Climate Change Measures

NSK’s Approach
Targets and Performance
CO₂ Reduction Targets and Progress
Initiatives

NSK’s Approach

◆Promoting CO₂ Emissions Reductions through “Create” and “Utilize” Approach

As part of its response to the urgent issue of climate change, the NSK Group is helping to realize a sustainable society by implementing initiatives that go beyond its own activities and take into consideration the entire lifecycle of its products.
The NSK Group aims to contribute to the realization of a carbon neutral society by working to reduce CO₂ emissions in both the “create” and “utilize” stages of its products. This includes enhancing product performance, promoting energy savings and technological innovations in the production process, and expanding the use of renewable energy. We are also intensifying efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions in logistics and offices, with the goal of minimizing CO₂ emissions across all business activities.

This page explains CO₂ emissions reductions in production. For information on contributing to CO₂ emissions reductions through products and services, please see the page on Environmentally Friendly Products.

Environmentally Friendly Products
Information Disclosure Based on TCFD Recommendations

Promoting CO₂ Emissions Reductions through “Create” and “Utilize” approach

Targets and Performance

Mid-Term Management Plan 2026 (MTP2026) Targets, with Targets and Performance for Each Fiscal Year

MTP2026 targets	FY2022 targets	FY2022 performance	Initiatives	FY2023 targets
Fighting global warming and climate change	Manufacturing, technology, offices	CO₂ emissions:^*50% reduction from FY2017	26.6% reduction from FY2017	43.6% reduction from FY2017	(1) Production technology innovation Improved production efficiency with ultra-stable production Adopted high-efficiency induction heat treatment (2) Promotion of energy savings and fuel conversion Visualized energy use Converted fuel for air-conditioning equipment Upgraded to high-efficiency compressors Repainted plant roofs with thermal insulation paint Reduced gas usage Switched to LED lighting (3) Expanded adoption of renewable energy Switched to 100% CO₂-free electricity at production sites in Europe Accelerated switch to CO₂-free electricity in other countries, as well Expanded introduction of solar power generation facilities in China, Japan, and elsewhere (4) Mechanisms to promote measures Facilitated activities by conducting NSK Group-wide and global cross-functional meetings Considered adoption of internal carbon pricing Incorporated CO₂ emissions reductions into evaluation items for executive officer short-term performance-based remuneration and promoted relevant activities	45.0% reduction from FY2017
Energy usage per unit of sales: 10% reduction from FY2017	5.0% reduction from FY2017	4.9% reduction from FY2017	6.0% reduction from FY2017
Distribution (Japan)	CO₂ emissions by transport volume: Continue to reduce by 1% year on year	Below 4% (base year FY2017) (1% reduction from FY2021)	0.5% (base year FY2017) (Reduced by 4.3% from FY2021)	Improved loading efficiency Reduced transportation distances by revising routes Modal shift	Below -0.5% (base year FY2017) (1% reduction from FY2022)

MTP2026 targets

FY2022 targets

FY2022 performance

Initiatives

FY2023 targets

Fighting global warming and climate change

Manufacturing,
technology, offices

CO₂ emissions:^*50% reduction
from FY2017

26.6% reduction
from FY2017

43.6% reduction
from FY2017

(1) Production technology innovation

Improved production efficiency with ultra-stable production
Adopted high-efficiency induction heat treatment

(2) Promotion of energy savings and fuel conversion

Visualized energy use
Converted fuel for air-conditioning equipment
Upgraded to high-efficiency compressors
Repainted plant roofs with thermal insulation paint
Reduced gas usage
Switched to LED lighting

(3) Expanded adoption of renewable energy

Switched to 100% CO₂-free electricity at production sites in Europe
Accelerated switch to CO₂-free electricity in other countries, as well
Expanded introduction of solar power generation facilities in China, Japan, and elsewhere

(4) Mechanisms to promote measures

Facilitated activities by conducting NSK Group-wide and global cross-functional meetings
Considered adoption of internal carbon pricing
Incorporated CO₂ emissions reductions into evaluation items for executive officer short-term performance-based remuneration and promoted relevant activities

45.0% reduction
from FY2017

Energy usage per unit of sales: 10% reduction
from FY2017

5.0% reduction
from FY2017

4.9% reduction
from FY2017

6.0% reduction
from FY2017

Distribution
(Japan)

CO₂ emissions by transport volume:
Continue to reduce by 1% year on year

Below 4% (base year FY2017)
(1% reduction from FY2021)

0.5% (base year FY2017)
(Reduced by 4.3% from FY2021)

Improved loading efficiency
Reduced transportation distances by revising routes
Modal shift

Below -0.5% (base year FY2017)
(1% reduction from FY2022)

* Greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂ equivalent) are calculated by multiplying emissions from use of an amount of electricity, fuel, etc., by its respective global warming coefficient. In Japan, the global warming coefficients used are given in the Ministry of the Environment's and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Calculation and Reporting Manual. Outside Japan, the global warming coefficients used are released by electricity providers or given in the International Energy Agency’s CO₂ Emissions from Fuel Combustion.

CO₂ Reduction Targets and Progress

Aim to reduce Scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions by 50% by FY2026 from FY2017 levels.
Aim to achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 by FY2035.
Additionally, aim to work to reduce Scope 3 CO₂ emissions, which include the upstream supply chain, and contribute to the goal set by global society of net zero CO₂ emissions by FY2050.

Initiatives

Initiatives on “Create” Approach

Energy Saving Initiatives

We are working on improving air conditioning efficiency by introducing high-efficiency equipment and applying thermal insulation paint, reducing air usage, and advancing energy management through visualization of production energy.

Improving Air-Conditioning Efficiency
At NSK’s plants, we are improving the energy efficiency of air conditioning systems by switching the heat source from gas to electricity, and by changing from shielding paint to thermal insulation paint, we are improving air conditioning efficiency in both summer and winter.
Visualizing Energy Usage
At Suzhou NSK Bearings Co., Ltd. in China, we are assessing the energy efficiency of production lines and equipment, discovering and reducing wastage by correlating the electricity usage and operational status of each line and piece of equipment. At the NSK Saitama Plant in Japan, we are developing a new system that is even more advanced. In addition to electricity, we are also working to visualize the usage of air and fuel gas.

Coating Plant Roofs with Thermal Insulation Paint
Coating plant roofs with thermal insulation paint not only reduces radiant heat caused by sunlight in summer but also prevents heat loss in winter. Since it has proved effective after application at NSK Saitama Plant, we are in the process of rolling it out to the Fukushima Plant and other plants. We also plan to apply this coating to the exterior walls of heat treatment furnaces to improve the work environment and reduce the risk of burns.

Thermal insulation paint on the roof of the Saitama Plant

Technological Innovation

Adopting High-Frequency Induction Heat Treatment
The heat treatment process accounts for 22% of the NSK Group’s total energy consumption. Since high-frequency induction heat treatment only heats the target part, without heating the entire conventional furnace, we expect it to reduce energy consumption significantly and make a substantial contribution to reducing Scope 1 emissions. We have already introduced this method at the NSK Ishibe Plant, and we are gradually rolling it out to more products and other plants.

Adopting High-Frequency Induction Heat Treatment

We will also work to reduce CO₂ emissions by improving productivity through the use of digital technology and other means to super-stabilize production.

Introduction of Renewable Energy

In Europe, a leading region in renewable energy, we have switched to 100% CO₂-free electricity at all production sites. We are also accelerating its adoption in Japan. Additionally, we are gradually expanding the installation of solar power generation equipment at our production sites and offices worldwide.