Brother Info

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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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Brother

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Last Updated: 30 June 2011
Last Verified: 30 June 2011

Brother Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions
1 out of 5
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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
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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 6
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1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? Brother has some labour rules regarding their own employees. Information specific suppliers was not available. SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage? Some rules regarding Brother Industries employees was found but no mention is made of a code of conduct that contains at least two of the workers rights mentioned. SOURCE
3. Does this CoC include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining? Some rules regarding Brother Industries employees was found but no mention is made of workers rights to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively. 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? No published list of suppliers was available on their 2010 report SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labour conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labour conditions? No indication is given as to whether Brother belongs to any collective initiative. SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy? No report of Brother Industries labour conditions policy was found on its website. SOURCE