Sumitomo Rubber Industries

1. Sustainable natural rubber policy or commitment for all its operations?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

2. Sustainable natural rubber policy or commitment applies to all suppliers?

The company has published a sustainable natural rubber policy which applies to all suppliers.

3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?

The company has a Sustainability Promotion Committee but it is not clear if there is a senior manager with sustainability responsibility (excluding board members).

4. One or more members within the board of the company have responsibility for sustainability?

The company reports it has a Sustainability Promotion Committee which is chaired by the Director in charge of ESG.

5. Reports gender balance of senior management team?

13.3% - In 2023, 13.3% of employees in managerial positions were female.

6. Reports gender balance of board members?

1 - The company reports 1 female director. Data as of 2023.

7. Member of multiple industry schemes or other external initiatives to reduce negative environmental or social outcomes associated with natural rubber production?

[Externally verified] The company is a member of WBCSD, WBCSD Tire Industry Project, and IRSG.

8. Collaboration with stakeholders to reduce negative environmental or social outcomes associated with natural rubber production?

The company describes a project in collaboration with Halcyon Agri supporting smallholder suppliers and a project with Agridence to trace rubber supply. Both projects started in 2022 and are ongoing. The company also reports providing financial assistance to the Capacity Building Project undertaken by the GPSNR in Thailand to support smallholders. The objectives of this project include helping farmers achieve higher incomes and promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Additionally, the company launched a joint research with Khon Kaen University of Thailand in March 2024. Through this research, the company aims to improve the production efficiency of natural rubber and accelerate its initiatives for sustainable natural rubber procurement.

9. Sustainability report published within last two years?

The company's latest integrated report was published in 2024, covering the year 2023.

10. Reports through standardised reporting systems?

The company has published its Forests, Water, and Climate 2023 CDP Questionnaire.

11. Climate risks assessment available?

The company has disclosed a comprehensive climate risk assessment and strategy. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

12. Lists countries and operations?

Manufacturing (Brazil, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey, South Africa, Philippines, Malaysia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vietnam, Japan), Processing (Thailand).

13. Lists countries sourcing from?

14. Total land area managed/controlled for natural rubber (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

15. Total natural rubber planted area (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

16. Scheme smallholders/outgrowers planted area (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

17. Unplanted area (areas designated for future planting) (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

18. Conservation set-aside area, including HCV area (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

19. Maps of estates/management units?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

20. Management plans for natural rubber production are available for all estates/management units?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

21. Monitoring of management plan implementation available for all estates/management units?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

22. Maps of all scheme/outgrower smallholders?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

23. Maps of all third-party supplying industrial estates/management units?

24. List of jurisdictions where sourcing from smallholders?

25. Number of company owned natural rubber processing facilities?

1 - The company owns one natural rubber processing facility in Thailand.

26. Maps of company owned natural rubber processing facilities?

The name and address of the company's only natural rubber processing facility are available. The address provided generates location using Google Maps.

27. Number (or percentage) of company-owned processing facilities that source from company-owned operations and third parties?

The company manages no plantations, therefore all natural rubber is sourced from third parties.

28. Reports total volumes (or percentages) sourced by company-owned processing facilities that come from company's own operations and third-parties?

The company manages no plantations, therefore all natural rubber is sourced from third parties.

29. Number of company owned natural rubber manufacturing facilities?

20 - The company reports it owns 20 natural rubber manufacturing facilities as of March 2024.

30. Maps of manufacturing facilities?

The names and addresses of all natural rubber manufacturing facilities are disclosed by the company.

31. Number of third party supplying processing facilities?

32. Maps of all third party supplying processing facilities?

33. Number (or percentage) of third party supplying processing facilities that source from their own plantations and third party plantations?

34. Reports total volume (or percentages) sourced from third-party supplying processing facilities that come from the supplying facilities' own operations and third parties?

35. Total volume (or percentage) sourced for manufacturing that comes from intermediary traders rather than directly from processing facilities?

36. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to processing facility level?

37. Percentage of supply traceable to processing facility level?

38. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to industrial plantation level?

39. Percentage of supply from own processing facilities traceable to industrial plantation level?

40. Percentage of supply from third-party processing facilities traceable to industrial plantation level?

41. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to jurisdictional level for smallholders?

42. Percentage of supply from own processing facilities traceable to smallholder at jurisdictional level?

43. Percentage of supply from third party processing facilities traceable to smallholders at jurisdictional level?

44. Member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR)?

[Externally verified] The company is a member of GPSNR. This has been verified via the GPSNR website.

45. Percentage area (ha) FSC certified?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

46. Time-bound plan for achieving FSC FM certification of estates/management units?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

47. Percentage of scheme/outgrower smallholders (ha) FSC-certified?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

48. Time-bound plan for achieving FSC certification of scheme/outgrower smallholders?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

49. Percentage of natural rubber supply (tonnes) from independent smallholders/outgrowers/third-party natural rubber suppliers that is FSC-certified?

50. Percentage of all natural rubber products handled/traded/processed (tonnes) that is FSC-certified?

51. Percentage area (ha) PEFC certified (excluding FSC certified area)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

52. Certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme?

[Externally verified] The company reports that at the end of 2023, the number of sites that have obtained the ISO 14001 certification increased to 37 (94.9%) (of these, 34 sites are covered by the multi-site certification). The ISO 14001:2015 certificates of some manufacturing facilities of the company are publicly available.

53. Commitment to become 100% certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme?

54. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

55. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems applies to all suppliers?

The company commits to support the long-term protection of natural forests and other ecosystems. A clear commitment to no conversion of natural ecosystems could not be found.

56. Commitment to zero deforestation?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

57. Commitment to zero deforestation applies to all suppliers?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also reports its own commitment to zero deforestation for suppliers.

58. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

59. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion in supplier operations?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company's own reporting for suppliers defines deforestation as the degradation of HCV areas and specifies that any deforestation/conversion past 1st April 2019 will not be accepted.

60. Evidence of monitoring deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

61. Evidence of monitoring deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion in supplier operations?

62. Amount of deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion recorded in own operations since cut-off date?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

63. Amount of deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion recorded in supplier operations since cut-off date?

64. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion in own operations since cut-off date?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

65. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion in supplier operations since cut-off date?

The company commits to support restoration of forests and natural ecosystems. However, it is unclear if suppliers are required to restore deforestation/conversion within their own operations caused by themselves or third parties.

66. Implementing a landscape or jurisdictional level approach?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Partial points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that do not fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company commits to participate in and support multi-stakeholder planning and policy efforts that uphold the GPSNR principles at a landscape, jurisdictional or other spatial level in its own reporting, however, no evidence of implementation was found.

67. Biodiversity policy?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

68. Biodiversity policy applies to all suppliers?

The company commits suppliers to general biodiversity protection, but no clear biodiversity policy was found.

69. Identified species of conservation concern, referencing international or national system of species classification?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

70. Examples of species and/or habitat conservation management?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

71. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

72. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to only allow sustainable hunting of species by local communities for subsistence purposes in their operations.

73. Commitment to protect areas from illegal activities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

74. Commitment to protect forest areas from illegal activities applies to all suppliers?

The company only commits suppliers to certain forms of illegal activities which include protecting wildlife, including rare, threatened, endangered, and critically endangered species, from poaching, overhunting, and habitat loss.

75. Evidence of protecting forest areas from illegal activities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

76. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

77. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments applies to all suppliers?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits all suppliers to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments.

78. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments available for all new plantings since 1st April 2019?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

79. High Conservation Value (HCV) management and monitoring plans available for all new plantings since 1st April 2019?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

80. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

81. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to apply the HCS Approach, as defined by the HCS Approach Toolkit.

82. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments available?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

83. Peer review of all High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments undertaken since April 2015 by the HCSA Quality Assurance Process?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

84. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs)?

The company commits to environmental assessments only.

85. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) applies to all suppliers?

The company commits suppliers to environmental assessments only.

86. Social and environmental impact assessment (SEIAs) undertaken, and associated management and monitoring plans?

The company has conducted risk assessments for the impact of its value chain on biodiversity and the % of procurement spend exposed to violations of Indigenous rights. However, clear metrics for reducing risk or remedying impact are not disclosed.

87. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

88. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth applies to all suppliers?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits suppliers to no planting on peat of any depth in its own reporting.

89. Landbank or planted area on peat (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

90. Implementation of commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

91. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

92. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat applies to all suppliers?

93. Evidence of best management practices for soils and peat?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

94. Commitment to best/sustainable tapping practices?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

95. Commitment to best/sustainable tapping practices applies to all suppliers?

96. Evidence of best/sustainable tapping practices?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

97. Commitment to zero burning?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

98. Commitment to zero burning applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to no burning.

99. Evidence of fire monitoring and management?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

100. Details/number of hotspots/fires in company estates/management units?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

101. Details/number of hotspots/fires in suppliers operations/jurisdictions?

102. Time-bound commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?

The company reports a commitment to a 55% reduction in its emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2) compared to 2017 Levels by 2030 and to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2050.

103. GHG emissions?

The company reports the GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) of its domestic and overseas factories as 1,034 (kt-CO2e) for location and 729 (kt-CO2e) for market in 2023.

104. GHG emissions from land use change in company's own operations (scope 1)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

105. GHG emissions from land use change in supplier operations (scope 3)?

106. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions?

[Externally verified] The company reports a reduction in its GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) of all domestic and overseas factories from 1,045 (kt-CO2e) in 2022 to 1,034 (kt-CO2e) in 2023 for location and from 848 (kt-CO2e) in 2022 to 729 (kt-CO2e) in 2023 for the market. Evidence is externally verified by LRQA.

107. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

The company reports using the ""Basic Guideline on the Calculation of GHG Emissions from Supply Chains Ver. 2.5" issued by the Ministry of the Environment.

108. Time-bound commitment to improve water use intensity?

109. Water use intensity?

11550 - The company reports the water consumption volume (global environmental data of domestic and overseas factories) as 11,550 (1,000 m3) in 2023. However, the figures are not reported as intensity.

110. Progress towards commitment on water use intensity?

The company reports an increase in its water consumption from 11,318 (1,000 m3) in 2022 to 11,550 (1,000 m3) in 2023. The figures are also not reported as intensity.

111. Time-bound commitment to improve water quality (BOD or COD)?

The company only states that it regularly measures and manages water quality items such as the hydrogen ion concentration index (pH value), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD concentration), and suspended solids (SS concentration). However, a clear commitment to improve water quality (BOD or COD) over time is not reported.

112. Progress towards commitment on water quality (BOD or COD)?

113. Treatment of effluents from processing facilities?

The company reports it treats wastewater from natural rubber processing facilities. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

114. Treatment of effluents from manufacturing facilities?

The company reports it treats wastewater from natural rubber manufacturing facilities. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

115. Commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

116. Implementation of commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

117. Reducing odours from natural rubber processing or manufacuring facilities?

The company reports its odour treatment system at its processing facility is a water-based odour capture system with two wet scrubber stations. For manufacturing facilities, the company reports preventing odour nuisance by expanding its odour treatment system. Evidence is not externally verified.

118. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

119. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers, applies to all suppliers?

120. Commitment to no use of paraquat?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

121. Commitment to no use of paraquat applies to all suppliers?

122. Commitment to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

123. Commitment to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides applies to all suppliers?

124. Commitment to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

125. Commitment to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention applies to all suppliers?

126. Chemical usage per ha or list of chemicals used?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

127. Implementation of commitment to minimise inorganic fertiliser usage?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

128. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

129. Commitment to human rights?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in its reporting.

130. Commitment to human rights applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights.

131. Progress on human rights commitment?

The company reports that a Human Rights Subcommittee was established as one of the working groups under the Sustainability Promotion Committee in 2023 and also held study sessions on business and human rights for officers and managers. In 2024, the company is developing an overall roadmap for human rights risk identification and human rights due diligence for domestic and overseas group companies. Evidence is not externally verified.

132. Commitment to respect Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' rights?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also reports commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in its reporting, however, the commitment is reported in relation to FPIC.

133. Commitment to Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' rights applies to all suppliers?

The company commits suppliers to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, however, the commitment is reported in relation to FPIC.

134. Commitment to respect legal and customary land tenure rights?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also reports its commitment to recognise and protect the customary and traditional communal land tenure rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities. However, the commitment is reported in relation to FPIC and doesn't cover legal rights.

135. Commitment to legal and customary land rights applies to all suppliers?

The company commits suppliers to recognise and protect the customary and traditional communal land tenure rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. However, the commitment is reported in relation to FPIC and doesn't cover legal rights.

136. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) in its reporting.

137. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to respect FPIC.

138. Details on Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process available?

139. Examples of local stakeholder engagement to prevent conflicts?

140. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

141. Supports the inclusion of women across natural rubber operations, including addressing barriers faced?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

142. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

143. Progress on commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

144. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

145. Progress on commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

146. Commitment to provide business/work opportunities for local communities?

The company commits to providing employment opportunities for local communities.

147. Commitment to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles?

The company commits to the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

148. Commitment to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

149. Progress on commitment to respect all workers' rights?

The company reports engaging in activities in which labour and management are united in the pursuit of corporate development and employee happiness. It also organised a Labor-Management Wages Study Group comprising personnel from the union leadership and the company's Human Resources Department to review the human resources system and working conditions and has maintained it ever since. The company also has labour-management committees to discuss different aspects of labour rights. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

150. Commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment?

The company commits to respect ILO Convention 111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation).

151. Commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to respect ILO Convention 111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation).

152. Progress on commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment?

The company holds networking events for women, conducts unconscious bias training, and has upgraded facilities for women.

153. Reports gender balance of employees?

3022 - The company only reports the average number of temporary employees for FY2023.

154. Percentage or number of women employees?

12% - The company reports the ""ratio of female employees to the total number of employees (non-consolidated basis)"" as 12% in 2023. This information does not cover female employees in all countries.

155. Commitment to pay a living wage?

The company reports to ""support"" decent living wages. It is unclear if the company commits to paying all employees a living wage.

156. Commitment to pay a living wage applies to all suppliers?

The company commits its suppliers to ""support"" decent living wages. It is unclear if suppliers are committed to paying all employees a living wage.

157. Progress on commitment to pay a living wage?

158. Reporting of salary by gender?

The company reports the gaps between average wages paid to men and women (average wages paid to men=100) as 69.6% for full-time employees and 68.9 % for all direct employees in 2023. However, the information is not split for each employee category, by significant locations of operation (in line with GRI reporting).

159. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

The company commits to address health and safety at work for all workers.

160. Commitment to address occupational health and safety applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to address health and safety at work for all workers.

161. Provision of personal protective equipment and related training?

[Externally verified] Limited, externally verified points have been awarded on the basis of the company's FSC Chain of Custody certification (FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1) as the requirements do not fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria.

162. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

2.06 - The company reports the frequency rate of accidents (Frequency rate of accidents = The number of individuals who suffered injuries or fatalities / Actual working hours × 1,000,000) involving lost workdays for all industries as 2.06 in 2022. However, the information reported is from 2022 and is over two years old now.

163. Number of fatalities as a result of work-based accidents?

2 - The company reports it recorded a total of two accidents resulting in a fatality at an overseas group company in 2022. However, the information reported is over two years old now.

164. Commitment to support smallholders?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits to supporting smallholders in its own reporting.

165. Percentage of supply from smallholders?

166. Programme to support scheme smallholders/outgrowers?

The company reports different programs through which it supports smallholders in different countries, which include undertaking a pilot project in Jambi Province, Indonesia where it conducts surveys to assess the status of natural rubber farms and their raw material distribution routes, the provision of training to farmers and the free-of-charge provision of fertilisers. The company is also providing financial assistance to the Capacity Building Project undertaken by the GPSNR in Thailand to support smallholders. The objectives of this project include helping farmers achieve higher incomes and promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). However, it is not clear if this relates to scheme or independent smallholders.

167. Percentage of scheme smallholders/outgrowers involved in programme?

168. Programme to support independent smallholders?

The company reports different programs through which it supports smallholders in different countries, which include undertaking a pilot project in Jambi Province, Indonesia where it conducts surveys to assess the status of natural rubber farms and their raw material distribution routes, the provision of training to farmers and the free-of-charge provision of fertilisers. The company is also providing financial assistance to the Capacity Building Project undertaken by the GPSNR in Thailand to support smallholders. The objectives of this project include helping farmers achieve higher incomes and promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). However, it is not clear if this relates to scheme or independent smallholders.

169. Percentage of independent smallholders involved in programme?

170. Process used to engage smallholder suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

171. Number or percentage of smallholder suppliers engaged on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

172. Process used to prioritise, assess and/or engage non-smallholder suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

The company reports it does the conventional assessment of its business partners based on QCD and states that in January 2021, it began using a monitoring tool provided by EcoVadis SAS to evaluate its suppliers in terms of human rights, governance, and the environment. In order to appropriately promote activities in accordance with the Procurement Guidelines, suppliers conduct an internal audit or undergo an assessment by a third-party organization, EcoVadis, and obtain a score of 45 points (standard score) or higher. However, the details of the process are not reported.

173. Number or percentage of non-smallholder suppliers assessed and/or engaged on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

174. Suspension or exclusion criteria for non-smallholder suppliers?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Chain of Custody Certification Standard (FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1). Partial points have been awarded as the requirements do not full meet the SPOTT scoring criteria. The company's reporting states that if a supplier is found to be in violation of its sustainable rubber policy, the company's relationship with the supplier will be reviewed, which may result in the suspension of future business transactions with that supplier. However, the steps that will be taken and timeframes for action are not reported.

175. Time-bound action plans (including Key Performance Indicators) for suppliers to be in compliance with natural rubber sourcing commitments?

The company aims to procure 95% of tyre raw materials on a purchase-value basis from suppliers who earn scores of 45 or higher on EcoVadis by 2030. No detail is given.

176. Proportion of supply from suppliers that is verified as deforestation- and/or conversion-free (DCF)?

177. Percentage of supply coming from agroforestry?

178. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

The company commits to ethical conduct and the prohibition of corruption.

179. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption applies to all suppliers?

The company only commits all suppliers to the prohibition of corruption. However, a commitment to ethical conduct is not reported for suppliers.

180. Progress on commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

The company reports to have Corporate Ethics Committee in place which identifies, analyses, and evaluates compliance risks throughout the group, plans and conducts training, ascertains the cause of violations, and proposes preventive measures. A Corporate Ethics Help Line has also been established by the company to allow employees to directly report and consult on any actions that are questionable in light of corporate ethics. However, the information is not externally verified.

181. Disclosure of the company's management approach to tax and payments to governments?

The company has published its tax policy, however, the governance body/executive level position which is responsible for the tax policy and its review is not reported.

182. Whistleblowing procedure?

The company reports its whistleblowing system is incorporated in its Corporate Ethics Helpline. Details of the process, including how whistleblowers can report unethical conduct and how they are protected are provided.

183. Own grievance or complaints system open to all stakeholders?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Partial points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that do not fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. However, ZSL could not find any information on the grievance procedure of the company.

184. Details of complaints and grievances disclosed?