Approaches to Business Partners
Basic Approach
Makita is striving Company-wide to deliver safe, high quality products to our customers to ensure that they can enjoy peace-of-mind when using our tools.
In working to achieve this objective, we consider it important not just to comply with relevant laws and regulations but to conduct transactions with business partners fairly, equitably, transparently, and honestly, and strive to build relationships with them as partners, as well as promote procurement activities focusing on social aspects, including environmental concerns, respect for human rights, prevention of corruption, and respect for proper hiring practices, etc. We stipulate this in our Master Transaction Agreement and Basic Policy on Procurement.
One pillar of this effort is our pursuit of responsible procurement activities, including annual surveys of the environmental protection activities of our business partners, such as monitoring environmental systems acquisition.
Basic Policy on Procurement
- Compliance with laws and regulations and social codes
The Makita Group conducts procurement activities in compliance with relevant laws and regulations, as well as in accordance with social common sense, such as prohibiting the provision of profits to antisocial forces, to meet social requirements. - Consideration to reducing environmental impacts
The Makita Group promotes the procurement of parts, materials, and equipment with low environmental impacts from environmentally conscious business partners, with the aim of providing people- and Earth-friendly products to customers. - Provision of fair and equitable transaction opportunities
The Makita Group provides fair and equitable opportunities to do business with us to all business partners who wish to do so, regardless of nationality, company size, previous record of business transactions, or lack thereof. Then, we determine whether to commence and/or continue transactions with business partners, while comprehensively taking into consideration factors, including their environmental responsiveness, social responsibility, management stability, technical development capabilities, and ability to ensure stable supplies, in addition to economic rationale of quality, prices and delivery times. - Coexistence and coprosperity based on mutual trust
The Makita Group positions business partners as its partners through procurement activities, facilitates communications with them, and promotes coexistence and coprosperity based on mutual trust.
Approach to Dealing with the Issue of Conflict Minerals
Regarding mining of some of the minerals (tantalite, tin, gold and tungsten) produced in the democratic Republic of the Congo and its surrounding area, various problems, including human rights abuse by armed forces, have been pointed out. These minerals are known to be distributed widely throughout the world, serving as a source of funds for the armed forces, and are therefore called “conflict minerals.”
Recognizing this issue of conflict minerals as an important social problem, Makita will keep a responsible management system, and collaborate with relevant departments, overseas plants and suppliers to deal with the issue and strengthen its supervision over it. In addition, Makita will ensure transparency of its supply chain by investigating whether or not minerals used in its products contain. By doing so, Makita is building a responsible material procurement system, aimed at making its products free from conflict minerals – a source of funds for armed forces.
Makita has joined the Responsible Minerals Trade Working Group of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) as part of its efforts to strengthen cooperation with industry groups. In addition, Makita has participated in the Conflict-Free Sourcing Working Group of JEITA and joined hands with the automobile industry in unifying methods for investigating the use of conflict minerals in their products, launching a full-fledged probe into the issue in FYE2014.
Makita has joined the Responsible Minerals Sourcing Inquiry Briefing, organized by JEITA, as one of the facilitators.
The areas, risks, and minerals subject to regulations in association with conflict minerals issues are expanding further. The Makita Group prepare for and respond to such requirements in cooperation with industry groups. As part of this effort, we added cobalt as a conflict minerals.
Makita will continue to work with suppliers and relevant organizations to make continuous and proactive efforts to achieve the goal of eradicating conflict minerals — a source of funds for armed forces — from our products and ensuring the transparency of supply chains and responsible minerals sourcing.