Brother scores 1 out of 19 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

Brother Info

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1 out of 19
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Brand Owner: Brother Industries, Ltd.
Head Office: Nagoya, Japan
Sector: Electronics & ICT Hardware
Categories: Printers, Copiers
Free Tags: Fax, Printer, Sewing machine, Type writer

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Last Updated: 28 February 2012
Last Verified: 28 February 2012

Brother Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 5


1. Does the brand (company) clearly support global mandatory cuts of carbon emissions of at least 50% by 2050 or 30% by industrialized countries by 2020?	The Brother Group is committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 30% from FY1990 levels (in total emissions) at business sites in Japan and by 20% from FY2006 levels (per unit of sales) at manufacturing facilities outside Japan, by FY2020. (see p. 49)	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and of the supply / production chain?	Brother does report on its carbon footprint, however, it's unclear whether their reporting includes supplier operations. (see page 54).	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its ‘own operations’ carbon footprint by at least 20% within the next 5 years?	Only reduction goals for Japan and for factories outside Japan (and these are only per unit of sales). No absolute global reduction goals (page 49).	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already reduced or compensated its 'own operations' carbon footprint by at least 10% in the last 5 years?	Brother publishes its CO2-emissions, but the scopes of environmental data vary per year and does not include all own operations and supply chain (see page 54).	SOURCE
5. Do all new products of the brand meet the latest Energy Star requirements (where applicable)?	Brother's midterm environmental action plan states that it will make it mandatory to acquire Energy Star labels for new products from FY 2008. It is however unclear whether this applies to all new products or whether it is being done (see p. 48).	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

0 out of 7


1. Has the brand (company) eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products? If not, does the brand give a timeline for achieving this by 2012?	Brother Industries lists these chemicals as Level B controlled substances, meaning that they can still be used, but require controls (see p.29). No timeline is mentioned for phasing these out.	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) already eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products?	Brother Industries lists these chemicals as Level B controlled substances, meaning that they can still be used, but require controls (see p.29). No timeline is mentioned for phasing these out.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates) in all of its new products? If not, does it give a timeline for achieving this by 2012?	Brother Industries lists these chemicals as Level B controlled substances, meaning that they can still be used, but require controls (see p.27). No timeline is mentioned for phasing these out.	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates)in all of its new products?	Brother Industries lists these chemicals as Level B controlled substances, meaning that they can still be used, but require controls (see p.27). No timeline is mentioned for phasing these out.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand (company) support the principle of Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR), meaning that brands are responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their own products, including take back and recycling?	Information on IPR was not available on Brother Industries website.	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) provide free and easy take back and recycling services for its discarded products in many of the countries where its products are sold?	Brother has a recycling system for cartridges. However, it is unclear whether this is available in all countries and recycling services for other products are missing.	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) source at least 5% of its plastics from recycled plastic streams and does it give a clear timeline to increase this percentage to at least 25% by 2025?	Information on whether Brother Industries sources at least 5% of its plastic stream requirement from recycled plastic streams.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

0 out of 7


1. Does the brand (company) have a policy that excludes smelters of conflict minerals by only sourcing minerals from conflict free areas or by only sourcing minerals from conflict areas when human rights are respected and where contributing to conflict is avoided?	Brother does not communicate any policy on conflict minerals on its website.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand (company) have a Code of Conduct (CoC) for both its own factories and those of its suppliers, which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	Brother has a Global Charter, but this only applies to own employees not to suppliers.	SOURCE
3. Does the brand’s (company’s) CoC include at least 3 of the following workers rights: 1. a formally registered employment relationship 2. a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. a sufficient living wage 4. form and join labor unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, to develop parallel means?	See remark for labor conditions question 2.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume?	Brother does not publish a significant list of direct suppliers on its website.	SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a multi stakeholder initiative (MSI), wherein independent NGO’s or labor unions are represented, that collectively aims to improve labor conditions and that carries out independent audits? Or does the brand (company) significantly purchase its supplies from factories certified by such MSI’s?	Brother does not communicate whether it is a member of an MSI on its website.	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy?	Brother mentions performing audits, but these results are not published on the website.	SOURCE
7. Has the brand’s labor conditions policy resulted in a ‘compliance level’ of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a ‘monitored level' of at least 80%?	See remark for labor conditions question 6.	SOURCE