Makita Sustainability - SustainabilityTracker.com

Shifting from engine-powered to battery-powered

In the past, the majority of OPE (Outdoor Power Equipment) was engine powered. However, while that provides superior power and stamina, the environmental impact of exhaust emissions has been a major issue. In recent years, global warming, which is one of the most serious environmental problems, has drawn particular attention from society. Our company is focusing on cordless OPE that do not emit exhaust gas when used, and contribute to solving environmental problems, particularly global warming. Our company will contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society in the future by utilizing our battery and motor technologies cultivated through the manufacture of power tools, and accelerating shifting from engine-powered to battery-powered products by proactively developing and expanding sales of cordless products whose usability is comparable to that of engine-powered products.

Promoting the Elimination of Plastic

Due to concern over global environmental pollution from plastic waste entering oceans, the EU passed a law in June 2019 prohibiting the use of certain single-use plastic products. In Japan as well, social initiatives are making progress to reduce single-use plastic, including the July 2020 regulation to charge for plastic shopping bags. In order to achieve a sustainable society and contribute to preserving biodiversity, Makita is also striving to reduce single-use plastic used in our product packaging. In addition to efforts to simplify our standard packaging, we have, since FYE 2021, tried to reduce plastic bags and the like used in product packaging, and have been proceeding to replace them with paper and other environmentally friendly materials. In March, 2021 (the last month of the first fiscal year of this new initiative), we achieved the equivalent of a nearly 40-ton yearly reduction in plastic usage. Going forward, we will continue efforts to eliminate the use of plastic.

Replacement of fluorescent lighting with LED fluorescent tubes

We are replacing lights with LED fluorescent tubes in areas where large energy saving effect can be achieved. In FYE 2021, the annual power consumption of the Head Office and Okazaki Plant was cut by 47,700 kWh by replacing lights with LED fluorescent tubes.

Removal of vending machines

In FYE 2021, we removed three vending machines from the Okazaki Plant after having reviewed the locations of vending machines with relevant departments. As a result, the annual power consumption was cut by 5,200 kWh without incurring the cost of countermeasures.

Development of Products including New Environmental Technologies

We are working to reduce the size and weight of our products as a whole, as well as to increase their power and life by increasing the capacity of new technology motors (the DC brushless motor) and batteries, improving motor efficiency, and reducing the size and weight of power components that affect the mass of products. Furthermore, by utilizing our industry-leading battery charge and discharge technology and motor technology to promote manufacturing various rechargeable products (cordless and engineless products), we are contributing to improving user safety, convenience, and comfort, as well as reducing exhaust gas, noise, and fuel consumption. The 40Vmax series is one of the most important and powerful platforms for the future, which will further allow us to make various products cordless.

Publication of Product Environmental Data Sheets

Since FYE 2011, we have been publishing quantitative data of the environmental performance of each of our products (product weight, noise level, the percentage of reusability and recyclability, renewable rate, efficiency, etc.) on our website, in order to give a better understanding of the environmental performance of our products.

Supply Chain Management

In order to review the status of environmental activities of our suppliers, we conduct a questionnaire survey on environmental protection activities to our suppliers (e.g., to check whether they have acquired an environmental management system certification and review specific plants subject to laws and regulations)

CO2 Emissions

CO2 emissions from all our domestic business bases increased by 8.3% year on year to 11,672 tons. On a global basis, CO2 emissions increased by 16.9% year on year to 76,142 tons. The amount of emissions increased largely due to increased production despite our efforts to introduce LED lighting, high-efficiency equipment, and air leakage countermeasures, etc. We will continue to effectively control energy input and reduce CO2 emissions.

Total Energy Consumption

Total energy consumption by all our domestic business bases increased by 8.3% year on year to 6,556 kiloliters. Energy consumption intensity decreased by 14% from FYE 2013, achieving the target of a 7.73% reduction. On a global basis, energy consumption intensity increased by 17.3% to 27,789 kiloliters.

Water Resource Input

As for our domestic business bases, volume decreased by 2.0% year on year to 100,262 tons. On a global basis, volume increased by 9.2% to 408,590 tons

Volunteer Cleanup Activities

At the Okazaki Plant, we clean the east side promenade of the plant site every month. We will continue to participate in local activities and actively engage in environmental protection activities

Voluntary Action Plan for Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)

Our company is making efforts to reduce VOC emissions based on the Voluntary Action Plan for VOC formulated by the four electrical and electronic industry associations. VOC emissions increased by 1.3% year on year but decreased by 45% from FYE 2011.

PCB Waste Management and Handling

In FYE 2021, our company completed the treatment of our stored PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) waste (fluorescent lamp ballast) at JESCO, a national waste treatment facility. In the future, we will systematically dispose of low-concentration PCB-contaminated waste electrical equipment that is generated when transformers and other power receiving equipment are upgraded.

Conservation of Biodiversity

Our company is committed to conserving biodiversity company-wide by incorporating the phrase “aiming to conduct a wide range of environmental protection activities, in order to contribute to conservation of biodiversity” in the basic principles of our Environmental Policy. We basically believe that all our environmental activities, including those aimed at reducing the environmental impact of our business activities by, for example, preventing global warming and reducing waste, lead to the conservation of biodiversity, and we promote such activities. Specific examples of such activities include promoting the greening of plant sites and making our water quality standards on water discharged into public water area stricter than laws and ordinances. In addition, the Okazaki Plant's new distribution building, completed in 2021, is planted with indigenous species such as benthamidia japonica, machilus thunbergii, prunus yedoensis, weeping cherry, rhododendron indicum, and podocarpus macrophyllus.

Makita Sustainability Actions