YKK Announces Environmental Vision 2050

June 25, 2019

 YKK Corporation (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroaki Otani, hereinafter YKK) announces that in April 2019 it formulated the YKK Group Environmental Vision 2050, "Towards a brighter future for nature and humanity," 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 Vision identifies issues that the Group must address, which were gathered during multiple workshops conducted with younger employees who will lead YKK Group in the future. The company also distilled initiatives and key phrases of common interest based on the results of an employee survey conducted in YKK's six global regions. In this way, the Vision reflects the ideas and opinions of the employees who will become the main driving force behind YKK Group's future activities.

While steadily executing activities (through FY2020) based on the ongoing YKK Group Fifth Mid-Term Environmental Management Principles, YKK will simultaneously proceed with preparing activities based on the Vision, which will go into effect starting FY2021. Specifically, YKK will break the Vision down further to the levels of Group companies and businesses, establishing environmental principles and effective target values that can be implemented.

YKK Group Environmental Vision 2050
"Towards a brighter future for nature and humanity"

Responding to climate change

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The climate change that is occurring on a global scale has become a serious problem for all organisms living on Earth. Considering it our responsibility as a member of society to take actions to mitigate this problem, the YKK Group is striving to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, including CO2, and adapt to climate change.

Sustainable use of water

While water is an essential resource for sustaining life and all types of industry, the amount and quality available vary widely depending on the country and region. For those of us who aim for prosperous coexistence with society, joining our communities in sustainably utilizing water resources is essential. Therefore, we are taking actions such as cutting back the volume of water intake and reducing the environmental load in waste water.

Utilization of resources

Since the YKK Group manufactures many products, including zippers and windows, various types of resources that constitute raw materials are essential for us. To ensure that we will be able to stably continue supplying our products well into the future, we are acting to maximize effective utilization of non-renewable resources, and also taking initiatives to recycle the waste materials generated throughout the entire life cycle of our products.

Symbiosis with nature

Nature provides resources essential to an affluent lifestyle, such as a stable atmosphere, clean water, and healthy food, and gives us places for recreation. To leave the possibility of an affluent lifestyle for the generations to come, we are engaged in activities to protect the natural environment and reduce our environmental impact.

Formulation Process and Future Expansion

  • ・Opinion exchange with management (June 2018)
  • ・Employee-led workshops and surveys (October and November 2018)
  • ・YKK Environmental Policy Committee (January 2019)
  • ・Review by management and vision formulation (April 2019)
  • ・Establishment of environmental principles/goals at each company and business (through FY2020)
  • ・Execution of environmental principles and achievement of goals (starting in FY2021)