Environmental Management System
Basic Concepts
Mizuno started the unique environmental conservation activities "Crew21 Project" ahead of the rest of the industry in 1991 when global environmental issues began to attract attention. This project was named with the idea of "taking on the role of a crew member of the 'Spaceship Earth' and carrying out activities to conserve resources and preserve the environment." Since the project's inception, Mizuno has been continuing efforts for over 30 years to make effective use of resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and adopt environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing processes in their product planning.
In recent years, as the impact of climate change is increasingly felt, the company’s group set a goal in 2021 to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in corporate activities by 2050. To realize this goal, they will further strengthen efforts such as innovations in manufacturing processes and the use of renewable energy. Additionally, they will continue to promote recycling, reduce waste, and use water efficiently as part of their ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.
System for promoting environmental protection activities
To promote environmental protection activities across the Group, Mizuno has established an environmental management system, led by its executive officer.
Mizuno has formed the Crew21 Environment Committee to promote environmental management activities, which is comprised of supervisors of relevant departments. The committee is led by the Executive Officer in charge of Human Resources and General Affairs, serving as the chairman, and the Executive Officer in charge of Product Development, acting as the vice-chairman.
The Committee discusses matters such as: 1) formulating an environmental policy and revising it, 2) setting short-term, medium-term, and long-term environmental goals, and 3) instituting measures for achieving environmental goals. The Crew21 Environment Committee meets regularly, fostering communication across the entire company as it advances environmental protection activities.
Environment Operations Structure
The History of Mizuno’s global environment protection activities
Mizuno recognizes that all business activities have the potential of adversely affecting the environment. Accordingly, to help protect the global environment, in September 1991, Mizuno established a global environment protection activity project titled “Crew21,” and ever since then, it has been putting effort into conducting environmental protection activities. In celebration of the 30th anniversary since initiating the Crew21 project, in April 2021, Mizuno created the logo “MIZUNO CREW21,” which symbolizes all of Mizuno’s sustainability activities, including not only its environmental protection activities but also social and economic activities. Mizuno will continue putting effort into helping create a sustainable world as a crew member of the Spaceship Earth.
History of Mizuno’s activities for the conservation of the global environment (timeline)
ISO 14001 certification
The Mizuno Yoro Factory (now Mizuno Technics Corporation), which is Mizuno’s main factory in Japan, obtained ISO 14001 certification in 1997 before other companies in the sports industry, following which other offices in Japan also obtained certification. Subsequently, Shanghai Mizuno, which is Mizuno’s largest manufacturing base overseas, obtained certification in 2004, followed by Taiwan Mizuno in 2008. In addition, Senoh Corporation and Senotech Corporation, which are part of the Mizuno Group, obtained certification in 2015.
List of offices that have obtained ISO 14001 certification
Year of acquisition | Offices that have obtained certification and the scope of application* (as of March 2023) |
---|---|
1997 | Mizuno Technics Corporation
Yoro Factory of Mizuno’s Head Office, Haga Factory, Yamazaki RunBird Factory, and Hikami Factory |
2002 | Mizuno Corporation
Osaka Head Office, Tokyo Head Office, Chubu Branch, Kyushu Branch, Yodoyabashi Store, and MIZUNO TOKYO |
2004 | Shanghai Mizuno Corporation Ltd. |
2008 | Taiwan Mizuno Corporation |
2015 | Senoh Corporation
Matsudo Head Office and Fukuoka Branch Senohtech Corporation |
2020 | Osaka Chayamachi Store |
Note: The scope of application of ISO 14001 primarily covers offices with a greater risk of causing environmental harm.
As of the end of March 2024, ISO 14001-certified offices account for 79% of offices in Japan and 31% of offices overseas (on the basis of the number of employees).
Environmental audit
The Mizuno Group conducts an internal audit and has the ISO 14001 certification body examine itself annually. According to the examination conducted by the certification body in the fiscal year 2023, Mizuno had no major issues. In addition, Mizuno has already completed resolving all minor issues.
Issues pointed out by Mizuno’s internal audit (No. of issues) | Issues pointed out by the certification body’s examination (No. of issues) | |
---|---|---|
Major issues | 19 | 0 |
Minor issues | 2 | 3 |
Opportunities to resolve issues | 3 | 0 |
By “Opportunities to resolve issues,” Mizuno means the number of times it received advice on how it could resolve its issues, and every time it had such opportunities, Mizuno carefully examined the advice it received and applied it to resolving issues as necessary.
Complying with environmental laws and regulations
To comply with environmental laws and regulations, Mizuno maximizes its environment management system and identifies environmental risks that could be underlying its business. Whenever a risk is identified, to prevent accidents and minimize danger, Mizuno regularly performs maintenance and inspection of equipment and facilities and also conducts emergency response drills.
In the fiscal year 2023, Mizuno was not found as violating any environmental laws and regulations, did not experience any major accidents, and was not charged any penalties.
Preventive approaches and precautionary principles
Mizuno strives to prevent environmental impact and reduce the environmental burden at every stage of the process, from planning and development to manufacturing.
In the fiscal year 2018, Mizuno conducted an analysis using a life-cycle assessment (LCA) for WAVE RIDER 21, a representative model of running shoes in its footwear business, identifying the processes and environmental aspects that have significant impacts within the product's lifecycle. In the fiscal year 2021, Mizuno carried out LCA analyses on representative products by category, estimated their respective greenhouse gas emissions, and is utilizing these findings in future measures.
Environmental education
The Mizuno Group provides its entire staff with environmental education to help each and every one of them improve their environmental attitude. The Mizuno Group’s environmental education being provided at each of its departments deals with a large number of topics every year and aims to help employees familiarize themselves with Mizuno’s philosophy and goals relating to its environmental protection activities.
In addition, the site of each department provides waste managers and organic solvent users with information on specialized education helpful in improving the skills and knowledge needed at work.
Disclosure of Environmental Information
Mizuno discloses environmental information on its website. The sustainability report, which includes environmental information, is available in both Japanese and English. The information disclosed on the website can be downloaded as a PDF.
Factory Tours
Mizuno conducts factory tours at production sites such as the Yoro Factory and Senotech, allowing visitors to see the manufacturing know-how and the conditions inside the factories. Additionally, in response to World Environment Day on June 5, Mizuno has designated June as Mizuno Environmental Month, and since 1997, we have been conducting cleanup activities around our domestic and international business sites. In the fiscal year 2023, as part of the 80th-anniversary events of Mizuno Technics, we held activities such as making pepper mills from bat waste materials, factory tours, and fitting experience sessions in November, inviting 64 local residents to participate. Throughout the year, a total of 279 people visited and toured our facilities.
Risk Communication
Mizuno Technics is engaged in risk communication through regular dialogue with stakeholders. This effort involves inviting local government officials and residents to actually tour the factory and explaining how the factory operates using various equipment, what products and waste are created, and what environmental conservation activities are being conducted. It's a proactive initiative where information is openly shared with community representatives, and their opinions and requests are actively solicited and incorporated into ongoing activities.
Environmental Workshop
Mizuno conducts environmental workshops with the aim of nurturing children's environmental awareness through its manufacturing and environmental conservation activities. In the workshops, the history of sports equipment and Mizuno's initiatives at the factory are introduced, and participants engage in crafting original keyholders using wooden bat offcuts and leftover leather from baseball gloves.
Solar panels installed at Mizuno Technics Yoro Factory
The Mizuno Technics Yoro Factory manufactures baseball and golf products, which are Mizuno’s core products and other sporting goods and the products made from composite material (carbon material). We installed solar panels on the roof of the factory’s largest building, the golf manufacturing building, in January 2023. This will generate approximately 400,000 kw of electricity per year, which will be used in the manufacturing processes of golf clubs, base bats and other products.
We also installed emergency power supply equipment along with solar panels to ensure a stable power supply even in the event of a natural disaster. This emergency equipment not only serves the factory, but is also aimed at benefiting the local community by supplying power to neighboring areas in the event of an emergency.