Sustainability

As a member of the Asahi Kasei Group, we recognize health, safety and disaster prevention, occupational safety and health, quality assurance, and environmental protection as the top management priorities across all our business activities, with full consideration for the entire product life cycle from development to disposal.

Environmental safety governance

Within the AKM Group, the President of Asahi Kasei Microdevices serves as the Chief Environmental and Safety Officer, with an executive appointed as the Environmental and Safety Officer as deputy. We have also established an Environmental and Safety Management Office reporting directly to the Officer to ensure smooth implementation of directives. Under this promotion framework, we operate the PDCA (Plan–Do–Check–Act) cycle and pursue continuous improvement.

We continuously improve our quality management system and quality assurance to deliver safe, high‑quality products and services.

The AKM Group aims to eliminate occupational accidents through intrinsic safety measures for equipment, protective measures, and thorough occupational safety and health training for employees. In line with Asahi Kasei Group policy, we designate the following four prohibited actions as any of these can lead to severe occupational accidents. We also strive to create a comfortable work environment and promote employee health maintenance and improvement.

The four prohibited actions are:　

• Do not touch moving parts
• Do not go under suspended load
• Do not work at height without a safety harness
• Do not break the speed limit, Do not use the phone while driving, Do not ride without a seat belt

The AKM Group values coexistence with the environment and local communities, contributing to regional development through our business activities. With due consideration to the environmental impacts of our operations and work, we are tackling to mitigate them. As a part of the attempt, we make our effort to reduce our environmental burden by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, taking advanced energy‑saving initiatives, decreasing waste, and preventing water, air, and soil pollutions.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets^*1
The AKM Group is working toward the following GHG  emissions reduction targets:

• By 2030, emissions reduction of 30% or more (from fiscal 2013)
• By 2035, emissions reduction of 40% or more (from fiscal 2013)
• By 2050, carbon neutral 

*1 Scope 1 (direct GHG emissions from our operations) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions from the use of purchased electricity, heat, and steam)

Offering products that contribute to the environment
The AKM Group pursues reductions in society’s environmental burden by delivering superior solutions. Leveraging the strengths in our sensor technology, LSI design technology, and software technology, we propose energy saving and parts‑count reduction in customers’ end products.

Policy on renewable energy
As part of our actions to address climate change, the AKM Group promotes the use of renewable energy^*2.
*2 Including the purchase of environmental attribute certificates and equivalent instruments

Policy on waste
The AKM Group strives to minimize the generation of industrial waste and to promote recycling. We conduct routine management using industrial waste manifests and verify the status of collection, transport, and treatment of industrial waste by contractors to ensure proper waste management.

Policy on water resources
We monitor water intake in our operations and promote circular use of water and other measures to maintain and improve water‑use efficiency, contributing to the conservation of water resources.

Policy on air‑pollution prevention
To prevent air pollution, the AKM Group controls emissions of fluorocarbons and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and introduces or upgrades exhaust‑gas treatment equipment to reduce emissions. We also conduct drills based on the emergency response procedures.

Policy on hazardous‑substance management
We manage hazardous substances appropriately according to the risk and also endeavor to curb releases of such substances to the environment while thoroughly maintaining our records.

Policy on biodiversity
As a member of the Asahi Kasei Group, the AKM Group advances business operations that respect biodiversity, contributing to a sustainable society in harmony with the natural environment.

Offering products that contribute to the environment
The AKM Group pursues reductions in society’s environmental burden by delivering superior solutions. Leveraging the strengths in our sensor technology, LSI design technology, and software technology, we propose energy saving and parts‑count reduction in customers’ end products.

The AKM Group strives to disclose corporate information fairly, impartially, and accurately to our stakeholders, including customers, shareholders/investors, business partners, employees, and local communities as well as to the society at large, as promptly as possible.

We strive to prevent misunderstandings in product/service explanations, including labelling and advertising. To deliver safe and reliable products and services, we exercise our utmost care regarding the laws and regulations related to environmental substances to meet customer requirements.

The AKM Group maintains sound relationships and conducts business with integrity with all customers, public and private. We strictly prohibit obtaining orders or advancing business through bribery, particularly involving public officials.

We thoroughly complies with the competition laws and antimonopoly laws of each country, maintains relationships of fair competition with competitors, and provides products and services in a fair manner. Our advertising also adheres to the applicable laws to ensures fair representations.

The AKM Group establishes the rules governing procurement, maintains sound relationships with suppliers, ensures proper transactions and payment procedures, and secures transparency across the supply chain to fulfill our corporate social responsibility.

Conflict minerals
We regard conflict minerals as a serious social issue. To avoid any association with conflict or inhumane activities, we work to ensure supply‑chain transparency and practice responsible mineral sourcing.

AKM Group respects the fundamental human rights of all people and strictly prohibits any inhumane acts, including human trafficking, forced labor, slave labor, and child labor. We respect diversity and prohibit discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, origin, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, ideology, or any other attribute. We endeavor to provide a workplace where everyone can thrive and, in compliance with applicable laws, do not permit working hours to exceed legal limits.

Through our business activities, the AKM Group contributes to local communities and actively participates in company‑led community initiatives. We strive to fully understand the local cultures and deepen communication with the community.

Social contribution through our products
By proposing solutions that combine AKM’s distinctive sensor technology, LSI design technology, and software technology, we support safe and secure living and, therefore, contribute to the lives and livelihoods of people around the world.

We ensure proper processing in accordance with the accounting and tax rules and rigorously manage our company assets to protect the value of both tangible and intangible assets.

The AKM Group is committed to information security, protection of personal data, and thorough, appropriate document management.

We promotes the acquisition and protection of its own intellectual property rights, and endeavors to respect the intellectual property rights of others

The AKM Group complies with domestic and international laws, thoroughly establishes and operates internal rules, and, when the laws or internal rules do not provide a clear answer, acts with integrity.