Japanese sportswear specialist Asics has released its 2016 Sustainability Report which summarizes the company’s sustainability performance for last year and outlines progress towards its medium-term sustainability targets.
2016 was a special year for the Asics group. This was the year it kicked off its new five-year Asics growth plan, embarking on an ambitious new set of sustainability targets towards 2020.
Last fiscal, Asics Europe launched a centralized review of energy procurement and updated its electricity contracts, switching about 300,000 kwh to renewable energy and saving 100 tons of CO2. It also launched its new Global Retail Concept with the opening of a new flagship store in Germany with features like LED lighting, energy efficient systems and floor materials in addition to hangers, mannequins and other POS components made from certified sustainable and/or renewable materials.
The retailer also organized training sessions in collaboration with independent partners, such as the International Labor Organization’s Better Work Program for both Tier I and Tier II suppliers to give them the knowledge and understanding necessary to further improve their performance.
ASICS expects to double its total use of renewable electricity in Europe, which will account for ten per cent of the company’s total global electricity usage. It also plans to conduct energy efficiency audits in its most energy-intensive locations and implement efficiency improvements where necessary.
