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Environmental Management

Promotion of Environmental Conservation Efforts Together with the Global Environmental Committee

ISO 14001 Certification Status and Scope

In June 1997, the Akebono Brake Group declared its "zero waste challenge" and positioned ISO14001 as a basic tool for environmental management in the company, and has worked diligently to obtain certification.

In 1999, Miharu plant (closed in 2011) became the first plant in our company to obtain ISO14001 certification by promoting energy-saving production and waste reduction. Then, Fukushima plant (currently Akebono Brake Fukushima Manufacturing Co., Ltd.), Akebono Brake Yamagata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Sanyo Hydraulic Industry Co., Ltd. (currently Akebono Brake Sanyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd.), Akebono Brake Iwatsuki Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Ai-City acquired ISO14001 certification in 2003 and ISO 14001 certification for all domestic sites was completed.

Audits of the environmental management system are conducted by external certification bodies for ISO 14001 certification renewal (every three years), external audits (annually), and internal audits conducted by in-house internal auditors (annually). Each domestic site reliably maintains the certification.

Each of our overseas sites is also actively pursuing certification.

ISO14001 Authentication Registration Application Range

Authentication Registration
Regional Division
Certification Authority Registered number Initial Registration Application Range Location
Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
Ai-City
Japan Automobile
Research Institute
JAER0461 Mar 29, 2003 Headquarters
Ai-Village
Akebono 123 Co., Ltd.
〒348-8508
5-4-71 Higashi, Hanyu-City, Saitama 348-8508, Japan
Akebono FRESH Center 〒348-8501
5-8-3 Higashi, Hanyu-City, Saitama 348-8501, Japan
Akebono Kids Care Co., Ltd. 〒348-0052
5-8-4 Higashi, Hanyu-City, Saitama 348-0052, Japan
Alocs Corporation (Packing) 〒348-0064
1327-1 Jonuma, Fujiikamigumi, Hanyu-City, Saitama 348-0064, Japan
Tatebayashi Foundry (Casting of brake components) 〒374-0001
6012 Aza-Tobu Kogyo Danchi, Oshima-cho, Tatebayashi-City, Gunma 374-0001, Japan
Ai-Ring (Testing and evaluation) 〒979-3112
41-42 Aza-Kosaruda, Uwadaira, Ogawa-machi, Iwaki-City, Fukushima 979-3112, Japan
Akebono Brake Yamagata
Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Japan Automobile
Research Institute
JAER0162 Mar 15, 2000 Akebono Brake Yamagata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 〒991-0061
161-3 Chuo Kogyo Danchi, Sagae-City, Yamagata 991-0061, Japan
Akebono Brake Fukushima
Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Japan Automobile
Research Institute
JAER0163 Mar 15, 2000 Akebono Brake Fukushima
Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
〒969-1652
10 Aza-Shinjuku, Oaza-Narita, Koori-machi, Date-gun, Fukushima 969-1652, Japan
Akebono Brake Iwatsuki
Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Japan Automobile
Research Institute
JAER0349 Mar 29,2002 Iwatsuki area 〒339-8601
1190 Oaza-Kanamuro, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama-City, Saitama 339-8601, Japan
Ainohara area 〒339-0071
24 Ainohara, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama-City, Saitama 339-0071, Japan
Alocs Corporation 〒339-0071
255-1 Ainohara, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama-City, Saitama 339-0071, Japan
Akebono Brake Sanyo
Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Lloyd’s Register Quality
Assurance Limited
10179566 May 25, 2001 Headquarter
Kibi plant No.1
〒710-1201
1966-8 Kushiro, Soja-City, Okayama 710-1201, Japan
Kibi plant No.2 〒710-1201
1920-3 Kushiro, Soja-City, Okayama 710-1201, Japan

Environmental Targets and Results

Each department establishes targets for each fiscal year based on medium-term environmental targets, then carries out environmental preservation initiatives aiming to meet the targets. To connect these with volunteer actions of individual associates, Akebono conducts ongoing education to promote awareness of individual roles in environmental preservation activities. The achievement of these measures is evaluated each fiscal year and reflected in improvements for the following fiscal year and beyond.

Targets for Fiscal 2021 and Results Achieved

R&D
Initiatives
Promotion of products containing no substances of concern (SOCs)
Medium- to long-term Targets
Complete conversion to lead-free sintered material by 2025 (for local and bullet trains)
Targets for Fiscal 2021
Lead-free sintered material production rate greater than 56%
Results Achieved in Fiscal 2021
Lead-free sintered material production rate is 69% as of fiscal 2021
Plans for Fiscal 2022 and After
  • Develop of mass production of lead-free sintered materials
Production
1 Initiatives
Reduction of total CO2 emissions at production plants in Japan
Medium- to long-term Targets
FY2030: Reduce total CO2 emissions by 50% or more compared to FY2013
FY2050: Achieved carbon neutrality
Targets for Fiscal 2021
Targets have been set for each site with a view to reducing total CO2 emissions by 50% in FY2030 compared to FY2013 levels
Results Achieved in Fiscal 2021
CO2 emissions increased 5.1% from the previous year due to an increase in the number of orders
Plans for Fiscal 2022 and After
Aim to reduce total CO2 emissions in FY2030 by 50% or more compared to FY2013 levels by continuing to promote energy conservation activities with the participation of all associates.
2 Initiatives
Continue and improve ISO14001-related activities
Medium- to long-term Targets
Continue to enhance environmental activities
Targets for Fiscal 2021
Firmly root ISO14001 in operations and steadily renew certifications
Results Achieved in Fiscal 2021
Renewed the ISO14001 certifications
Plans for Fiscal 2022 and After
Continue to firmly root ISO14001 in operations and steadily renew certifications
3 Initiatives
Promote no landfill waste disposal at production sites
Medium- to long-term Targets
Maintain and continue no direct landfill waste disposal
Targets for Fiscal 2021
Continue no direct landfill waste disposal
Results Achieved in Fiscal 2021
Continue no direct landfill waste disposal
Plans for Fiscal 2022 and After
Continue no direct landfill waste disposal
Environmental Education
Initiatives
Environmental training for all associates
Medium- to long-term Targets
Develop human resources with a deep understanding of environmental activities and the ability to take the initiative
Targets for Fiscal 2021
Development of environmental training
Results Achieved in Fiscal 2021
  • ISO 14001 Training
  • Environmental Regulations Overview Training
Plans for Fiscal 2022 and After
Enhanced and continued development of environmental training programs
Logistics
Initiatives
Response to revised Energy Conservation Law (energy saving obligation of cargo owners)
Medium- to long-term Targets
Reduce unit energy consumption by 1% (five-year average)
Targets for Fiscal 2021
Reduce CO2 emissions by promoting more efficient transportation
[Target values]
  • Energy consumption: -1%
  • CO2 emissions: -1%
  • Energy consumption per unit: -1%
Results Achieved in Fiscal 2021
Improvement of loading efficiency through promotion of vehicle dispatch planning based on finalized information and Utilization of relay warehouses
[Actual performance (compared to the previous year)]
  • Energy consumption: 928 kl (+6%)
  • CO2:2,472t-CO2 (+6%)
  • Energy consumption per unit: 0.233 (-4%)
Plans for Fiscal 2022 and After
  • Improvement of energy consumption rate by improving transportation efficiency in long-distance logistics (Introduction of new trailers)
  • Improving loading efficiency by developing basic data for IT promotion
Purchasing
Initiatives
Promotion of green purchasing
Medium- to long-term Targets
Establish structure that ensures purchasing activities in line with the Green Purchasing Guidelines
Targets for Fiscal 2021
Revise supplier quality management (SQM) standard manuals
Results Achieved in Fiscal 2021
  • Clarified compliance items and revised process FMEA forms
  • Conducted research in tandem with suppliers into alternate materials that use fewer environmental impact substances and require lower energy input with the aim of making concrete proposals for new material development
  • Carried out the following revisions to SQM standard manuals to ensure greater understanding of suppliers with regard to the Company’s approach to environmental impact substance reduction (Enhanced GADSL*1 explanations and provided clearer descriptions of procedures for the handling of environmental impact substances)
Plans for Fiscal 2022 and After
  • Revision of Green Purchasing Guideline
  • Encourage suppliers to upgrade their environmental management systems
  • Continue supply chain survey using IMDS*2
Production Engineering
Initiatives
Promotion of resource-saving designs
Medium- to long-term Targets
Develop manufacturing facilities and jigs that are reusable, achieving a greater yield ratio, energy saving, and eco-friendly operations with the aim of realizing environmentally friendly manufacturing
Targets for Fiscal 2021
Further advancement and continues deepening design with good material yield and resource and energy saving technologies
Results Achieved in Fiscal 2021
  • Improved nonconformities designing jigs, tools and casting methods using CAE
  • Improved the rate of operation and reduced energy consumption by making the automation line
Plans for Fiscal 2022 and After
  • Continue to make further progress and deepen our resource- and energy-saving technologies
  • Continuously revise equipment standards and conduct assessments of equipment specifications with the aim of selecting energy-efficient and high-efficiency equipment when new equipment is introduced

Refer to the following for performance data for each principal company.

  • *1 GADSL (Global Automotive Declarable Substance List) A list of chemical substances requiring proper management formulated by automobile manufacturers, their parts suppliers and material suppliers in Japan, the United States and Europe. It is an industrywide standard targeting the following substances, which are possibly contained in parts and materials supplied to automotive manufacturers:
    1. Substances that are subject to regulation under the laws of each country
    2. Substances that are expected to come under legal regulation
    3. Substances with a proven negative impact on health and/or the environment
    The list contains substances classified into such categories as “Substances prohibited from use in all applications,” “Substances prohibited from use in certain applications or that must be declared if used” and “Substances that must be declared if usage exceeds defined threshold limits.”
  • *2 IMDS (International Material Data System): An international material data reporting system.
  • *3 This link will be updated soon.