Environmental Management
Our Policy
Iwatani makes proactive efforts to conserve the global environment in every aspect of its business activities. Having established the Iwatani Group Environmental Charter and Iwatani Environmental Policy, which follows the ISO 14001 standard, Iwatani has built and is operating an environmental management system (EMS) while continually improving it. Through the EMS, Iwatani contributes to solving environmental problems and achieving a sustainable society.
Environmental Policy
Environmental Management System (EMS)
Iwatani has obtained certification under the ISO 14001 international EMS standard and carries out continual environmental management.
- Certifying agency:
- The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan ISO Registration Center
- Date of certification:
- December 24, 1998
- ISO 14001-certified sites:
- Tokyo Head Office, Osaka Head Office, Iwatani R&D Center, and Iwatani Advanced Hydrogen Technology Center
- Percentage of employees working at ISO 14001-certified sites:
- 66% of all employees*
- Scope of activities, products, and services:
- Sale, export, and import of goods such as LPG, household goods, various high-pressure gases, machinery, welding materials, electronics equipment, metals, chemicals, mineral products; research and development centered on gas technologies; development of products using gas; research and development on hydrogen energy, clean energy, and decarbonization technologies
* Block branches and branches operate in accordance with Iwatani’s EMS under the guidance of product departments at the head offices.
* Unit refers to the smallest unit that operates Iwatani’s EMS, specifically, a division, office, or department.
Iwatani Group ISO 14001 Certification Status
Percentage of Iwatani Group companies (Iwatani Corporation and consolidated subsidiaries) that have obtained ISO 14001 certification (as of March 2025): 18% (19 of 105 companies)
Environmental Goals
Under Iwatani’s EMS, each unit sets its annual environmental goals and proceeds with its initiatives. The unit environmental goals for FY2024 were largely achieved.
| NO. | Items | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Promoting activities to realize a sustainable society | 1) Business expansion to realize a hydrogen energy-based society 2) Expanding the development and promotion of decarbonization solutions 3) Enhancing efforts to achieve a resource-circulating society |
| 2 | Promoting reductions in the Iwatani Group’s CO2 emissions | 1) Promoting decarbonization initiatives 2) Promoting logistics efficiency improvements and decarbonization 3) Reducing our environmental impact through use of digital technologies and business efficiency improvements |
| 3 | Thorough compliance | 1) Complying with environmental laws and regulations |
For FY2025 as well, each unit has set its environmental goals and actively working toward achieving its goals. One specific recommendation for FY2025 was that each unit set its goals that clearly indicate the relationship between its businesses and contributions to CO2 emissions reductions.
Key Initiatives for Environmental Management
Environmental Education
To raise employee awareness of environmental issues, in addition to the environmental training held at the beginning of each fiscal year, environmental training is provided through the training for newly hired employees and managers as well as e-learning programs.
| Title | Trainees | Details | FY2024 results (dates) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory environmental training | Newly hired employees | Environmental issues in general, environmental management system (EMS) overview, advantages of environmental activities | April 5, 2024 (general course) April 18, 2024 (administrative course) |
| Training by level | Newly appointed managers | Requirements of environmental laws and regulations, and their relation to Iwatani’s businesses | February 20 and 26, 2025 (both general and administrative courses) |
| Unit training | All members of EMS units | environmental, procedures of environmental activities, compliance procedures | Provided in August for each unit, in principle |
| e-learning | All employees in Japan other than corporate officers | Raising awareness and promoting understanding of EMS details | February 19–March 5, 2025 |
Internal Environmental Audits
To ensure the appropriate operation of the EMS, internal environmental audits are performed for all units twice (in September and February) in each fiscal year. These audits help verify and continually improve the state of environmental activities, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, and the effectiveness of the EMS in each unit.
External Audits
A periodic review of ISO 14001 certification is undertaken by The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan ISO Registration Center annually.
The periodic review performed in November 2024 authorized the renewal of Iwatani’s certification.
Iwatani will continue to commit to maintaining and enhancing its environmental management and making ongoing improvements.
Compliance with Environmental Laws and Regulations
Once again in FY2024, as a result of the thorough management using the EMS, there were no violations of environmental laws or regulations, including the Act on Waste Management and Public Cleaning, Act on Rationalization of Energy Use and Shift to Non-fossil Energy, Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act, Industrial Safety and Health Act, Act on the Regulation of Manufacture and Evaluation of Chemical Substances, Act on the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging, and Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons. Iwatani will continue to pursue thorough legal and regulatory compliance.