• 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 maintain environmentally-sound practices.
Epson communicates with suppliers throughout the year in many forms and at many different levels.

A procurement policy orientation conference is held every year in Japan as a top-level event at which we explain our procurement policies and provide an overview of our operations. Epson's president and chief operating officers explain the company’s strategies and business policies, and the director in charge of supply chains requests cooperation with Epson’s Basic Procurement Policy and sustainable procurement practices. Many suppliers attend this event every year.

In 2025, we again held an orientation conference in Japan, where we explained Epson’s management policies and long-term strategies. We also confirmed the following key policies regarding sustainable procurement with suppliers.

• VVisualization and reduction of GHG emissions, including those in scope 3. (To achieve carbon neutrality, Epson asked its suppliers to expand their use of renewable energy and create or improve a framework for calculating and reporting scope 3 emissions.)
• Respect for human rights (e.g., improving the effectiveness of human rights due diligence)
• Responsible mineral sourcing (e.g., enhancing due diligence)
• Upgrading of business continuity management (e.g., strengthening resilience and the ability to respond to disasters and geopolitical risks)

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, the 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 employees of service suppliers who work on-site, and 346 people attended.
³ Ten briefing sessions were held in response to the revision of the Supplier Guidelines, with 1,193 participants. In addition, an environmental seminar was also held, so the CSR procurement supplier conference for Japanese suppliers was canceled.

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 details. 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  underlying purposes for CSR programs and to take the initiative to launch their own. We see that focused efforts are needed for human rights and one in which the expectations of society are rapidly evolving. We therefore hold seminars 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 the ”Epson green supply chain.” We also hold a seminar by an outside consultant about reducing environmental impact.

In FY2024, Epson also held a briefing session for suppliers in response to the revision of the Epson Group Supplier Guidelines in conjunction with the revision of the RBA Code of Conduct. Held in Japanese and Chinese, the conferences, which were attended by more than 1,000 suppliers, were used to explain Epson's procurement policies as well as the purpose of the RBA Code of Conduct and the changes made in the latest revision.

¹ The SAQ briefing is used to explain the 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 surveys
  

• 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 each company. Link (PDF,380kb)
  You may also use a comments/opinions box located in the Epson facility.
  In addition, you may also use the Engagement and Remedy Platform provided by the Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights (JaCER) to consult or lodge grievances related to human rights. Link

Epson Group's Management Philosophy advocates respect for the individual and the utilization of comprehensive capabilities. 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 regarding compliance in procurement and CSR procurement. For this reason, Epson has created a multi-level program to provide employees and partners with training.

Epson provides basic online training for all employees, as well as  procurement compliance training for procurement staff.

Procurement Compliance Training (In Japan)

¹ Attendance rate = Actual number of attendees / Target number of attendees

Procurement Compliance Training (Worldwide)

The procurement staff and managers at our overseas production sites are given compliance training that covers procurement fraud prevention, bribery prevention, and socially resposible procurement.

Online Training (in Japan)

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

Epson has specialized training programs for procurement personnel who deal directly with suppliers. These programs are based on the RBA Code of Conduct and the 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 professional 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 ConductsRBA Code of Conduct　　　RBA (VAP) audit