Environmental Management System (EMS)
Approach
The NGK Group has established a Group-wide environmental management framework and promotes environmental conservation activities based on the NGK Group Environmental Policy by utilizing an environmental management system (EMS).
Promotion Framework
In addition to managing the environment at its major sites in Nagoya, Chita, Komaki, and Ishikawa, the NGK Group promotes environmental management at its domestic and overseas Group companies, led by each business division. Matters decided by the Environment, Health and Safety Committee are communicated to all Group companies through the business divisions and are reflected in their business activities. Furthermore, each business division takes the lead in conducting regular audits of domestic and overseas Group companies and, in coordination with head office staff, engages in information sharing and provides support to address outstanding issues.
Environment, Safety & Health Committee
The Environment, Health and Safety Committee manages environmental management and occupational health and safety in an integrated manner from the perspectives of compliance, governance, and risk reduction. The Committee is chaired by an Executive Vice President and meets regularly twice a year, with extraordinary meetings convened as necessary to deliberate and decide on important matters. Matters deliberated by the Committee are reported to the Board of Directors, and operations are conducted under the supervision of the Board.
| Chair | President appoints the chair in light of Executive Committee deliberations |
|---|---|
| Vice Chair | Appointed by Committee Chair |
| Members | Executive Vice President; Administrative staff with jurisdiction; Group Executives; General Managers; Director of each site (General Manager of Pollution Control; General Safety and Health Manager); others designated by the Committee Chair |
Environment, Safety & Health Promotion Section
| Chair | General Manager of Safety, Quality & Environment Dept. |
|---|---|
| Member | General Manager of Environment Business Group Safety, Quality Assurance & Environment Div.; General Manager of Digital Society Business Group Safety, Quality Assurance & Environment Dept.; General Manager of Energy & Industry Business Group Safety, Quality Assurance & Environment Dept.; General Manager of R&D Planning Dept., Corporate R&D; General Manager of M&E Planning Dept., Corporate Manufacturing Engineering; others designated by the Committee Chair |
Environmental Committees
NGK holds Environmental Committees twice a year at each of its locations in Nagoya, Chita, Komaki, and Ishikawa, to ensure that matters decided by the Environment, Health and Safety Committee are thoroughly communicated and implemented at each district. The committees also share information and discuss issues and key topics specific to each district, leading to the consideration of improvement measures.
Initiatives
Acquisition of Environmental Management System Certification
Based on its Environmental Policy, the NGK Group has obtained third-party certifications such as ISO 14001, Eco Stage 2, and Eco Action 21, and promotes systematic and continuous environmental conservation activities. Currently, EMS certification coverage has reached 100% across all production sites of the NGK Group.
| Category | Number of manufacturing sites | Number of sites certified | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NGK | 4 | 4 | |
| Group companies in Japan | Environment Business Group | 5 | 5 |
| Digital Society Business Group | 9 | 9 | |
| Energy & Industry Business Group | 5 | 5 | |
| Group companies outside Japan | Environment Business Group | 11 | 11 |
| Digital Society Business Group | 4 | 4 | |
| Energy & Industry Business Group | 3 | 3 | |
Environmental Management at Group Companies in and outside Japan
NGK has established an environmental management framework centered on each business division that covers both domestic and overseas Group companies, and promotes environmental conservation activities based on its Environmental Policy. For Group companies, NGK verifies compliance with environmental laws and regulations through environmental performance assessments and audits. In cases where issues arise, NGK conducts root cause analysis and implements corrective actions, and shares these measures across the Group.
Strengthening Global Environmental Management
The NGK Group has established and operates a global environmental management framework to promote business activities in harmony with the environment and to fulfill its responsibility for addressing social issues. We are continuously working to reduce the environmental impact of its business activities, while also developing systems that ensure full compliance with environmental laws and regulations, thereby advancing the sophistication of its global environmental management.
Efforts to Mitigate Environmental Risks Throughout the Group
The NGK Group has obtained ISO 14001 or equivalent third-party certifications at all its production sites, both in Japan and overseas, and conducts management based on environmental management systems. NGK operates a system to share information on revisions to environmental laws and regulations in Japan with its Group companies and to monitor their response status. For overseas sites as well, we are strengthening its framework to regularly confirm important regulatory changes in each country and region, as well as the status of responses, in collaboration with local consultants.
To reduce the risks of environmental accidents and compliance violations, NGK is promoting a shift from post-incident response to preventive measures. We have conducted re-inspections of facilities with high environmental risks, such as water treatment facilities and equipment handling hazardous substances, and has implemented improvements in areas where issues were identified. In FY2025, NGK is working to further strengthen preventive measures for water-related facilities through equipment aging diagnostics and measures to prevent human error, and these initiatives will continue from FY2026 onward.
Environmental Audits
NGK conducts annual internal audits and external reviews based on environmental management systems at all Group companies, including domestic sites in Nagoya, Chita, Komaki, and Ishikawa, as well as overseas operations. No material findings were identified in FY2025. In the unlikely event that any material findings are identified, the relevant departments and the environmental division work together to implement corrective actions, share them at environmental committees in each district, and prevent recurrence across the entire Group.
Major Violations
Environmental Risk Management
The NGK Group has established environmental management systems at each production site and works to conserve the environment and reduce environmental risks. Each business group responsible for Group companies conducts regular environmental audits of all production sites to enhance the level of environmental management across the entire Group.
Compliance and Pollution Prevention Initiatives
NGK complies with applicable laws, regulations, and environmental agreements through continuous monitoring and measurement of air emissions and water quality, as well as through strict management practices.
We also provide regular specialized environmental training, including for domestic Group companies, to share the latest information and enhance the knowledge of personnel, thereby working to prevent environmental pollution.
In FY2025, an incident occurred at the Komaki Plant in which wastewater containing product raw materials flowed into the rainwater system. In response, NGK implemented measures to prevent recurrence and shared the incident through the Environment, Safety & Health Committee to ensure thorough recurrence prevention across the Group.
Major Violations
Environmental Patrols and Emergency Response Drills
NGK conducts environmental patrols based on annual plans to prevent environmental pollution before it occurs. We also carry out emergency response drills to minimize potential damage in the event of emergencies.
In fiscal 2025, NGK conducted environmental patrols and emergency response drills at four sites—Nagoya, Chita, Komaki, and Ishikawa—to prevent air and water pollution, ensure proper management of chemical substances, and control noise and vibration.
Going forward, NGK will continue these environmental patrols and emergency response drills and will work to reduce environmental risks by improving operational practices.
Activities Conducted in FY2025
- Environmental patrols (times) / Emergency response drills (times)
-
District Air Water Noise and Vibration Chemical Substances Nagoya 4 / 3 1 / 2 4 / - 2 / 2 Chita 1 / 6 1 / 4 1 / - 1 / - Komaki 2 / 8 2 / 16 1 / - 1 / - Ishikawa 2 / 5 2 / 2 2 / - 2 / 2