Climate Change
Protecting our global communities through environmental responsibility
YKK Group Environmental Pledge
Environmental management is an important responsibility as we conduct our business. The YKK Group adopted the Group Environmental Pledge in 1994 and undertakes environmental measures in all business areas.
YKK Group Environmental Pledge:
It is recognized today as being a most important duty for all humankind that we preserve the abundantly endowed global environment and that we transfer it to the next generation in a sound condition.
Striving to be an Earth-friendly company, the YKK Group proclaims that it will address and promote “harmony with the environment” as the highest priority of its business activities.
— September 1994
YKK Group Environmental Vision 2050
In April 2019, the YKK Group established its Environmental Vision 2050 in response to the great need for environmental actions on a global scale. The Vision defines the long-term direction for environmental initiatives that the entire Group must take in order to realize a higher level of environmental management. The YKK Group, in the spirit of the Cycle of Goodness®, challenges society and all employees to create new value in order to realize a rich natural environment for all living things in the future.
YKK Group Fifth Mid-Term Environmental Management Principle
The YKK Group draws up Mid-Term Environmental Management Principles every four years in accordance with our Mid-Term Management Policy. Under the Fifth Mid-Term Environmental Management Plan (FY2017-FY2020), the entire Group collaborates on action plans for achieving our environment policy and goals. Our activities are focused on actively contributing to society and aiming for net zero environmental impact.
Information on environmental action plans and results can be found under Environment Management in the data volume.
Environmental Policy Promotion Structure
An environmental policy board committee formed from our management strategy committee makes decisions on environmental policy/principles and monitors the state of environmental policy promotion within the YKK Group. In order to carry out our environmental principles, the YKK Group has also established an environmental management system (EMS) according to the international standard ISO 14001 for each business and promotes continuous environmental activities.
Tackle GHG Emissions & Increase Use of Renewable Energy
Reduced energy use from the shutdown of some of our overseas companies due to the global spread of COVID-19 resulted in the significant reduction of GHG emissions by YKK in FY2020. Amid such circumstances, we continued to engage in energy conservation activities, such as the updating of production facilities and the introduction of highly efficient equipment. In China, preparations are underway for the introduction of solar power generation, with a new 2,144 kW capacity having come online in FY2021.
In Europe, there was an increase in YKK plants achieving 100% renewable energy purchasing. This brings the total number of plants worldwide that procure 100% renewable electricity to 10. Meanwhile, a reduction of approximately 10,400 tons of GHG emissions is expected from increased sales of the NATULON® zipper series, which uses recycled materials and thereby contributes to the reduction of Scope 3 GHG emissions.
climate change
- Be carbon neutral by 2050.
- Reduce emissions of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases in our company & supply chain.
Scope 1 & 2: 50% reduction by 2030 (from a 2018 baseline)
Scope 3: 30% reduction by 2030 (from a 2018 baseline)
- Reduce energy consumption through improved manufacturing and auxiliary equipment efficiency, streamlined operations and processes.
- By 2019, stop the construction of new facilities using coal. By 2030, abolish all coal use in YKK facilities.
- Install renewable power sources at YKK-owned facilities for power generation where feasible.
- Reduce our Scope 2 emissions by purchasing renewable energy where possible.
- Reduce our Scope 3 emissions by switching to 100% sustainable textile materials by 2030.
Action plans and their results for environmental policy can be found in the data volume.
Expanding the Lineup and Increasing Sales of Environmentally Conscious, Safety-conscious, and Health-conscious Products
To contribute to the development of a sustainable society, we develop and sell products that give consideration to the global environment and aid a safe, secure, and healthy lifestyle.
NATULON® zippers product line
YKK Group Tree Planting Day
The YKK Group established YKK Group Tree Planting Day on June 5 in conjunction with World Environment Day.
Proactive Disclosure of Environmental Information
The YKK Group sees the provision of environmental information to numerous stakeholders as opportunities for creating new partners and generating new value all while receiving a variety of opinions. Accordingly, we proactively disclose environmental information.
Maintaining and Improving Environmental Compliance
We comply not only with environmental laws and regulations, but also establish and follow stricter internal environmental rules to prevent any environmental pollution resulting from our business activities. We continuously review those internal rules to make improvements.
Reducing CO₂ Emissions
To address climate change, an issue that affects all of humankind, the YKK Group is working to reduce energy consumption in manufacturing, logistics, employee transportation, and other areas and to shift to cleaner forms of energy. We have set a target of cutting CO2 emissions by 30% by fiscal 2030 (compared to fiscal 2013) in Japan. In addition to energy conservation measures, we are undertaking initiatives that use our technological capabilities in areas such as highly efficient production systems, energy-saving technologies, and facility development and putting efforts into expanding the energy savings of overseas sites through operational improvements.
Science Based Targets Initiative Approves YKK’s GHG Reduction Targets
YKK Corporation’s emissions reduction targets were approved by the independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
CO₂ Emissions Control Throughout the Supply Chain
In order to reduce the environmental impact in all areas, from raw material procurement to manufacturing, transportation, use, and disposal, the YKK Group works with supply chains to realize a low-carbon society by calculating CO2 emissions throughout the supply chain. Ultimately, we are working together to reduce CO2 emissions.
Details of calculation methods are set as follows: Examples of Ministry of the Environment Green Value Chain Platform initiatives (YKK, YKK AP)
YKK Achieves 100% Renewable Energy Purchasing at 31 Sites Worldwide Efforts to Achieve the YKK Sustainability Vision 2050 Accelerating at All Locations Globally
YKK Corporation announces that the number of YKK locations that have switched 100% of their electricity consumption to renewable energy in fiscal year 2022 has increased by 20 locations from FY2021 to FY2022, reaching 31 locations globally.
Under the YKK Sustainability Vision 2050, a set of sustainability goals to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, YKK is working to achieve the 10 SDGs relating to the five themes of Climate Change, Material Resources, Water Resources, Chemical Management, and Respect People. Regarding the theme of Climate Change, YKK is making efforts to reduce GHG emissions both within the company and in its supply chain in accordance with the SBTi-certified 1.5°C target, aiming for a 50% reduction in Scopes 1 and 2, as well as a 30% reduction in Scope 3 by 2030 (from a 2018 baseline year).
As part of its measures to reduce GHG emissions, YKK is increasing the use of electricity from renewable energy, and as of FY2022, 31 of its locations worldwide have completed the changeover to 100% of their electricity being purchased from renewable energy sources. The company has been installing solar power facilities at each of its locations as part of its efforts to increase the use of electricity derived from renewable energy at the company, including the introduction of solar power facilities following the PPA model* at the Min Hang and Lin Gang Plants of Shanghai YKK Zipper Co., Ltd.
The status of efforts in FY2022 toward achieving the YKK Sustainability Vision 2050, including greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, will be disclosed in the YKK Integrated Report, “This is YKK 2023” (scheduled to be published in August 2023).
*Power Purchase Agreement: A model in which a power producer installs solar power facilities on the property of a business at the power producer’s expense and supplies the generated electricity to the business. This model makes it possible to install solar power facilities while reducing the upfront investment for the business.
