Daikin Industries, Ltd. has released its English edition of Sustainability Report 2020, which is currently available on the company website.
The report summarizes the basic approach of the Daikin Group for contributing to the realization of a sustainable society through its business along with fiscal 2019 results and future plans.
Accompanying economic development in emerging countries, demand for global air conditioners in 2050 is projected to be more than triple the current amount.1 Additionally, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has further increased interest in such issues as air quality, ventilation, and air purification. In responding both quantitatively and qualitatively to growing needs, Daikin believes that its social mission is to provide safe and healthy air environments to the world while mitigating the effects of global warming to the greatest extent possible.
Main Points of Sustainability Report 2020
1. Features on Typical Global Activities to Realize Environment Vision for 2050
This report presents the approach and examples of Daikin Industries toward social issues from among major CSR themes concerning the "environment," "new value creation," "customer satisfaction," and "human resources."
- Environment: "Launched New Refrigerant Service in Europe Contributing to a Circular Economy"
Reusing refrigerant has become increasingly more important due to the soaring prices of a tight refrigerant market and a stagnant rate in refrigerant recovery. Utilizing the collective strength of its air conditioning and chemicals businesses, Daikin established a refrigerant reclamation facility in Germany. Also, with the launch of VRV L∞P, a commercial-use multi-split air conditioner that uses recovered refrigerant, the amount of new refrigerant charged to commercial-use, multi-split air conditioners sold in Europe has been reduced by approximately 40% compared with the past. In this way, Daikin aims to shift from a society of a one-way system for production, consumption, and disposal to a system that continues to recycle and reuse resources.
- New Value Creation: "Delivering Healthy and Comfortable Air Environments and Spaces to Africa with Collaborative Innovation"
This feature describes the example of Daikin developing the first air conditioner subscription business in the developing country of the United Republic of Tanzania. Development is being performed in collaborative creation with WASSHA Inc., a startup business involved in the electricity business for non-electrified areas. By uniting Daikin's energy-saving technologies and WASSHA's business model, the challenges of such barriers as high electrical bills and high price of purchasing air conditioners are being overcome. The new initiative delivers the value provision of air conditioning.
