Supply Chain Management

The Yamato Group has established the "Yamato Group Responsible Procurement Policy" in order to conduct responsible procurement that takes the environment and society into consideration together with suppliers (partners) based on fair, equitable and honest transactions. The policy has been approved by resolution of the Board of Directors and shows the Yamato Group's commitment to sustainability actions.

When procuring products, materials, and raw materials, the Yamato Group clearly states the contents that we request suppliers (partners) observe, such as human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, in addition to quality, performance, price, and delivery time. We fulfill our social responsibilities throughout the entire supply chain.

Yamato Transport endorses the aims of the Council on Promoting Partnership Building for Cultivating the Future, promoted by the Cabinet Office of Japan and the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, and has announced our Partnership Establishment Declaration.The Declaration of Partnership Building aims to create new partnerships by advancing collaboration, co-existence, and co-prosperity between customer supply chains and companies who try to create value.

Yamato Transport is working to improve its services by conveying information on the Group's business activities, new services, and local information in a timely manner by publishing the informational magazine Kuroneko Dayori four times a year, through daily visits to stores and by deepening the level of two-way communication with partner stores, such as by listening to the opinions and requests of customers who use TA-Q-BIN received from stores.

Yamato Transport regards its transportation partners as partners in carrying and delivering important parcels to customers together. Based on this idea, we actively implement safety measures and safety training to ensure that our subcontractors implement safety first, which is the top priority in the logistics field. For example, during busy periods -such as at the end of the fiscal year, when the number of people living alone away from home increases- we set up a forum for consultation with transportation subcontractors in advance, and study accident cases.

The Yamato Group conducts business partner questionnaires of contractors and suppliers of equipment, etc., as an initiative aimed at implementing and realizing its Corporate Stance. We work to maintain good relationships with our partners through improvement activities based on the results of our questionnaires, and by strengthening communication.

In June 2023, Yamato Transport implemented Supply Chain Management Briefings for 84 key suppliers in order to formulate a common understanding with our partners about the supply chain management the Yamato Group aims for. The briefings focused on explaining our response to growing global attention on human rights and the environment in recent years, the Yamato Group’s sustainability initiatives, and the Yamato Group Business Partner Guidelines, which were formulated in January 2022.

Yamato Transport has launched dialogues for 84 key suppliers that utilize self-check questionnaires. Through questionnaires, we identified key suppliers who have a significant impact on business and also identified their initiatives in areas including human rights and the environment. After receiving responses to the questionnaires, we identified current circumstances through dialogues and gave feedback to these key suppliers.
Going forward, we will expand the scope of surveys and implement factual investigations through questionnaires.

We have set up a task force consisting primarily of staff of the division responsible for main suppliers. The task force examines regular monitoring and holds CSR procurement workshops.

The Yamato Group has established a consultation center for suppliers, such as transportation partners, outsourced delivery partners, and business partners.
We protect the privacy of those using the consultation center and ensure that they are not treated unfairly due to the content of their consultations.