Promotion of Social Responsibility in the Value Chain

  1. Initiative and Promotion Frameworks
  2. Promotion of Sustainability in the Supply Chain
  3. Responsible Raw Material Procurement
  4. Communication with Business Partners

Initiative and Promotion Frameworks

The Yamaha Group promotes sustainability throughout the entire value chain in areas such as product and service development, raw material procurement, manufacturing, selling, and recycling. The Sustainability Committee, which is chaired by the president, was established in 2021, and working groups pertaining to procurement and human rights, which are chaired by executive officers, were formed under this committee. These bodies are responsible for matters related to environmental, human rights, and other supply chain sustainability issues including the establishment of internal frameworks, measures, targets, and actions plans; the promotion of initiatives through coordination with the relevant divisions; and the monitoring of these initiatives.

Promotion of Sustainability in the Supply Chain

Yamaha products are primarily manufactured and assembled by Yamaha Group companies with bases in Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India. The status of labor conditions, occupational health and safety, and environmental management at Group companies that function as production sites is monitored by dedicated staff members from corporate divisions based on Group regulations and standards. These staff members offer support for developing frameworks and advice for implementing improvements with regard to these matters. These Group companies adhere to Yamaha Group policies related to procurement when procuring raw materials and components. Suppliers are selected according to the standards set in the Yamaha Group Purchasing Philosophy and are asked to adhere to the Yamaha Supplier CSR Code of Conduct, which contains items pertaining to labor, human rights, the environment, and other sustainability considerations. Inspections based on this code of conduct are conducted when transactions are commenced with new suppliers and on a regular basis thereafter. Corrective measures are implemented and transactions are reconsidered as necessary.

Moreover, Yamaha Corporation is a member of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association and participates in the association’s CSR committee as well as in the grievance mechanism working group within this committee as part of its efforts to promote sustainability in the supply chain through industry coordination.

Yamaha Policies Related to Procurement

Sustainability-Related Requests to Suppliers

Supply contracts clearly state that suppliers are expected to comply with the Yamaha Supplier CSR Code of Conduct, and we request that suppliers conduct regular self-assessments with this regard.

Specific Sustainability-Related Requests to Suppliers*1
Category Requests
Labor and Human Rights No forced labor
No child labor
Appropriate working hours
Fair wages and benefits
No inhumane treatment
Non-discrimination
Guarantee of workers’ rights (freedom of association, right to collective bargaining, etc.)
Handling of conflict minerals (Responsible sourcing of minerals)
Occupational Safety Safety in the course of duties
Accident prevention and emergency preparedness
Prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses
Management of physically demanding work
Machine and equipment safety measures
Healthy and safe facilities
Environmental Conservation Compliance with environmental regulations
Resource and energy saving
Wastewater management
Air emission management
Proper disposal of solid waste
Management of chemical substances
Management of hazardous substances
Conservation of biodiversity
Ethics Prohibition of all forms of corruption and bribery
Prohibition of anti-competitive behavior
Information disclosure
Provision of appropriate product information
Early detection and prevention of fraud
Protection of intellectual property
Protection of personal information
  • *1 In addition to the above, suppliers of lumber are requested to procure sustainable timber resources.
Yamaha Supplier CSR Code of Conduct
Yamaha Supplier CSR Self-Assessment Questionnaire

Supplier Self-Assessments

In fiscal 2020, a simultaneous supplier self-assessment was administered to 3,748 companies,*2 and results reports were received from 3,694 companies (a response rate of 98.6%). Corrective actions were requested of 11 companies deemed to have management system deficiencies based on assessment results, and documents indicating improvements have since been received from nine of these companies. We intend to discontinue transactions with the other two. Of the 54 suppliers not subjected to this assessment, 38 were determined to be low risk due to having achieved compliance with or certified under sustainability-related standards, such as those of the Responsible Business Alliance. Of the other non-assessed companies, we plan to discontinue transactions with nine, and will continue to request that the remaining seven comply with the Yamaha Supplier CSR Code of Conduct. Assessments of whether transactions can be continued with these suppliers will be conducted when formulating procurement policies and plans. The next simultaneous supplier self-assessment is scheduled to be held in fiscal 2023. We have expanded the scope of assessment items and raised the thresholds for acceptable scores in preparation for the upcoming assessment.

In fiscal 2022, 138 potential suppliers conducted self-assessments as part of the process of examining the possibility of commencing transactions.

  • *2 The aggregate number is given as some suppliers may have conducted more than one self-assessment due to having multiple local production companies.

Education for Employees Responsible for Procurement

The Yamaha Group promotes internal training for its employees responsible for procurement to ensure fair trade. Topics of this training include the Act against Delay in Payment of Subcontract Proceeds, Etc. to Subcontractors (the “Subcontractors Act”), laws related to contracts, and various regulations related to trade and procured goods. In addition, responsible procurement training is provided to employees charged with assessing the status of compliance with the Yamaha Supplier CSR Code of Conduct at suppliers. Briefings related to sustainable timber procurement, which include confirmations of timber legality, are held each year. In fiscal 2022, such briefings were conducted in Japan, China, and Indonesia.

Responsible Raw Material Procurement

In the procurement of natural resources and other raw materials, it is important to practice responsible procurement out of consideration of the potential impacts on the environment and society. The Yamaha Group is focused on themes that include green procurement and the sustainable procurement of timber, an important material for instruments and other products.

Efforts to Combat Conflict Mineral Issues

Tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold, and other mineral resources mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries are referred to as conflict minerals as they may be the source of funds for armed groups violating human rights through inhumane acts such as violence and plunder. The Yamaha Group works to stop the use of conflict minerals with the aim of procuring minerals that play no part in the violation of human rights or environmental destruction. We respond to customer requests to conduct investigations regarding conflict minerals, and also ask suppliers to avoid the use of conflict minerals based on the Yamaha Supplier CSR Code of Conduct.

Communication with Business Partners

The Yamaha Group promotes communication with business partners and subcontractors. In Japan, we share information about management, production, and sales trends to suppliers that provide us with raw materials, parts, and equipment and to subcontractors that supply distribution, construction, and other services. We also work together with these partners to contribute to worker safety and environmental preservation while striving to foster an atmosphere in which it is easy to share thoughts through relationship-building activities. In addition, we hold lectures on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at gatherings of suppliers in Japan in an effort to promote sustainability together with suppliers. During these lectures, we provide overviews of the SDGs and introduce Group initiatives related to human rights and other matters. Furthermore, we confirm the status of compliance and CSR measures at the waste treatment subcontractors used by domestic production sites through site visits and other measures. We have also joined the Shizuoka Industrial Waste Association of Shizuoka Prefecture, where we have production sites, as a waste producer. As a member of this organization, we engage in communication through exchanges of waste treatment information and support for facility tours and other events.

Communication Activities
Since fiscal 2021, various communication activities have either been canceled or carried out through alternative means, such as mail-in voting, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of the communication activities that would take place under normal circumstances include the following.
Annual general meeting: Three times a year (collaborative meetings once each with procurement, distribution, and equipment divisions)
Briefing session on trends in production and sales: Once a year (collaborative meeting with procurement divisions)
Safety and health inspection patrols: Confirmation of construction work at two business sites in fiscal 2022
Confirmation of compliance status at waste treatment subcontractors: On-site confirmation at 27 companies in fiscal 2022
On-site confirmation at a waste treatment subcontractor

Partnership Declaration

In January 2021, Yamaha Corporation announced its Partnership Declaration, which details our commitment to building harmonious partnerships with suppliers to heighten value across the supply chain. This declaration reflects our endorsement of the aims of the Cabinet Office’s committee for promoting the establishment of future-shaping partnerships. This committee’s membership includes the chairman of KEIDANREN (Japan Business Federation), the chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the heads of the Cabinet Office; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Socially Responsible Logistics

Endorsing the ideals of socially responsible logistics advocated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Yamaha Corporation submitted its Declaration of Voluntary Action for Realizing Sustainable Logistics. This declaration puts forth our policies for working with suppliers and logistics business operators to improve logistics activities in pursuit of higher productivity and reformed workstyles.