We, the Mitsui Chemicals Group, are driven by our corporate mission to “contribute broadly to society by providing high-quality products and services to customers through innovation and the creation of materials, while keeping in harmony with the global environment” and we strive to “be a corporate group that continues to grow by solving social challenges and creating diverse value with the power of chemistry”.
We understand that we need to respect the human rights of every individual affected by the Mitsui Chemicals Group’s business activities in order to contribute broadly to society and achieve sustainable growth.
We hereby announce the adoption of the Mitsui Chemicals Group Human Rights Policy (the “Policy”) based on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council in June 2011 with the aim of fulfilling our responsibility to respect the human rights of every individual affected by our business activities.
Respect for Human Rights
Management System
Policy and Basic Approach
The Mitsui Chemicals Group recognizes respect for human rights in business activities as a foundation of its development and pursues just business throughout the supply chain from the viewpoint of “having a high regard for people.”
The Group revised its Human Rights Policy in July 2022, after obtaining approval from the Board of Directors. The Policy will continue to be reviewed.
Please refer here for salient human rights issues for the Mitsui Chemicals Group.
Mitsui Chemicals Group Human Rights Policy
1. Basic principles on human rights
The Mitsui Chemicals Group supports and respects (i) the United Nations “International Bill of Human Rights” (consisting of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, “International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”, and “International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”), which sets out the fundamental human rights of every individual and (ii)the International Labour Organization (ILO) “Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work”, which sets out people’s fundamental rights at work.* Furthermore, we support and respect the “OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises” and the “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”. And as a company that has signed the United Nations Global Compact, we also support and respect the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact.
In accordance with the Mitsui Chemicals Group’s Corporate Mission, Action Guidelines, Purchasing Policy, Responsible Care Policy, Human Resources Management Policy, and related internal policies and regulations, the Policy represents our commitment to respecting human rights in order to fulfil our responsibilities toward every individual affected by our business activities.
*This includes support and respect for the Core Labour Standards: “effective abolition of child labour”, “elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour”, “elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation”, and “freedom of association, and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining”.
2. Scope
The Policy applies to executive officers and employees of the Mitsui Chemicals Group. We also expect business partners and other parties linked to our operations, products and services to support the Policy.
3. Responsibility to respect human rights
The Mitsui Chemicals Group recognises that our business activities may directly or indirectly cause adverse human rights impacts. We fulfil our responsibility to respect human rights by (i) not violating the rights of individuals affected by our business activities (“rights holders”), and (ii) taking appropriate remedies in case our business activities may cause or contribute to any adverse human rights impacts. Although we cannot ascertain all the ways in which our operations, products and services are used, we do not intend for any of them to be used in any way that contributes to human rights abuses.
In the case where any adverse human rights impacts are caused by our business partners or other parties that are suspected to be linked to our operations, products or services, we will ask those business partners or other parties to respect human rights, not harm them, with the aim of building a responsible supply chain.
4. Human rights due diligence
The Mitsui Chemicals Group will establish a system of human rights due diligence in accordance with the “UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights” to identify, prevent and mitigate any adverse human rights impacts that we may have on the rights holders.
5. Dialogue and consultation
In our implementation of the Policy, the Mitsui Chemicals Group will sincerely engage in dialogue and consultation with rights holders by applying the expertise of independent third parties on human rights.
6. Remediation
In the event that the Mitsui Chemicals Group’s business activities have any adverse human rights impacts, or where our involvement through business partners or other parties becomes apparent or suspected, we will seek to remedy such impacts through dialogue and appropriate processes in line with international standards.
7. Education and training
The Mitsui Chemicals Group will provide appropriate education and training to our executive officers and employees, and will strive to promote understanding of the Policy among our business partners, with the aim of ensuring that it becomes incorporated into all of our business activities and is implemented effectively.
8. Responsible executive officer(s)
The Mitsui Chemicals Group will entrust an executive officer or officers with the responsibilities of implementing the Policy and supervising its implementation status.
9. Information disclosure
The Mitsui Chemicals Group will disclose the progress and results of our efforts to promote respect for human rights on our website and through other media.
10. Applicable laws and regulations (when national laws conflict with international standards)
The Mitsui Chemicals Group will comply with the laws and regulations of all countries and regions in which we operate. In the case where there is any conflict between a country’s laws and internationally recognized human rights standards, we will seek ways to respect internationally recognized human rights principles to the maximum extent possible.
The Policy has received the approval of the Board of Directors of Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and it has been signed by the President and Chief Executive Officer.
July 1st, 2022
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
President and CEO
HASHIMOTO Osamu
Established in February 1st 2016
Revised in December 1st 2017
Revised in July 1st 2022
Mitsui Chemicals Group Human Rights Policy
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System and Responsible Officers
We deliberate on policies, strategies, and plans related to our respect for human rights in the Corporate Sustainability Committee with the responsible officer for Corporate Sustainability Division. The deliberation results are reported to the Management Committee, further deliberated in the Company-wide Strategy Committee and the Management Committee where necessary, and finalized and supervised by the Board of Directors.
The Group lists “respect for human rights” as one of the prerequisites for business continuity as part of the Group’s material topics, and incorporates its status of response to human rights risks into its business targets as non-financial metrics in VISION 2030. With the “identification & correction of risks by setting up a human rights due diligence system for all of our bases, both domestic and abroad” set as a target under VISION 2030, the Human Resources Division, the Purchasing Division, the Corporate Administration & Legal Division, and other related divisions collaborate to collect information and formulate measures in order to build a human rights due diligence system.
In addition, when examining investment plans, we also define and check issues such as appropriate labor conditions, sexual harassment, and power harassment as risk items to be verified.
Internal Audit
The business audit conducted by the Internal Control Division also includes an internal audit process based on self-assessment of internal controls utilizing the compliance checklist. The compliance checklist includes items for verifying human rights violation risks and other risks, and the included items are reviewed every year.
| Business Audit | Details | The effectiveness of risk management and control, as well as governance, are evaluated and improvements are suggested. |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Mitsui Chemicals divisions and Mitsui Chemicals Group subsidiaries and affiliates | |
| Frequency | Once every one to five years (depending on the size, business type, and management level of the audited organization) |
In FY2023, we checked with 12 domestic and overseas subsidiaries and affiliates about their understanding of the Human Rights Policy, status of dissemination of the Policy among business partners, progress of the creation of a grievance mechanism, status of their efforts toward human rights, and more.
Education and Training
Based on the Mitsui Chemicals Group Human Rights Policy and Mitsui Chemicals Group Action Guidelines, we provide education on respect for human rights through various training programs, including training for new employees, training on the topic of diversity and inclusion, and compliance training.
In addition to the above training, we have introduced Business and Human Rights e-learning materials prepared by the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center and Amnesty International Japan for all officers and employees of the Group, starting in FY2019, and are rolling this out as a mandatory course to be taken once every three years. In FY2023, the contents were updated to the revised version of the same material to have participants learn more practical content. To date, 8,602 people have completed the course, including those from domestic and overseas affiliates.
In FY2022, for officers, we invited a lawyer specializing in business and human rights to teach a workshop on the topic of International Trends in Business and Human Rights and the Responses Required of Japanese Companies. We distributed the video of this lecture to the Group's division heads and others.
The Group's employee rules stipulate that if an employee is found to have engaged in harassment (sexual harassment, abuse of authority, pregnancy discrimination, etc.) or discrimination that offends the dignity or character of an individual, the employee may be reprimanded, suspended from work, placed on disciplinary leave, or dismissed on disciplinary grounds, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Goals and Results
| Metric | Scope | FY2023 | FY2024 | FY2030 (Medium to Long-term) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | Results | Goals | Goals | ||
| Response to human rights risks | Mitsui Chemicals Group | ・Implementation of human rights due diligence - Establishment of an internal structure for addressing human right risks - Formulation of a medium-term action plan - Survey of the actual situation | ・Implementation of human rights due diligence - Establishment of in-house working group - Establishment of priority topics on respect for human rights - Survey of the actual situation for overseas manufacturing sites (2 sites) | ・Implementation of human rights due diligence - Desktop survey (re-implementation) - Survey of the actual situation | Identification & correction of risks by setting up a human rights due diligence system for all of our bases, both domestic and abroad |