Murata recognizes that it is crucial to protect and conserve the global environment to achieve sustainable development in the human society, and is working to promote environmental load reduction (E), securing health and safety (H and S), and disaster prevention activities based on the “EHS Disaster Prevention Policy.” The Procurement Department promotes “Green Procurement” where materials with low environmental load are procured, and the understanding and cooperation of suppliers are necessary to achieve this. By clarifying requirements for suppliers through the “Green Procurement Standards” issued in October 2005, Murata aims to establish a long-term relationship with suppliers that agree to these standards.
Specifically, we are promoting “Green procurement” based on the following 5 Steps.
Step 1: Murata Group Environmental Policy Establishment
In order to reduce the environmental load of products, "green procurement" is required to procure materials with a low environmental load.
When beginning businesses with suppliers, Murata distributes the "Green Procurement Standards" that includes details such as Murata's approach to green procurement and requirements for suppliers, and promotes green procurement with the understanding and cooperation of suppliers. The latest version is distributed through our system for suppliers and supplier dedicated portal when revisions are made.
Link: "Green Procurement Standards" Body
Link: Product regulation program for environmentally hazardous substances contained in products (excerpt)
Link: Environmentally hazardous substances used in processes
Step 2: Finalizing contracts with suppliers
Once suppliers have understood Murata’s contained-substance standards as outlined in the "Green Procurement Standards", they are required to submit the “Agreement to Environmental Protection Measures.” This is one of the criteria used to determine whether or not to start businesses with new suppliers.
Link: Agreement to Environmental Protection Measures Format
Step 3: CMS audit/evaluation execution
When conducting new business, we ask that our partners also address global environmental problems such as climate change and environmental pollution based on the "Murata Group Sustainable Procurement Guidelines." Moreover, in addition to asking to verify the certification status of suppliers under environmental management systems (ISO 14001, etc.), we audit the state of chemical substance control at the manufacturing sites to determine whether we can do business with a supplier. Once we begin doing business with a supplier, we periodically evaluate how they are managing chemical substances and working toward reducing their environmental load. Suppliers who receive a poor evaluation are requested to make improvements or receive guidance through on-site audits.
Step 4: Green level investigation execution
Murata implements “Green level investigation” for each item before adopting materials.
As the basis for this process, Murata uses its proprietary technical standard, which stipulates bans and reductions in the use of substances in accordance with legal regulations and customer requirements.
Based on the contained-substance information for materials supplied by our suppliers, our specialist staff review and certify them, and register the certified items in the environmental information database.
Step 5: Establishment of a system that enables ordering of certified materials only (Purchase Order Checking System)
We have introduced a “Purchase Order Checking System” that enables ordering of only materials registered in the environment information database and established a system to ensure that only certified materials are brought into Murata’s facilities.