Environment

In addition to complying with environment-related laws, regulations, agreements, and voluntary management standards, YKK AP is working to clarify risks and opportunities in its business and strengthen global environmental management by the senior leadership.
In addition, the YKK AP Group (Japan) operates an integrated company-wide ISO 14001 system to ensure structured operation of its environmental management system. Each of our overseas business sites has acquired and is implementing ISO 14001 Certification, and all employees are united in their efforts to promote environmental management.

As part of our environment-friendly practices, the YKK AP Environmental Policy Board Committee, chaired by the president, formulates and approves management policies and strategies regarding climate change and other environmental policies from a management perspective, and confirms the progress thereof. The YKK AP Environment Committee implements these environmental management policies and strategies in sales, development, technology, manufacturing, supply, administration, and overseas divisions, and confirms their implementation status through internal environmental audits among divisions.

In June 2021, we launched the "Carbon Neutral Project." With the head of the Manufacturing Division as project leader, seven working groups were established with the participation of young engineers. Each working group has been working on its respective initiatives, and a carbon neutral technology roadmap has been developed. Aiming to achieve, relative to FY2013, an 80% reduction in Scopes 1 and 2 and a 30% reduction in Scope 3 by FY2030, we will strengthen technological development aimed at carbon neutrality while reviewing our products, manufacturing, and platforms.

YKK AP sets environmental targets for each medium term based on "How We Ought To Be" for 2050 and Environmental Management Policy.
Under the 7th Mid-Term Environmental Business Plan (FY2025–FY2028), we are working toward "How We Ought To Be" for 2050 by backcasting our targets for 2030, and then setting mid-term achievement targets to be achieved in FY2028, on the basis of which we will set numerical targets and action plans for each fiscal year.

Science Based Targets (SBT) is an international initiative that provides a mechanism for companies to set long-term CO₂ reduction targets consistent with the 2℃ target established by the Paris Agreement.
YKK AP obtained certification from the SBT initiative in January 2019. The CO₂ reduction target established in FY2017 was to reduce Scope 1+2 emissions by 30% by 2030 (vs FY2013 levels), but in response to the prospect of achieving this target ahead of schedule in FY2020, the target has been revised to a 50% reduction by 2030 (vs FY2013 levels).

To achieve these targets, we will implement long-term measures focused on energy conservation of 1.3% or more per year, fuel conversion, and the introduction of renewable energy. Through these efforts, we will reduce Scope 1+2 emissions by 80% by 2030 and aim to achieve carbon neutrality ahead of schedule by 2040.

In March 2025, the YKK AP Group (Japan) underwent a periodic audit by an external review organization using the 2015 edition of ISO 14001.
The results showed the environmental management system to be functioning effectively as an environmental management tool. Eleven of our overseas business sites have obtained ISO 14001 certification.

YKK AP has obtained certification of its greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 Category 1) and renewable energy usage from SGS Japan in order to enhance the reliability and transparency of this information.

YKK APʼs manufacturing sites, located mainly in Tohoku, Kurobe, Namerikawa, Shikoku, and Kyushu in Japan, and in North America, China, and other parts of Asia overseas, develop, manufacture, and sell products tailored to the needs of each region and country.

In order to contribute to a sustainable society through our products and monozukuri, YKK AP is actively investing in the development of sustainable products and initiatives to reduce the burden on the global environment, such as reducing CO₂ emissions and recycling. At the same time, we will clarify cost-effectiveness and explain our results to stakeholders.

Because the smelting of new aluminum ingots requires a great deal of electricity and generates a large amount of CO₂ emissions, improving the recycling rate will contribute to achieving carbon neutrality.
As an initiative in this regard, introducing recycling furnaces will greatly increase the input rate of market-obtained recycled materials, thereby reducing the rate of new ingots used, which leads to significantly reducing CO₂ emissions across the entire supply chain.
Starting with introducing a recycling furnace at the Shikoku Plant, we plan to expand this initiative to other sites, and will step up efforts to achieve a 100% recycling rate by 2030.
In addition to improving the recycling rate, we are also working to further cut CO₂ emissions by promoting the procurement of "green aluminum," which is smelted from bauxite using renewable energy.

During the manufacturing process for vinyl frame materials and vinyl windows, we strive to minimize the generation of vinyl scraps and chips through efficient production. By reclaiming scraps and chips generated from the production process as vinyl materials, we are working to improve the rate at which they are recycled. We are also actively developing new applications for vinyl scraps. We are also engaged in industry-government-academia collaboration to establish a system to collect and recycle vinyl windows once they have been used.

YKK AP undertakes initiatives to achieve sustainable water use by reducing the amount of water withdrawn and the environmental impact of wastewater discharge through the recycling and reuse of water in the production process.

Companies derive enormous benefits from ecosystems, including the use of biological resources and land, and the purification of water and air. Loss of biodiversity is said to pose the risk of a serious economic crisis.
YKK APʼs business activities also depend heavily on the abundant resources provided by the earth, and we believe that the conservation of biodiversity is essential for the realization of a sustainable society. We will minimize the impact of our business activities on ecosystems and collaborate with local communities to protect the natural environment.

“Sustainable Product” are defined as architectural products that contribute to achieving the SDGs by solving priority social issues such as energy conservation, easy-installation, disaster prevention/mitigation, safety/security, and health/hygiene.