CSR Activities

We at Tamron discharge our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by creating "eyes" for industry and by practicing our corporate philosophy in all of our activities. Our aim is to increase opportunities for interaction with all of our stakeholders, thus becoming a company deemed worthy by all.

Tamron organized a CSR Project Team in January 2007 consisting of members chosen by their respective workplaces including Tamron Optical (Foshan) in China with an aim of achieving CSR activities planned and executed with the cooperation of employees. Under the leadership of that project team, we worked to identify the relationship between corporate activities and domestic/international environmental and social issues. We then decided how Tamron could contribute positively to solving those issues. Three sets of guidelines were established to address our fundamental CSR themes. The "CSR Policy" declares what Tamron's CSR management guidance should be. "Action Declarations" are basic ideas for carrying out that CSR policy. Finally, "Action Codes" demonstrates ideal actions to be taken by employees when discharging CSR.

CSR Policy

Tamron contributes to the economy, society, and environment by supplying customers with "eyes" for industry.

CSR Concept

1. CSR activities through our business

At Tamron, we believe that CSR can be defined as working to serve as a good corporate citizen through the manufacturing of optical products. We thus would like to fulfill the company's responsibility to society by providing products that are helpful and satisfying to many people around the world.By becoming new "eyes" for a diversity of people in a variety of situations, we hope to create and project even more inspiration.

2. CSR activities from a global perspective

Tamron does business in many countries around the world. This ranges from Asian countries including China - where we have a factory - to Western countries where we sell many of our products. As part of the foundation of our CSR activities, Tamron joined the Global Compact in August of 2007.

The Global Compact is an international initiative with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption.We work to be faithful to the ten principles of the Global Compact and conduct our business accordingly, in a socially responsible manner.

Please see the United Nations' website for details on the Global Compact.

Global Compact, United Nations (English)
http://www.unglobalcompact.org

CSR Report

We issue our CSR Report for the purpose of disclosing our environmental and social activities to stakeholders such as customers, business partners, shareholders/investors, the community, employees, and NGOs/NPOs.

Please see the CSR Report for details. (ENGLISH)

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Quality and Environmental Activities

The Tamron Omiya head office merged its quality management system and environmental management system in January 2008 to develop products that take the environment into account and give greater satisfaction to customers. Under the integrated management system policy, we have combined innovation and technical ability to provide high-quality products trusted by customers. At the same time, we have been working to prevent environmental pollution by reducing CO2 emissions, reducing waste, replacing and reducing hazardous chemical substances, and preserving biodiversity. Under that policy, we will achieve our strategic environmental goals and targets. In the future, we will also integrate the management systems of our Chinese factory Tamron Optical (Foshan), strengthening our activities companywide. That way, we will provide even greater contributions to society.

Promoting zero emissions

Tamron is addressing the issue of zero emissions, which we define as having less than 2% of total industrial waste disposed of by sending it to landfills. We are also striving to reduce industrial waste by reviewing and improving manufacturing methods and by recycling.

Reducing CO₂ emissions

Tamron is switching to energy-saving office equipment such as energy-saving fluorescent lamps and double glazing. We are also aiming to achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions by actively prioritizing activities through use of electricity monitoring equipment to keep an eye on power usage and thorough measurement of the amount of CO2 emitted in the distribution process.

Promoting Design for the Environment (DfE)

Tamron manufactures environmentally friendly products by placing emphasis on the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle). At the design review stage of product development, we assess the extent to which we have achieved a longer service life (longer use, easier repair), resource savings (lighter weight, more compact, reduction in the number of parts, use of recycled materials, easier disassembly), and energy savings (lower power consumption at manufacture and use stages). Products that are environmentally friendly and that meet Tamron voluntary standards are certified as being Tamron Eco Label products. See here for certified products.

>Tamron certifies environmentally friendly products under in-house standards
>Photo lenses: List of models presented with the Eco Label
>Surveillance/machine vision products: List of models presented with the Eco Label

We are now working to merge Design for the Environment with Universal Design.
Details of Design for the Environment (DfE) are shown on page 6 of the 2011 CSR Report.

Replacing and reducing hazardous chemical substances

Tamron has established environmental-related substance regulations, setting thresholds for substances such as cadmium, lead, and hexavalent chromium even stricter than those of the RoHS Directive (European Union directive on the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment). Based on those regulations, we established our environmental quality assurance system for thorough management of hazardous substances and the prevention of contamination. And in the event contamination with hazardous substances does occur, we have on hand measuring devices such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) devices, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) instruments. All of those instruments are used to check for inclusion of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)/polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)* in parts, raw materials and manufactured products.

Tamron will continue in good faith to follow regulations related to hazardous chemical substances such as the European Union's REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization of Chemicals) regulation and respond to demands from customers. In that way, we aim to provide environmentally friendly products that will give customers peace of mind when they are used.
* PBB and PBDE are brominated flame retardants, and a type of endocrine disruptor.

CSR Procurement (Green Procurement)

In order to promote the elimination of hazardous chemical substances, Tamron issues an "Eco-Partner Accreditation Certificate" to business partners that have established an environmental quality assurance system based on criteria of Tamron's environmental quality assurance system. These certified Eco-Partners are then given preferred status for procurement. In the future, we will also conduct CSR procurement that also takes into account issues such as working environment and human rights issues.

Integrated Management Policies

Tamron aims to be "new eyes for industry" as a part of the global optical engineering industry. At the same time, all of our employees work together to make products that customers will be satisfied with while taking environmental preservation into consideration.

1. We aim to combine innovation and technical ability to provide high-quality products trusted by customers, gaining sustained growth based on the profit gained as a result of pleasing customers.
2. We will adhere to relevant domestic and international laws, agreements and standards, and meet the demands of customers and the community.
3. We will work to prevent environmental pollution though efforts in reducing CO2 emissions, reducing waste, replacing and reducing hazardous chemical substances, and preserving biodiversity.
- ・CO₂ emissions
- ・reducing waste
- ・replacing and reducing hazardous chemical substances
- ・preserving biodiversity.
4. We continue to improve on the effectiveness of our integrated management system.
5. We set goals and targets to achieve the policy, and will assess the extent to which we have achieved those.
6. We carry out good communication and training to make sure everyone who works for Tamron recognizes the importance of the integrated management system.
7. We disclose information on quality and environmental management as necessary in close coordination with the community in all countries and regions where we operate.

Integrated management system certification

Tamron received certification in ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality and environmental management systems in 2000 at our locations in Japan. Since then, we have been carrying a number of activities related to the certifications. In 2008, we put together an integrated management system at the head office that integrated our quality management system and environmental management system. In addition, we were also certified by DNV Business Assurance, Japan for conformity to the requirements of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards. In 2009, we unified that integrated management system at all locations in Japan (head office, Hirosaki factory, Namioka factory, Owani factory). Under a single system, we will provide environmentally friendly products and products and services that are high quality, safe, and worry-free while at the same time very unique.

Head office, Hirosaki factory, Namioka factory, Owani factory
ISO9001 and ISO14001
Certification mark

TS Quality Policy (Automotive Quality Management System Policy)

“We produce high-quality products that customers can be satisfied with.”

1. We provide superior products to customers.
2. We discharge social responsibility by complying with relevant laws and regulation.
3. We continue to improve automotive quality management systems.
4. We set quality targets and assess how well they are attained.
5. We contribute to safety, reassurance, and the environment for a motorized society.

ISO/TS 16949 (Automotive Quality Management System) Certification

Tamron acquired ISO/TS 16949 certification for automotive quality management systems on August 25, 2009 for our China Foshan factory, Hirosaki factory, Namioka factory and head office. We continue to work for safety, reassurance, and the environment for a motorized society. And we are expanding business in various industrial fields and producing superior products as "new eyes for industry".

For more information