Epson Engineering achieves RBA Platinum Status for Socially Responsible Manufacturing

SYDNEY, 16 December 2021 – Epson Engineering, Epson’s printer, projector and robot factory, has achieved platinum status in the Valid Audit Process (VAP) of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) for reaching industry-leading levels of corporate social responsibility.

The RBA is the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to corporate social responsibility in global supply chains and is committed to supporting the rights and wellbeing of workers and communities worldwide. The coalition recognises factories and sites across the world that achieve the highest standards of corporate social responsibility in their production processes and focuses on fair working conditions, human rights and sustainability. 

Epson Engineering, which employed almost 8,500 people as of March 2021, was recognised in the RBA VAP for achieving these standards. The factory is one of Epson’s main manufacturing plants and produces a wide range of products including large format printers, home inkjet printers, SIDM printers, projectors and robots.

The certificate demonstrates that Epson operates its factory at Epson Engineering to the highest possible CSR standards and is firmly committed to the wellbeing of all its employees. It represents a significant milestone for Epson as compliance with labour and social standards in public ICT procurement is an important part of all tender specifications and Epson’s business customers are increasingly demanding strong independent evidence of socially responsible manufacturing.

“We are delighted and honoured to achieve this platinum rating for our plant,” said Tatsuaki Seki, Chief Sustainability Officer, Epson. “We are totally committed to achieving our aspirational goal of ‘achieving sustainability and enriching communities,’ which means operating in a sustainable and socially responsible way in every location worldwide and in every part of our operations. We are determined to maintain and build upon the high standards represented by this rating.”  

Yoshiro Nagafusa, Executive Officer and President of Epson Europe said: “This certificate is important not only for Epson but for our customers who rightly insist our products are made to the highest standards of socially responsible manufacturing. The platinum standard is the very highest level we can achieve and communicates to the market that an Epson product has been made to meticulous standards, from manufacturing and distribution to use of resources and the wellbeing of our people. Although we are proud of this achievement, we want to assure everyone that we will continue to drive improvements in every aspect of what we do.”

About RBA Certification

One of the most fundamental RBA programs is the Validated Assessment Program (VAP), which is the leading standard for onsite compliance verification and effective, shareable audits. The RBA itself does not conduct the audits but rather sets the standards and relies on approved audit firms. The RBA recognises that the primary value of an onsite compliance audit is not in the identification of issues at a factory, but in the correction of those issues. RBA wants to recognise those factories that demonstrate their commitment to corporate responsibility through verified closure of the issues identified in a VAP audit.

RBA offer three levels of recognition:

• Platinum: for factories with a minimum VAP score of 200 and all Priority, Major and Minor findings closed
• Gold: for factories with a minimum VAP score of 180 and all Priority and Major findings closed
• Silver: for factories with a minimum VAP score of 160 and all Priority findings closed

To meet the requirements for recognition, all audits must be verified through a VAP Closure Assessment.  Audits carried out on RBA member facilities and their suppliers’ facilities are completed by independent third-party auditors specially trained in social and environmental auditing and the VAP protocol.

For more information go to: http://www.responsiblebusiness.org/vap/about-vap/

Picture credits

The Epson Engineering plant