Corporate Code of Conduct

Corporate Code of Conduct

Corporate ethics

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group is recognized as a reliable company thanks to the efforts of many employees, and we believe that this is the driver of the company's growth.
With an eye towards further growth moving forward, we believe that a written code is needed as the foundation of our own ethical behavior, so we have established a “Code of Ethics” which consists of a “Corporate Code of Conduct” and “Corporate Standards of Conduct”.

In addition to instilling the group with our "Code of Ethics", the corporate ethics system has become a "living system", and in order to contribute to the robust development of the Nippon Fine Chemical Group, we have created an “Ethics Code Handbook” and distributed it to all employees to raise awareness.

Corporate Code of Conduct

1. Respect for human life and consideration for safety and health

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group makes necessary and adequate arrangements to respect human life and ensure safety and health at all stages of business operations.

2. Conserving the global environment and contributing to society

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group seeks a society where sustainable development is possible, strives to conserve the global environment, and strives to be a good "corporate citizen" from the viewpoint of coexistence with society and mutual prosperity.

3. Compliance with laws and social norms

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group complies with laws and other social norms, and conducts business operations in a fair and just manner.
In addition, we maintain a healthy and regular relationship with politics and government, and have no relationship with any individual or organization that adversely affects the social order or healthy operations of the company.

4. Respect for stakeholders

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group will endeavor to maintain a robust and favorable relationship with all stakeholders involved with the Nippon Fine Chemical Group, including employees.
Information important to stakeholders will be disclosed appropriately, with the exception of confidential information.

5. Respect for human rights

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group respects the human rights of all people involved in the business operations of the Nippon Fine Chemical Group, and does not take part in any actions that violate human rights such as child labor or forced labor.

6. Respect for employee personality, individuality, and diversity

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group respects people's personality, individuality, and diversity, and strives to create a work environment where each person can feel at ease and enriched. In addition, we strive to maintain a safe, clean, and healthy workplace and achieve work-life balance.

7. Respect for national and regional cultures and customs

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group respects national and regional cultures and customs in the course of its business operations.

8. Compliance with appropriate transaction conditions

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group will treat all business partners with sincerity in business operations such as procurement and sales, set fair and appropriate business conditions, and comply with them.
Also, we will not be involved in any actions that deviate from sound trading practices or actions contrary to social norms, all forms of corruption including extortion and bribery.

9. Respect for intellectual property rights

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group recognizes the importance of intellectual property rights, including trade secrets, adequately protects and utilizes its own rights, respects the valid rights of others, and does not obtain or use them in an unauthorized manner.

10. Proper record keeping and management of confidential information

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group makes accurate and clear records and reports required in accordance with laws and regulations in the course of business operations, and appropriately stores such records, accounts, and reports.
In addition, confidential information such as trade secrets and personal information that have been recorded will be strictly managed to avoid leaks.

Change history
Version 1: October 1, 2004
Version 2: April 1, 2008
Version 3: April 1, 2019

Participation in the United Nations Global Compact

Nippon Fine Chemical signed and participated in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) proposed by the United Nations in March 2023 to express our support for its philosophy.

The UNGC is the world largest sustainability initiative in which the United Nations and the private sector (companies and organizations) work together to build a healthy and sound global society. The company or organization which signs the UNGC is required to support the Ten Principles related to human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, and to continue our efforts to realize them.

Nippon Fine Chemical promotes ESG management with the Ten Principles for the SDGs aiming the realization of the sustainable society, based on the basic policy of our sustainability "Aiming for our sustainable growth and to bring about a sustainable society".

The Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact

Human Rights Business should
1. support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
2. make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labour Business should
3. uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the aright to collective bargaining;
4. the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
5. the effective abolition of child labour; and
6.  the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment Business should
7. support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
8. undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
9. encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-Corruption Business should
10. work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
Participation in the United Nations Global Compact

Human Rights Policy

1. Principle

In accordance with the International Bill of Human Rights, the ILO Declaration, the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact, and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Nippon Fine Chemical Group respects the human rights of all people connected with our business activities and will never engage in any form of discriminatory treatment.

2. Scope of Application

This policy applies to all officers and employees of the Nippon Fine Chemical Group. The Nippon Fine Chemical Group will continuously encourage our business partners and suppliers to support this policy and take part in similar initiatives, and we will work with them to promote activities for respecting human rights.

3. Respect for Human Rights

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group will, in addition to respecting the human rights of each individual in our business activities, ensure that we never act in a way that infringes individual human rights, including regarding child labor and forced labor. In addition, we will strive to request the business partners and suppliers who make up the Nippon Fine Chemical Group to understand these initiatives.

4. Compliance with Applicable Laws

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group will comply with the laws and regulations of Japan and in each country or region in which we operate.

5. Training

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group will carry out appropriate ongoing training to ensure a correct understanding of this policy reaches throughout the company and beyond, and that it is enacted effectively.

6. Due Diligence for Human Rights

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group will identify the negative impacts on human rights of our company, Group companies, suppliers, etc., carry out preventive investigations to prevent or mitigate them, and assess the effectiveness of our initiatives. Based on this, we will continuously correct and improve matters through appropriate means.

7. Dialogues and Discussions

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group will carry out dialogues and discussions with related stakeholders when a negative impact on human rights arises or when there is the risk of such.

8. Information Disclosure

The Nippon Fine Chemical Group will disclose the status of its initiatives related to respecting human rights.