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YKK in the news

YKK Achieves 56.2% Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions and 100% Renewable Energy Use Across 37 Global Sites

YKK Corporation announces a reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions for FY2023, achieving a 56.2% decrease in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 32.7% reduction in Scope 3 emissions, in comparison to the FY2018 baseline figures.

Medical Alley Podcast - Launching a Joint Venture with Christine Horton of Visura Technologies and Jim Reed of YKK

Late in 2023, Visura Technologies and YKK Corporation of America partnered to launch Evevo Manufacturing, which offers medical device manufacturing services in the Medical Alley ecosystem. So how did this partnership come about, and what have Visura and YKK learned throughout the process? To answer those questions and more, Christine Horton, CEO of Visura, and Jim Reed, President of YKK Corporation of America are featured on this week's episode of the Medical Alley Podcast. Listen at this link or on all the major podcast platforms.

YKK Intends to Unzip Fashion with Cutting-Edge Innovation and Sustainability Overdrive

Japan-based fastening company YKK is focused on growth with a sharp eye on its target set for carbon neutrality by 2050.

Japanese company celebrates 50 years in Macon. Unlikely partnership is still growing.

YKK is marking 50 years since it opened its doors in Macon.

YKK Adopts Low-Carbon Aluminum For Use In Zippers

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroaki Otani; hereafter, YKK) is pleased to report that it will begin purchasing alloy wires that utilize low-carbon aluminum, with the aim of making a staged transition from conventional aluminum alloy zippers to eco-friendly zippers which use low-carbon aluminum.

YKK Corporation Earns Top Honors In CDP Supplier Engagement Rating For Second Consecutive Year

YKK Corporation is pleased to announce that it has received the highest Leaderboard status for the second year running in the FY2023 Supplier Engagement Rating (SER) conducted by the international non-profit organization CDP.

YKK Cracks CDP's 'A List' for First Time

"YKK’s efforts to be transparent are being recognized.The Japanese zipper maker achieved for the first time the “A List” rating in the 2023 Climate Change survey conducted by the CDP, a global environmental disclosure nonprofit organization."

Increasing circularity in apparel industry

A circular polyamide 6 (PA6), named loopamid, derived from 100% textile waste, has been launched by BASF, and the Spanish multinational apparel retailer, Inditex. This unprecedented move in the textile industry underscores the potential for enhanced recyclability, with waste textiles strategically repurposed into new synthetic fibers resembling virgin-quality. BASF and Inditex joined hands with other leading players in the textile production world to ensure seamless integration of loopamid into multiple garment components. The project witnessed collaboration with organizations like Caritas, RadiciGroup, YKK, multinational Velcro companies, Uniter from Spain, Tessitura Vignetta from Italy, as well as Freudenberg and Gütermann from Germany.

YKK America’s CEO Jim Reed on creating sustainable products for less

Jim Reed, president of YKK Corporation of America, discusses why he believes cost and speed need not be barriers to a sustainable business.

YKK Launches New Water-Repellant Zipper Designed to Work in Circular Systems

The new DynaPelTM zipper uses GTT EMPEL® technology to eliminate the need for a PU film.

YKK's 2023 Report: Leading The Way In Sustainability With 46.9% Greenhouse Gas Reduction

YKK Corporation has released “This is YKK 2023,” a comprehensive report that combines financial and non-financial insights, offering a holistic view of YKK’s management and business endeavors guided by the Cycle of Goodness® corporate philosophy as well as the company’s sustainability initiatives.

Requests for Sustainable Trims Lead to New Creative Opportunities

YKK USA senior manager of sustainability Brian La Plante explains that brands are upping the ante when it comes to addressing the sustainability profiles of their trims.

YKK Center Park’s Furusato-No-Mori (Hometown Forest) Designated Toyama Prefecture’s First Nature Coexistence Site

Furusato-no-Mori (Hometown Forest), which was established within the Kurobe Manufacturing Center of YKK Corp., was designated a Nature Coexistence Site1 by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment. Of the 122 sites (in 35 prefectures) certified for the first half of FY2023, the first year of the program, two sites in Toyama Prefecture, including Furusato-no-Mori, were certified. The award ceremony was held in Tokyo on October 25.

YKK Achieves 100% Renewable Energy Purchasing At 31 Sites Worldwide

YKK Corporation announces that the number of YKK locations that have switched 100% of their electricity consumption to renewable energy in fiscal year 2022 has increased by 20 locations from FY2021 to FY2022, reaching 31 locations globally.

Italy's ERCA helps Patagonia & YKK with sustainable chem-tech REVECOL

Italy’s ERCA SPA, Patagonia, and YKK have announced the successful implementation of ERCA’s REVECOL (Recycled Vegetable Cooking Oil), a sustainable, innovative chemical agent, in YKK’s dyeing processes at their Vietnam production sites. ERCA transforms common waste material, such as exhausted vegetable cooking oil, into an upcycled, certified high performance, safe textile chemical.

YKK’s New 3D Platform To Optimize Zipper Design

Following the lead of 3D design software platforms like CLO, MYR and Browzwear, YKK on launched Wednesday the YKK Trim Creator, a 3D trim configurator aimed at helping designers visualize trim options, design trims, and generate item codes.

YKK Debuts DIY Repairable Zippers in ARTILECT Shells

YKK introduces the Revived Zipper, a pull tab that you can repair or replace on your own — and two new products from ARTILECT are already using it.

YKK is Recognized as a Supplier Engagemnt Leader

YKK Corporation has been selected as a “Supplier Engagement Leader” the highest score on the 2022 Supplier Engagement Report (SER) from CDP,* the international environmental non-profit focused on measuring and reporting companies’ environmental impact.

YKK’s Sustainable Products See Sales Gains

Less is more for YKK, which reduced its carbon emissions, landfill waste and water intake this year.

YKK signs UN CBD COP15 business statement for mandatory assessment and disclosure

YKK Corporation has signed the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) COP15 Business Statement for Mandatory Assessment and Disclosure by 2030, convened by Business for Nature.

"YKK Develops AquaGuard® NATULON®, An Environmentally Friendly Water Repellent Zipper"

Replacing the conventional water repellent zipper with a green specification water repellent zipper with a tape made of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

"Lessons in Longevity from an 88-Year-Old Zipper Company"

Rarely does a company sustain its global industry leadership for more than a few decades, and most that do so are very well-known global brands. YKK, an 88-year-old Japanese manufacturer of zippers, is not a household name, yet it has quietly, and impressively, stayed atop of the global fastener industry for decades. It has remained relevant and preserved its leadership globally and in the U.S. market. What enabled YKK to do so well for so long? The authors examine how YKK has beaten the odds, and provide a possible roadmap for other companies looking to sustain a viable, profitable business in international markets. They also offer several areas of potential vulnerability which pose serious challenges to a company’s pursuit of longevity.

"One Of America’s Best Manufacturers Is This Japanese Zipper Maker"

A strong piece of evidence in support of the many current calls to reshore American manufacturing is the tremendous performance by the many thousands of existing producers already working here.

“YKK”, “YKK Little Parts. Big Difference.” and “CYCLE OF GOODNESS” are registered trademarks or trademarks of YKK COPORATION in Japan and other countries/regions.
©  2024 YKK Corporation of America. All Rights Reserved.

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