Reduction of Waste and Recycling

Gross weight of industrial waste by base [*b]

* Due to constraints related to equipment, costs, and operational complexity, we do not currently manage waste by composition.

Gross weight of waste by treatment method being adopted at Mizunoʼs domestic manufacturing bases (four factories) and waste sold as valuables [*e]

Collaboration and Communication with Local Communities

Participation in the "Tread Lightly" Recycling Program through Industry Collaboration

Mizuno Australia is participating in the "Tread Lightly" recycling program in collaboration with the Australian Sporting Goods Association (ASGA) and other sporting goods brands.

This initiative collects unwanted and used shoes—regardless of brand or manufacturer—and recycles them by processing the materials into granules. These recycled materials are then reused in applications such as gym mats, retail flooring, and playground surfaces, contributing to waste reduction and a lower environmental footprint.

To date, the Tread Lightly program has collected more than 100,000 pairs of shoes, equivalent to approximately 32 tons. In fiscal year 2024 alone, Mizuno collected 765 pairs, amounting to around 510 kilograms.

Mizuno remains committed to reducing environmental impact and contributing to a more sustainable society by continuing to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.

Mizuno Technics Initiatives

Promoting Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing through Waste Reduction

Since its establishment in 1943, Mizuno Technics Co., Ltd. has been responsible for the manufacturing and management of a wide range of sporting goods, including baseball equipment, golf equipment, footwear, and apparel. In recent years, leveraging the advanced carbon technologies cultivated through sports equipment manufacturing, the company has expanded its business into new fields beyond the sports industry.
Alongside these business activities, Mizuno Technics recognizes contributing to the preservation of the global environment as one of its key priorities and is actively engaged in reducing waste generated throughout its manufacturing processes. In recent years in particular, the company has promoted the reuse and recycling of waste through value-based purchasing, rather than simply disposing of it, thereby advancing more sustainable resource utilization.

Plastic films and plastic bags generated at the Yoro Plant^*1 are collected through a value-based buyback program by ensuring that they remain in a clean condition with minimal contamination. These materials are then processed into recycled pellets and reused as raw materials.
Resin cases and resin pallets are also collected through similar buyback programs. These efforts contribute to both waste reduction and the promotion of a circular use of resources.

To further enhance the effectiveness of these initiatives, the Yoro Plant has been working to improve the accuracy of waste sorting through measures such as:

• Standardizing and clarifying waste bin labels
• Reconfirming sorting rules for materials eligible for value-based buyback programs
• Optimizing the placement and number of waste bins based on actual usage conditions

Looking ahead, these initiatives will be rolled out to other plants with the aim of achieving further waste reduction across the company.

The Mizuno Group, including Mizuno Technics, remains committed to reducing its environmental impact to pass on to future generations an environment where people around the world can enjoy sports safely and with vitality.

*1 Yoro Plant: A production facility primarily engaged in the manufacturing of wooden baseball bats, golf clubs, and carbon-based products.

Reducing the Environmental Impact of Apparel Product Tags

Mizuno is actively working to reduce plastic waste throughout its entire value chain. In manufacturing, the company promotes the use of recycled plastics. At the in-house restaurant located in Mizunoʼs Osaka headquarters, plastic straws have been replaced with environmentally friendly paper straws.

Mizunoʼs factories and offices are committed to thorough waste separation and recycle plastic waste into solid fuel and various types of equipment. In its retail stores, Mizuno encourages simplified packaging to help reduce waste.
All Mizuno Group directly managed stores worldwide have switched from disposable plastic shopping bags to environmentally friendly paper bags. For items requiring more durable packaging, such as caddie bags and golf clubs, Mizuno is gradually transitioning to more sustainable alternatives. As part of this initiative, some golf club bags now use fabric-based materials.

Additionally, as a member of the local community, Mizunoʼs Osaka headquarters contributes to waste reduction through activities such as cleaning the Cosmo Square district and collaborating with Kansai University to clean the Yamato River riverbed.

Mizuno aims to not only reduce waste generated during its manufacturing process but also reduce its use of packing material and packages, and it aims to do so by planning ahead how it could reduce waste, beginning at the designing stage of its manufacturing process. Up until now, efforts to reduce waste have primarily been made by manufacturing bases. However, to reduce as much waste as possible, Mizuno will apply what it has learned through such efforts to reducing waste at its non-manufacturing bases that currently generate relatively large amounts of waste.
Mizuno will also encourage Sharp Sangyo Co., Ltd., a group company, to adopt digital manifesting, a technology it has not yet implemented.