Our approach to SDGs
We are committed to sustainability
Global
Environmental
initiatives
Significantly reduce the burden
on the global environmental
Okamura’s Carbon Neutral 2050 Declaration
The Okamura Group aims to become carbon neutral by 2050.
As an interim milestone, we have set a target to reduce CO2 emissions 50%, of 2020 levels by 2030.
To achieve carbon neutrality, we will further strengthen our existing activities and develop initiatives from a new perspective to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.
Toward carbon neutrality in 2050
In 1997, we implemented our GREEN WAVE initiative, which now incorporates our goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This initiative is now moving to the next stage! As the Okamura Group aims to become carbon neutral by 2050, we have set an interim milestone of reducing CO2 emissions 50%, compared with 2020 levels, by 2030. In order to accomplish this goal, we will further strengthen our activities and develop initiatives from a new perspective to contribute to the realization of a carbon-free society.
Our Sustainability Journey
Awards
Nikkei SDGs Management Survey
★4.0 rating
Sponsored by Nikkei Shimbun and covering 846 listed and major unlisted companies, Nikkei evaluates and commends those that are working to solve social, economic, and environmental issues through their business by linking SDGs to their management, thereby increasing their corporate value.
The rating was ★ 4.0 (with a deviation of more than 60 and less than 65). (Nov. 2021)
Toyo Keizai CSR Company Ranking
CSR companies: 190th out of 1,614 ESG companies: 102nd out of 1,614
Toyo Keizai’s second Platinum Career Special Survey
44th out of 1,019
The CSR Company Ranking is Japan's largest ranking of companies with comprehensive CSR evaluations, based on both financial and non-financial data.
Started by Toyo Keizai in 2007, the survey includes responses from 1,600 firms, and the data is used by
various ESG evaluation organizations.
The 24th Environmental Communication Awards
Award for Excellence
in Environmental Reporting
The Environmental Communication Awards are designed to promote environmental communication efforts by business enterprises and to improve the quality of their environmental reports. It recognizes excellent environmental reporting standards for multiple stakeholders in all media, including CSR reports, integrated reports, and environmental management reports. The purpose of the awards is to promote better environmental communication by business operators and to improve the quality of these efforts.
GREEN WAVE Road to 2050
Since 1997
What is Okamura's GREEN WAVE?
Since 1997, the Okamura Group has been expanding our lineup of environmentally friendly products by establishing our own environmental standards for the products based on the concept of the "GREEN WAVE," in which the company itself creates a GREEN (environmentally friendly) wave and rides that wave.
With the aim of becoming carbon neutral, from 2021 we introduce Circular Design Thinking in product development and a carbon offset program to greatly enhance our GREEN WAVE initiatives.
1997
2021
GREEN WAVE Product Criteria
Conserving Resources
Recycle
Long Lasting
Recycled Materials
Reuse
Safety & Environment
Energy Saving
Okamura has obtained certifications from external organizations through these GREEN WAVE initiatives.
- Indoor Advantage
- ISO 14001
- FSC®
Circular Design
Okamura is thinking in terms of the circular economy. We aim to make more effective use of our limited resources and minimize waste throughout the product life cycle — from product planning and design to sales, maintenance, reuse, and recycling. As we consider the environment in our decision-making, we can contribute to the creation of a more sustainable society.
Reduce waste
Cascade recycling
Depleted resources
Recycle
In house
reuse
Reuse for manufacturing
Reuse
Collecting, Sorting, Disassembling
Use
Sales
Manufacturing
Product
Planing
Design
Renewable resources
Procurement of raw materials
Reuse parts
Reuse products
(sell second hand)
We aim to help make society more sustainable by giving full consideration to the local environment
Recycle
Circular Design
Conserving Resources
Recycle
Materials from recycled plastic
We use fabric that contains recycled fibers made from used plastic bottles.
Approximately five recycled plastic bottles are used for our Plimode Chair Mid Back (with back cushion and plain fabric) and approximately 121 used plastic bottles are used for the Lives Panel, 1700H (felt, with holes).
Calculated according to the average weight of 500ml plastic bottles for soft drinks (from government statistics on PET bottle promotion, 2018).
Example product
Contessa II
Finora
Sylphy
Plimode
Spher
Marine plastic waste recycled fabric
Fabric is created from recycled thread, which has been made from marine plastic waste.
Example product
Recycled fabric from waste fishing nets
This knitted fabric is created from nylon REAMIDE thread recycled from used fishing nets from Hokkaido, Japan, as well as thread from reused PET bottles.
Example product
Recycled resin
Waste plastic from old home appliances is recycled and used for the frames of our office chairs..
Example product
Contessa II
Finora
Sylphy
Plimode
Spher
Renewable resources
Circular Design
Safety & Environment
Conserving Resources
Recycle
Wood
Our 100% natural, reusable, and biodegradable wool is soft, durable, and functional.
Example product
Domestic timber
Forests play an important role as carbon sinks. Using domestic lumber for furniture can help slow the rate of global warming by fixing CO2 emissions.
In addition, the proper cycle of forest harvesting, utilization, and planting will contribute to sustainable forestry and regional revitalization.
.
Example product
A special powder coating using bamboo charcoal (Eco-Clean Coat)
Eco-Clean Coat is a powder coating that combines bamboo charcoal ceramics to absorb and break down harmful airborne substances and odors such as formaldehyde*.
It makes surfaces harder than typical paints and results in a matte finish that is resistantto scratches and stains.
.
Example product
Long Lasting
Linoleum
Linoleum is a decorative material made from natural raw materials such as linseed oil, rosin, wood powder, lime powder, and natural pigments. Its matte, warm and soft texture is fingerprint resistant and creates a calm and relaxing space. (It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties.)
Example product
Biomass plastics
We use plant-derived biomass plastics made from sugarcane in our products. This helps to reduce the use of non-renewable resources derived from petroleum.
Example product
In-house reuse
Circular Design
Recycle
Conserving Resources
Reuse of resin waste
We collect waste resin from manufacturing at our in-house factory, make it into pellets again, and reuse it for resin-molded products..
Example product
Manufacturing
Circular Design
Energy Saving
Conserving Resources
Digital print fabric
A minimal number of parts and lightweight design reduce the weight of products and CO2 emissions. This also contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions during manufacturing and deliveryDigital printing is a production method that does not generate waste liquid, shortens the production process, eliminates waste, and is an environmentally friendly printing technology.
Example product
Low Formaldehyde Materials
For processed materials such as plywood, MDF, and particleboard, we set certain standards and select those with low formaldehyde emissions.
*Formaldehyde is a typical chemical substance that irritates human mucous membranes, causing irritated eyes and tears, runny nose, thirst, pain and coughing, and other symptoms of sick building syndrome. (Reference: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health website)
.
Example product
Safety & Environment
Use
Circular Design
Long lasting
Safety & Environment
Alcohol-resistant PVC leather
Alcohol-resistant PVC leather is a material that can be disinfected by wiping with alcohol, etc., and is excellent in maintaining sanitary conditions.
* In addition to alcohol, sodium hypochlorite can be used.
Example product
Antibacterial and antiviral properties Melamine laminated panels
For processed materials such as plywood, MDF, and particleboard, we set certain standards and select those with low formaldehyde emissions.
*Formaldehyde is a typical chemical substance that irritates human mucous membranes, causing irritated eyes and tears, runny nose, thirst, pain and coughing, and other symptoms of sick building syndrome. (Reference: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health website)
.
Example product
Aption Free 2
Swift
Flaptor
Alt Piazza
Collecting / sorting / disassembling
Circular Design
Long lasting
Safety & Environment
Cleaning
To maintain a comfortable work environment, we clean chair fabrics with special techniques and machines. During the cleaning process, we use detergents that do not contain any hazardous chemicals, surfactants, or volatile chemicals.
.
Energy Saving
Reuse
Recycled
Long lasting
Designed to be disassembled
Major plastic parts are labeled with their materials and designed to be recycled or disposed of separately. By designing products that can be disassembled into smaller pieces by material, we improve transportation efficiency and contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions.
.
Example product
Collecting / sorting / disassembling
Circular Design
Long lasting
Safety & Environment
Cleaning
To maintain a comfortable work environment, we clean chair fabrics with special techniques and machines. During the cleaning process, we use detergents that do not contain any hazardous chemicals, surfactants, or volatile chemicals.
.
Energy Saving
Reuse
Recycled
Long lasting
Designed to be disassembled
Major plastic parts are labeled with their materials and designed to be recycled or disposed of separately. By designing products that can be disassembled into smaller pieces by material, we improve transportation efficiency and contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions.
.
Example product
Reuse
Circular Design
Replacing parts
Office furniture parts such as casters and storage dividers can be replaced. Replacing and repairing broken parts will prolong the life of your product.
Long lasting
Reuse
Recycled
Reusing products
We buy back-office furniture that is no longer needed — such as when offices relocate, or there are organizational changes — and we reuse the parts or sell the items second hand.
Long lasting
Reuse
Carbon Offset Program
We have launched a carbon offset scheme to allow us to help our customers make greener purchases.
We calculate the CO2 emissions emitted during the lifecycle of certain products and pass on a number of carbon offset credits equivalent to the CO2 emissions created by the product.
Customers contribute to CO2 gas reduction activities by purchasing
our products.
Chair
65 kg
Desk
246 kg
Storage
194 kg
Pod
503 kg
