Collaboration with Suppliers

Toward building a society that can develop sustainably in accordance with "Brother Group Environmental Policy", the Brother Group has formulated "the Brother Group Environmental Vision 2050" to contribute toward addressing global-scale environmental issues such as climate change as well as established medium-term targets for FY2030 as milestones for the vision. Currently, activities related to reduction of CO₂ emissions, resource circulation, and biodiversity conservation are being strengthened based on this environmental vision and medium-term targets.
We believe that cooperating with business partners—such as suppliers—is essential for the Brother Group to continue to provide various products meeting the needs of customers and the changes of the times and to reduce impact on the environment. Brother Industries, Ltd. (BIL) has joined the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA)—an international industry organization that promotes corporate social responsibility through establishment of sustainable supply chains—and also undertakes efforts to strengthen cooperation with business partners.
In September 2021, "the Environmental Supplier Guideline" were established to clearly convey matters related to the environment that the Brother Group thinks should be achieved together with suppliers.
The contents of this set of guidelines are consistent with Section C. Environment of the RBA Code of Conduct formulated and published by RBA. We also request that our suppliers set targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and actively engage in biodiversity conservation.
In June 2024, the Brother Group newly formulated a "Paper Product Procurement Policy" with the aim of preserving forest resources, and created "Paper Product Procurement Standards" based on the policy. Additionally, we revised the requirement levels, etc. for "Pollution Prevention and Resource Reduction" and "Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions" in the Environmental Supplier Guideline to further promote initiatives aimed at building a sustainable society throughout the entire supply chain.

• Environmental Supplier Guideline Japanese Rev2 [PDF/412KB]
• Environmental Supplier Guideline English Rev2 [PDF/305KB]
• Environmental Supplier Guideline Chinese-simp Rev2 [PDF/423KB]
• Environmental Supplier Guideline Chinese-trad Rev2 [PDF/529KB]
• Environmental Supplier Guideline Vietnamese Rev2 [PDF/459KB]

(Attachment 1) Brother Group Green Procurement Standard

• Green Procurement

(Attachment 2) Requirements and Standards for Suppliers for Environmental Label Compliance

• Requirements and Standards for Suppliers for Environmental Label Compliance Japanese [PDF/302KB]
• Requirements and Standards for Suppliers for Environmental Label Compliance English [PDF/238KB]
• Requirements and Standards for Suppliers for Environmental Label Compliance Chinese-simp [PDF/358KB]
• Requirements and Standards for Suppliers for Environmental Label Compliance Chinese-trad [PDF/435KB]
• Requirements and Standards for Suppliers for Environmental Label Compliance Vietnamese [PDF/293KB]

(Attachment 3) Brother Group Paper Product Procurement Standards

• Paper Product Procurement
• Responsible Business Alliance

At the Brother Group which operates its business globally, safety and environmental impacts are prime considerations at every stage of a product's life cycle, from design, development, manufacturing, customer usage, and disposal, to reuse and recycling, as set out in its basic environmental policy of the Brother Group Environmental Policy. Since 2001, under "the Brother Group Global Charter", we have been implementing green procurement activities in order to preferentially procure eco-conscious parts and materials for use in the products we sell. In 2002, to promote manufacturing of eco-conscious products together with our suppliers, we issued the Brother Group Green Procurement Standard, which defines specific requests to our suppliers. We have been revising the standard based on the trends in laws and regulations.
The Brother Group requests its suppliers to promote activities for environmental conservation. In order to ensure their full compliance with the Brother Group's green procurement policy as well as laws and regulations, we hold individual information sessions for new prospective suppliers, as a rule. Furthermore, in the event the Brother Group Green Procurement Standard is revised, we inform our suppliers about the revisions, ensure their understanding, and obtain their written consent. In 2018, we held worker-level seminars targeting those in charge of suppliers at each manufacturing facility (more than 30 times throughout the group) to discuss revisions to the Brother Group Green Procurement Standard and modifications to the green procurement system, and also to ensure full understanding of the environmental policy.

Quick compliance with global environmental laws and regulations

The Brother Group has updated the Brother Group Green Procurement Standard as necessary to comply with various countries' environmental laws and regulations, which are constantly being extended in scope. The Brother Group Green Procurement Standard classifies substances whose use is globally restricted by laws and regulations, etc. as "prohibited chemical substances (Level A)," and we regulate their content in the goods to be delivered to the Brother Group. Additionally, outside prohibited chemical substances (Level A), the controlled substances designated by chemSHERPA, being endorsed by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, are classified as "controlled chemical substances (Level B)." The content of these substances is controlled in the goods to be delivered to the Brother Group.
Meanwhile, controlled chemical substances specified in chemSHERPA, the system endorsed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, are designated as "controlled chemical substances (Level B)," and their content in goods is managed.

• Green Procurement Standard Japanese (Rev.9.5) [PDF/707KB]
• Green Procurement Standard English (Rev.9.5) [PDF/674KB]
• Green Procurement Standard Chinese-simp (Rev.9.5) [PDF/794KB]
• Green Procurement Standard Chinese-trad (Rev.9.5) [PDF/1.2MB]
• Green Procurement Standard Vietnamese (Rev.9.5) [PDF/891KB]
• Compliance with the RoHS Directive in different countries and regions
• Compliance with the REACH and other regulations

Using the green procurement system to strictly control the chemical substances in products

The Brother Group introduced the Green Procurement System in 2004, and requests that all suppliers cooperate through this system in investigations into the chemical substances found in products.
The Brother Group also supported the concept of chemSHERPA, a scheme for sharing information about chemical substances contained in products recommended by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. In March 2018, the system was updated to handle data in chemSHERPA format.

Procurement of paper products that contribute to achieving zero deforestation

In June 2024, the Brother Group, as a company that uses forest resources, believes it is important to avoid negative impacts on the natural environment, local communities, etc. in its business activities, and formulated the Brother Group's Paper Product Procurement Policy. Based on this policy, we have created the Brother Group Paper Product Procurement Standards, and by implementing and rolling them out, we will work across the entire supply chain to procure paper products that contribute to achieving zero deforestation.

(Attachment 3) Brother Group Paper Product Procurement Standards

• Brother Group Paper Product Procurement Standards Japanese (Rev.1) [PDF/715KB]
• Brother Group Paper Product Procurement Standards English (Rev.1) [PDF/196KB]
• Brother Group Paper Product Procurement Standards Chinese-simp (Rev.1) [PDF/220KB]
• Brother Group Paper Product Procurement Standards Chinese-trad (Rev.1) [PDF/345KB]
• Brother Group Paper Product Procurement Standards Vietnamese (Rev.1) [PDF/246KB]