Column 2026.05.11

What is RBA? A thorough explanation of RBA, a responsible business alliance that protects global supply chains.

What is RBA? A thorough explanation of RBA, a responsible business alliance that protects global supply chains.

table of contents

Introduction: The Importance of Responsibility in Global Supply Chains

In today's globalized economy, companies conduct business in collaboration with countries and regions around the world. However, as supply chains become more complex, the risk of issues such as working conditions, human rights, and environmental protection seriously impacting a company's reputation and competitiveness is also increasing, demanding that companies take on even greater social responsibility.

This article explains the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) *1) , a corporate alliance established to realize responsible business practices in global supply chains, for those in charge of CSR, sustainability, and procurement. It covers an overview of the RBA, Code of Conduct, effective implementation methods using the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), and the Issue faced by Japanese companies and their solutions.

* An overview of SAQ is also provided in a separate column ( Explanation of SAQ (Self-Assessment Questionnaire) ).

What is RBA (Responsible Business Alliance)?

The RBA is an international industry association formed to promote responsible business practices in global supply chains.

Its predecessor was the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC), an organization for the electrical and electronics industry, but now it includes businesses from a wide range of industries, including automotive, Manufacturing, and tech companies.

RBA's Objectives and Background

Economic globalization has enabled companies to connect with business partners worldwide through complex supply chains. However, these supply chains present the following risks, potentially leading to business activity having negative impacts on society and the environment.

Human rights issues such as forced labor and child labor
Poor working conditions
Environmental destruction and greenhouse gas emissions
Bribery and corruption

To address these Issue, responsible efforts are required not only from individual companies but also from the entire supply chain.

RBA provides common standards for addressing these Issue and is used as a framework for companies to conduct responsible business.

For procurement and ESG departments
Dataseed SAQ
Supplier ESG evaluation digital transformation solution for building a sustainable supply chain
View Details

The five elements of the RBA's Code of Code of Conduct*2)

The RBA has established a " Code of Conduct " that includes social, environmental, and ethical Contents as a standard for responsible business. This consists of the following five areas:

1. Labor

Prohibition of forced labor and child labor
Appropriate working hours and wages
Prohibition of discrimination and humane treatment
Respect for freedom of association

2. Health and Safety

Ensuring a safe working environment
Emergency response
Safety measures for machinery and equipment
Provision of hygienic facilities and dormitories

3. ENVIRONMENT

Greenhouse gas reduction
Waste and water resource management
Management of hazardous substances

4. ETHICS

Prohibition of bribery
Transparency of information disclosure
Intellectual property and privacy protection
Responsible sourcing of conflict minerals

5. Management Systems

Settings policies and goals
Risk assessment
Audit and corrective process
Continuous Improvement

What is SAQ? (Self-Assessment Questionnaire)

SAQ (Self-Assessment Questionnaire) is a self-assessment questionnaire used to evaluate the status of suppliers.

Main features:

Comprehensive evaluation of labor, environment, ethics, etc.
Risk visualization through scoring
We will also review the documentation, operational procedures, and corrective processes.

What is VAP (Validated Assessment Program) *3) ? (Third-party audit)

A VAP (Validated Assessment Program) *3) audit is an audit conducted by a third-party organization.

At RBA, we evaluate suppliers based on a risk-based approach, combining self-assessment using SAQ with third-party audits as needed. While VAP audits are not legally mandated, they are often required by client companies or as part of the terms of trade, making it an important process for suppliers as they may need to address any findings.

Verifying the validity of SAQ responses
On-site inspection (factory, dormitory, etc.)
Follow-up on corrective measures

For procurement and ESG departments
Dataseed SAQ
Supplier ESG evaluation digital transformation solution for building a sustainable supply chain
View Details

Issue for Japanese companies in complying with RBA SAQ

While RBA is a global standard, Japanese companies face several significant hurdles in directly implementing SAQ into their supply chains.

Common Issue:

Cost burden due to paid tools
The number of questions in SAQ is large, making its operation complicated.
The burden on suppliers is heavy.
Low recovery rate

Actual SAQ

Therefore, many Japanese companies, while referencing RBA and other tools, are taking the following measures in accordance with their own size:

The number of questions has been simplified to around 40-50 questions.
Focus on red flags (major risks)

It is important to flexibly design the Contents and target suppliers according to your company's procurement policies and risk situation. In practice, it is also common to adjust the scope and Contents of the survey rather than conducting the same survey on all business partners, targeting important suppliers or high-risk areas.

Responsible Business Based on RBA

Promoting responsible business practices by referencing the RBA is closely linked to promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) management. Internationally, there is a strong demand for addressing human rights abuses and environmental issues in supply chains, and compliance with the RBA Code of Conduct is one effective way to meet these demands. Furthermore, the RBA references international standards such as the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO International Labor Standards, and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and strengthening alignment with these standards leads to enhanced compliance in line with global requirements.

1. Strengthening risk management

Reducing the risk of business suspension and brand damage due to human rights issues.
Strengthening our ability to respond to regulations in Europe and the United States (such as import bans)

2. Improving Trust and Competitiveness

Improving customer and investor evaluations
Promoting ESG management and improving corporate value

3. Strengthening the resilience of the supply chain

Early detection and correction of risks
Building a sustainable and stable procurement system

Differences between RBA and other criteria

standard	Features
RBA(Responsible Business Alliance)	An industry-led Code of Conduct. It enables the practical management and evaluation of labor, environmental, and ethical risks in the supply chain through mechanisms such as SAQ and VAP audits.
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Practices*4)	This is a code of conduct for responsible corporate behavior, covering a wide range of Contents including human rights, the environment, and anti-corruption.
ISO 20400*6)	An international standard for sustainable procurement. Provides guidance for the entire procurement process.
UNGP(Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights))*7)	A document outlining the UN's fundamental principles on "business and human rights," clarifying the corporate responsibility to respect human rights.

For procurement and ESG departments
Dataseed SAQ
Supplier ESG evaluation digital transformation solution for building a sustainable supply chain
View Details

SAQ as the first step in supply chain management

The first step in promoting supply chain management to achieve responsible business is to assess the current state of suppliers using the SAQ (Self-Assessment Questionnaire).

However, many companies stumble along the way.

Common mistakes:

Personalized reliance on Excel and email management
Low recovery rate
The collected data is not being utilized.

Furthermore, in SAQ implementation, it is important not only to distribute and collect questionnaires, but also to continuously communicate your company's sustainability policy and procurement policy to suppliers.

*The importance of designing operations that include sending, collecting, and following up is discussed in detail in our columns on supplier engagement and SAQ practices .

To implement SAQ efficiently and effectively

To address these Issue, it's crucial to create a system that ensures smooth operation across the entire process, including not only questionnaire Create but also "distribution," "collection," "follow-up," and "analysis." Expert consulting Service and the use of dedicated platforms are effective means to achieve this.

In " Dataseed SAQ ",

Flexible question design is possible, tailored to your company's risk profile and procurement policies.
Centralized supplier management
Implementation and management of response collection across fiscal years
In addition to scoring, risk is detected using red flags.
This enables efficient management of mailing and collection progress, as well as streamlining reminders.

...and other features support continuous engagement with suppliers.

*For detailed information on features, please refer to the service introduction page .

Effective supply chain management with "Dataseed SAQ"

To incorporate the essence of RBA, a global standard, while avoiding excessive burden on suppliers, it is essential to utilize expert consulting Service(optional Service) for question design and efficient system operation.

"Dataseed SAQ" allows for the design of optimal questions tailored to your company's procurement guidelines (including the addition of timely, unique items), enabling positive engagement with suppliers to drive continuous improvement, rather than simply conducting one-sided audits. Companies struggling with low response rates or reliance on individual expertise in SAQ operations should definitely consider implementing it.

For procurement and ESG departments
Dataseed SAQ
Supplier ESG evaluation digital transformation solution for building a sustainable supply chain
View Details

To suppliers
Streamlined SAQ collection and management
Dataseed SAQ

For detailed information and Contact us about the entire Service ,
Please check here.

Sources and References
*1) Responsible Business Alliance official website : https://www.responsiblebusiness.org/
*2)RBA Code of Conduct https://www.responsiblebusiness.org/code-of-conduct/
*3)RBA Validated Assessment Program https://www.responsiblebusiness.org/programs/validated-assessment-program-vap/
*4) OECD “Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises” https://www.oecd.org/corporate/mne/
*5) International Labour Organization (ILO) International Labour Standards https://www.ilo.org/global/standards/lang--en/index.htm
*6) International Organization for Standardization "ISO 20400 (Sustainable Procurement)" https://www.iso.org/standard/63026.html
*7) United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) https://www.ohchr.org/en/business-and-human-rights