Sustainability Procurement (Conflict Minerals, Green Procurement)

Sustainability Procurement

NTT DOCOMO pursues a Sustainability procurement policy that includes due consideration of human rights (such as handling of conflict minerals), adherence to labor standards, health and safety protections, environmental preservation (such as Green Procurement), strict adherence to fair dealings, product quality and safety assurance, information security and protection, and more.

NTT DOCOMO Guidelines for Sustainability in Supply Chain (PDF format: 411KB)

NTT DOCOMO Group's Approach to Conflict Minerals

Some of the minerals originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjoining countries have been suspected of serving as a source of financing for violent armed groups fomenting conflict and committing serious human rights abuses.

In this context, Section 1502 of the "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act" signed into law in the USA in July 2010 requires companies listed in the USA to disclose certain information regarding conflict minerals, including the extent to which they use conflict minerals originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or adjoining countries in their products. Under the Act, "Conflict Minerals" includes tantalum, tin, gold, tungsten and other minerals designated by the Secretary of State.

To continue to be socially responsible with respect to this issue, we are working with our suppliers to conduct procurement in a way that improves supply chain transparency and, in consideration of the Act, we are taking steps to avoid the use of Conflict Minerals, the proceeds from which could finance armed groups. At the same time, in view of the fact that areas affected by conflict also produce minerals that do not finance armed groups, we will work to implement our approach to procurement without hindering the use of these minerals.

We ask for the understanding of our suppliers and their cooperation with our surveys. We also ask that our suppliers endeavor to promote socially responsible procurement together with us.

Green Procurement

DOCOMO is promoting green procurement policies based on the "NTT DOCOMO Green Procurement Standards (Initial release in November 2022)" in order to proactively procure materials, parts, and products that are safe and have minimal impact on the environment, with the aim to preserve the global environment.

We evaluate our suppliers with respect to their activities for environmental protection and the products we procure based on our "company evaluation" and "product evaluation".

(1) Evaluation of the corporate structure for building an environmental management system, etc.
When DOCOMO commences transactions with a company, We utilizes an environment-related activities survey to evaluate suppliers' current situation concerning the building and operation of an environmental management system or their environmental management capabilities in such areas as reducing environmental impact at business locations and in products in order to ensure that the overall supply chain strictly adheres to environmental regulations and has a system for reducing environmental impact.

(2) Environmental impact reduction evaluation concerning products (implementation of product assessments)
DOCOMO implements product assessments at the design stage to evaluate any adverse environmental impact the products might have on the environment at the manufacturing, distribution, and other stages of their life, and reduce environmental impact by changing the design if needed. Included in the assessment is the use of chemical substances that are subject to strict controls by treaties, laws, ordinances, and other regulations, and measures taken to prevent global warming.

With respect to items that are newly procured, DOCOMO has suppliers submit responses to a survey on chemical substances contained in products in order to assess the suppliers. Depending on the results of assessment, DOCOMO asks the suppliers to comply with treaties, laws, and ordinances such as RoHS directives*1 and restrict the use or inclusion of specified hazardous substances.

1. An EU regulation that prohibits the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic devices.