Involvement with External Initiatives
Commitment to External Initiatives
Advantest is supporting measures aimed at the realization of a sustainable society through its sponsorship for and participation in various domestic and international statements and guidelines.
Advantest Joins UN Global Compact
The United Nations Global Compact is a voluntary initiative that calls for each company and group to act as a good member of society by demonstrating responsible and creative leadership and to participate in the creation of a global framework for realizing sustainable growth.
Advantest joined the UN Global Compact in 2019 and supports its ten principles in four areas, namely "protection of human rights," "elimination of labor abuses," "environmental protection," and "anti-corruption," and we continuously endeavor to realize these goals.
The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact
- Human Rights
Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses. - Labour
Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and
Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. - Environment
Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. - Anti-Corruption
Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
According to our corporate philosophy of "enabling leading-edge technologies," we aspire to help realize a safe, secure, and comfortable society and sustainable future as well as to solve social issues with the aim of achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), which are shared goals for all human beings adopted by the UN in 2015.
Advantest Obtains Certification from the SBTi for its 1.5-degrees Celsius Target
In November 2021, Advantest obtained certification from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)*1, a global corporate climate initiative that strives for science-based targets which provide a pathway for companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, for committing to its 1.5-degrees Celsius target. This certification recognizes that Advantest's greenhouse gas reduction goals are based on scientific evidence and will contribute to achieving the target, as determined by the Paris Agreement.
*1 Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
A global body enabling businesses to set emissions reduction targets in line with climate science, which seeks to restrain rising global temperatures to within 1.5-degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels. 369 Japanese companies have obtained certification from the SBTi (as of March 1, 2023).
Announcement of support for the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
In April 2020, Advantest announced its support for the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)*2. We analyze the risks and opportunities posed by climate change on our business from the perspectives of strategy, risk management, and governance and globally deploy proactive measures. We also promote the enhancement of information disclosure based on the recommendations of the TCFD to achieve sustainable growth for the Advantest Group, enhance corporate value, and foster a sustainable society.
*2 Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
A task force established in December 2015 by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), an international organization. In its final report issued in June 2017, the TCFD recommended that companies disclose information on the financial impacts of climate-related risks and opportunities.
Participation in RE100
In August 2020, Advantest participated in RE100*3, an international initiative that aims to procure 100% renewable electricity for its energy consumption in business activities.
Expanding the adoption of renewable energy is essential to achieve 100% reduction of CO2 emissions, which is one of our long-term goals related to climate change. By participating in RE100, which tackles the social issue of climate change on a global scale, we are promoting the further utilization of renewable energy with other participating companies.
*3 RE100
An international initiative led by The Climate Group, a climate-related non-profit organization, in partnership with CDP, a non-profit organization that promotes global information disclosure and actions concerning environmental impacts. It was established in 2014. The number of participating companies is 399 globally and 78 from Japan (as of March 1, 2023).
Advantest America, Inc. is a partner organization of Green Power Partnership (U.S. EPA)
Green Power Partnership was established by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2001 to encourage organizations to use green power voluntarily to protect human health and the environment.
Advantest America, Inc. (AAI) joined Green Power Partnership in 2012 and reached the 10th anniversary in 2022.
AAI has purchased Green Electricity Certificate for wind power generation and sourced 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. AAI will continue to contribute to expansion of green energy.
Advantest Joins the Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC)
Advantest has joined Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC), a consortium established by the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), as a founding member in 2022. We are currently working with companies that agree to the commitment of the SCC to speed industry value chain efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the semiconductor ecosystem.
Our commitment to the SCC is also posted on SEMI's website.
In November of the same year, we shared a "We Commit" video during the SCC session of the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27), demonstrating our active engagement in solving climate change issues. In addition, in January 2023, our SCC representative was also appointed as a new member of the SEMI North American Advisory Board (NAAB), serving as the primary advocate for member companies located in North America to address various challenges in the supply chain.
Participation in the Japan Climate Initiative
Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) is a network of non-state actors who make serious efforts towards the 1.5-degrees Celsius target and the realization of a decarbonized society.
Advantest supports the declaration of the JCI, "Joining the front line of the global push for decarbonization from Japan," and participated in the initiative to support the transition to a decarbonized society by 2050.
We will contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society by voluntarily and proactively taking actions on climate change and by working together with local governments and private companies, which are actively engaged in climate change countermeasures.
Participation in the 30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity
Since April 2022, Advantest has been a member of the 30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity, a coalition of volunteer companies incorporated in the 30by30 Roadmap formulated by the Ministry of the Environment.
30by30 is a global promise agreed upon among all G7 countries at the G7 Summit held in June 2021, committed to conserving, or protecting at least 30% of their national land and sea areas by 2030 (“30by30”) toward the goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss (nature positive).
RBA Code of Conduct
We actively promote initiatives on labor, safety, health, the environment, and ethics in compliance with the RBA Code of Conduct, which was published by the RBA*4, a corporate alliance that promotes corporate social responsibility in global supply chains.
Efforts for Responsible Mineral Sourcing
Although the U.S. Dodd Frank Act Section 1502 on conflict minerals does not apply to Advantest, we survey our business partners on the use of conflict minerals every year using the RMI*5 reporting template (the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT)).