We believe that respect for human rights, the fundamental rights that all people are born with, is the foundation for a better world.
The UCC Group has developed a human rights policy because respect for human rights is extremely important for the long-term and sustainable development of the UCC Group.
The UCC Group Human Rights Policy is also reflected in "The UCC Group Code of Conduct for Employees" and "The UCC Group's Supplier Code of Conduct", which sets out the expectations of suppliers and is positioned as a high-level policy on respect for human rights in the Responsible Procurement Principles.
After the policy has been formulated, we consider it important to continue our efforts to further deepen understanding through dialogue with suppliers and employees who are our stakeholders.
In the human rights risk assessment, the first step was to narrow down (scoping) the business areas where risks are considered significant, and then specifically identify how human rights violation risks occur in each process in those business areas (who is negatively affected with respect to which human rights). In identifying risks, we checked the results of past self-assessments received from the UCC Group’s primary suppliers, as well as by interviewing coffee plantation officials, trading companies and internal HR and procurement departments. Based on this information, an "Assessment of the company’s involvement" and a "Risk assessment of severity and likelihood of occurrence" were conducted. The axis of judgement for risk assessment refers to the guidelines of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and severity is assessed from three perspectives (scale, scope and difficulty of remedy).
Based on the above implementation process, a prioritisation was made with regard to the identified human rights violation risks. For example, we have found that occupational health and safety risks are very high on coffee farms upstream in the supply chain, and we want to address occupational health and safety alongside the expansion of our ongoing commitment to sustainably sourced coffee.
Based on the prioritisation, the road map to be implemented by the UCC Group in the future is as follows. The UCC Group will continue to take steps to reduce human rights risks in its supply chain.
The importance of corporate responsibility regarding efforts to respect human rights and their actions in the value chain is increasing. The UCC Group hopes to contribute to the realization of a better world where people's dignity is protected by deepening our understanding of various human rights issues in the countries around the world where we do business and by being actively involved in their resolution.
Therefore, the UCC Group has joined the "Dialogue and Remedy Platform" operated and provided by the Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights (JaCER) from April 2024. JaCER is an organization that provides a non-judicial grievance platform in compliance with the UNGP (United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights) and aims to support and promote the handling of grievances by member companies from a professional standpoint. The UCC Group aims to promote fairness and transparency in the handling of complaints and to promote dialogue and relief by utilizing the JaCER platform, as well as to resolve human rights issues.
JaCER Click here for the reporting form
The UCC Group uses JaCER to receive the details of cases from informants.
JaCER will then exchange information with the informant on the subject matter of the human rights case.
The UCC Group will receive the information and will make efforts to resolve the matter through dialogue between the informant and the UCC Group.
Since reports are received via JaCER, the anonymity of the informant and the confidentiality of the content of the report are ensured if desired.
The UCC Group will continue to enhance the Grievance Mechanism by widely informing the domestic and international value chain about the utilization of JaCER.
