Environmental Initiatives
Our Longstanding Commitment to the Environment
In the 1960s, an article in Newsweek discussing the potential impact of global warming sparked our interest in environmental issues. Since then, environmental responsibility has remained an integral part of the way we develop products.
Over time, that same philosophy has also shaped the way we manage our workplaces, use resources, and carry out our daily operations. We believe that meaningful environmental improvement comes not from isolated initiatives, but from continuous efforts woven into everyday work.
History of Environmental Consideration in Product Development
One example of this commitment was our decision in 1977 to become the first company in Japan to replace CFC propellants in dust-attracting cleaning sprays with carbon dioxide. We later refined the formulation further by adopting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a propellant.
We also actively participated in the development of products certified under Japan's Eco Mark program and have continued to pursue environmentally responsible product design.
In 1985, we decided to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from our products due to its potential environmental impact. After researching alternatives and allowing sufficient time for evaluation, we began transitioning to PVC-free materials in 1990. Today, the vast majority of our products can be clearly labeled as PVC-free.
To ensure that these environmental efforts could continue and grow over time, we also developed systems and processes to support them.
Our Environmental Management System
Integrating ISO 14001 with azuma's Development Process
On January 31, 2000, azuma Industrial obtained ISO 14001 certification through TÜV Rheinland Japan and maintained it for six consecutive years. We were among the first companies in Japan's household-goods industry to achieve ISO 14001 certification—a milestone that prompted many of our business partners to seek our guidance on the certification process.
However, environmental considerations had already been incorporated into both our product-development activities and our day-to-day operations long before ISO certification. Rather than replacing our existing approach, ISO 14001 provided a framework that helped us strengthen and formalize the environmental practices we had developed over many years.
By integrating ISO 14001 with our own development system, we established an environmental management framework built on practical experience and continuous improvement.
Environmental Policy (Environmental Declaration)
At azuma Industrial Co., Ltd., we are deeply concerned by the environmental issues facing our planet. Through the manufacture of cleaning products and household goods and the provision of cleaning services, we are committed to acting responsibly toward our own operations, our customers and suppliers, and society at large—and to keep improving. To this end, we uphold the following environmental policy:
- Develop new methods, technologies, and tools that reduce the environmental impact of household work.
- Promote the use of these products to help conserve resources and reduce environmental burdens in everyday life.
- Consider environmental impacts throughout every stage of a product's life cycle, including raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, use, and disposal.
- Measure environmental impacts, establish improvement targets, and pursue continuous reduction efforts.
- Comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.
- Continuously improve our environmental management system.
Tomoki Yamashita, President & CEO
The E-Mark System
To support environmentally conscious product development, we created our own internal evaluation framework known as the E-Mark System.
The E-Mark is not simply a product label. It is a tool that helps incorporate environmental awareness into the earliest stages of product development.
Each product is evaluated across four stages of its life cycle:
- Raw Materials
- Packaging
- Use
- Disposal
White E: Products judged to have minimal adverse environmental impact.
Black E: Products in which environmental burden factors have been identified and improved.
The E-Mark System helps ensure that environmental considerations become a natural part of product planning and development rather than an afterthought.
Results of Our Environmental Activities
Our efforts have also produced tangible results.
In 2000, our Green Gathacle Wiper received the Award of Excellence at the 3rd EcoLife Lake Biwa Awards. Unlike disposable wipers, it can be washed and reused repeatedly, withstanding more than one hundred uses across both sides.
Environmental improvements achieved by 2006 compared with our 1998 baseline included:
- Approximately 10% reduction in electricity consumption
- Approximately 40% reduction in water consumption
- Copy-paper usage maintained below 1998 purchasing levels
These achievements reflect not only improvements in our products, but also the steady adoption of environmentally conscious practices throughout our company.
From Certification to Self-Declaration
After six years of operating under ISO 14001 certification, we concluded that the greatest achievement was not certification itself, but the environmental culture and management system we had built.
In February 2006, we transitioned from third-party certification to self-declaration under ISO 14001, taking greater responsibility for maintaining and improving our environmental management system through our own initiative.
We believe environmental improvement is most effective when it is driven by self-motivation and a genuine commitment to continuous improvement.
Today, our self-managed framework continues to operate under standards at least as rigorous as those required under our previous certification program. Our environmental management system is independently reviewed by Integra Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd., which verifies its conformity with ISO 14001 requirements, and annual external audits are conducted by the SDC Verification & Audit Association, a non-profit organization.
This approach mirrors a broader shift seen in environmentally advanced regions, where organizations increasingly prioritize practical, self-directed environmental action over the upkeep of formal certification. By moving to self-declaration, we chose to channel our resources into continuous improvement itself, while upholding the same standards we maintained under certification.
