Nikon has woven sustainability into its corporate ethos of reliability and innovation, with a dedicated focus within its Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2022-2025). Sustainability stands as a cornerstone of their business strategy, with a multifaceted approach encompassing renewable energy integration, greenhouse gas reduction, waste management, recycling programs, and resource conservation. Their sustainability initiatives extend across their operations, striving to minimize environmental footprint, encourage renewable energy uptake, and engage in community outreach and biodiversity preservation.
Sustainability Overview
Nikon defines sustainability as contributing to a sustainable society and achieving sustainable growth through their business activities.
They have established a Sustainability Committee chaired by the President of Nikon and key executives and department heads to oversee sustainability initiatives, identify material issues, set goals, and monitor progress.
These are some of the goals they wish to achieve in their Medium-Term Management Plan:
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Nikon has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of its energy usage across the entire lifespan of its products, spanning from raw material acquisition to product utilisation, with a firm commitment to minimising its greenhouse gas emissions. The company is actively engaged in various strategies aimed at mitigating its environmental impact, including enhancing the efficiency of product development, implementing energy-saving practices at its facilities, and promoting eco-friendly commuting and company vehicle initiatives.
Nikon employs rigorous analysis and mitigation efforts to address greenhouse gas emissions related to product distribution, advocating for modal shifts and embracing environmentally sustainable transportation methods. Since the fiscal year 2008, the brand has ceased the use of ozone-depleting substances and is dedicated to advancing technologies free from hazardous materials, with a particular focus on lead- and arsenic-free innovations.
Furthermore, Nikon is steadfast in its goal to elevate the proportion of renewable energy in its electricity consumption to a minimum of 30% by fiscal year 2030, leveraging strategies like in-house power generation and the acquisition of renewable energy certificates. Additionally, the company collaborates closely with its procurement partners to instigate CO2 reduction measures throughout the entirety of its supply chain.
Plastic, Packaging and Recycling
Nikon has established comprehensive frameworks to evaluate the environmental impact of both its products and packaging materials, with a primary focus on reducing weight, volume, and the presence of hazardous substances. Proactively pursuing sustainability goals, the company is dedicated to minimising the use of plastic packaging materials, striving to transition to more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Aligned with its sustainability objectives, Nikon actively promotes the recycling of packaging materials, optimises resource utilisation in packaging and instruction manuals, and prioritises the downsizing of packaging boxes to mitigate environmental impact. Additionally, Nikon implements measures to collect and recycle end-of-life rechargeable batteries, alongside initiatives for the recycling and reuse of used Nikon products, in adherence to regulations such as the WEEE Directive.
Furthermore, Nikon implements a range of initiatives aimed at reducing waste generation, encompassing the recycling of abrasive agents and paper resources, as well as the conservation of water resources in manufacturing processes. With a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, the brand targets achieving zero emissions levels, reducing waste generation, and minimising freshwater consumption.
Nikon’s overarching goal is to ensure zero negative impacts on human health and ecosystems throughout its supply chain. To this end, the company focuses on eliminating hazardous chemical substances, adhering to regulatory standards, and actively engaging in ecosystem conservation efforts.
Employee Awareness and Community Engagement
Nikon employs diverse methods, including newsletters, webinars, and talk events, to foster sustainability awareness among its employees and encourage their active involvement in related endeavors.
As a member of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), Nikon upholds its Code of Conduct, ensuring ethical and responsible practices throughout its supply chain. The company has set ambitious targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction, with a commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Actively participating in initiatives such as the Japan Climate Leaders Partnership and the Business Ambition for 1.5ΒΊC Initiative underscores Nikon’s dedication to combating climate change. Furthermore, Nikon adheres to ISO 14001 certification for environmental management across its operations, conducting assessments and training programs to ensure continuous compliance and improvement.
Nikon actively contributes to the community through various initiatives, including marine plastic pollution prevention, beautification projects, and environmental education. Supporting the AKAYA Project, which focuses on biodiversity conservation in the Akaya Forest, Nikon emphasises participation in local conservation activities and promotes sustainable forest resource utilisation. Additionally, the company is involved in numerous environmental initiatives and organizations, such as the Science Based Targets Initiative, RE100, and Japan Climate Initiative.
These initiatives underscore Nikon’s commitment to sustainability, encompassing a holistic approach aimed at reducing environmental impact, promoting renewable energy adoption, and engaging in community and biodiversity conservation efforts.
These are some of the targets and goals achieved by Nikon in the 2022 Fiscal Year:
| Target | Result |
| Reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 31.6% compared to fiscal year 2013 | 33.8% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions (compared to fiscal year 2013) |
| Reduce total waste emissions from business activities by 2% or more compared to fiscal year 2018 (total waste emissions: 7,616 tons or less) | 20% Reduction in Total Waste Generated from Operations (compared to fiscal year 2018) |
| Achieve a renewable energy adoption rate of 9% or higher in electricity used for business activities | Renewable energy share of electricity used for business activities: 22.3% |
| Create eco-friendly products | Approximately 82% of new products are certified as eco-friendly products |
| Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in distribution by 10% compared to fiscal year 2019 | Reduced greenhouse gas emissions in distribution by 28% compared to fiscal year 2019 |
| Reduce freshwater consumption by at least 2% compared to fiscal year 2018 (freshwater consumption in fiscal year 2018: 1,877,000 m3) | Freshwater consumption: Reduced by 7.4% compared to fiscal year 2018 |
| Improve water reuse rate compared with the previous fiscal year | Water reuse rate: Goal not achieved; -1.7% compared to the previous year |
| Perform local contribution activities of marine plastic pollution issues at least once a year in each business facility | Regional contribution activities for marine plastic pollution prevention: 29 activities; 1,028 participants (across 20 sites in total) |
| Pursue paperless business operations | Digitized product catalogs and instruction manuals |
Learn more about Nikonβs sustainability efforts in their latest sustainability report.
