Environmental Management

Daifuku Group Environmental Policy

Basic Approach

The Daifuku Group will contribute to the creation of a sustainable society by engaging in sound business practices in accordance with our company creed, management philosophy, and Group Code of Conduct. Each and every employee shall be aware of the environmental impact of all aspects of our business activities, including the development, design, production, sales, installation, and after-sales service of material handling systems and equipment, and shall strive to minimize the impact of such activities.

Basic Policy

We will ensure that all Group officers and employees are aware of this policy and work to resolve environmental issues throughout the supply chain.

Compliance with laws and regulations
We will comply with social rules, including laws, regulations, and agreements related to environmental conservation, in the countries and regions where we operate.
Building and operating an environmental management system
We will set environmental targets and establish an environmental management system. The operation of the system will be reviewed periodically for continuous improvement.
Addressing climate change
We provide products and services that contribute to improving energy efficiency. We also minimize greenhouse gas emissions in all aspects of our business activities, including throughout the supply chain.
Sustainable resource use
We will strive to use resources sustainably and efficiently at every stage from product development and design to production, use, and disposal, while also working toward the reduction of waste emissions, reusing, and recycling.
Consideration for nature and ecosystems
The reduction and correct treatment of hazardous substances prevents air, water, and soil pollution while also contributing to the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.
Collaborating with suppliers and business partners
We will prioritize the procurement and purchase of materials, parts, and products with lower environmental impact. Additionally, by providing guidance and support to suppliers and business partners as needed, we will strengthen our collaboration and work toward reducing our impact on the environment.
Environmental education and awareness
We will educational and awareness-raising activities to raise environmental awareness among all Group executives and employees and to enable each individual to act autonomously.
Information disclosure and communication
We will strive to regularly disclose information on the progress of our initiatives and emphasize communication with stakeholders to resolve environmental issues.

Established: August 31, 2023

Daifuku Environmental Vision 2050

The Group’s automated technology, with material handling at its core, contributes extensively to factory automation in general industries, semiconductors, FPDs, and automobiles, as well as to labor saving in logistics centers and more efficient airport operations. As part of the supply chains in a variety of industries around the world, the Group recognizes that, in order to realize a sustainable society, it is essential to understand the positive and negative environmental impacts of our business activities, products, and services, as well as work toward improving the value we provide and minimizing our burden on the environment. In addition, in order to further enhance our corporate value, we must develop and implement mid- to long-term strategies while taking into consideration the opportunities and risks that global environmental changes which have already manifested may present to the Group.
Given these circumstances, in addition to fulfilling our responsibilities as a corporation, the Daifuku Group believes that it is necessary to take more concrete actions at a higher standard to realize the future society we aim to create. As such, in May 2023, we revised the Daifuku Environmental Vision 2050 that was announced in 2021, expanding our crucial issue areas and raising our environmental targets for 2030. The Sustainability Committee, chaired by the CEO, manages the progress of our initiatives and reports important matters to the Board of Directors.
The Group aims to realize this Vision by addressing environmental issues throughout the entire supply chain while engaging in dialogue with customers, suppliers, investors, and other stakeholders.

Daifuku Environmental Vision 2050 (revised; announced May 2023) (PDF: 740KB)

Daifuku Environmental Vision 2050 (pre-revision; announced February 2021) (PDF: 335KB)

Daifuku Environmental Vision 2050
  • *Clicking on the image will open a new window.
  • *Natural capital refers to the natural stock of resources (plants, animals, air, water, soil, minerals, etc.) that combine to yield benefits to people. Businesses and society are expected to use this capital in a sustainable manner. Although these resources are being eroded by climate change, improving their sustainability will lead to the absorption of greenhouse gases and the mitigation of natural disasters.

Three crucial issue areas

Ensuring a healthy global environment is an essential prerequisite to creating a world where all people can lead fulfilling lives. Thus, under our management philosophy “Automation that Inspires,” addressing climate change and other environmental challenges is a crucial management issue. The Daifuku Group will fulfill its responsibilities as a corporate partner throughout the entire supply chain and will strive to realize this Vision with a view to the future society we wish to create.

Addressing Climate Change

Goal: Cutting net CO2 emissions to zero in the supply chain

We will reduce net CO2 emissions from our business operations throughout our supply chain to zero by developing and providing products and services that contribute to the creation of a decarbonized society, using energy efficiently and introducing renewable energy at our Group sites and suppliers.

Promoting Resource Recycling

Goal: Achieving a recycling-based society

We will endeavor to reduce the amount of water and other resources we use. We will also contribute to the formation of a recycling-based society by extending the service life of our products, minimizing the amount of waste generated at our production sites, and expanding the recycling of used products and parts.

Coexisting with Nature

Goal: Zero negative impact on natural capital

We will strive to sustainably use ecosystem services and conserve biodiversity based on an understanding of the impact of our business activities on the global environment. We will minimize negative impacts on natural capital such as air, water, and soil, and, together with our stakeholders, coexist in harmony with nature.

Environmental goals for 2030

In revising this Vision, we also reviewed our targets for 2030, setting a new CO2 emission reduction target to help achieve the 1.5°C global warming limit required by the Paris Agreement,* and setting new targets for water resources, biodiversity conservation, and awareness-raising activities. In order to respond to constantly changing social trends and the business environment, we will periodically review our targets and adjust them as necessary. The results for fiscal 2022 have been disclosed based on the KPIs from prior to revision. From fiscal 2023 onward, targets will be managed using the KPIs below.

  • *The targets for 2030 have received official approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and include a 1.5℃ aligned target for Scopes 1 and 2 and a well-below 2℃ aligned target for Scope 3 (Categories 1 and 11).
Crucial issue areas KPIs Targets
Addressing Climate Change Daifuku CO2 emissions (Scopes 1 + 2) 50.4% reduction
(compared to FY2018)
CO2 emissions from purchased goods and services
(Scope 3 Category 1)
30% reduction*1
(compared to FY2018)
CO2 emissions from the use of sold products
(Scope 3 Category 11)
Promoting Resource Recycling Landfill disposal rate Less than 1%
Water use intensity*2 30% reduction
(compared to FY2018)
Coexisting with Nature Rate of implementation of biodiversity conservation activities at major sites*3 100%
Sustainability Action*4 total annual number of participants 30,000 people
  • *1Scope 3 Category 1 and Category 11 combined target
  • *2Water consumption (1,000 m3) divided by net sales (100 million yen)
  • *3Sites with 100 or more employees
  • *4Daifuku's unique program for sustainability awareness and training

Promotion System

The Sustainability Committee is a Group-wide body chaired by the CEO which includes the global business heads of each business unit, and the Environmental Management Subcommittee is established under its jurisdiction. Focusing on the crucial issue areas set in the Daifuku Environmental Vision 2050, this subcommittee promotes activities and confirms progress toward targets. In fiscal 2023, we launched the following four projects to further discussions on each theme across our business units and Corporate Functions departments.

Contribute to the Environment Through Our Business

FY2023 promotion system

Environmental Management Subcommittee

Members Business units (Manufacturing, Sales, and Design departments), Contec Co., Ltd., Production Innovation Division, Human Resources and General Affairs Department, Legal Department, Governance Promotion Department, Assets Administration Department, Sustainability Promotion Department
Main agenda Environmental Impact Reduction Project Energy and resource conservation in business activities and the introduction on renewable energy; consideration for the introduction of internal carbon pricing
Product Evaluation Project Review of the certification criteria for Daifuku Eco-Products and measures to reduce CO2 emissions (Scope 3 Category 11)
Green Procurement Project Establishment of an internal system and framework for green procurement operations and the revision of guidelines
TCFD Review Project Deepen scenario analyses and financial impact assessments based on TCFD recommendations and review disclosure content

Environmental management system certification

We promote ISO 14001 international standards for environmental management systems certification at all production sites and primary locations in Japan, as well as all main production sites outside Japan. All four of our Japan production locations as well as 16 of our production locations outside of Japan have been ISO certified. 80% of our production facilities have obtained certification.

Certification standards Production sites (consolidated) Number of certified locations Proportion of certified locations
ISO 14001 25 20 80%

ISO Certified Locations

Responding to Water Risks

The Daifuku Group uses Aqueduct, an assessment tool developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI), to regularly assess water risks in countries and regions where we hold major operations (Japan, China, Taiwan, India, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom). In the most recent analysis conducted in 2022, it was found that two sites in India and three sites in China were at a risk level of “high” or above. These sites were set as priority locations, and field surveys were conducted at each of them. As a result, it was found that the main use of water at all five sites was employees’ daily use and watering plants, and that the supply and quality of water from intake sources were stable. As such, no major risks have been identified at this time.
The Group’s main use of water in our production activities is the degreasing process prior to product coating, but this process does not require high quality or a large amount of water. However, we recognize that water is an important resource for Daifuku, and we will continue to implement appropriate measures related to water risks based on an understanding of the water usage at our production sites.
In fiscal 2022, there were no violations of water or any other environmental laws or regulations, nor were any fines paid.

The results of the water risk assessment (overall water risk*) for our main sites is as follows.

Water risk level Number of sites
Low (0-1) 6
Low-Medium (1-2) 17
Medium-High (2-3) 2
High (3-4) 3 (China)
Extremely-High (4-5) 2 (India)
  • *A comprehensive water-related risk assessment, as defined by Aqueduct, based on all factors including physical water quantity, water quality, regulatory and reputational risk.

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