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Purchasing and Procurement

The Kureha Group strive to fulfill our social responsibilities throughout the entire supply chain in accordance with our Procurement Policy and CSR Procurement Guidelines. We also ask our suppliers to give consideration to the environment and society, and aim to build fair and equitable relationships with them.

Policy/Policies

The Kureha Group established the Kureha Group Procurement Policy on April 1, 2024 to practice the Kureha Group Corporate Philosophy through procurement activities and promote continual improvement of economic value and contribute to solving social issues.

Kureha Group Procurement Policy

Kureha Group Procurement Policy

The Kureha Group is committed to contributing to the development of a sustainable society by providing products and services that help solve social issues and, at the same time, fulfilling our social responsibility throughout the supply chain. In our procurement activities, we aim to conduct responsible procurement in accordance with the following policies based on this basic concept.

1．Compliance with Laws and Regulations
In its procurement activities, the Kureha Group complies with the relevant laws, regulations, social norms, and spirit of the relevant laws and regulations of each country and region in which it operates.

2. Fair Procurement Activities
The Kureha Group conducts fair and open procurement activities both domestically and internationally. We prohibit restrictions on free competition and bribery, and ensure transparency of procurement activities through appropriate procedures.
We select our suppliers fairly, based on a rational economic analysis of quality, price, supply capability, technical capability, and other capabilities and reliability, as well as initiatives to improve the global environment and social sustainability.

3. Cooperation with suppliers
The Kureha Group collaborates with suppliers to continually maintain and improve quality, preserve the global environment, and respect human rights.

Establishment of Kureha Group Supply Chain CSR Guidelines

GRI 2-23

The Kureha Group established the Kureha Group Supply Chain CSR Guidelines on April 1, 2024 as a standard for CSR initiatives that both suppliers and the Kureha Group must comply with.

Kureha Group Supply Chain CSR Guidelines

Participation in the "Declaration of Partnership Building" Initiative

Kureha endorses the aims of the "Conference on Promoting Partnership Building for the Future" promoted by the Cabinet Office and the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, and announced a "Declaration of Partnership Building" in 2024. Kureha aims to build new partnerships by promoting cooperation, coexistence, and co-prosperity with our business partners.

Declaration of Partnership Building

"Declaration of Partnership Building" portal site (Japanese Only)

Kureha Corporation's "Declaration of Partnership Building" (Japanese Only)

Management Structure

The Kureha Group promotes "responsible procurement" through the Human Rights Subcommittee, a subordinate body of the Sustainability Coordination Committee. The Sustainability Coordination Committee is chaired by a director or executive officer. The Human Rights Subcommittee is composed of departments related to human rights issues identified in our human rights policy and oversees efforts to respect human rights, including human rights due diligence in the supply chain, and formulates annual plans and manages progress. Progress and results are reported to the Sustainability Coordination Committee for appropriate supervision by management.

Target(s) and What We Have Done/Are Doing

KPI Company/companies FY2023
Results		 FY2024
Target		 FY2025
Target
Human Rights Issues
in the Supply Chain		 Kureha
  • ・Developed standards
  • ・Developed a survey methodology
 Start survey Less than the previous fiscal year
Group Companies in Japan ー ー Start survey
Overseas Group Companies

Initiative(s)/Activity(ies)

GRI 308-2

Green Procurement

Kureha procures raw materials based on the Green Procurement Guidelines to promote the use of products and raw materials that are safer and have less environmental impact. The Guidelines are updated as necessary to comply with environmental laws and regulations. When selecting new suppliers, we evaluate them based on our internal criteria and make decisions based on our overall judgment while adhering to the intent of the Green Procurement Guidelines. When necessary, we conclude a Basic Sales Transaction Agreement with the supplier.

Green Procurement Guidelines (Japanese Only)

Supply Chain CSR Survey

GRI 2-29, GRI 409-1, GRI 414-2

Kureha has been periodically surveying its suppliers since FY2017 to ascertain their status of CSR promotion. Target suppliers were selected by field based on transaction size and number of years of transactions, and a check sheet prepared by our company was sent to them, collected, and evaluated. From FY2024, the purpose of the surveys will be changed to that of confirming compliance with the "Kureha Group Supply Chain CSR Guidelines," and a newly created questionnaire will be used to conduct the survey. In addition to suppliers, we will also survey contract manufacturers. This activity will be gradually expanded to suppliers of the entire Kureha Group.

On-site Audits of Business Partners

Kureha conducts on-site audits of suppliers in Japan and overseas to ensure that purchasing operations are carried out in accordance with the Kureha Group Procurement Policy.

Due Diligence on Responsible Mineral Sourcing and Prevention of Forced Labor

As part of our commitment to responsible mineral procurement, Kureha Group conducts investigations that trace the supply chain of target minerals (gold, tin, tungsten, tantalum, cobalt, and mica) back to the source at the request of our customers. As a result of the investigations to date, no minerals suspected of being related to conflict or human rights abuses have been found to be used in our products. In addition, in response to the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act , Kureha confirms that none of its products or materials are manufactured in or procured from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.