical Substances (hereinafter referred to as this “Basic Policy,”) and engage in chemical substance management based on the pillars of compliance with laws and regulations and voluntary control in all business activities relating to chemical substances.

1. Scope of application

   This Basic Policy applies to all of the Group’s business sites that handle chemical substances, either directly or indirectly. In addition, this Basic Policy applies to all raw materials and products (including prototypes, etc.) handled by the Group, intermediates in manufacturing processes, products outsourced by third parties for manufacturing, and products procured from third parties and provided to customers that contain chemical substances.

2. Establishment and operation of a chemical substance management system

   The Group will appoint a general manager of the chemical substance management department at each operating company of the Group, and establish an organization to implement appropriate control of chemical substances handled by each company. The department that oversees chemical substance management at artience Co., Ltd. will oversee chemical substance management departments of these companies, and establish and operate a group-wide chemical substance management system that links them. Through this group-wide structure, the Group will share information and develop measures at the group-wide level, and implement appropriate chemical substance management as the Group.

3. Legal compliance and establishment of voluntary control standards

   The Group will collect and understand information on laws and regulations—and other related information—relating to the chemical substance management in the countries and regions where all of the Group’s business sites and distributors who sell the Group’s products are located, or where the Group’s products are distributed or used, and endeavor to comply with them. We will also promote global standardization of chemical substance management by establishing voluntary control standards for chemical substances whose inclusion is prohibited or restricted by international treaties and national laws and regulations, and by prohibiting or restricting the handling of such substances.

4. Minimization of chemical substance risks

   The Group will endeavor to minimize chemical substance risks by implementing initiatives to continuously reduce risks arising from hazardous properties and exposure amount of chemical substances. Specifically, we will take risk countermeasures such as reducing the use of highly hazardous raw materials, adopting alternative raw materials, reducing the amount of chemical substances emitted in production activities, and reducing worker exposure at production sites.

5. Disclose information to stakeholders

   To reduce the environmental impact of chemical substances and ensure the health and safety of product users and local communities, the Group will disclose information on the impact of chemical substances it handles on the environment and people, and information on their safe use, in an accurate and easily understandable manner. We will prepare, provide, and display SDS (Safety Data Sheets) and product labels—means of disclosure—in accordance with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) in each country. We will also disclose information on the Group’s chemical substance management activities through public reports and our website, and endeavor to communicate with society.

6. Educational training program

   The Group will implement educational training programs that are useful for employees engaged in the Group’s business activities to acquire and improve the knowledge and skills necessary to handle chemical substances safely and appropriately, and to appropriately manage and operate information relating to chemical substances. At the same time, we will instruct our employees to endeavor to acquire and improve the knowledge and skills required for the work they are engaged in, and encourage them to participate in educational training programs.

7. Revision, abolition and management

   Decisions regarding the revision or abolition of this Basic Policy shall be made by the Board of Directors of artience Co., Ltd.
   The department in charge of the revision and abolition of this Basic Policy shall be the department that oversees the chemical substance management of artience Co., Ltd.

Established on May 10, 2024 (resolved at the Board of Directors on May 10, 2024)