Sustainability

Respect for Human Rights

Kitamura Holdings Group’s economic activities are aimed at pursuing happiness through a fulfilling photographic lifestyle, and these activities are aligned with the SDGs, ideals to be achieved on a global scale. In addition to including “Promotion of diversity and inclusion” as one of our material issues, we uphold internationally recognized human rights principles and have established a code of conduct that states, “We respect the fundamental human rights of all people in all aspects of our corporate activities, and will not, for any reason, engage in discrimination or conduct that offends individual dignity.”

Human Rights Policy（PDF：50KB）

Human Rights Due Diligence

To prevent and mitigate adverse impacts on human rights, we identify and evaluate human rights risks and implement corrective measures to address any human rights issues which occur. We will continue to monitor the measures we have implemented, to regularly evaluate their effectiveness, to disclose information appropriately, and to educate and train related parties.

Identifying and evaluating human rights risks

  1. 1.Assessing the status of human rights in our business activities

    We perform overall assessments of our value chain processes and identify the risks of human rights issues on an individual stakeholder basis.

  2. 2.Identifying and evaluating human rights risks

    Together with our business divisions and human resource divisions, we identify human rights issues and specific concerns for each stakeholder, and we evaluate them from the perspectives of severity and likelihood. We then create a risk evaluation map.

  3. 3.Risk evaluation results and subsequent initiatives

    We use our risk evaluation map to address human rights issues, prioritizing high severity issues with high levels of likelihood.

Supplier Guidelines

Kitamura Holdings Group (the “Group”) respects the fundamental human rights of all people in every aspect of its corporate activities. We uphold as a core value a principle that we will not engage in discrimination or in any conduct that undermines individual dignity for any reason.

Kitamura Holdings recognizes that collaboration with suppliers and business partners is essential to the realization of a sustainable society and to the promotion of initiatives that address social issues through our business activities. We have therefore established the Kitamura Holdings Group Supplier Guidelines (these “Guidelines”).

These Guidelines set forth our basic approach to fulfilling social responsibilities throughout the supply chain, including respect for human rights, protection of the environment, sound governance practices, and contributions to local communities.
We ask all suppliers and business partners involved with the Group’s products and services to understand the intent of these Guidelines and to cooperate in incorporating them into their daily business activities. We also request that, to the extent feasible, our suppliers and business partners share these Guidelines with their own business partners, so that we can work together to promote the realization of a more responsible and sustainable supply chain.

Supplier Guidelines

Respect for Human Rights

  • Do not engage in discrimination in employment opportunities, wages, promotion, or advancement on the basis of race, nationality, gender, religion, social status, physical condition, etc.
  • Do not engage in violence, abuse, corporal punishment, conduct or language that causes mental distress, or any form of harassment against employees.
  • Prohibit all forms of forced labor, including work performed against an individual’s will, labor that restricts the freedom to resign, and labor imposed through unfair means of restraint.
  • Do not employ children under the legal working age in the countries and regions in which operations are conducted. Do not allow children to engage in work that is detrimental to their health, safety, or moral well-being.
  • Comply with the working hours stipulated by the laws and regulations of the countries and regions in which operations are conducted. Prohibit excessive overtime and strive to reduce overtime work.
  • Enter into appropriate labor contracts with employees and pay fair wages and allowances in accordance with the laws and regulations of the countries and regions in which operations are conducted. Pay appropriate compensation for overtime work.
  • Respect the rights of employees to form labor unions in accordance with their own personal desires, to decide whether to participate in such unions, and to engage in collective bargaining, and provide opportunities for constructive dialogue between labor and management.
  • Take into account the mental and physical health of employees, strive to ensure a safe and healthy working environment, comply with laws, regulations, and rules relating to occupational safety and health, and take appropriate measures to address health risks.

Environmental Protection

  • Comply with environmental laws and regulations applicable in each country and region in which operations are conducted, and strive to reduce environmental impact.
  • Strive to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the efficient and sustainable use of energy and the introduction of renewable energy sources.
  • Actively engage in reducing waste, recycling, and reusing materials, and strive to make effective use of resources.
  • Strive to reduce wastewater, sludge, exhaust, and other discharges.
  • Ensure the safe management of chemicals that may pose risks of environmental pollution.
  • Assess the direct and indirect impacts of business activities on ecosystems and strive to conserve and use biodiversity sustainably.

Information Security

  • Implement and manage defenses against threats to computer networks in order to prevent damage to the company and to other companies.
  • Ensure reasonable measures to respect and protect the privacy of employees and all parties engaged in transactions, including suppliers, customers, and consumers.
  • Comply with laws and regulatory requirements relating to personal information protection and information security when collecting, storing, processing, transferring, and sharing personal information.
  • Appropriately manage and protect confidential information received from customers and third parties.

Fair and Transparent Business Activities

  • Comply with laws, regulations, and international rules in all transactions, prohibit bribery and the improper transfer of benefits, protect fair competition, and eliminate unfair business practices.
  • Eliminate relationships with anti-social forces from all business activities.
  • Respect intellectual property rights, including patent rights, copyrights, and trademark rights, and prevent unauthorized use of third-party intellectual property and the illegal reproduction of copyrighted works.
  • To provide customers with safe and reliable products and services, comply with legal standards in Japan and other countries and regions in which products are sold, as well as quality standards requested by customers, and strive to improve and enhance product quality.
  • Strive to establish hotlines through which employees, business partners, and consumers can report or consult on issues such as legal violations or human rights violations with confidence. In operating such contact points, strictly maintain confidentiality and prohibit disadvantageous treatment.
  • Prevent the purchase and use of conflict minerals and raw materials that may be associated with crime.

Contribution to Local Communities

  • Contribute to the sustainable development of the regions in which operations are conducted, work with local communities and residents to foster collaboration and build good relationships, and engage in activities such as job creation, skills development, prioritizing the purchase of local products and services, and developing suppliers.
  • Conduct responsible business operations with consideration for affected communities.
View the explanatory version as a PDF（127KB）

In complying with these Guidelines

In complying with these Guidelines, suppliers and business partners are asked to formulate related policies, establish internal systems for continuous implementation, and, as necessary, share information with the Group regarding the status of compliance. Together, we seek to realize a more responsible and sustainable supply chain.

In the event of a serious accident involving bodily injury, a human rights violation, an act in violation of laws or regulations, or any other event that materially breaches these Guidelines, suppliers and business partners are requested to promptly notify their designated contact points at the Group. They are also expected to cooperate in taking corrective action, preventing recurrence, and responding appropriately to affected parties.

Management Message Policy & Materiality Sustainability Initiatives Response to TCFD Recommendations Respect for Human Rights External Evaluations