Printer social responsibility cannot be ignored
We are a big printing company in Shenzhen China . We offer all book publications, hardcover book printing, papercover book printing, hardcover notebook, sprial book printing, saddle stiching book printing, booklet printing,packaging box, calendars, all kinds of PVC, product brochures, notes, Children's book, stickers, all kinds of special paper color printing products, game cardand so on.
For more information please visit
http://www.joyful-printing.com. ENG only
http://www.joyful-printing.net
http://www.joyful-printing.org
email: info@joyful-printing.net
Corporate social responsibility is the future trend
Enterprises pursue social responsibility as the future trend, and printing companies that operate export business are hard to stay out of.
"Corporate Social Responsibility" is not a new term. As early as the early 1990s, it has become a major trend for enterprises to fulfill. When the American clothing manufacturer Levi-Strauss hired a young female worker to work in a prison-like environment, after the incident was exposed, public opinion was in vain. Levi-Strauss has drafted a corporate social responsibility code to save the company's image. Later, large multinational companies such as Walmart, Disney, Nike, Reebok, etc., have also developed their own production rules. Europe, the United States, and Australia have also emerged a number of multilateral organizations related to social responsibility, forming a wave of social responsibility, and gradually affecting the world due to globalization and trade liberalization, playing an important role in the global production chain. China cannot avoid it.
There is no definitive definition of "Corporate Social Responsibility". It is generally recognized that the business operation method meets or exceeds the legal, ethical or public requirements. However, while conducting business operations, the company also considers its stakeholders, including employees. The influence of investors, consumers, shareholders, NGOs, 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 safeguarding labor rights, environmental protection, and even investing in 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, with the industrial structure of advanced countries such as Europe and the United States changing, the production process has been transferred to developing countries. Many large multinational companies with global supply chains either maintain corporate reputation and brand image, or practice their established social responsibility principles and core values, or meet the requirements of consumers and exporting countries for corporate ethics. It is hoped that suppliers will be able to meet the relevant standards of "Corporate Social Responsibility". Affected by global trade liberalization and integration, in order to avoid the loss of orders, suppliers do not seem to have room for bargaining.
The industries are related to each other. The toy industry and the textile, hardware and printing, food manufacturing and packaging industries often form a supply chain relationship. Therefore, even if it is printed, once it involves export, it will inevitably comply with the international standards and behaviors formulated by other industries. Code.
Many international companies have developed their own social responsibility codes in the 1990s, and Disney is one of them.
Practically pursued to avoid loss of orders
Those who oppose corporate social responsibility believe that European and American countries are trying to increase the production costs of developing countries, establish trade barriers, and weaken their competitiveness by promoting humanitarianism, such as restricting working hours and restricting overtime. It is only the developing countries that have assumed the role of providing product manufacturing and processing services for advanced countries. The rising cost will inevitably lead to the international competitiveness of advanced national products. It is obvious that the reason for the implementation of "corporate social responsibility" is not to establish trade barriers.
From a positive perspective, corporate social responsibility is not simply a pay-for-reward effort, because fulfilling social responsibility and product quality is, to a certain extent, mutually causal. Manufacturers whose labor rights are highly valued can reduce the impact of employees' opposition to production and ultimately ensure stable product quality. Pursuing social responsibility is also conducive to strengthening safety production management and protecting the environment, so that enterprises can continue on the basis of sustainable development. Of course, what is more important is that in the case of large-scale multinational corporations pursuing human rights and vigorously promoting humanitarianism, the implementation of relevant concepts by manufacturers will definitely help to retain orders. In August 2000, the Hong Kong newspaper serialized a toy factory in Shenzhen with 4 factories and nearly 8,000 workers, employing 400 children's packaging toys, making a sensation around the world. After receiving the news, US customers include Disney The investigation team was immediately entrusted to the investigation. In the end, although no child labor was found, it was found that the factory had serious overtime problems and low wages. The manufacturer falsely reported wages and working hours during the multiple inspections, and decided to cancel the qualifications of its suppliers. Afterwards, other customers also canceled orders, which caused the factory to close down. In June 2002, Dongguan Anga shoe factory was involved in glue poisoning incidents, 13 workers confirmed hexane poisoning, and manufacturers had to pay more than one million medical expenses for this purpose. The company was forced to stop and the government imposed a fine of $180,000. Many customers also canceled the order. The above examples just point out that in order to gain the trust of customers and not lose orders, the manufacturers have no choice but to follow the "social social responsibility".
The content of CSR-related certification is focused on Open employees, most of the codes listed are related to working hours and work. Related to capital and employee benefits.
The ISO9000 quality management system requires documenting the process flow and is not related to social responsibility certification focusing on human rights. However, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has implemented the International Corporate Social Responsibility Standard in June 2004 and plans to complete it by 2007. . When it comes to social responsibility, SA8000 has to be mentioned. In August 1997, the US NGO Social Accountability International (SAI) was based on the International Labor Organization (ILO) Charter, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the World Human Rights. The core clauses such as the Declaration set the world's first "Corporate Social Responsibility" standard system SA8000, and published a revised version in December 2001. The contents of SA8000 mainly cover environmental protection and safeguarding labor rights. The specific codes include not employing child labor, wages not lower than legal standards, restricting working hours, giving freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. Although SA8000 is currently only a norm for civil society, it is not a mandatory international standard. As of June 30 this year, 710 companies worldwide have been certified, including those engaged in packaging, graphic arts and paper products. The proportion of Chinese manufacturers accounted for 13.9%. At the end of last year, after the SA8000 was reported by the domestic media, it was instantly reported that the certification standard would be enforced on May 1, 2004. However, the rumors were later confirmed to be inaccurate, but the wave of "corporate social responsibility" is still around. . In addition to more and more large-scale enterprises have gradually developed a code of business conduct, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has begun to develop a set of international corporate social responsibility standards in addition to the ISO9000 and ISO14000 standards, and implemented by 2007. Whether the "Corporate Social Responsibility" standard will be widely used in various industries in the future will become an indispensable indicator for enterprises to engage in export business. It seems self-evident.
ICTI certification deserves the attention of the printing industry
But for printers involved in toy products, what is even more pressing is the Code of Business Conduct developed by the International Council of Toy Industry (ICTI). The Code strongly advocates that the business of toy manufacturers 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 and even It is better than the health protection and risk protection provided by local laws. Although this set of codes is designed by ICTI for the toy industry, the supply chain that is closely linked to the toy industry also includes clothing, printing, food and other industries. Therefore, it is expected that ICTI certification will be extended to other countries in the future. industry. In fact, some toy manufacturers have already taken the initiative to require manufacturers to pass ICTI certification. Hong Kong's annual export volume to countries such as Europe and the United States is huge. It recorded an 18% increase in the first 10 months of last year. Therefore, the Code deserves a lot of attention from 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 will pass this test.Although the ICTI Code of Business Conduct is designed for the toy industry, the supply chain that is closely linked to the toy industry also includes clothing, printing, food and other industries. Children's books involving toys are naturally inevitable. They are related to each other.
In addition to the toy industry, ICTI also hopes to promote the certification to other industries, and has already heard many positive responses. Many printed materials exported to foreign countries also involve toy components. If the customer requires the supplier to have ICTI certification, the manufacturer will inevitably follow.
The Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency is one of the ICTI-accredited certification bodies. Its review service and business group, Mr. Mai, pointed out that many large toy buyers have promised to adopt the International Toy Industry Association's Code of Business Conduct and will be limited to the deadline between 2005 and 2006. . McDonald's also encourages its suppliers to adopt 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's Executive Vice President of Toys and Hasbro Chairman said they would not cooperate with manufacturers that did not obtain ICTI certification. It is reported that they will The deadline is scheduled for June 1, 2006 and December 2005."
She added: "As of February 2005, more than 150 toy brands have accepted ICTI CAREProcess, and the exact period has been set between 2005 and 2006, accounting for 50% of the global toy industry. It is expected that by the end of 2005, this number will reach To 60% of the global toy industry. In addition to Mattel and Hasbro, Funriuse and Leapfro have signed a contract with CARE standards, announcing that their suppliers must pass ICTI certification, while the German Retailers Association, the British Publishing Association, the French Retail Association, etc. ICTI CARE PROCESS has been adopted. In addition, ICTI is also working with Walmart And the high-level dialogue of Disney shows that ICTI's recognition has surpassed the toy industry. "In addition to the toy industry, ICTI I also hope to promote the certification to other industries. We are also very happy to hear a lot of positive responses. "
According to ICTI, since the launch of the program in January 2004, as of March 1, 2005, there have been 343 factory application applications worldwide, 208 factories have been audited, and 112 have been issued certificates. Some printing factories in Hong Kong and China have successfully obtained certifications, among which Hongxingke Printing Co., Ltd. is an example.
Receive certification to reduce the number of inspections
Huang Fuxiang, deputy general manager of the company responsible for handling certification matters, said: "We are engaged in the export of paper products. Many large companies also require us to conduct COC (CSR) audits, with an average of more than 10 per year. In 2003, ICTI announced the COBP (Commercial Conduct) Code, which allows large companies to have uniform standards and reduce the number of inspections. This is also good for us and our customers. After hearing this news, we were in early 2004. I started to participate in the seminars and realized that ICTI's requirements are very similar to those of the customers. So I started to contact the relevant certification companies, obtained detailed requirements, and made our system according to ICTI's requirements based on our accumulated experience. , the certification process was started in August 2004, and the certification was officially obtained in November of the same year."
To successfully obtain certification, the applicant must comply with the codes set out in ICTI and pass the certification process of the certification company. "The first audit started in August and we passed the review in November. ICTI pays the most attention to employee benefits, so the most important part of the audit process is to see the employee's working hours, overtime will exceed the limit, and work overtime. Whether the salary calculation method is based on the government's requirements, such as 1.5 times on weekdays, 2 times on holidays, and 3 times on statutory holidays. When the auditor is present, he mainly checks the employee's punch and grain information, and will also look for a job site visit. The opinions of the company system, such as whether the grain period is punctual, whether the calculation method is wrong, etc. When a problem is found, the certification company will make a correction request, set a time limit for improvement, and then check it at the time."