Sustainability

Meeting our responsibility to the planet

Daikin recognises it has a major social responsibility to the natural environment. Daikin’s leading environmental technologies of heat pumps, inverters and refrigerants provide solutions in the crucial shift towards carbon neutrality. We are constantly developing and improving our products to be part of the climate solution.

Daikin is on a journey to create a cleaner, greener environment for all. Our aim is to achieve net zero by 2050, in order to benefit the generations to come.

We recognise that we are taking the first steps along this path, and we have a long road to travel. However, we are determined to move as quickly as possible towards the destination of net zero.

“We’re excited to release our inaugural emissions report, marking a key milestone in our sustainability journey. At Daikin New Zealand, we’re committed to investing in the resources needed to support our customers and achieve our emissions reduction targets. With Aotearoa New Zealand’s high proportion of renewable electricity, we see a unique opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable future.”

Ryuta Hayashibara, Managing Director & Executive Officer for Security Export Control

Addressing the Climate Challenge: An Aotearoa New Zealand Perspective

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced, and the impact is being felt across the globe, including here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Human activity has already led to a global temperature increase of over 1°C since pre-industrial times, and if we continue with 'business as usual', we risk severe consequences. These include extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and environmental impacts that could disrupt food security, agriculture, and livelihoods for millions.

Current projections show a potential temperature rise of up to 3°C by the end of this century. However, to avoid the worst impacts on our ecosystems, communities, and future generations, we must limit this increase to below 1.5°C.

Aotearoa New Zealand is playing its part by committing to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act. This ambitious goal aligns with global efforts to mitigate climate change and build a more sustainable, low-carbon future.

Aotearoa New Zealand's Energy, Construction, and HVAC Industries:
Leading the Transition to a Low-Carbon Future

The energy, construction, and HVAC industries in Aotearoa New Zealand play a pivotal role in addressing climate change. To meet our climate targets, we must significantly increase the supply of renewable electricity, enhance building efficiency to the highest standards to deliver crucial energy savings, and shift to low-carbon heating and cooling solutions. Reducing the use of harmful F-gases is also essential, as they account for about 2% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions and are highlighted for action within the country’s first Emissions Reduction Plan.

Aotearoa New Zealand is committed to phasing down HFC emissions by 85% by 2036, in line with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. At Daikin, we are dedicated to supporting this national effort – and helping your business contribute to it as well.

We are more than just an equipment supplier or maintenance provider; we’re shaping the HVAC industry for tomorrow, ready for a low-carbon, sustainable future.

Our Commitment

We take our responsibility to the planet seriously. As a leading manufacturer of air conditioners, we are committed to making an active difference to the world we live in.

Air conditioners have become vital to people's lives around the globe. However, the energy they consume creates CO2 emissions if they are not using renewable generation sources. The refrigerant used to run the systems can also add to their carbon footprint. We fully recognise our accountability for this environmental impact. And we’re proactively working to lead the way for change in our industry.

Daikin is making major advances to reduce carbon emissions in our technology and our operations. We are taking the first steps along our journey towards the destination of net zero. This is our top priority and our prime focus. And we are determined to play our part in creating a cleaner, greener world.

Environmental Objectives

As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we are focusing on 12 key target areas and action points which will guide our efforts across three core sections: product, business, and people. These targets are designed to drive meaningful change, reduce our environmental impact, and support our long-term sustainability goals.

By focusing on these areas, we aim to build a better future for Daikin New Zealand, our customers, and the communities we serve.

Our environmental policy is based on the following fundamental principles:

Refrigerant Lifecycle Management

  • Support national Product stewardship scheme
  • Support Reclamation of refrigerant
  • Transition to low-GWP refrigerant products by FY26 /27

Emissions Measurement and Reduction

  • Establish a robust 2 year baseline for Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG Emissions
  • After achieving action 1 we will calculate a year by year emissions reduction target to meet the Group environmental vision 2050

Employee Development

  • Enhance opportunities for professional
    growth & engagement
  • Senior Management team to complete 12 hours training annually
  • Staff to complete 18 hours training annually

Waste Reduction

  • Minimise waste to landfill and improve recycling practices across the business
  • Develop a recycling scheme with our supply chain for the packaging of our products

Green House Offices

  • Develop new workplace strategy aligned with Daikin Group (Japan) Green Heart Offices
  • Focus on ‘reduce resource use’ and ‘awareness and contribution’

Employee Wellbeing & Inclusivity

  • Foster an inclusive workplace that reflects broader societal diversity
  • Prioritise mental health as key component of workplace culture
  • Ensure 100% of employees have access to mental health support resources

Product Lifecycle

  • Reduce volume of damaged goods
  • Expand service department offering and support Increase product training capability/ delivery

Customer Service

  • Develop strategy on supporting customer service
  • Open strategic new site locations
    to support rural areas
  • New logistic solutions from FY24 onwards

Volunteering

  • Encourage staff to participate in
    volunteering activities
  • Develop a company volunteer scheme
  • Allow staff volunteer days

Community Engagement and Social Responsibility

  • Strengthen ties with local communities through meaningful initiatives
  • Education on energy efficiency for end users
  • Energy hardship campaigns

Partnerships

  • Support Industry partnerships and advocate for better buildings
  • Engage with more Charity projects – providing products and services for those in need

Accidents in Workplace

  • Workplace accident rate not to exceed safety threshold
  • All staff to complete minimum basic H&S requirements

Environmental Leadersip

Daikin's Green Heart

“Taking Action with the Future of the Earth in Mind”

Daikin is committed to providing homes, businesses and industry with the most efficient and safest solutions to meet all your cooling and heating needs, today and in the future.

We are keenly aware of our responsibility to protect the environment in everything we do, and all our policies, practices and processes are developed and implemented with environmental sustainability at their heart.

Environmental sustainability is a fundamental objective for Daikin. We conduct our business in accordance with green principles, because it makes sound economical as well as ecological sense.

Environmental Sustainability within our Customer Base

Daikin chillers can provide precise control of temperatures during manufacturing, for use in chilling processes. They can also provide wider climate control of the manufacturing environment, as part of an overall building management system.

We keep our customers fully informed about the latest advances in our innovative, energy-efficient technologies, and provide them with intelligently controlled, integrated solutions that deliver even greater cost savings and reductions in carbon emissions.

You can find more details on our commercial website.

Daikin's Vision for Value Creation

Provide new value that makes people and space healthier and more comfortable while at the same time reducing environmental impact.

Value Creation for the Earth

Reduces environmental impact through all business activities and contribute to alleviating climate change

  • Further raise the environmental performance of products
  • Make effective use of resources
  • Protect forests and help sustain their
    inherent functions

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted

Value Creation for Cities

Contribute to solving energy-related issues arising from urbanisation and contribute to creation of sustainable cities

  • Effective use energy throughout entire buildings and entire cities
  • Build systems for recycling-based societies
  • Create new types of energy

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted

Value Creation for People

Pursue new possibilities for air and contribute to healthy, comfortable lifestyles

  • Protect people from heatstroke and infectious diseases
  • Protect people's health from atmospheric pollution
  • Improve indoor environments to support people's comfortable and affluent lifestyles
  • Raise productivity to contribute to economic advancement

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted

Daikin's Environmental Vision 2050

In 2018 Daikin globally established its Environmental Vision 2050, a plan that lays the groundwork for the company to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 across the entire lifecycle of our products. We have set out a clear mid- to long-term roadmap aiming to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% in 2025 and 50% in 2030, compared to emissions without measures (business as usual scenario), with 2019 as the base year.

Our roadmap

Our climate roadmap and our related targets are illustrated in the graph below. Taking 2019 as the base year, our aim is to reach at least 30% lower net greenhouse gas emissions* in 2025 compared to a Business as Usual (BAU)** scenario, and a 50% reduction in 2030. In fiscal year 2022 Daikin globally already achieved a reduction of 14% compared to BAU.

(*) Net greenhouse gas emissions refer to emissions minus avoided emissions and other contributions.
(**) Business as Usual (BAU) refers to emissions in case of normal business growth without the implementation of countermeasures

Where we are today

Reduction rate of net greenhouse gas emissions (compared to BAU with 2019 as base year)

Learn More

Environment Report 2018

SDG Pioneer Certificate

Certificate Super Green Heart Factory

Further Resources

NZGBC Research and Reports

Home Energy Savings Calculator

Climate Commission - Monitoring

Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol

Decarbonising Process Heat

Paying for Heating