As long as the business is right and the company's profits continue to rise, "Corporate Social Responsibility" can be put aside, without having to pay attention. This is the inevitable idea of ​​some manufacturers.
But did you know that "Corporate Social Responsibility" involves customer brand goodwill and affects consumers' decision to purchase individual products? It is also closely related to whether suppliers can hold orders from multinational companies?
You also know that "corporate social responsibility" is the general trend. Many multinational companies have adopted it and require suppliers to follow it. The ISO has started to develop a set of international corporate social responsibility standards, which was implemented in 2007. carry out?
As a manufacturer engaged in export business or preparing to enter the export field, do you have any reason to avoid it?
Corporate social responsibility is the future trend
"Corporate social responsibility" is actually not a new term. As early as the early 1990s, it has become a general trend for companies to fulfill. When the American clothing manufacturer Levi-Strauss hired young female workers to work in a prison-like environment, public opinion was in an uproar after the incident was exposed. In order to save the company's image, Levi-Strauss drafted a corporate social responsibility code. Afterwards, large multinational companies such as Walmart, Disney, Nike, Reebok, etc. have also successively formulated their own production codes. Europe, the United States and Australia have also appeared some social organizations related to social responsibility, forming a wave of social responsibility promotion, and due to globalization and trade liberalization, it has gradually affected all parts of the world and played an important role in the development of the global production chain. Chinese countries cannot avoid it either.
Enterprises are pursuing social responsibility as the future trend, and it is difficult for printing companies operating export business to stay out of the business.
"Corporate Social Responsibility" is currently not clearly defined. It is generally recognized that the company's operating methods meet or exceed legal, ethical, or public requirements. While carrying out business operations, the company also takes into account its stakeholders, including employees, The influence of investors, consumers, shareholders, non-governmental organizations, etc. In Other words, when conducting business activities, enterprises will focus on integrating business, society and the environment. The specific measures that can be implemented include the protection of labor rights, environmental protection, and even public welfare activities.
Although the implementation of "Corporate Social Responsibility" is generally not mandatory, companies have the right to make relevant decisions according to their own wishes. However, as the industrial structure of advanced countries such as Europe and the United States has changed, production processes have been transferred to developing countries. Many large multinational companies with global supply chains, either to maintain corporate goodwill and brand image, or to implement their established social responsibility principles and core values, or to meet consumer and exporting countries ’requirements for corporate ethics It is hoped that suppliers can meet the relevant standards of "corporate social responsibility". Affected by global trade liberalization and integration, in order to avoid loss of orders, suppliers seem to have no room for bargaining.
The industries are related to each other. The toy industry and textile, hardware and printing, food manufacturing and packaging industries often form supply chain relationships. Therefore, even if printed products are involved in exports, it is inevitable to comply with international standards and behaviors set by other industries. Code.
Many international companies have successively formulated their own social responsibility codes in the 1990s, and Disney is one of them.
Practically pursue to avoid loss of orders
Those who oppose corporate social responsibility believe that European and American countries are attempting to increase production costs in developing countries, establish trade barriers, and weaken their competitiveness by promoting humanitarianism, such as limiting working hours and overtime. It's just that developing countries have already assumed the role of providing product manufacturing and processing services to advanced countries. The rising cost will inevitably lead to the international competitiveness of products of advanced countries. It can be seen that the reason for implementing "corporate social responsibility" is not to establish trade barriers.
From a positive perspective, corporate social responsibility is not simply an unrequited effort, because the fulfillment of social responsibility and product quality are mutually causal to some extent. Manufacturers whose labor rights are highly valued can reduce the situation in which their employees affect production due to opposing emotions, and ultimately ensure stable product quality. Pursuing social responsibility also helps strengthen production safety management and protect the environment, so that companies can continue on the basis of sustainable development. Of course, more importantly, today, when large multinational corporations emphasize human rights and vigorously promote humanitarianism, manufacturers implementing relevant concepts will definitely help to retain orders. In August 2000, a Hong Kong newspaper serialized a Shenzhen-based toy factory with 4 factories and nearly 8,000 workers. It hired 400 children to pack toys, which caused a sensation in the world. Upon learning of the news, American customers, including Disney, immediately entrusted the investigation team to investigate. Finally, although no child labor was found, they found that the factory had serious overtime problems and low wages. Therefore, it was decided to cancel the qualification of its supplier, and other customers subsequently canceled orders, resulting in the closure of the factory; in June 2002, Dongguan Anjia shoe factory had a glue poisoning incident, and 13 workers confirmed that n-hexane was poisoned. More than one million medical expenses have to be paid, production has been forced to halt, and the government has imposed a fine of up to 180,000 yuan, and many customers have cancelled orders. The above example just pointed out that in order to strive for customer trust and not to lose orders, manufacturers seem to have no choice but to follow in terms of fulfilling "corporate social responsibility".
The content of CSR-related certifications is inseparable from employees, and most of the codes listed are related to working hours, wages, and employee benefits.
The ISO 9000 quality management system requires documenting the process flow and has nothing to do with social responsibility certification that focuses on human rights, but the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has implemented the formulation of international corporate social responsibility standards in June 2004 and plans to have it by 2007 carry out.
When it comes to social responsibility, SA8000 has to be mentioned. In August 1997, the American non-governmental organization Social Accountability International (International Social Responsibility Advisory Committee, referred to as SAI) based on the International Labour Organization (ILO) Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and World Human Rights The core clauses such as the declaration have formulated the world's first "corporate social responsibility" standard system SA8000, and published a revised version in December 2001. The content of SA8000 mainly covers environmental protection and the protection of labor rights. Specific codes include not hiring child labor, wages not less than legal standards, restrictions on working hours, granting freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. Although the current SA8000 is only a norm set for the private sector, it is not a mandatory international standard, but as of June 30 this year, 710 companies around the world have passed certification, including manufacturers engaged in packaging, graphic arts, and paper products, including The proportion of Chinese manufacturers accounted for 13.9%. At the end of last year, after the SA8000 was reported by domestic media, it was instantly reported that this certification standard will be enforced on May 1, 2004, but the rumors were later proved to be untrue, but the wave of "corporate social responsibility" is still in the end . In addition to more and more large enterprises successively formulating business codes of conduct, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has begun to develop a set of international corporate social responsibility standards in addition to the standards of ISO9000 and ISO14000, which will be completed by 2007. Whether the "Corporate Social Responsibility" standard will be widely used in all walks of life in the future will become an indispensable indicator for enterprises engaged in export business. It seems self-evident here.
ICTI certification deserves the attention of the printing industry
But for printers engaged in toy products, what is more imminent is the Code of Business Conduct formulated by the International Council of Toy Industry (ICTI). The Code strongly promotes that toy manufacturers ’businesses must comply with social responsibility standards and meet safety, legal, and health requirements. Specific rules include: no child labor; working hours, wages, and overtime pay must meet statutory standards; employees must be provided with a safe working environment or even Better than the health protection and risk protection stipulated by local laws. Although this set of codes was originally designed by ICTI for the toy industry, in fact the supply chain closely linked to the toy industry also includes clothing, printing, food and other industries, so it is expected that the ICTI certification will be extended to other areas in the future. industry. In fact, there are some toy manufacturers that have taken the initiative to require manufacturers to pass ICTI certification. Hong Kong exports a large number of printed products to countries such as Europe and the United States every year, and it recorded an 18% growth in the first 10 months of last year. Therefore, the code deserves the attention of the relevant printing industry.
In order to establish a good brand image, multinational companies will require suppliers to abide by corporate social responsibility. Therefore, manufacturers who wish to establish cooperative relationships with them must pass this test first.
Although the ICTI Code of Business Conduct was originally designed for I to target the toy industry, in fact the supply chain closely linked to the toy industry also includes clothing, printing, food and other industries. Such children's books related to toys are naturally inevitable. Are related to each other.
The Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency's evaluation service and business group Mai Lu pointed out that in addition to the toy industry, ICTI also hopes to promote certification to other industries. At present, many positive responses have been heard.
Many printed materials exported to foreign countries also involve toy components. If customers require suppliers to obtain ICTI certification, manufacturers are unavoidable to follow.
The Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency is one of the ICTI-accredited certification bodies. Its evaluation service and business group Mai Lu pointed out that many large toy industry buyers have committed to adopt the International Toy Industry Association ’s Code of Business Conduct and set a deadline of 2005 to 2006 Years. McDonald's also encourages its suppliers to adopt the environmental, health and safety guidelines in the International Toy Industry Association Code of Conduct. "At the Hong Kong Toy Fair on January 11, 2005, Mattel Toys' Executive Vice President and Hasbro Chairman said that they would not cooperate with manufacturers that did not obtain ICTI certification. It is reported that they will be related The deadline is June 1, 2006 and December 2005. "
She added: "As of February 2005, more than 150 toy brands have accepted the ICTI CARE Process and set a definite period between 2005 and 2006. The figure accounts for 50% of the global toy industry. It is expected that by the end of 2005, this number will Reached 60% of the global toy industry. "In addition to Mattel and Hasbro, Funriuse and Leapfro have signed on CARE standards, announcing that their suppliers must pass ICTI certification, while the German Retail Association, British Publishing Association, French Retail Association Etc. has currently adopted ICTI CARE PROCESS. In addition, ICTI is also in high-level dialogue with Walmart and Disney, which shows that ICTI's acceptance has surpassed the toy industry. "In addition to the toy industry, ICTI also hopes to promote certification to other industries, and we are happy to hear many positive responses."
According to ICTI's announcement, since its launch in January 2004, as of March 1, 2005, 343 factories worldwide have submitted application forms, 208 factories have been audited, and 112 have been issued certificates. Some printing factories in Hong Kong and China have successfully obtained certification, of which Hongxing Offset Printing Co., Ltd. is an example.
Receive certification to reduce the number of factory inspections
Huang Fuxiang, deputy general manager who was responsible for handling certification issues, said the reasons for the company ’s application for ICTI certification: "We are engaged in the export of paper products. Many large companies also require us to conduct COC (Social Responsibility Code) factory inspections. In 2003, ICTI published the COBP (Business Conduct) Code, which allows large companies to follow uniform standards and reduce the number of factory inspections. This is also beneficial to us and our customers. After learning of this news, we began in 2004 I started attending relevant seminars and realized that the requirements of ICTI were very similar to those of customers, so I started to contact relevant certification companies to obtain detailed requirements, and based on our accumulated experience in the past, we made our system according to the requirements of ICTI The certification process started around August 2004, and the certification was officially obtained in November of the same year. "
To successfully obtain certification, the applying manufacturer must comply with the various regulations listed by ICTI and pass the certification company's audit procedure. "The first audit started in August, and we passed the approval in November. ICTI pays the most attention to employee welfare, so the most important thing in the audit process is to look at the working hours of employees, whether overtime will exceed the limit, and overtime. Whether the salary calculation method is based on government requirements, such as 1.5 times on weekdays, 2 times on holidays, and 3 times on statutory holidays. When the auditors arrive, they mainly check the staff's punch card and food information, and will also find staff to visit the job site to ask The opinions of the company system, such as whether the grain date is on time, whether the calculation method is wrong, etc. When a problem is found, the certification company will propose a correction request, set a time limit for improvement, and then check on the spot. "
Huang Fuxiang, deputy general manager of Hongxing Offset Printing Co., Ltd., believes that ICTI certification must have its living space, but to be widely recognized by all walks of life, it involves many problems.
When asked if it was difficult to meet the ICTI Code, Mr. Huang said: "Because we also have other clients entrusting agencies to come to the factory inspection process, we basically have an understanding in this regard, so the (Code) requirements are not It is difficult to achieve. Mainly we are to systematically fulfill the requirements of our customers according to ICTI specifications and then fulfill them. "
For this certification, Hongxing entrusted the "Hong Kong General Notary Bank" to handle the certification. At that time, the certification fee was about 25,000 yuan, and an additional ICTI registration fee was required. Each certification is valid for one year and needs to be renewed once a year. During the renewal, the applicant can choose to entrust any certification organization designated by ICTI to go through the procedures. After obtaining the certification, it does not mean that the manufacturer can relax, because ICTi will send a monitoring agency to monitor. "ICTI recently announced that it will randomly check a part of the list of certified companies, and notify it within 24 hours of the factory inspection again. The factory inspection method is the same as the certification process. If problems are found, corrective measures will be proposed, but of course this will depend on the seriousness of the problem. Depends on sex. "
Many of the paper products produced by Hongxing for customers contain toy accessories. After obtaining ICTI certification, it can reduce the number of COC inspections, which is beneficial to both itself and customers.
Hongxing currently also has ISO 14001 environmental management standard certification. "Now if the manufacturing industry needs to operate export business, most of the customers it faces are large enterprises. They also have requirements in this regard. ISO 14001 is certainly not as urgency as ICTI certification, but it is also a general trend, so we apply early. . "
Many manufacturers interested in applying for ICTI certification are interested in knowing their impact on overall operating costs. For example, Mr. Huang said: "In terms of working hours, the arrangement to limit workers' overtime has little effect on the cost increase, because reducing the number of overtime hours for employees can reduce the extra cost of overtime paid for overtime. However, it is necessary to hire more workers to cover the reduction. The working hours and other expenses such as accommodation and meals will basically offset the previously reduced expenses. The staff cost increase and decrease will basically not exceed five percentage points. We have not calculated the actual difference, but the overall operating cost is not obvious Change. As for cost-benefit, we have not actually calculated it, but we do n’t think it has improved much. If we only calculate the productivity of each employee, the (benefit) is of course low. However, there is no obvious difference in terms of employee cost. , At least lower than the effect of raising the minimum wage every year. "
Mr. Huang has a personal opinion on whether ICTI certification will be widely popularized in all walks of life in the future. "First of all, ICTI must have its living space, but whether it can be extended to all walks of life and recognized by every company, this involves many problems. I do n’t believe it (International Toy Association) can make all merchants agree with this. Standards, but I also believe that especially in the toy industry, certification should be very acceptable. I heard that ICTI would like to widely promote this set of standards, but the fact is that doing business always involves strategic issues, personally believe that there is no possibility of a The set of standards can unify other institutions. "
Other than ICTI certification
In addition to the ICTI certification, depending on the standards of the exporting country, today's printing plants operating export business may need to have different certifications according to customer requirements. Among them, the ISO14001 environmental management standard certification is one of them, because commercial activities pose the least harm to the environment. This is what the advanced countries such as Europe and the United States are striving for. Another vendor that is relatively unfamiliar is FSC-COC (Forest Stewardship Council, Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody) certification. The Forest Management Committee is an organization made up of a group of environmentalists, sociologists and forest workers in 1993. They set a set of international standards for forest management to ensure the sustainable development of forests. COC certification determines that products from certified forests will not be confused with products from non-certified forests in any process of the supply chain, so that buyers and customers are convinced that the certified products they buy are indeed from quality-managed forests. AIA Paper Co., Ltd. is the first paper merchant in Hong Kong to obtain FSC-COC certification. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection in European countries, choose to be able to provide certification to prove that the paper is manufactured under the condition of non-destructive forest trees, for the manufacturer, it will always be beneficial and harmless. In fact, advanced countries have various requirements for environmental protection and packaging safety and hygiene. Examples include stipulating that the residual content of printed matter solvents including benzene, esters, ketones, ethers, alcohols, etc. cannot exceed the standard; heavy metal content such as lead, cadmium, mercury, etc. must be in accordance with European 94 / 92 / EC, the concentration cannot exceed 100ppm. In addition, from July 1, 2006, the European Union has officially implemented ROHS directives related to environmental protection in China, prohibiting the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in electronic products6 Hazardous substances, the packaging of such products must also meet the corresponding environmental requirements. In addition, there are various international standards related to social responsibility, such as C-TPAT (Customs Trade Anti-Terrorism Program) implementation standards, OHSAS 18001 standards related to occupational safety and health, etc. The SA 8000 certification was also introduced for the first time. It must be emphasized that since the social responsibility standards are not enforced, manufacturers should consider the adoption of relevant standards based on the content, relevance of the standards, and whether they are compatible with the actual situation, because even if the standards are It is still unknown whether the standardization organization will determine whether it will be adopted by multinational companies in the future and thus gain acceptance in the industry.
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