Marubeni official website. This page offers you information about our Supply Chain.
Our diverse global business operations are based on relationships with thousands of Marubeni Group business partners. The importance of building sustainable supply chains has increased in recent years. Both internally and in partnership with business partners, the Group is engaged in initiatives to conserve the global environment while promoting sustainable development of society throughout supply chains. We see such efforts contributing directly to the enhanced competitiveness and differentiation of the Marubeni Group. Respect for human rights is an essential element of building sustainable supply chains. By building sustainable and resilient supply chains, the Group aims to foster stakeholder confidence in Marubeni and expand business opportunities.
Click here for our “Basic Policy on Human Rights”
Marubeni aims to have all its long-term business partners*1 understand and cooperate with the Basic Supply Chain Sustainability Policy, and we have been working to disseminate the policy to them.Specifically, we are building a structure to deal with any revision to the Policy, by providing our existing and potential long-term business partners with a detailed explanation of each revision via a number of means, including briefing sessions, personal communications, and written communications to ensure our business partners have a full understanding of and are able to comply with our most updated Policy.
Based on the “Basic Supply Chain Sustainability Policy”, Marubeni has formulated individual procurement policies for certain commodities to be more specific.
The Marubeni Group recognizes that contribution to local communities is vital for conducting and growing business. Our sales activities contribute to the establishment and expansion of economic and social infrastructure in each country and region, and social investment via business activities and various regional support activities contribute to the development of local communities. Specifically, we help to address wealth inequality and regional unemployment by creating employment in the areas where we do business. We also help to stimulate local economies by procuring goods and services within the region as far as possible. Furthermore, we engage proactively with the community to promote regional development as we conduct business activities that promote mutual growth of the Marubeni Group and the region.
Marubeni has formulated measures and procedures to counteract noncompliance with the Basic Supply Chain Sustainability Policy and asks for improvements. There were no business partners that did not comply with the Policy in FYE 3/2025.
To implement supply chain management, Marubeni holds webinar programs for the Company’s executives and employees to provide a better understanding of risks to human rights in the supply chain and other important issues. Marubeni will continue to update the content every year and conduct the education and training programs.
In addition to dialogue and communication, Marubeni is working on capacity building efforts with our suppliers to ensure that our suppliers are informed of the Basic Supply Chain Sustainability Policy and deepen their understanding on environmental and social issues, and occupational health and safety. The advice, requests, or instructions are given, where necessary, and good examples are shared by the Marubeni’s sales personnel when visiting the suppliers. As part of this effort, we provide training opportunities on environmental and social issues to our suppliers’ employees. The training is designed to help suppliers’ employees develop their knowledge and understanding of both environmental and social issues by sharing information on our sustainability initiatives, sustainability-related risks specific to each product, and case studies of how we have responded to them in a webinar format. In FYE 3/2024, we offered a webinar that was attended directly by suppliers’ employees who handle cobalt. We will continue our efforts to build a sustainable and resilient supply chain by communicating with suppliers and providing training opportunities.
The Marubeni Group is developing methods for assessing the potential risks from a business sustainability perspective as part of managing the risks involved in building supply chains that are sustainable and resilient. Incorporating the advice of an external consultant with specialized knowledge in the field, the definition of risk evaluation criteria takes into consideration relevant laws and regulations, international standards, and case studies taken from similar businesses.
Specifically, the approach involves evaluating the degree of potential risk for each type of risk in the three categories of “Environmental,” “Occupational Health and Safety,” and “Social,” taking into account (1) the sector and type of each business and (2) the country/region where each business has its operations. The degree of risk is judged based on the impact due to specific factors such as scale, range and irremediable character. We are introducing sustainability assessments in sustainability surveys sent to consolidated subsidiaries and suppliers, and as part of the risk analysis conducted for new investments.
Click here for Human Rights Due Diligence and Respect for Human Rights.
The Marubeni Group consolidated subsidiaries around the world are the starting point for the supply chains with which we provide products and services. We recognize that safeguarding the sustainability of these business operations is a first step and a critical element of building sustainable and resilient supply chains. With this recognition, the Marubeni Group has instituted sustainability surveys for our consolidated subsidiaries from FYE 3/2020 to FYE 3/2021. All of the Group’s consolidated subsidiaries, which are approximately 400, are included in the subject of the survey, and of these, approximately 200 subsidiaries, which are considered that they are necessary to have detailed confirmation of the potential risks, are surveyed. For these 200 subsidiaries, we first assessed the potential risk level of each company using the sustainability assessment method. After taking into account the characteristics of subsidiaries’ industries, we selected those consolidated subsidiaries with a certain level of potential risk or higher, as candidates for the on-site survey, while we conducted a written survey of the other consolidated subsidiaries. We visited five of our domestic consolidated subsidiaries together with external consultants with specialized knowledge to conduct on-site investigations to confirm that the business is operated appropriately in terms of environmental, occupational health and safety, and social aspects. As a result of the document and on-site investigations, we did not identify problems that require immediate action.
Since then, we have continued to monitor risk factors, including the presence or absence of changes in their business models that could affect their sustainability risk profile, as follow-up activities for the sustainability survey of our consolidated subsidiaries (survey for managing sustainability-related points of change at consolidated subsidiaries) mentioned above. This survey is aimed at confirming that, when certain points of change in their businesses or services were confirmed in the last one year, our consolidated subsidiaries have fully enhanced their management in the environmental, occupational health and safety including labor standards, and social aspects in response to those changes. If any problems are discovered in this survey, we take actions to improve the management, such as giving advice or recommendations about necessary improvement measures. In the survey conducted in FYE 3/2025, we found points of change at 10 consolidated subsidiaries. Each had strengthened their management in response to the changes, and we found no problem requiring immediate additional measures.
Click here for the details of past on-site inspection(PDF: 10.8MB)
In accordance with the Sustainability Guidelines of the Basic Supply Chain Sustainability Policy (hereinafter referred to as “Basic Policy”), Marubeni conducts on-site surveys for suppliers at their manufacturing and production sites to see their initiatives in relation to our Basic Policy.
Multifaceted surveys suitable for the business situation and regional characteristics are conducted on-site, covering areas such as human rights (including child labor or forced labor), observance of law, fair trade, health and safety, quality control, environment, and disclosure of information. The issues of the survey and the survey methods are constantly being reviewed, including third-party opinions, in an effort to always be relevant to the current situations. Survey results are also reported back to the visited sites, so that the information can be shared and utilized for further improvement. If there are cases that do not meet our rules, are non-compliant, or are confirmed to have negative impact, we encourage the suppliers to report by their own initiative and take actions to lessen the effects, in our effort to reduce environmental and social impact throughout the entire supply chain.
For any non-compliance, we handle it through actions for improvement towards the supplier. We give training, enlightenment activities, support, and corrective instructions to the suppliers to promote environmental and social countermeasures. If no improvements are made after these activities, we warn the supplier that we may stop doing business with them.
From FYE 3/2012 to FYE 3/2019, we conducted on-site inspections of 18 suppliers. On-site inspections were not conducted between FYE 3/2020 and FYE 3/2022 due to the impact of the new coronavirus, but they were resumed in November 2022, and from FYE 3/2023 we visited eight companies which handle products with potentially high sustainability risks in the supply chain sustainability perspective (cumulative total from FYE 3/2012 to FYE 3/2025: 26 companies). We will continue to strive to promote understanding of sustainability by holding training sessions for suppliers on environmental, social, and other sustainability issues, and promote initiatives to reduce environmental and social impacts throughout the supply chain, in order to create a sustainable and resilient supply chain.
Starting in FYE 3/2021, we are working on surveying our Tier 1 (direct) suppliers to identify sustainability risks in our supply chains. Specifically, we plan to focus mainly on the supply chains for commercial products where we believe there are major potential risks relating to sustainability. Where surveys identify specific issues, we aim to take steps to improve and enhance management systems in cooperation with suppliers.
The Marubeni Group will continue to promote sustainable production and procurement activities that take into consideration the environment, human rights and animal welfare in its supply chain in accordance with the laws and guidelines of each country.
Click here to view specific initiatives related to animal welfare and food safety
The Marubeni Group is committed to procuring beef with an emphasis on ensuring food safety to meet the increasing demand for high quality beef from all around the world.
For imported beef, we select suppliers from beef-producing areas around the world, including North America, Australia, and South America, not only for the quality of their beef, their production processes and hygiene management, but also on condition that their beef can be traced back to the farms from which the live cattle were shipped.
The Group’s major beef-related business is Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC (“Creekstone”), a beef processing business in the United States. The company produces, processes, and sells high quality, sustainable premium beef.
The Marubeni Group is committed to maintaining food safety, and to expanding the sales of high quality, sustainable premium beef, as outlined in the policy below:
The Marubeni Group’s beef-related business ensures traceability of beef back to the herd at feedlots. For our imported beef we are also aiming to secure traceability back to the herd at farms and/or feedlots.
The Group’s beef-related business regularly assesses the impact of its operations on the environment and aims to reduce its environmental footprint.
During the production of our beef products, as well as ensuring food safety, we manage our business operations with animal welfare in mind.
In the procurement of the Group’s beef-related business at Creekstone, we have ensured traceability back to the feedlots, as detailed below. For the beef that we import, we are also aiming to establish traceability back to the shipping farms and/or feedlots. The number of cattle shipped and the traceability rate for beef-related Group company’s business is as follows:
Beef (grain-fed) Supply Chain
Creekstone takes great care to reduce its impact upon the natural environment as below.
Through our business, we will continue our efforts to reduce our environmental impact.
At Creekstone, every step of the process is designed for safe and humane animal handling. A Humane Animal Handling program has been in place since 2010 which encompasses the care and well-being of live cattle during transportation and while they are in the facility.
Creekstone’s live cattle holding facility is an indoor facility—a rarity in the U.S.—that was designed to reduce stress on live cattle based on the opinions of Dr. Temple Grandin, a leading expert on animal welfare in the U.S. The facility is designed to avoid cattle being exposed to direct sunlight and maintains a constant temperature inside, with its outside walls helping to maintain an environment with less external stress on the animals. Creekstone’s indoor cattle holding facilities provide proper ventilation and temperature controls to keep cattle comfortable in any weather conditions.
The program is monitored by Quality Assurance (QA) staff who are trained and have achieved the highest degree of Humane Handling knowledge and understanding by way of the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO). Quality Assurance management staff in all facilities are Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified on a biannual basis.
Creekstone conducts a series of animal welfare e-learning training courses designed specifically for animal handlers by Intertek Alchemy and the North American Meat Institute, for all employees who may handle live cattle, to raise awareness of the importance of animal welfare.
To meet market needs, Creekstone has established a USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) certification program to provide “Creekstone Natural Black Angus Beef,” raised without the use of growth hormones, antibiotics, or animal-derived feed. The Creekstone Natural Black Angus Beef program has obtained the “Certified Humane” certification from the HFAC (Humane Farm Animal Care*2) organization, a third-party certification body, since September 2015.
Creekstone is the largest employer in Arkansas City, Kansas, with a significant economic impact on the community and the families who live and work there. Its processing facility is founded on the cornerstones of animal welfare, worker safety, food safety, traceability, and product quality and we are dedicated to helping our customers and consumers understand where their food comes from.
Creekstone
The Marubeni Group is committed to procuring seafood products that have received MSC certification*3, which certifies that the products are wild-caught in consideration of marine resources and the environment, and ASC certification*4 and BAP certification*5, which certify that the products are produced through responsible aquaculture. The status of the certified seafood products handled by the operating companies is as follows:
The Marubeni Group is engaged in the natural rubber trading business, mainly through our consolidated subsidiary, Marubeni Intex Co., Ltd., and has established a natural rubber procurement policy.In accordance with the procurement policy, we are working to ensure traceability through on-site inspections of natural rubber suppliers and other measures, and to promote sustainable procurement of natural rubber.
Click here to view the Procurement Policy of Marubeni Intex Co., Ltd.
In recent years, sustainability has become a trend in the global fashion market, and awareness of this trend has been increasing among both producers and consumers. As such, Marubeni is expanding its environmentally friendly textile business as one of its initiatives to contribute to sustainability.
Marubeni is expanding the “MALOOP PROJECT” which is an initiative to promote environmentally friendly businesses. In addition to our collaboration with Circ, Inc., we will promote initiatives that contribute to the environment through business investments and trade, such as re-materializing Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP), which is plastic waste that is disposed of on land and may eventually flow into the sea, and the effective use of PET bottles on remote islands.
Click here for more details on “MALOOP PROJECT” initiatives (Only in Japanese)
From FY2023, Marubeni started to supply polyester raw materials and cellulose fiber raw materials recycled from cotton and polyester products by utilizing the textile recycling technology of Circ, Inc., a United States-based company in which Marubeni invested in 2019. By combining this initiative with Marubeni’s global network, Marubeni will not only supply recycled fiber raw materials, but also aim to establish a global circular supply chain in the Americas, Europe, and Asia―markets with great future potential.
Click here for more details on Circ, Inc. initiatives
Marubeni has partnered with a textile company in India to supply organic cotton yarn to weaving and knitting factories. This textile company selects farms with organic certification and purchase raw cotton which is certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) from the ginning (the post-harvest process of separating cotton seeds from fibers) factories. As the company itself also has GOTS certification, the organic cotton Marubeni handles is 100% traceable. Going forward, Marubeni will continue to stably procure and supply this organic cotton.
In December 2023, Marubeni met with SIMEXCO DAKLAK LTD. (SIMEXCO) in Vietnam as part of the stakeholder engagement initiatives of both parties from an ESG perspective with the aim of further enhancing the value of the coffee bean supply-chain in which both companies are involved. In addition to each business department, the sustainability department of both companies participated in constructive discussions to deepen mutual understanding of existing initiatives implemented by each company, and also to consider future areas to focus on, confirming our mutual recognition as to the importance of addressing climate change and environmental issues, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, and international salient social and human rights issues, such as eliminating forced labor and child labor, and ensuring occupational health and safety and basic workers’ rights.
Marubeni and SIMEXCO recognize that all operators involved in the coffee bean value chain, including the farms and each step in production, including the farmers at the production sites and factory workers, are all important stakeholders in this value chain. Prior to the meeting above, we together visited farms and factories to engage in direct dialogue with operators and workers involved in the coffee farming and production process. Based on these continuous efforts to ensure face to face dialogue with all stakeholders, SIMEXCO has provided voluntary support that will contribute to improving the living standards and wellbeing of these operators, for example by providing medical supplies, protective clothing and equipment and training on best practices.
Marubeni are committed to continue our stakeholder engagement initiatives with SIMEXCO to work together to build a sustainable and ethical coffee value chain.
The Marubeni Group recognizes that there are various environmental and social risks involved in corn production, including environmental impacts such as illegal logging for the purpose of expanding production areas, deforestation accompanying farm development, and the resulting loss of biodiversity, as well as social risks such as violations of workers’ rights and human rights of local communities.We believe that it is important to fulfill our social responsibilities while giving sufficient consideration to such risks, and, in corn procurement, we are promoting the following initiatives aimed at improving sustainability, in collaboration and cooperation with each stakeholder in the supply chain.
In order to promote sustainable corn procurement, the Marubeni Group will continuously conduct surveys of the corn suppliers from whom we procure corn, based on the initiative policy below.If, as a result, we identify issues related to sustainability, we will work on corrective actions and improvements through collaboration with our suppliers.
Scope: Corn transactions in which the Marubeni Group procures corn as a contracting party.Transactions in which the Marubeni Group is not a party to the sales contract, or where our involvement is limited to brokering operations and/or warehouse storage, are excluded.
Cia. Iguaçu de Café Solúvel and Marubeni Foods Corporation, Marubeni’s subsidiary companies, take part in the platform of Sedex*6 for coffee and other beverage raw materials, and collaborates with suppliers on respect for human rights, occupational health and safety, reduction of environmental impact, and quality assurance in the supply chain.
Marubeni America Corporation, Marubeni Europe plc, Marubeni International (Europe) GmbH, a subsidiary company of Marubeni Europe plc, and subsidiary companies of Marubeni Corporation (Marubeni Intex Co., Ltd., Marubeni Techno Rubber Corporation and Marubeni Techno-Systems Corporation) are subscribed to EcoVadis*7.We aim to expand responsible business practices by promoting improvements based on performance assessments across the four themes defined by EcoVadis: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.
Marubeni Corporation joined RSPO in 2015 to procure certified palm oil sustainably.
Marubeni Corporation, Marubeni America Corporation, Marubeni Europe plc, Marubeni ASEAN Pte. Ltd., Marubeni Plax Corporation, Marubeni Petroleum Co. Ltd. and Marubeni Energy Europe Limited (the seven Marubeni Group companies), have obtained accreditation from the ISCC regarding promotion of the sustainable production of biomass (fuels, agricultural products, forest materials, waste and residues, non-living biomass, and recycled carbon materials) in their supply chains, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as sustainable land use, conserving biodiversity, and progress towards a sustainable society.The seven Marubeni Group companies commit and declare their compliance with the ISCC requirements in accordance with the latest ISCC regulations.
