Revised Kirin Group Human Rights Policy to Accelerate Efforts at Global Level
- Human Resources
November 08, 2023
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
TOKYO, Wednesday November 8, 2023 – Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (President & CEO: Yoshinori Isozaki) revised the Kirin Group Human Rights Policy on November 8, 2023, in order to step up its human rights efforts to the best practice level,※１ taking into account changes in the global environment surrounding human rights and our experience in Myanmar.
※1 Global, high-level industry standard.
Under the Kirin Group Vision 2027 (KV2027), our long-term management vision, we aim to “become a global leader in CSV”,※2 and human rights initiatives are the foundation of this vision. Based on the belief that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” as stated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we position this policy as the top priority policy for all related documents and standards in our business activities. We will also seek understanding of this policy from all employees of domestic and overseas group companies and various business partners involved in the value chain, and make appropriate approaches to them.
※2 Creating Shared Value. Combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.
This policy reflects the commitment of the entire Kirin Group to respect human rights. We will engage in “human rights due diligence”※3 to identify, prevent, and reduce negative human rights impacts in our value chain, including suppliers of raw materials and agricultural products, and take appropriate measures to correct any negative impacts. We will prioritize and address identified human rights issues, and continuously evolve our activities through appropriate information disclosure and dialogue with our stakeholders. We will create positive impacts on society through the identification of new human rights issues and solutions to them.
※3 A series of processes including identification and assessment of negative human rights impacts, prevention and mitigation of such impacts, evaluation of the effectiveness of efforts, and explanation and information disclosure of the status of efforts to resolve the issues.
Revision Points
・In accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and with reference to the international standards,※4 the existing Kirin Group Human Rights Policy has been made more specific and developed.
・The human rights governance system specifies that the Kirin Group’s Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing human rights issues and the status of efforts to respect human rights, and that the executive officer in charge of Personnel and General Affairs is responsible for initiatives for respecting human rights.
・The company classifies its stakeholders as (1) consumers, (2) business partners, (3) community, and (4) employees, and specifies in detail the human rights issues that are important to each of them. The company does not tolerate discrimination of any kind and gives special consideration to the human rights of women and children, and social minorities such as persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, and linguistic minorities persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, and linguistic minorities.
・It states that grievance mechanisms and access to remedies shall be ensured, and that appropriate and effective remedies shall be provided in cases where it is found that a negative impact on human rights has been caused or contributed to.
※4 The International Bill of Human Rights and other international human rights norms.
For more information on the Kirin Group Human Rights Policy and Strategy, please visit the our website at
https://www.kirinholdings.com/en/impact/community/2_1/
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About Kirin Holdings
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited is an international company that operates in the Food & Beverages domain (Food & Beverages businesses), Pharmaceuticals domain (Pharmaceuticals businesses), and Health Science domain (Health Science business), both in Japan and across the globe.
Kirin Holdings can trace its roots to Japan Brewery which was established in 1885. Japan Brewery became Kirin Brewery in 1907. Since then, the company expanded its business with fermentation and biotechnology as its core technologies, and entered the pharmaceutical business in the 1980s, all of which continue to be global growth centers. In 2007, Kirin Holdings was established as a pure holding company and is currently focusing on boosting its Health Science domain.
Under the Kirin Group Vision 2027 (KV 2027), a long-term management plan launched in 2019, the Kirin Group aims to become “A global leader in CSV* creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals.” Going forward, the Kirin Group will continue to leverage its strengths to create both social and economic value through its businesses, with the aim of achieving sustainable growth in corporate value.
* Creating Shared Value: combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.