Sustainability
Respect for Human Rights
Basic Approach
The Mitsuboshi Belting Group believes that respecting the human rights of all people involved in its business activities is a fundamental prerequisite for the sustainable growth of society and the Group. Based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other international standards, the Group has identified “Respect for Human Rights and Individual Dignity” as a material issue and promotes initiatives to respect and honor human rights.
Governance and Risk Management Process
Risks related to respect for human rights and individual dignity are identified through human rights due diligence conducted by a working group of the Sustainability Committee. Designated promotion organizations implement measures to address identified human rights risks. The Sustainability Committee monitors and evaluates progress and reports the results to the Board of Directors. Human rights risks are also identified through the Group-wide risk management process. For details, please refer to “Disclosure Based on the TCFD Recommendations” and “Risk Management” on the “Initiatives Related to Climate Change” page.
Status of Initiatives
Establishment of the Human Rights Policy
The Group regards respect for the human rights of all people involved in its business activities as a fundamental prerequisite for the sustainable growth of society and the Group. Based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other international standards, the Group established its Human Rights Policy in January 2023 and promotes initiatives related to “Respect for Human Rights and Individual Dignity,” one of its material issues.
To strengthen its response to human rights risks identified through human rights due diligence, the Group formulated “[Appendix] Initiatives to Address Specific Human Rights Issues” in FY2025. The appendix outlines the Group’s approach and initiatives from five perspectives: labor rights; prevention of discrimination and harassment; protection of privacy; consideration for the supply chain and local communities; and remedy and dialogue.
Human Rights Due Diligence
Through human rights due diligence conducted by a working group of the Sustainability Committee and deliberations by the Sustainability Committee, the Group identified the procurement of raw materials, such as natural rubber and cotton, that may be associated with child labor or forced labor as a human rights risk in its business activities, including the supply chain. Based on the approach set out in “[Appendix] Initiatives to Address Specific Human Rights Issues,” the Group identifies human rights issues by business flow and determines the priority human rights risks it should address.
Priority Human Rights Risks
| Identified human rights risk | Promotion organization |
|---|---|
| Procurement of raw materials, such as natural rubber and cotton, that may be associated with child labor or forced labor | Sustainability Committee Secretariat + Procurement Department |
Human rights issues
Business flow
| Business flow | Target / party | Labor rights (forced, child, long hours) |
Working environment / occupational safety and health | Discrimination / harassment | Rights of foreign workers | Privacy / personal information | Environment / local communities | Fraudulent / unjust acts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw material procurement | Natural rubber / cotton / palm oil producers | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Overseas raw material manufacturers | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Upstream transportation / logistics | Domestic and overseas transport operators | ● | ● | |||||
| Outsourced processing | Processing contractors | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||
| Own activities | Manufacturing | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Sales | ● | ● | ● | |||||
| Purchasing | ● | ● | ||||||
| Downstream transportation / logistics | Domestic and overseas transport operators | ● | ● | |||||
| Customers | General customers | ● | ● | ● |
* This matrix summarizes the principal human rights risks identified through human rights due diligence based on the Human Rights Policy and “[Appendix] Initiatives to Address Specific Human Rights Issues.” A “●” indicates an issue that the Group recognizes as presenting relatively high risk or requiring ongoing management.
Initiatives for the Supply Chain
In 2024, the Company introduced an ESG information management tool for business partners, surveyed 30 major suppliers on their implementation of ESG initiatives, including human rights, and held a briefing session on the survey results. In FY2025, the Company expanded the survey to 70 major suppliers. Through the survey and dialogue with suppliers, the Company is working to understand human rights risks and issues in the supply chain and promote improvements.
In response to the risk of child labor and forced labor in natural rubber production areas identified through human rights due diligence, the Company has been preparing for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) since 2024. The Company regards the reduction of human rights risks, including child labor and forced labor in natural rubber production areas, as an important issue and reviews the traceability and legality information required under the EUDR for natural rubber suppliers. In FY2025, after verifying information provided by suppliers and confirming that the natural rubber was not associated with child labor or forced labor, the Company began manufacturing products using natural rubber aligned with EUDR requirements.
Going forward, the Company will continue to promote sustainable and responsible procurement through collaboration with suppliers.
Establishment of a Human Rights Remedy Mechanism
In 2024, the Sustainability Committee began considering the establishment of a human rights remedy mechanism, or grievance mechanism, as called for under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Company will continue to develop specific measures to establish a more effective mechanism.
