Environmental Management

Basic Approach

The KOITO Group declares in the KOITO Group Corporate Behavior Charter, our basic policy of the corporate activities, that "guided by the theme of 'Eco-friendly Manufacturing for People and the Earth,' we will proactively engage in global environment conservation through our business activities."
Based on this policy, KOITO has established an Environmental Policy that sets out the framework for its environmental activities and implements that policy in the environmental management of all fields: development, design, production, procurement, logistics, and others.
Moreover, our domestic and overseas subsidiaries also have established "Environmental Policy" as well as built environmental management systems. We are promoting environmental conservation activities throughout the KOITO Group.

Environmental Policy

KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. pursues "Eco-friendly Manufacturing for People and the Earth" in all business activities centered on automotive lighting by promoting environmental conservation activities;

To clarify our targets and measures for environmental conservation and continuously work to improve the KOITO Group's environmental performance,

To formulate and promote environmental improvement plans by considering environmental issues in advance in addition to complying with environmental laws and regulations,

To strive to develop and establish new environmentally friendly technologies and products throughout the product life cycle,

To minimize the environmental impact and use of resources and energy in the manufacturing process, promote environmental protection activities and prevent environmental problems from occurring,

To actively promote human resources development to achieve our environmental targets.

Revised in April 2017

Management Structure for Environmental Activities

KOITO convenes the monthly Safe and Environmental Committee chaired by the Representative Director to supervise environmental activities of the entire Group and to discuss and make decisions on important environmental issues and environmental conservation measures to be implemented under environmental laws and regulations.

Subcommittees and working groups, such as the Energy and CO2 Reduction Subcommittee, Environmental Impact Substance Reduction Working Group, and Recycle Promotion Working Group, which were established to address specific environmental issues, are implementing specific activities.

These activities are reported to the Safe and Environmental Committee, which follows up on progress and discussing various actions.

Establishment of Environmental Management System

The KOITO Group is building the environmental management system for the entire Group. We are working to acquire ISO 14001 and other environmental certificates primarily at our manufacturing sites. As of the end of March 2023, a total of 24 companies out of 25 eligible for certification have acquired environmental certificates: 12 in Japan, including KOITO MANUFACTURING, and 12 overseas.
The KOITO Group also recommends major suppliers to acquire certificates, such as ISO 14001 and Eco-Action 21, in order to reinforce environmental management and conservation through the entire supply chain.

KOITO's ISO 14001 Certification in Production Sites

Site Year-month of
initial registration
The latest
renewal date
Shizuoka Plant January 2020 January 2021
Koito Parts Center
Haibara Plant July 2000
Sagara Plant
Fujikawa Tooling Plant January 2003

Scope of Environmental Management:
KOITO's environmental management is applied to the above five sites with respect to business activities related to the R&D, design, production, logistics, etc. of automotive lighting equipment, aircraft components and others. In addition, environmental impact arising from the product life cycle are also applied to the management.

Environmental Certificates Acquired in the KOITO Group

Domestic subsidiaries
ISO 14001 KOITO KYUSHU Aoitec
Shizuokadenso Nissei Industries
Fujieda Auto Lighting Shizuoka Wire Harness
KOITO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES  
Eco-Action 21 Haibara Machine and Tools Shizuoka Kanagata
Takeda Suntech  
Green Management Certificate Koito Transport  
Overseas subsidiaries
ISO 14001 North American Lighting (U.S.A.) North American Lighting Mexico (Mexico)
NAL do Brasil (Brazil) Koito Europe (U.K.)
Koito Czech (Czech Republic) GUANGZHOU KOITO (China)
Hubei Koito (China) FUZHOU KOITO TAYIH (China)
THAI KOITO (Thailand) INDONESIA KOITO (Indonesia)
Ta Yih Industrial (Taiwan) INDIA JAPAN LIGHTING (India)

Environmental Targets and Performance

To implement "Eco-friendly Manufacturing for People and the Earth" and promote environmental conservation activities effectively, KOITO has set quantitative medium-term targets and short-term targets every year for various indicators. The progress of activities is managed and the degree of achievement of targets is evaluated by the Safe and Environmental Committee and other bodies.

Environmental Management Plan and Results

 Environmental objectives   Priority efforts and performance in FY 2022 Main approaches from FY 2022
Priority Target Result
Management and reduction
of chemical substances
Contribution to low-carbon society Reduction of CO₂ from production CO₂ emissions intensity: 28% reduction from FY 2014
(amount of CO₂ emissions: 61,900 t- CO₂)
23% reduction from FY 2014
(amount of CO₂ emissions: 56,700 t-CO₂)
1. Reduction of energy use and CO₂ emissions in production activities
- Amount of CO₂ emissions in FY 2031: 50% reduction from FY 2014
- Achieve carbon neutrality by FY 2051

2. Reduction of energy use and CO₂ emissions in logistics
- Energy usage per unit: 1% reduction per year

3. Reduction of environmental impact substances in the product life cycle
Reduction of CO₂ from logistics Energy usage per unit:
1% reduction per year
1% increase from FY 2022
Resource and water circulation Development of recycle-oriented society Reduction of the amount of waste

Waste generated per unit: 4% reduction from FY 2019

 

*Set targets for industrial plastic waste in response to the Law for Promotion of Resources Recycling of Plastics

 

Basic unit:4% reduction from FY2019

 

Recycling rate:Maintain 85% or more

 

19% reduction from FY 2019

1. Development of recycle-oriented society
-Reduction of wastes and effective utilization of resources in production
- Waste generated per unit in FY 2026:
7% reduction from FY 2019

 

*Set targets for industrial plastic waste in response to the Law for Promotion of Resources Recycling of Plastics

 

Basic unit:4% reduction from FY2019

 

Recycling rate:Maintain 85% or more


2. Minimization of water impact
-Reduction of water consumption:
Water usage per unit in FY 2026:
7% reduction from FY 2019
-Improvement of wastewater quality management

14% reduction from FY 2019

More than 90%
Reduction of water consumption Water usage per unit: 4% reduction from FY 2019 9% reduction from FY 2019
Management and reduction
of chemical substances
Reduction of environmental impact substances Reduction of VOC emissions VOC emissions: Less than the amount in FY 2019 (299 t)Target for FY 2023: 220 tons or less 173 tons (42% reduction from FY 2019) 1. Reduction of environmental impact substances in production activities
- Amount of VOC emissions: Maintain the amount below FY 2019 (299 tons)

2. Thorough management of environmental impact substances in products
Enrichment of environmental management Reinforcement of globale environmental activities Promotion of the reinforcement of consolidated environmental activities Reinforcement of environmental risk management Thorough environmental compliance Identification of potential risks and reinforcement of preventive measures
(Identification of and response to near miss incidents)
1. Reinforcement of the worldwide
environmental management
- Promotion of the reinforcement of
consolidated management
- Promotion of environmental activities
with business partners (suppliers)
- Proactive disclosure of environmental information and enrichment of communication
- Reinforcement of environmental education

2. Development of society in harmony with nature
- Promotion of biodiversity and nature conservation activities
Promotion of environmental efforts collaborating with suppliers Promotion of aggressive environmental activities, improvement of environmental performance Confirmation of management status and promotion of improvement through information sharing and on-site inspections
Disclosure of environmental information and enhancement of communication Global disclosure of environmental information Promotion of mutual understanding with local communities Disclosure of consolidated information Hosting round-table session with local communities
Reinforcement of environmental education Promoting compliance, employee education and awareness-raising activities Reevaluation of education structure for manager, supervisor and newly hiredemployees Implementing training for contractors
(construction workers etc.) working in the premises
Development of society in harmony with nature Promotion of biodiversity and nature conservation activities Promotion of activities at individual offices and regionsPromotion of biodiversity conservation activities Cooperation with regional organizations and participation in activities with themReinforcement of activities to prevent global warming and effectively use resources

Material Balance

Energy and resource inputs and emissions (outputs) of greenhouse gas (GHG) and environmental impact substances such as VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) in KOITO's business activities are as follows.
KOITO keeps track of the material balance in its business activities to verify and evaluate activities to reduce the environmental load and to use the data for the establishment of future measures.

PRTR Law: Law Concerning Reporting, etc. of Releases to the Environment of Specific Chemical Substances and Promoting Improvements in Their Management

Environmental Audits

KOITO conducts annual external environmental audits and internal environmental audits to check the operational status of the environmental management system. Improvement proposals are prepared and implemented to respond to the aspects identified through those audits to maintain and operate the proper management system.

External Environmental Audits

A registered external accreditation firm checks whether the environmental management system has been properly established and operated based on ISO 14001.

Internal Environmental Audits

To ensure the independence of internal environmental audits, an audit team composed of internal auditors other than the department being audited is organized, and audits are conducted based on ISO 14001. The internal auditors are also conducting audits at their departments for continuous improvements and enhance environmental awareness.

Environmental Education

KOITO has established an education system and periodically provides environmental education to promote training for human resources to achieve our environmental targets as stated in the Environmental Policy and help every employee gain a deep understanding of the environment.
In addition to education for specific job ranks, such as new employees, managers, and supervisors, KOITO provides special education for internal auditors and promote our employees' acquisition of official licenses and qualifications. Meanwhile, June and July of every year are designated as KOITO Environmental Months during which employees participate in local clean-up activities and practice intensive environmental inspection to enhance the awareness of every employee.
KOITO provides education on preventing contamination and spillage to workers on the premises of KOITO, such as contractors, to enhance their awareness and prevent environmental accidents.

Safety and environmental education for the work conducted within the premises (2019)

Safety and environmental education for the work conducted within the premises (2019)

Education for internal environmental auditors (2019)

Education for internal environmental auditors (2019)

Efforts throughout Supply Chain

Procurement policy briefing session (2019)

Procurement policy briefing session (2019)

KOITO is committed to promote measures to reduce environmental load based on the comprehensive perspective of the product life cycle to coexist with global environment and local communities and to engage in environmental activities through all business activities, including green procurement of raw materials, parts and equipments.
Aiming to materialize a sustainable society, KOITO is working to strengthen supply chain management. We hold annual procurement policy briefing session and monthly information liaison meetings for suppliers to encourage them to acquire environmental certifications, such as ISO 14001 and Eco-Action 21, and request compliance with environmental laws and regulations on environmentally hazardous substances.
In FY 2022, KOITO held a supplier meeting on May 17, 2021 and 204 suppliers attended it.

Environmental Laws and Regulations Compliance Status

KOITO conducts thorough risk management, such as specifying the sources of environmental risks, detecting abnormalities in the early stages through regular measurements, and establishing emergency response measures to minimize environmental risks by complying with environmental laws and regulations, such as ones to prevent air pollution, water contamination and soil contamination.
Through these risk management activities, KOITO makes sure that emissions, water quality, noise, and soil and groundwater contamination are within the ranges permitted under laws, regulations, and standards. In FY 2022, neither violations of environmental laws and regulations nor fines were reported at the KOITO Group.
The KOITO Group is committed to compliance with environmental laws and regulations, and continue to work on environmental risk management.