Materiality
Mitigation of Environmental Impact in Products

~60th Anniversary of the Tokaido Shinkansen – 0 Series Model~

In collaboration with Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and JR Tokai Trading Co., Ltd., Mizuno developed its first-ever aluminum bat made from recycled materials in 2023—a childrenʼs metal bat using aluminum from decommissioned Tokaido Shinkansen train cars.

This “Recycled Tokaido Shinkansen Aluminum” reduces environmental impact by requiring significantly less energy during production compared to newly manufactured aluminum, resulting in a 97% reduction in CO2 emissions.
(Source: Japan Aluminium Association)

“Osaka Metro × Mizuno Le Plié Squat” Released in 2024
This product was made possible for the first time through a shared vision between Mizuno and Osaka Metro Create, which has been planning and developing upcycled products using materials from retired train cars as part of its “Decommissioned Train Recycling Project.”

The Osaka Metro Limited Edition Model of the “Le Plié Squat,” a chair that supports squat exercises while seated, features a seat cover made from moquette fabric used in Osaka Metro train seats. This allows users to enjoy comfortable home training while experiencing the atmosphere of Osaka Metro vehicles.

Due to rising temperatures caused by global warming, it is becoming increasingly difficult to engage in outdoor sports such as running. To help preserve a global environment where people can continue enjoying sports for years to come, Mizuno is promoting recycling initiatives by collecting used apparel and repurposing it as a resource.

At the “Osaka Marathon 2025” held in February 2025, Mizuno once again set up a collection box at its EXPO booth, accepting donations of used apparel from participants.

Additionally, since many runners wear ponchos for warmth, Mizuno created environmentally friendly ponchos made from recycled materials. These ponchos can be recycled again after use and were available for purchase at the EXPO booth.

Mizuno has started using dope dyed yarn in its Dry Aeroflow t-shirts, which are functional running apparel, in the autumn/winter season 2023. Dope dyed yarn refers to yarns that are colored at the raw material stage before they become threads. By weaving fabric using these dope dyed yarns, it is possible to simplify the general apparel dyeing process, reduce energy use, and conserve water resources.

Mizuno has developed a new material called “Techfill Breath Thermo”, which offers warmth that surpasses down insulation※1. In addition to being warmer than down※1, “Techfill Breath Thermo” maintains its heat retention even when wet, making it a reliable insulating material that performs well regardless of weather conditions.

Typically, down products are made using waterfowl feathers. By developing “Techfill Breath Thermo”, a material that exceeds down in terms of warmth, Mizuno aims to contribute to more sustainable sourcing of materials.

Mizuno has long utilized carbon materials in products such as golf shafts, tennis rackets, and baseball bats, enhancing sports equipment by leveraging the unique properties of carbon. Although carbon offcuts generated during the manufacturing process were previously considered difficult to recycle, rapid technological advancements have made reuse increasingly feasible.

Since 2022, we have been offering the “SETTA C/Reborn” sandals, which feature a plate made from recycled carbon fiber called “HAYATE-®.”
To date, the production of these sandals has repurposed approximately 30 kg of carbon fiber scraps.

By using this recycled material, we are not only contributing to resource circulation but also improving the productʼs performance. Compared to traditional materials, the recycled carbon fiber enhances rigidity while providing an elastic, comfortable wearing experience.

One of Mizuno's main products is wooden baseball bats. Since wood is a natural material, it may have knots or other imperfections, leading to the creation of offcuts that are unsuitable for use as bats during the manufacturing process. We constantly consider and try to transform them into new other products with using offcuts from wooden baseball bats which fail to meet the required strength and appearance standard on baseball bats.

Mizuno baseball gloves are made from different parts that have been cut out from high-quality leather, with due consideration given to flexibility and durability, and that are then put together by seasoned craftspeople.
One issue arising from this manufacturing process was that, no matter what we tried, large amounts of leather scraps would be left over unused.
We started thinking about how we could reuse these scraps, instead of throwing them away, and came up with the idea of trying to “patch” them together to make gloves. The result was TSUNAGI Glove, a glove for rubber-ball baseball.
Our craftspeopleʼs skills made it possible to combine these many different scraps and still make a glove with the right shape and structure to securely catch a ball. Because they are made from a random assortment of scraps, each glove has its own unique design.