TOPPAN Group Human Rights Policy
Since its establishment in 1900, the TOPPAN Group has transcended the boundaries of the printing business and responded to the needs of the era and people by leveraging its printing technologies to provide solutions to a wide range of social issues. The underlying tenet for these activities is “respect for human beings,” and this is expressed in the Group philosophy “TOPPAN's Purpose & Values”.
This TOPPAN Group Human Rights Policy illustrates our commitment to respect human rights across our business activities as we aim to be a creator of value for society.
TOPPAN Group Human Rights Policy
1. Our Approach to Human Rights
This policy is based on TOPPAN's Purpose & Values and the TOPPAN Group Conduct Guidelines. It sets out our commitment to address human rights issues in order to fulfill our responsibility to all stakeholders. To achieve this, we support and respect international human rights norms, including the International Bill of Human Rights,1 the International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work,2 and treaties pertaining to labor rights, such as those related to wages and working hours. TOPPAN Holdings is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, and the TOPPAN Group supports its Ten Principles3 as well as the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.4 Our practices are based on these principles.
2. Scope of Application
This policy applies to all officers and employees of the TOPPAN Group. We also expect clients, customers, suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors related to our products and services to support and observe this policy. Based on the TOPPAN Group Sustainable Procurement Guidelines, we commit to promote respect for human rights in our supply chain through dialogue and cooperation.
*The term “all employees” refers to persons with an employment relationship with any TOPPAN Group company as well as dispatched and temporary workers based on contracts for the supply of temporary labor.
3. Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations
We observe the laws and regulations of each country and region in which the TOPPAN Group conducts business. Where there is a conflict between internationally recognized human rights and the laws or regulations of any country, we will pursue approaches that honor international human rights principles to the fullest extent possible.
4. Responsibility to Respect Human Rights
The TOPPAN Group recognizes that we cannot completely eliminate the possibility of our business activities having negative human rights impacts. We strive to respect human rights across our value chain by ensuring that we do not infringe upon the human rights of people who are affected by our business activities and by responding appropriately to remedy any circumstances in which negative human rights impacts have arisen.
5. Human Rights Due Diligence
Based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the TOPPAN Group will identify any negative human rights impacts across our business activities and implement measures to prevent and mitigate such impacts.
6. Stakeholder Engagement
The TOPPAN Group acknowledges stakeholders whose human rights are negatively affected or could be negatively affected by our business activities and recognizes the importance of responding appropriately. We will promote our human rights efforts through continuous dialogue and consultation with stakeholders.
7. Remedy
If it becomes clear that the business activities of the TOPPAN Group have caused or contributed to negative human rights impacts, we will work to remedy the issue through appropriate means. Where negative human rights impacts are directly linked to our business activities by business relationships, we will work with relevant stakeholders to fulfill our role in remediation.
The TOPPAN Group has in place the TOPPAN Group Helpline as an internal reporting system to be used by employees in the event of a matter arising in relation to infringement of human rights. We also operate the Supplier Hotline, through which clients, customers, suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors can anonymously report such matters.
8. Education and Training
The TOPPAN Group conducts appropriate education and training for officers and employees to ensure that this policy is integrated into all business activities and implemented effectively.
9. Management Responsibility for Human Rights
The Board of Directors supervises our human rights efforts and the manager in charge of the Personnel & Labor Relations Division is responsible for their implementation. Day-to-day efforts related to human rights are led by the Personnel & Labor Relations Division, the Manufacturing Management Division, and the Legal Division, in collaboration with related departments throughout the TOPPAN Group.
10. Information Disclosure
The TOPPAN Group will disclose the progress and outcomes of efforts related to human rights via its website and other appropriate channels.
Established: October 28, 2021
Date revised: October 1, 2023
Hideharu Maro
Representative Director
President & CEO
TOPPAN Holdings Inc.
1. The International Bill of Human Rights consists of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights. As a common standard to be achieved by all peoples and all nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. The International Covenants on Human Rights are the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The two covenants protect fundamental human rights internationally and reinforce the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2. The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work sets out minimum standards that must be observed with respect to labor in the four categories of “freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining,” “the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour,” “the effective abolition of child labour,” and “the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.”
3. The United Nations Global Compact is a non-binding pact setting out a code of conduct to be observed by companies and organizations to achieve sustainable growth. It states ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption.
4. The Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are international principles with a framework consisting of the three pillars of “the state duty to protect human rights,” “the corporate responsibility to respect human rights,” and “access to remedy.”
Approach to Individual Issues
Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking
The TOPPAN Group does not tolerate any forms of child labor, forced labor, or human trafficking. We work to ensure the rights and enhance the welfare of children and act in observance of international agreements and domestic laws and regulations regarding the prohibition of child labor. We do not engage in any forced labor or human trafficking. We also require domestic and international clients, customers, suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors to prohibit child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking.
Discrimination and Harassment
The TOPPAN Group does not discriminate in any way on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, age, academic background, employment history, physical characteristics, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity, employment status, lifestyle, individual values, or any other attributes or characteristics. We provide appropriate treatment in accordance with each individual’s work performance and strive to ensure that all individuals are able to demonstrate their capabilities to the full in their respective workplaces. Furthermore, we do not tolerate any forms of harassment. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, power harassment, harassment related to pregnancy and parenthood, and harassment related to sexual orientation and gender identity. If a problem of such nature arises in the workplace, we work to resolve it promptly in coordination with relevant departments.
Diversity & Inclusion
Based on adherence to the philosophy of “respect for human beings” and the belief that “a company is its people,” the TOPPAN Group recognizes the individual attributes and different values of diverse human resources and advances diversity-related efforts to ensure mutual respect. We also promote “Diversity & Inclusion” initiatives that harness our differences as drivers of innovation by enabling diverse human resources to demonstrate and enhance their capabilities together. To achieve this, we will create workplaces that provide a high level of psychological safety and allow people to speak and act without inhibition by fostering mutual respect and ongoing dialogue.
Right to Collective Bargaining and Freedom of Association
The TOPPAN Group strives to ensure smooth communication between labor and management and respects the right to participate in collective bargaining and freedom of association in accordance with laws and regulations applicable in each country.
Occupational Safety and Health
The TOPPAN Group considers ensuring the safety and health of our employees to be a corporate social responsibility and has established the Basic Policy on Safety, Health, and Fire Protection, stipulating that safety comes first.
Right to Privacy
The TOPPAN Group complies with the laws, regulations, and other rules of each country related to the protection of personal information and manages and protects personal information stringently to ensure the trust of customers and to not betray the confidence that our employees have put in us.