Environmental Management
Our Policy
Iwatani makes proactive efforts to further environmental conservation in all aspects of our business activities. We are building, maintaining, and operating an environmental management system under the Iwatani Group Environmental Charter, which serves as the roadmap for all related activities, and the Iwatani Environmental Policy, which meets requirements of the ISO 14001 standard.
Environmental Policy
Iwatani Environmental Policy
Based on the corporate concept of “Gas and Energy,” Iwatani has developed its core businesses in LPG and various high-pressure gases while operating a wide range of businesses such as consumer products, foods, machinery, welding materials, electronic equipment, metals, chemicals and minerals. Through all these business activities, Iwatani strives to coexist with local communities and help reduce burdens on the global environment, including global warming, in keeping with the spirit of the Iwatani Group Environmental Charter.
- 1. We will work to establish a carbon-free society and recycling-oriented society through research and development of technologies that utilize resources effectively and new energy sources which contributing to sustainable development of the society, and by promoting hydrogen and other Eco-friendly Products.
- 2. We will endeavor to conserve resources and energy, reduce waste, and prevent pollution through our business activities.
- 3. We will fulfill our compliance obligations to observe environmental laws and regulations, and other related requirements with which we agree.
- 4. We will commit to continual improvement of the environmental management system to enhance environmental performance by establishing and reviewing environmental objectives.
- 5. We will provide environmental education which aims to raise awareness of all company and group employees.
Environmental Management System
Iwatani has earned ISO 14001 certification for its head offices in Tokyo and Osaka, the Iwatani R&D Center, and the Iwatani Advanced Hydrogen Technology Center. These facilities account for more than 60% of all Iwatani personnel.
While block branches and branch offices fall outside the scope of this certification, they operate in compliance with ISO 14001 under the guidance of the head office product divisions in charge.
Environmental Goals
We set environmental goals every year as part of our EMS. In FY2022, we achieved three of four goals, the exception being “Reductions in environmental impact generated by companywide energy consumption in accordance with regulations on individual businesses under the amended Act on the Rational Use of Energy.”
SDGs/Environmental Goals and Results for FY2022
| No. | Items | FY2022 Environmental Goals and Results | Achievement* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | Results | |||
| 1 | Expanded use of eco-friendly products | 30 points | 33 points | 〇 |
| 2 | Promoting SDGs/environmental activities | 6,000 points | 10,070 points | 〇 |
| 3 | Reductions in environmental impact generated by business vehicles: Introduction of low emission vehicles |
25 vehicles | 54 vehicles | 〇 |
| 4 | Reductions in environmental impact generated by companywide energy consumption in accordance with regulations on individual businesses under the amended Act on the Rational Use of Energy | Improvements in companywide energy consumption efficiency (1% improvement in average efficiency over FY2018–FY2022 five-year period) | 2.6% up in average efficiency over FY2018–FY2022 five-year period | ✕ |
*Achievement: ○=100% achieved; △= 60% or more achieved; ×= less than 60% achieved
Environmental Goals for FY2023
| 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 |
Initiatives
Environmental Education
To raise employee awareness of environmental issues, in addition to the environmental training held at the beginning of each fiscal year, we provide environmental training as part of the training for newly hired employees and managers and in e-learning programs.
| Title | Timing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level training | Training for new employees | Environmental issues in general, environmental management system (EMS) overview, advantages of environmental activities |
| Training by level | Managerial training | Details of the requirements of environmental laws and regulations, and their relation to our businesses |
| Unit training | Start of the fiscal year | environmental, procedures of environmental activities, compliance procedures |
| e-learning | As needed | Raising awareness and promoting understanding of EMS details |
Internal Environmental Audits
Internal environmental audits were performed twice per year (in September and February) for all units. Improvements have been implemented in response to any identified nonconformities.
External Audits
We underwent periodic review by the High-Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan in October 2022; our operational status was rated “fine.”
Compliance with Environmental Laws and Regulations
No violations of environmental laws and regulations occurred in FY2022 (including the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Act, the Industrial Safety and Health Act, Chemical Substances Control Law, the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act, the Act on the Rational Use of Energy, the Act on Promoting Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging, and the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons).