Human Rights
Basic Approach
Zeon Group positions initiatives relating to respect for human rights as one of the important issues in its business activities. Based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, we have established the Zeon Group Human Rights Policy and are advancing initiatives to address human rights risks. In addition, we support the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the Children’s Rights and Business Principles, and based on these frameworks, we work to identify and appropriately address human rights issues in our business activities.
Under our materiality framework, the Five Gears that Drive Zeon, respect for human rights is also a material issue closely related to “Creating a Truly Exciting Company” and “Establishing Solid Governance,” and we will strengthen our initiatives further going forward.
Maintaining Positive Work Environments by Protecting Human Rights and Prohibiting Discrimination
In August 2019, we established the Zeon Group Human Rights Policy, which sets forth respect for human rights and prohibits discrimination. We are striving to create a mutually accepting company that does not tolerate discrimination based on gender, age, nationality, or other attribute and understands diverse values, while fostering mutual respect.
This policy applies to all officers and employees of the Zeon Group. We also strongly expect our business partners and other stakeholders to comply with this policy, and we hold dialogue and consultations with them as necessary.
Starting from FY2022, we have begun to implement full-scale human rights due diligence initiatives. In implementing these initiatives, after providing human rights education to relevant divisions such as procurement and human resources, Zeon Corporation, group companies, and the supply chain have been carrying out relevant measures while receiving advice from external experts.
We, the Zeon Group, are committed to fulfilling our corporate social responsibilities in respect of human rights and contributing to realizing a sustainable society, based on international codes of conduct on human rights, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the UN Global Compact.
- Respect for Human Rights
- We will not tolerate acts of discrimination or harassment based on age, gender, place of origin, ancestry, nationality, disability, religion, creed, marital status, employment status, union membership, political views, or other differences. We also will not tolerate child labor, forced labor, or unjustly low-wage labor.
- Collaboration with Stakeholders
- We will encourage our customers, business partners and others to support this policy, and will strive to conduct our business activities in a way that shares our commitment to respect for human rights.
- Prevention and Mitigation of Human Rights Violations
- We will strive to identify adverse impacts on human rights that may result from our business activities, and to avoid or mitigate them.
- Response to Human Rights Violations
- Where it becomes clear that we have caused or contributed to an adverse impact on human rights, we will work to provide remedy through appropriate procedures.
- Efforts on Human Rights Issues
- We will provide appropriate education and training to our officers, employees, and others so that this policy is understood and implemented.
- Information Disclosure
- We will report on our human rights initiatives under this policy through external communication channels such as our website and Integrated Report.
Structure and System
To promote sustainability initiatives, the Zeon Group has established the Sustainability Committee to deliberate on relevant matters. Final decisions are made by the Management Committee, which serves as the Group’s highest decision-making body for business execution. The Sustainability Committee meets regularly twice a year. As necessary, these bodies also deliberate and decide on initiatives related to respect for human rights, thereby steadily advancing our measures.
Key Initiatives
Human Rights Education
Our Group provides all officers and employees, including non-regular employees, with the education and awareness programs necessary to implement our Human Rights Policy.
Specifically, the “Compliance Text Q&A”, which comprehensively covers compliance-related matters, clearly sets out the fundamental principles of respect for human rights and is shared with all employees.
In addition, we conduct regular e-learning programs for all employees to deepen their understanding further.
Furthermore, we are committed not only to preventing child labor in Japan and overseas, but also to respecting children’s rights and promoting educational initiatives that contribute to the development of the next generation through our social contribution activities.
Human Rights Due Diligence
Based on the Zeon Group Human Rights Policy, the Group launched full-scale human rights due diligence initiatives in FY2022. We are advancing these initiatives at Zeon Corporation, at Group companies, and across our supply chain, with advice from external experts.
Zeon Corporation
At Zeon Corporation, we incorporate human rights risks into our company-wide critical risk control activities and work to identify and mitigate those risks as part of our human rights due diligence.
To identify human rights risks, we refer to the 25 items set out in "Responding to Business and Human Rights: What Is Now Expected of Companies," published by the Human Rights Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Justice. [Open query: confirm whether the Ministry of Justice publishes an official English title for this document and use it if so.]
These categories comprehensively cover human rights issues related to corporate activities, including working conditions, harassment, fundamental labor rights, digital- and consumer-related issues, discrimination and freedoms, local communities and the environment, and risks arising from business activities.
Based on these elements, we continuously identify, assess, and address human rights risks. Specifically, we conduct human rights risk assessments covering issues such as discrimination, harassment, occupational health and safety, forced labor, personal data breaches, and violations of privacy.
Group companies
For our Group companies in Japan, we provide education to the management and the staff responsible for human rights at each company on the importance of respect for human rights and the background to our initiatives. Since FY2024, each Group company has also been making full-scale efforts, under the same framework as Zeon Corporation, to identify human rights risks and to formulate and implement measures to mitigate them.
Supply chain
For details, see Supply Chain Management.
Becoming a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and Participating in Subcommittee Activities
Zeon Group endorses the UN Global Compact and participates actively in subcommittees of Global Compact Network Japan. We participate in workshops and working groups of the human-rights-related supply chain subcommittee and human rights due diligence subcommittee, and apply the information and insights gained there to the Zeon Group's own initiatives for respect for human rights.
Prevention of Child Labor and Forced Labor
The Zeon Group complies with the human rights and labor laws and regulations of each country and is committed to preventing child labor and forced labor. To prevent child labor, we verify official documents during recruitment to confirm applicants’ ages. To prevent forced labor, Zeon Corporation and its Group companies conduct regular monitoring using organization-specific risk lists and have established reporting channels for potential violations. In addition, all employment is based on the individual’s free will. For mid-career hires in particular, working conditions, including working hours and wages, are provided in writing in advance, and employment proceeds only with the applicant’s consent. If child labor or forced labor is identified, or if concerns about such practices are raised through internal reporting channels or other mechanisms, we will promptly take corrective action and provide appropriate remediation, giving the highest priority to protecting the safety and restoring the rights of those affected. We will also identify the root causes, develop and implement measures to prevent recurrence, and, where necessary, require relevant business partners, including those in our supply chain, to take corrective action.