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How sustainable is Asics ?

Asics & sustainability


Asics

5 out of 21

Sustainability summary

Brand owner: ASICS Corporation
Head office: Kobe-shi, Hyogo, Japan
Sector: Sport & outdoor - clothing & shoes
Categories : Male, Female, Kids
Free Tags: Asics, Bags, Caps, Shirts, Pullover, Jackets, Dress, Shoes

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Asics sustainability score report

Last edited: 8 May 2013 by Mario
Last reviewed: 8 May 2013 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 4
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Asics has taken several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as measuring the CO2 emissions of its products to continuously reduce the environmental impact within all stages of the manufacturing processes. (See link, page 5). Source
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual absolute carbon footprint of its 'own operations' (Scope 1 & 2) and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years? Asics reports its carbon footprint on global group level only for fiscal year 2011. Concerning potential emission reductions it is therefore not possible to compare the 2011 carbon footprint on group level with earlier years (See link, page 16). Source
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its absolute ‘own operations’ carbon emissions by at least 20% within the next 5 years? Asics aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 10% from the fiscal 2007 level by fiscal 2015. This is less than 2% per year (See link, page 14). Source
4. Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations (Scope 3)? Asics informs about a joint R&D project with the MIT to reduce carbon emissions also in the supply chain, but does not provide a clear policy on reducing carbon emissions in the supply chain (See link, page 5). Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 8
1. Does the brand (company) have a policy to substitute raw materials such as leather and synthetic rubber with environmentally friendlier materials? Asics mentions to have an eco-friendly design which involves the use of recycled materials like polyester. (See link, page 15). Source
2. Does the brand (company) use these environmentally friendlier alternatives for raw materials such as leather and synthetic rubber for more than 25% of the total use of materials? In 2011 Asics developed 396 new eco-friendly products (page 14) and the share of eco-friendly products relative to total sales in Japan was 28,9 (page 15). However it is not clear what percentage of the total volume this represents. Source
3. Does the brand (company) use these environmentally friendlier alternatives for raw materials such as leather and synthetic rubber for more than 50% of the total use of materials? See remark for environmental policy question 2. Source
4. Does the brand have a clear and effective policy to avoid the use of leather that originates from cattle farms in deforestated Amazone areas? Asics does not openly communicate a policy to prevent the destruction of rainforest caused by cattle farm expansion for meat and leather production. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective policy to minimize environmental pollution of chromium and other harmful substances from leather tanning processes, e.g. by waste water treatment or by vegetable tanning? Asics does not openly communicate a policy to to limit chromium and other harmful substances pollution caused by leather tanning processes. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
6. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures to make the clothing and footwear? Asics mentions that it has established the ASICS Guideline for the Control and Use of Hazardous Chemicals in 2005 in order to limit the use of chemical substances in its products (p 15). However, Asics has not published any commitment to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole life cycle of products. Source
7. Does the brand (company) have a clear target to phase out PVC in their products, and has the brand already achieved a PVC phase out level of more than 90%? Asics reports to undertake efforts to abolsih PVC from its products. However, until today this process is not finished and it is reported that PVC is still needed for some 'shoes sold in certain countries and some components for fitness equipment (e.g. shields on electric cables)'. It is not reported if the phase out of PVC applies already to more than 90%. Source
8. Has the brand (company) a clear and effective policy to minimize the use of solvents based chemicals in their shoe production, and has the brand already achieved a level of average max. 40 grams of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions per pair of shoes? Asics does not report about having a plan to reduce solvent based chemicals in their shoe production. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

3 out of 9
1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? Asics is a member of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) (page 26). All standards are mentioned in the FLA Code of Conduct (for FLA Code of Conduct see link in labour conditions question 2). Source
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary and paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage? In FLA Workplace Code of Conduct: 1. Not mentioned; 2. No, maximum working week is 48 hours and a maximum of 12 overtime, 'except under extraordinary business circumstances', which can mean anything; 3. No, mentioning of minimum and industry wage, not living wage. Source
3. Does this Code of Conduct include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining? In FLA Workplace Code of Conduct: Freedom of association is mentioned, but nothing found about situations in which this right is restricted by law. Source
4. Does this labour conditions policy also apply further down the production chains, at least covering the leather production or the animal farms? Asics does not make clear if the Code of Conduct and consequent labour conditions policy also applies further down the footwear production chain, such as leather tanning or cattle farms. Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? Asics does not provide a significant list of direct suppliers on its website or in its CSR Report. Source
6. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labor conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labor conditions? Asics Corporation is a member of of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) (See link, page 26). Source
7. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labor unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes? FLA is acknowledged as a ‘Multi Stakeholder Initiative’ (MSI). Source
8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? In 2011 Asics audited 59 factories (page 22). However, Asics does not specify what percentage of the workplaces is audited and does not publicly report outcomes or results of its policies to improve labor conditions at its suppliers. Source
9. Has the brand’s labor conditions policy resulted in a ‘compliance level’ of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a ‘monitored level' of at least 80%? See remark for labour conditions question 8. Source