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  • Overall approach
    4/10
    • Overarching commitment on deforestation
      0/4
      Overall commitment
      Commodity-specific commitment - commitment that does not apply to all of the commodities the company is exposed to
      0/4
      Do they have a commitment for other non-Forest 500 commodities, if so which?: NA

      Which commodities does the commodity-specific commitment apply to?: Pulp & Paper
      "As part of our efforts to fully eliminate deforestation, we have been requiring our suppliers to supply wood products from areas that avoid High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF) and High Carbon Stock Forests (HCSF) since 2016."
      Open source document
    • Signatory to an initiative tackling deforestation
      1/1
      Signatory
      Yes
      1/1
      Unicharm Corporation announced their participation in the Announced participation in the United Nations Global Compact in 2006
      Open source document
      Open source document
    • Awareness of the value of forests
      1/1
      Awareness
      Yes
      1/1
      “we procure materials from managed forests, eliminate the use of illegally logged timber, and strive to protect the rights of local residents and workers to contribute to the mainstreaming of biodiversity”.
      Open source document
    • Deforestation as a business risk
      1/1
      Business risk
      Yes
      1/1
      What type of risk is recognised?: Operational; Reputational

      What poportion of a company’s annual revenue depends on each forest risk commodity?: pulp: 70%

      What revenue comes from industries relevant to each forest risk commodity?: pulp: 70%
      ". Being fully aware that our business operations are dependent on natural resources, Unicharm supports procurement models that do not involve destruction of forests. [...] Reputational risks Approximately 70% of Unicharm products contain pulp. As a company that uses pulp, we believe that we run the risk of developing a reputation as participants in deforestation. We are conducting risk evaluations and assessments into whether a judgment of Unicharm as unenthusiastic in our measures to counter deforestation could turn into a judgment that our company is also unenthusiastic in measures to address climate-related issues, adversely affecting our brand value."
      Open source document
    • High-level management of deforestion
      1/1
      High-level management
      Yes
      1/1
      How often does the committee or board meet to assess company's progress on addressing deforestation-related issues?: Quarterly

      Which commodities does it apply to?: Palm oil; Pulp & paper
      he companies Eco Plan 2020 Sustainable Material Procurement Targets include Palm oil and paper certification - "Four times a year at the ESG Committee meeting chaired by the Representative Director, plans and progress on environmental activities, quality issues, social issues and other important governance matters are shared. Specific plans are reported using “Eco Plan 2020” as the baseline, in line with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) announced in June 2017"
      Open source document
    • Executive compensation linked to deforestation
    • Target to reduce emissions from land-use change
      0/1
    • Reporting on emissions from land-use change
      0/1
    • Disclosure of conservation activity
    • Disclosure of reforestation activity
    • Target to reduce emissions in scope 1/2
      Reduce emissions
      Yes
      0/0
      What is the target date for the company to achieve their climate target?: 2030

      Type of climate target: Other or unclear

      Is this target aligned with/verified by SBTi?: Yes
      "By 2030, Unicharm aims to achieve a reduction of 90% for Scope 1 [...] and of 30% for Scope 2[...] both as compared to 2016 level"
      Open source document
  • Commodity score
    27/90
    • Pulp & Paper
      27/90
      • Commitment Strength
        11/17
        • Commodity-specific deforestation commitment
          3/4
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            "2050 vision [...] Realizing a society with zero deforestation related to the purchasing of timber [...] Expanding the use of certified pulp (PEFC- and CoC-certified) [...] 2022 Targets Percentage of certified factories: 60%*2 Percentage of certified materials procured: 75% [...] 2021 results [...] Percentage of certified factories: 56%*2 Percentage of certified materials procured: 70%*"
            Open source document
          • Target date
            2031-2050
            0/1
            Target date
            2031-2050
            0/1
            What actions or steps are identified for time-bound implementation?: zero deforestation by 2050
            "2050 vision [...] Realizing a society with zero deforestation related to the purchasing of timber [...] Expanding the use of certified pulp (PEFC- and CoC-certified) [...] 2022 Targets Percentage of certified factories: 60%*2 Percentage of certified materials procured: 75% [...] 2021 results [...] Percentage of certified factories: 56%*2 Percentage of certified materials procured: 70%*"
            Open source document
          • Interim target date
            Yes
            0.5/0.5
            Interim target date
            Yes
            0.5/0.5
            What date is given for the interim milestone?: 2022
            "2050 vision [...] Realizing a society with zero deforestation related to the purchasing of timber [...] Expanding the use of certified pulp (PEFC- and CoC-certified) [...] 2022 Targets Percentage of certified factories: 60%*2 Percentage of certified materials procured: 75% [...] 2021 results [...] Percentage of certified factories: 56%*2 Percentage of certified materials procured: 70%*"
            Open source document
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          5/7.5
          • Commitment details
            Downstream company, traces to First Importer, no compliance check
            2/4
            Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            Downstream company, traces to First Importer, no compliance check
            2/4
            When was this commitment set?: NA
            2030 Target: "Ensuring traceability to pulp and palm oil production locations (country/region) 100%" Unicharm report that in 2021 97% of their pulp was traceable. Their target for 2022 is 98%
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            2030 Target: "Ensuring traceability to pulp and palm oil production locations (country/region) 100%" Unicharm report that in 2021 97% of their pulp was traceable. Their target for 2022 is 98%
            Open source document
          • Target date
            2028-2030
            0.1/1
            Target date
            2028-2030
            0.1/1
            What actions or steps are identified for time-bound implementation?: 100% taceability to pulp and palm oil production locations (country/region)
            2030 Target: "Ensuring traceability to pulp and palm oil production locations (country/region) 100%" Unicharm report that in 2021 97% of their pulp was traceable. Their target for 2022 is 98%
            Open source document
          • Interim target date
            Yes
            0.5/0.5
            Interim target date
            Yes
            0.5/0.5
            What date is given for the interim milestone?: 2022
            2030 Target: "Ensuring traceability to pulp and palm oil production locations (country/region) 100%" Unicharm report that in 2021 97% of their pulp was traceable. Their target for 2022 is 98%
            Open source document
      • Associated Human Rights Abuses
        4/17
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Other workers' rights commitments: Only work legal working hours; Guaranteed safe and healthy workspaces

          Details of commitment: ILO; UN Declaration for HR; Discrimination; Forced labour; Child labour; Freedom of association

          How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: suppliers
          These guidelines define the ethical standards that Unicharm wants all of its suppliers to adhere to [...] the International Labor Organization (ILO) [...] Respect the International Bill of Human Rights (the Universal Declaration of Human rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. (2) Respecting human rights Prohibition of child laborProhibition of forced labor [...] Prohibition of discrimination • In recruitment and employment, do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, religion, physical impairment, etc [...] Comply with the working hours set forth by the local laws and regulations- actions of the individual country and region (excluding crises and emer- situation). [...] implement workplace safety measures.[...] Respecting freedom of unionization and the right to collective bargaining • Do not, in any way, obstruct employees’ right to form a labor union using legal and peaceful means in accordance with applicable laws."
          Open source document
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/2
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          Commitment to address gender related labour rights including discrimination and harassment
          1/2
          Gender equality in the supply chain
          Commitment to address gender related labour rights including discrimination and harassment
          0.5/2
          Unicharm Corporation require suppliers to ensure that workers are not discriminated against on the basis of gender. "We will not tolerate child labor and forced or compulsive labor and we will never discriminate against people based on nationality, race, religion, gender, sexual preference, age, family background, disability or any other factors."
          Open source document
        • Commitment to remediation
          No
          0/1
        • Commitment to test Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          No
          0/3
        • Commitment to respect customary rights to land, resources, and territory
          No
          0/3
        • Zero-tolerance approach to violence and threats
          No
          0/3
      • Implementation and Reporting
        12/56
        • Reporting proportion of compliant volumes
          0/0
        • Reporting is independently verified
          No
          2/2
          Reporting is independently verified
          No
          2/2
          "2050 vision [...] Realizing a society with zero deforestation related to the purchasing of timber [...] Expanding the use of certified pulp (PEFC- and CoC-certified) [...] 2022 Targets Percentage of certified factories: 60%*2 Percentage of certified materials procured: 75% [...] 2021 results [...] Percentage of certified factories: 56%*2 Percentage of certified materials procured: 70%*"
          Open source document
        • Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          No
          0/3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Jurisdictional approach focused on sustainable land use
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          No
          0/2
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          Yes
          2/2
          Operations assessed to comply with law
          Yes
          2/2
          "Unicharm conducts three types of environmental audits in order to eliminate environmental risks and enhance environmental performance. [...] (1) regular aduits in conformance with ISO14001-compliant envorinmental management systems; (2) onsite confirmations at industrial waste processing partners; and (3) confirmation of compliance with laws and regulations."
          Open source document
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Report volumes of commodity sourced/used
          No reporting
          0/3
        • Monitor compliance for labour rights and FPIC
          Yes, and publishes evidence of actions taken to implement its commitment on labour rights in the production or primary processing operations that it owns, manages or otherwise controls or its supply chains
          3/5
          Monitor compliance for labour rights and FPIC
          Yes, and publishes evidence of actions taken to implement its commitment on labour rights in the production or primary processing operations that it owns, manages or otherwise controls or its supply chains
          2.5/5
          What percentage/number of new interests, developments, or expansions has the company used FPIC to secure consent of indigenous peoples/local communities?: NA

          What steps has the company taken to implement their labour rights commitment?: monitoring and Sedex

          What is the status of those FPIC processes?: NA
          "Unicharm regularly conducts monitoring on suppliers regarding ESG using the "Sustainable Procurement Guidelines" for the purpose of identifying risks. It assesses the status of compliance, labor environment (safety and health [...] harassment and discrimination), [...] child labor and environmental protection. [...] Going forward, the entire Group will make use of the Sedex platform to monitor suppliers." [...] Prevention and Mitigation Systems" [...] Suppliers [...] Human Rights and Labour Monitoring [...] As a result of such internal and external efforts, there was no incidence of human rights abuses in 2020"; Unicharm also have a "Human Rights Due Diligence Process".
          Open source document
        • Monitor compliance for zero tolerance approach and customary rights
          No
          0/5
        • Downstream: Reporting suppliers
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          For what percentage of suppliers does the company use/rely on external mechanisms to monitor compliance?: NA

          For what percent of suppliers does the company directly monitor compliance of production or processing operations?: 100%

          For what percentage of the commodity sourced by the company is deforestation/conversion monitored at the farm level on production units known to be in the company's supply chain?: NA

          How frequently is compliance assessed?: every three years

          How is compliance monitored?: Internal monitoring and verification systems

          What percentage of the company's supply chain volume does that represent?: 100%
          "Evaluating existing suppliers [...] We carry out evaluations from five points of view [...] environmental impact and delivery and, once every three years, give commendations based on the scorings for each of the supplier's activities." That suppliers meet certification requirements is part of the environmental assessment.
          Open source document
        • Downstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          No engagement or exclusion
          0/2
        • Downstream: Disclosure of non-compliant suppliers
          No disclosure
          0/2
    • Palm oil *
      27/90
      • Commitment Strength
        9/17
        • Commodity-specific deforestation commitment
          3/4
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Unicharm Corp. has a target to achieve 100% RSPO certified palm oil by 2030. Their 2021 Target was to achieve 80%. 2022 target is is also to achieve 80%. They report that in 2021 they achieved 77% RSPO certification
            Open source document
          • Target date
            2028-2030
            0.1/1
            Target date
            2028-2030
            0.1/1
            What actions or steps are identified for time-bound implementation?: 100% RSPO certification
            Unicharm Corp. has a target to achieve 100% RSPO certified palm oil by 2030. Their 2021 Target was to achieve 80%. 2022 target is is also to achieve 80%. They report that in 2021 they achieved 77% RSPO certification
            Open source document
          • Interim target date
            Yes
            0.5/0.5
            Interim target date
            Yes
            0.5/0.5
            What date is given for the interim milestone?: 2022
            Unicharm Corp. has a target to achieve 100% RSPO certified palm oil by 2030. Their 2021 Target was to achieve 80%. 2022 target is is also to achieve 80%. They report that in 2021 they achieved 77% RSPO certification
            Open source document
        • Commitment to a traceable supply chain
          5/7.5
          • Commitment details
            Downstream company, traces to First Importer, no compliance check
            2/4
            Commitment to a traceable supply chain
            Downstream company, traces to First Importer, no compliance check
            2/4
            When was this commitment set?: NA
            2030 Target: "Ensuring traceability to pulp and palm oil production locations (country/region)" Unicharm report that in 2021 77% of their palm met this target. Their goal for 2022 is to reach 80%
            Open source document
          • Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            Commitment applies to all regions, suppliers and operation
            Yes
            2/2
            2030 Target: "Ensuring traceability to pulp and palm oil production locations (country/region)" Unicharm report that in 2021 77% of their palm met this target. Their goal for 2022 is to reach 80%
            Open source document
          • Target date
            2028-2030
            0.1/1
            Target date
            2028-2030
            0.1/1
            What actions or steps are identified for time-bound implementation?: 2030 Target: "Ensuring traceability to pulp and palm oil production locations (country/region)" Unicharm report that in 2021 77% of their palm met this target. Their goal for 2022 is to reach 80%
            2030 Target: "Ensuring traceability to pulp and palm oil production locations (country/region)" Unicharm report that in 2021 77% of their palm met this target. Their goal for 2022 is to reach 80%
            Open source document
          • Interim target date
            Yes
            0.5/0.5
            Interim target date
            Yes
            0.5/0.5
            What date is given for the interim milestone?: 2022
            2030 Target: "Ensuring traceability to pulp and palm oil production locations (country/region)" Unicharm report that in 2021 77% of their palm met this target. Their goal for 2022 is to reach 80%
            Open source document
      • Associated Human Rights Abuses
        4/17
        • Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Labour rights in the supply chain
          Yes
          3/3
          Details of commitment: ILO; UN Declaration for HR; Discrimination; Forced labour; Child labour; Freedom of association

          How far back in the supply chain does this commitment apply?: suppliers

          Other workers' rights commitments: Only work legal working hours; Guaranteed safe and healthy workspaces
          These guidelines define the ethical standards that Unicharm wants all of its suppliers to adhere to [...] the International Labor Organization (ILO) [...] Respect the International Bill of Human Rights (the Universal Declaration of Human rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. (2) Respecting human rights Prohibition of child laborProhibition of forced labor [...] Prohibition of discrimination • In recruitment and employment, do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, religion, physical impairment, etc [...] Comply with the working hours set forth by the local laws and regulations- actions of the individual country and region (excluding crises and emer- situation). [...] implement workplace safety measures.[...] Respecting freedom of unionization and the right to collective bargaining • Do not, in any way, obstruct employees’ right to form a labor union using legal and peaceful means in accordance with applicable laws."
          Open source document
        • Inclusion of small-scale farmers
          No
          0/2
        • Gender equality in the supply chain
          Commitment to address gender related labour rights including discrimination and harassment
          1/2
          Gender equality in the supply chain
          Commitment to address gender related labour rights including discrimination and harassment
          0.5/2
          Unicharm Corporation require suppliers to ensure that workers are not discriminated against on the basis of gender. "We will not tolerate child labor and forced or compulsive labor and we will never discriminate against people based on nationality, race, religion, gender, sexual preference, age, family background, disability or any other factors."
          Open source document
        • Commitment to remediation
          No
          0/1
        • Commitment to test Free, Prior and Informed Consent
          No
          0/3
        • Commitment to respect customary rights to land, resources, and territory
          No
          0/3
        • Zero-tolerance approach to violence and threats
          No
          0/3
      • Implementation and Reporting
        15/56
        • Reporting proportion of compliant volumes
          0/0
        • Reporting is independently verified
          No
          0/2
          Reporting is independently verified
          No
          0/2
          For what percent of the company's supply volume is third-party verification of performance relative to commitments conducted?: NA

          What methods are used for verification?: RSPO

          Which processes or groups does the company use for third party verification?: RSPO

          Which tools, approaches, third-party verification, including certification, schemes are used?: RSPO

          What percent of the company's supply volume is verified using company verification systems?: NA

          Is the performance of compliance of some suppliers, sources, or origins not verified, and if so why not?: NA
        • Suppliers aligned with deforestation commitments across supply chain
          No
          0/3
        • Deforestation cut off date
          No
          0/2
        • Collaborative actions
          No
          0/2
        • Jurisdictional approach focused on sustainable land use
          No
          0/2
        • Risk assessments for forest risk
          No
          0/2
        • Operations assessed to comply with law
          Yes
          2/2
          Operations assessed to comply with law
          Yes
          2/2
          "Unicharm conducts three types of environmental audits in order to eliminate environmental risks and enhance environmental performance. [...] (1) regular aduits in conformance with ISO14001-compliant envorinmental management systems; (2) onsite confirmations at industrial waste processing partners; and (3) confirmation of compliance with laws and regulations."
          Open source document
        • Accessible grievance mechanism
          No
          0/4
        • Report volumes of commodity sourced/used
          Reporting total volume
          3/3
          Report volumes of commodity sourced/used
          Reporting total volume
          3/3
          Reporting non-certified/non-compliant volume: 22.8%

          What product types/sectors is this in?: pet food

          Total volume: 151.95 tons

          What is the non-DCF commodity volume sourced from known production areas, and proportion of total supply chain volume this represents?: NA

          Reporting certified/compliant volume: 77.20%
          In their 2021 RSPO ACOP report, Unicharm state that their total usage of palm oil was 151.95 tons, of which 77.20% was certified.
          Open source document
        • Monitor compliance for labour rights and FPIC
          Yes, and publishes evidence of actions taken to implement its commitment on labour rights in the production or primary processing operations that it owns, manages or otherwise controls or its supply chains
          3/5
          Monitor compliance for labour rights and FPIC
          Yes, and publishes evidence of actions taken to implement its commitment on labour rights in the production or primary processing operations that it owns, manages or otherwise controls or its supply chains
          2.5/5
          What is the status of those FPIC processes?: na

          What percentage/number of new interests, developments, or expansions has the company used FPIC to secure consent of indigenous peoples/local communities?: na

          What steps has the company taken to implement their labour rights commitment?: monitoring and SEDEX
          "Unicharm regularly conducts monitoring on suppliers regarding ESG using the "Sustainable Procurement Guidelines" for the purpose of identifying risks. It assesses the status of compliance, labor environment (safety and health [...] harassment and discrimination), [...] child labor and environmental protection. [...] Going forward, the entire Group will make use of the Sedex platform to monitor suppliers." [...] Prevention and Mitigation Systems" [...] Suppliers [...] Human Rights and Labour Monitoring [...] As a result of such internal and external efforts, there was no incidence of human rights abuses in 2020"; Unicharm also have a "Human Rights Due Diligence Process".
          Open source document
        • Monitor compliance for zero tolerance approach and customary rights
          No
          0/5
        • Downstream: Reporting suppliers
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          Downstream: Monitor compliance in supply chain
          Yes, for its suppliers
          2/4
          For what percentage of suppliers does the company use/rely on external mechanisms to monitor compliance?: NA

          For what percentage of the commodity sourced by the company is deforestation/conversion monitored at the farm level on production units known to be in the company's supply chain?: NA

          For what percent of suppliers does the company directly monitor compliance of production or processing operations?: 100%

          How frequently is compliance assessed?: every three years

          How is compliance monitored?: Internal monitoring and verification systems

          What percentage of the company's supply chain volume does that represent?: 100%
          "Evaluating existing suppliers [...] We carry out evaluations from five points of view [...] environmental impact and delivery and, once every three years, give commendations based on the scorings for each of the supplier's activities." That suppliers meet certification requirements is part of the environmental assessment.
          Open source document
        • Downstream: Reporting hectares of deforestation
          No
          0/4
        • Downstream: Engagement with non-compliant suppliers
          No engagement or exclusion
          0/2
        • Downstream: Disclosure of non-compliant suppliers
          No disclosure
          0/2

    • * commodity scores for which a company is not a powerbroker are given half the weighting of other commodities in total scores

  • Commitment strength
    11/17
    Avg. score
  • Implementation and Reporting
    13/56
    Avg. score
  • Associated Human Rights Abuses
    4/17
    Avg. score

Profile

Unicharm Corporation manufactures and sells household care items, including baby, feminine, health and cosmetic products, through these products Unicharm uses pulp and paper.Unicharm Corporation has operations spanning the globe, and holds the top share of diaper sales in China and Indonesia. Unicharm Corp is selected as a powerbroker for pulp & paper.

Sector
Industry sector 
Paper Packaging, Personal Products
Segments
Manufacturer
HQ
HQ 
Japan
Company Type
Company type 
CO
Collective Commitments
Consumer Goods Forum member
New York Declaration on Forests signatory

Top Brands

Moony, MamyPoko, Center-in

How we assess the Forest 500

To ensure deforestation free supply chains, companies need to adopt and implement timebound and measurable policies for forest risk commodities.

All assessments use policies published on company websites, some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Full corporate sector performance data Forest 500 assessment methodology

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Disclaimer

This assessment has been carried out following the methodology developed for the Forest 500 project, available here. Please see our disclaimer applicable to all information contained within this site and our terms and conditions for use of data presented on this site.

All assessments use policies published on company and financial institution websites, and while we endeavor to keep them updated some links may have changed or been removed since the time of assessment.

Please contact us with any concerns or feedback about this or other assessments included in the Forest 500.