• Communications with Suppliers
• Whistleblowing System for Suppliers
• Internal Training

Epson considers suppliers to be indispensable business partners, and we believe that it is our responsibility to not only deliver quality products but also to ensure that all suppliers in the supply chain respect human rights, provide a safe working environment, and remain environmentally conscientious.
Epson engages its suppliers throughout the year in many forms and at many different levels. An annual supplier conference is held in Japan as a top-level event at which we explain our procurement policies. We provide suppliers with an overview of our operations and share with them our important policies.Epson’s president and chief operating officers explain the company’s policies and the business policies, and the chief officer of supply chain management (SCM) requests cooperation with Epson’s Basic Procurement Policy and sustainable procurement practices. Many suppliers attend this event every year.
At the 2024 conference, suppliers were asked to respect and protect human rights, manage business continuity, and help build a ”Epson green supply chain” by switching to renewable energy and reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

At an annual supplier conference for CSR (held since 2016), we talk about CSR trends and our socially responsible procurement activities. We also ask our suppliers to engage with us in our efforts. Suppliers attend the conferences held at Epson production sites in Japan, China, Philippines, Indonesia, and other areas.
At the conference, we ask suppliers to comply with our Sustainable Procurement Policy and the Epson Supplier Guidelines. We provide guidance for completing self-assessment questionnaires (SAQ) used to evaluate suppliers' CSR efforts and emergency response capabilities. We also ask suppliers to cooperate in conflict mineral surveys.

Supplier Participation

¹ "Others" includes Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, where Epson production sites are located.
² PT. Indonesia Epson Industry (IEI), a major production site located in Indonesia, held a conference for 346 employees of service suppliers who work on-site.

In addition to explaining social demands and Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) requirements at supplier conferences for CSR, we also hold seminars and conferences to provide further detail and ask for cooperation. Many suppliers attend these events. We also survey suppliers to understand their needs and incorporate that information in our seminars and conferences.

Epson believes that it is important for suppliers to understand the need for CSR programs and to take the initiative to launch their own. We see human rights as a priority issue–and one in which the expectations of society are rapidly evolving. We therefore hold seminars taught by outside consultants to provide suppliers with expert information.
In addition, we hold conferences to foster understanding and enlist supplier support for the building of a ”Epson green supply chain”. We also hold a seminar taught by an outside consultant about reducing environmental impact.
In FY2023, we also held a conference to explain changes in the latest revisions of the RBA Code of Conduct and Epson Group Supplier Guidelines. The more than 1,000 people who attended gained an understanding of Epson's procurement policies and the RBA Code of Conduct.

¹ SAQ briefing includes CSR SAQ (self assessment questionnaire) and environmental survey.

Epson has established compliance hotlines as grievance mechanisms that suppliers can use to report or discuss violations or potential violations of legislative requirements and the Epson Group Supplier Guideline. These hotlines are being used to further promote ethical corporate conduct, so we encourage their use. Reports may be made anonymously, and whistleblowers shall be protected, including by strictly handling their personal data and prohibiting any form of retaliation in accordance with applicable laws and Epson’s internal regulations.

• Suppliers can use the hotlines to report:
  - actions that violate or may violate laws, regulations, or the "Supplier Code of Conduct (human rights, health and safety, environment, ethics, and management systems)" ;
  - ideas or complaints relating to health and safety; and
  - concerns relating to conflict minerals
  

• How to report:
  -For suppliers of domestic Japanese Epson Group companies: Link
  -For suppliers of Epson Group companies outside Japan: Use the reporting channel of that company. Link (PDF,380kb)
  You may also use a comments/opinions box located in the Epson facility.
  In addition, regarding human rights issues, you may also use the Engagement and Remedy Platform provided by "Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights (JaCER)" to report a grievance: Link

Epson Group’s Management Philosophy champions teamwork and respect for the individual. Principles of Corporate Behavior, meanwhile, outlines conduct for creating a corporate culture by fostering employee independence and confidence through professional development. We believe it is particularly important to understand legal and other requirements to ensure compliance and sustainability in procurement. Epson has thus created a multi-level program to provide employees and partners with training.

Epson provides a basic online course for all employees, as well as courses tailored to the needs of procurement staff.

Procurement Compliance Seminar

Procurement Compliance Training (Worldwide)

We provide procurement compliance training to procurement staff and managers at our overseas production sites to educate them on procurement-related compliance and CSR. In FY2023, more than 3,400 people took the course at 14 sites.

Basic online course

^* The ethical conduct and the Subcontract Act are covered in alternate years.

Epson provides professional training in CSR to procurement staff who deal with suppliers. These programs are based on the RBA Code of Conduct and RBA (VAP) audit standard, including A. Labor, B. Health and Safety, C. Environment, D. Ethics, and E. Management Systems. Some programs are conducted by outside consultants.

¹ The Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT) for 3TG (tin, tantalum, tungsten & gold) and the Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT) for other minerals, including cobalt and mica, provided by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI)
^*RBA Code of Conducts　　　RBA (VAP) audit