YKKsustainability

journala little bookabout creating
big change
What does a little zipper have to dowith saving our great, big planet?
The answer is, a lot. As one of theworld’s largest zipper manufacturers,
YKK is protecting our environment,by ramping up sustainability efforts
across the entire company, benefiting
employees, communities and thethousands of apparel companies
that use YKK® fastening products.

From offering products madewith recycled ocean bound plastic
to achieving net-zero emissions by
2050 to supporting local schools,
YKK believes that from small parts
come big benefits. As you flip throughthis journal, enjoy these stories ofhope and celebrate the positivechange we can create together.

3

contents
06
road to zero		environment • community • product08
YKK sustainability vision 2050		environment • community • productpost petroleum
10		environment • product®
12		ECO-DYE		product • environment

14
founder's story		product • community • environment		
cycle of goodness®
16
18
lending a helping hand		community		caringof kids
20		
community
ocean plastics challenge
22		environment • product24

conclusion5

environment • community • productby 2050,
our loftiest
business goal
is to hit zero

YKK sustainability vision 2050 is underway, creating a brighter future for natureand humanity. With our planet in peril,
it’s a welcomed light of hope.

road to zero

how?

why?

The vision aims to reducegreenhouse gas emissions tozero by switching to renewable
power, converting to 100%
sustainable materials, aswell as reducing water andchemical use.

With a global footprint in over
70 countries and regions, YKK
realizes it can make a positive
impact for future generations.
It will require incredible
dedication by employees andpartners working together
with innovation and a healthy
supply of heart and soul.

YKK’s leadership team, as
well as employee input from all
global regions, crafted the vision,
encouraging teamwork andownership for all.

It’s an extraordinary vision forsustainability with compassion
and concern for all people.

“The naturalenvironment isour most precious
stakeholder.”— Hiroaki Otani, President,
YKK Corporation7

environment • community • productsustainability
vision 2050
YKK’s action plan for a sustainable futureYKK sustainability vision 2050

climate change
carbon neutral by 2050

material resources
100% sustainable textile
materials by 2030

water resources
reduce water use & increase
wastewater recycling

chemical management
reduce chemical usage by
new production methods

respect people
ensure safe fair workplaces
throughout our supply chain

9

environment • productSustainability and innovation are interlinked.
YKK is focused on minimizing environmental impact
with innovative ideas in design and manufacturing.
It’s the right thing to do for the planet.
FPO“ It’s wonderful towork with YKK.
They asked us to be
partners with themon climate change.”– Cara Chacon, Patagonia,
VP Social & Environmental Responsibilitypost petroleum

to lowercarbonemissions,
we all needto step up
how?
YKK’s NATULON® product line is an
example of that essential relationship,
moving away from petroleum-basedmaterials in the manufacturing
process. Both the zipper chain andthe tape are made from recycled,
plastic bottles.
So far, more than 1,000 tons ofplastic waste have been recycled
to create the zippers.

why?
Using less petroleum and morerecycled plastics helps reducegreenhouse gas emissions
and mitigates climate change.
Great partnerships are essential
to achieving a global solution.
YKK is committed to the goals of
the Paris Agreement, and as asignatory to the Fashion Industry
Charter for Climate Action, YKK
works with all stakeholders toachieve climate neutrality.

YKK sustainability vision 2050
is a company-wide initiative tomove toward “a brighter future fornature and humanity.” When you
think of how many of these little
zippers are out there, innovative
design and manufacturing cancreate a big difference for thehealth of the planet.

11environment • innovation

to invent the ECO-DYE® technology, the first everwaterless dyeing technology for zippers, a teamof innovators partnered with engineers, professors
and their own curiosity.
how?

why?

Creating something that had neverbeen done before required over 10
years of relentless experiments andaligned partnerships. The result is
ECO-DYE®, an innovative dyeing
technology that uses carbon dioxide
to reduce water usage in the zipper’s
dyeing process to zero.

Water conservation is essential forhuman life. Currently, 1 in 3 people
lack access to clean water. YKKunderstands the scale and urgencyof the problem. As a solution, theECO-DYE® technology reduces
water usage and our carbon footprint
gets smaller. It’s born from a drive
to help humanity by protecting life’s
most precious resource: water.

The ECO-DYE® technology applies
supercritical carbon dioxide insteadof water to dye zippers. The ECODYE® technology achieves the samehigh-quality look as conventionallydyed YKK® zippers and the process
does not require drying, which
also saves energy and reduces
greenhouse gas emissions.

“We decided todo something
revolutionary.”– Takashi Saito, Sr. Engineer
YKK Corporation

ECO-DYE®

an innovation over
10 years in themaking withwater-saving
benefits thatlast forever13

environment • community • productmakeproductsthat last,invest incommunity,
protect
the planet.
repeat.

founder’s story

Since Tadao Yoshida founded
YKK in 1934, the company
has been guided by the belief
that the health of business andsociety are connected. Thesedays, with a planet in peril, YKK
is leaning into the urgency of themoment, elevating sustainability
efforts through innovation, while
ensuring that producing highquality products goes hand-inhand with taking care of people
and the world we live in.

how?
YKK’s ethos is groundedin fairness. It began with a
mission to make things thatlast coupled with a concern
for people and the larger
society. Today, YKK’s focus
on sustainability in bothmanufacturing and productdevelopment is aimed at
reducing greenhouse gasses
emissions to zero by 2050.
YKK’s ethos of fairness
extends to human rights,
diversity, ethical labor
practices and community
involvement because itsupports the founder’s visionand it’s the right thing to do.

why?
If business thrives as itensures a healthier planet,it helps society and elevateseveryone’s quality of life.
Today, in over 70 countries andregions, one philosophy guides
the company and illuminates
a way forward to ensure thepeople and the planet prosper.

15

cycle ofgoodness
The Cycle of Goodness®
philosophy, articulated by
YKK’s founder Tadao
Yoshida, is grounded in
the notion that businessbelongs to society.

When the benefits areshared, the value of thecompany’s existence will
be enjoyed by all.

®

cycle of goodness“ no oneprospers
without
rendering
benefitto others”
17communityteaching
more thansewing.
stitching
togetherdreams.

lending a helping hand

At YKK’s Social Development andVocational Center in India, young womenlearn more than stitching, embroidery,computer skills and English. They are
empowered to pursue their dreams andhelp their community thrive.
how?

why?

The school, located on the siteof YKK’s manufacturing facility
in Bawal, invites 10-15 students
from nearby villages to attend theone-year training course. They areprovided with uniforms, meals andstudy materials. What they gain
throughout their study is priceless.

YKK created the school
to contribute to a sustainable
society by giving back to thecommunity. Students discoverways to support their families
while pursuing new careers.

“I gained many friends. Meetingthem and interacting with them hasenhanced my confidence level,” said
Smun, a recent graduate.

Some start their own stitchingbusiness, others work incomputers, or aspire to create
their own apparel brand. Allgraduates have an opportunity
to gain independence and agreater world view.

Upon graduation, students receive
something even more valuable thana diploma: a sewing machine.

“Coming to theschool has mademe more confident
in becoming
independent andachieving mydreams.”– Puja, recent graduate

19community

to help acommunity
YKK went
to school
how?

why?

YKK El Salvador recently
completed an amazing project
supporting the community there.
The elementary school, locatednear the YKK facility, was at risk
from gang activity. YKK designed
and constructed a protective
wall, keeping kids safe, allowing
them to feel protected and playsafely outside.

YKK is committed to beinga reliable community partner.
For the school in El Salvador,that means providing support
on a consistent basis, likecomputer equipment, property
repairs and supporting musicclasses for the kids.
The project is one example of
YKK reaching out to support
the local community. It’s thebelief that a manufacturer
must be balanced by making
society a better place for all.

caring of kids

“ What we’re buildingis the possibility tomake a difference. ”– Marco Baratta, Human Resources Manager,
YKK El Salvador

21environment • productAs the threat to our oceans increases, YKK isharvesting plastics from beaches and waterways,
recycling PET bottles to create high quality
products. This isn’t a trend. It’s a belief that thechanges we make today are only as meaningful
as the impact we create for generations tomorrow.

ocean plastics challenge

the oceangives us life.
let’s returnthe favor.
how?

why?

YKK’s legacy of environmental
protection became formalized in
1994 when the “YKK Environmental
Pledge” was established to help
elevate conservation standards
across the company.

The YKK Group has deemed“harmony with the environment” as
the highest priority of its businessactivities. The benefits are clear.
Cleaner oceans and beaches, aswell as the reduction of greenhousegas emissions, leads to a healthierplanet and a better quality of life
for all people.

Today, YKK is pushing technology
while pulling together sustainability
partnerships. YKK employees
in Sri Lanka are working with thecommunity to collect PET bottles,
which will be used to help create
NATULON® Ocean Sourced™ zippers.

It’s natural for YKK to care for ourbeautiful oceans and ensure ahealthy environment. The oceanscover 71% of our planet and give
us life. It’s time that we all give theeffort to clean them up.

23

conclusion
The seeds of sustainability wereplanted in 1934 when YKK firstpledged to craft high quality, durable
products. Today, YKK’s commitment
to sustainability is comprehensive,with a lens aimed at achieving acarbon neutral footprint as thetouchstone of the YKK sustainability
vision 2050. This long term plancomes with a sense of urgency
to create solutions today.

YKK’s approach to sustainability
is holistic. That means not justcreating greener products andmanufacturing processes, but alsobuilding sustainable relationships byensuring fairness in our communities
and for our employees, while
promoting equality for all.
When it comes to sustainability,
there really is no conclusion.
Through collaboration andpartnership, we can do amazingthings. We are on this journey
together, to better connect, protect
the planet and care for each other.

25

working
togetherwith ourmost
importantpartner:the planet.

photography
Covers – Chema-Photo on Unsplash
p2 – Dave Hoefler on Unsplash
p6-7 – Chuttersnap on Unsplash
p10 – Getty Images
p13 – YKK
p14 – YKK
p18 – YKK
p21 – YKK
p22 – Getty Images
p24 – Brian Yurasits on Unsplash (Bottles)
p26 – Joshua Earle on Unsplash

printed oncover:

YKK is a registered trademark of YKKNeenah Classic Crest 80 CoverCORPORATION in Japan and other countries/

Recycled 100 Bright White, Eggshell

regions. “ECO-DYE”, NATULON, NATULON
Ocean Sourced, and Cycle of Goodness aretrademarks of YKK Corporation.

body:
Neenah Classic Crest 80 Text
Recycled 100 Bright White, EggshellSince the company’s founding in Tokyo in 1934,

increasingly diversify and require shorter product

YKK has continuously set industry standards

cycles. Guided by the CYCLE OF GOODNESS®

This paper contains 100% post-for quality, service, value, and innovation in thephilosophy – no one prospers without rendering

consumer fiber, is manufactured entirely

production of zippers, plastic hardware, hookbenefit to others – YKK aims to contribute towith certified renewable energy, andand loop fasteners, webbing tapes, and snap anda sustainable society through its products andprocessed using chlorine-free practices.

buttons. With integrated production and supply

manufacturing operations and constantly seeksThis paper is also Green Seal and Forest

systems in 72 countries and regions around thenew ways to serve the changing needs of its

Stewardship Council (FSC) certified

world, YKK is positioned to meet the needs ofcustomers while at the same time investing in its

ensuring responsible forest management.

the textile and sewing product industries as they

employees and giving back to its communities.

®

© 2021 YKK Corporation, All Rights Reserved27

to be continued