Material Issues
The Group's Material Issues of Safety, Environment, Human Resources
Materiality and SDGs
The NYK Group pursues the creation of social value and corporate value by ensuring and enhancing safety, the environment, and human resources, which are material issues, while also contributing to achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

- More Information:
Safety
Differentiation from Other Companies through Steady Effort for Safe and Reliable Operations
NYK has worked to ensure safe operation of vessels for over 130 years. The greatest mission of the Group is to deliver our customers' goods safely and securely. In the unlikely event of an accident, not only would the Group lose our customers' trust, but it is possible that the environment and economic activity could be affected as well.
Aiming to eliminate downtime, NYK steadily works with its partners who are responsible for safe operation, visits the vessels, and conducts other activities to ensure safe and secure operation, both on land and at sea. In addition, the Group strives to differentiate itself from other companies through the utilization of big data and the advanced technological strength of the seafarers, thereby finding new business opportunities.
<Risks>
Accidents causing:
- Environmental pollution
- Vessel damage
- Loss of trust
- Hindrance to economic activities
- Workplace injuries
<Opportunities>
- Increase of trust
- Improvement of outside evaluation
- New business opportunities
Trends in Downtime

- *From 2020, the calendar year (CY) is used instead of the company’s fiscal year (FY). Thus, January-March 2020 data contained in FY2019 is also included in CY2020.
The amount of time that operation of our vessels stops due to accidents or other trouble (downtime) is used as an indicator to gauge the degree of safe operations.
Environment
Thorough Implementation of Environmentally Friendly Operation Aimed at a Sustainable Society
As an organization that conducts business activities globally, the Group has positioned response to global environmental problems as one of its most important issues. The Group established its Environmental Green Policy in 2001, its Environmental Management Vision in 2005, and its medium-to-long-term environmental targets in 2018, and have been recognized by SBT initiative. In September 2021, the Group announces target of net-zero emissions by 2050 for our oceangoing businesses. The Group strives to improve strives to improve corporate value by attaining the best balance between the environment and the economy.
The Group has established CO2 emissions - a cause of global warming - as an environmental management indicator, and manages CO2 emissions per ton-km discharged by each type of vessel. In addition, the Group is working to reduce CO2 emissions through efforts that include the development of environmentally friendly vessels and utilizing big data to achieve optimal operation.
<Risks>
Delayed compliance with regulations causing:
- Suspension of business activities
- Increased cost of compliance
- Decreased trust
<Opportunities>
- Control of costs by reducing fuel consumption
- Differentiation through environmental advancement
- Actualization of innovation
Group Medium to Long-Term Environmental Targets(CO2 Reduction Targets)

- *In 2018, we acquired Science Based Targets (SBT) certification for this target, based on the scenario of a 2°C increase in temperature. We plan to reacquire SBT certification for the 1.5°C scenario from the second half of fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2023,and to review the target year, base year, and target after reacquiring SBT certification.
Type of Vessel | Environmental management indicator (Unit: g-CO2e/ton-km) |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiscal Year 2015 | Fiscal Year 2016 | Fiscal Year 2017 | Fiscal Year 2018 | Fiscal Year 2019 | Fiscal Year 2020 | Fiscal Year 2021 | Fiscal Year 2022 | |
Scope1 (Ships + Aircraft) | 6.36 | 6.33 | 6.26 | 6.20 | 6.18 | 6.11 | 6.53 | 6.10 |
- *CO2 emissions per ton-kilometer (base year fiscal 2015)
- *Fiscal 2050 target changed to net zero emission after October 2021
- *The emission data for fiscal 2021 was recalculated after a partial review of the scope. The figures were revised after recalculating the relevant environmental management indicators based on updated figures certified by a third party.
We plan to reduce CO2 emissions from our vessels and produce a ripple effect down the supply chain.
Human Resources
Achieving a Workplace Environment Active with Diverse Human Resources
With the global business expansion of the Group, our human resources continue to diversify, with more than 70 percent of our approximately 35,000 employees now working overseas. In addition, our fleets are crewed by multinational seafarers. Office workers and seafarers hone their skills in various fields and work together to improve our corporate value.
In addition, NYK has established original training programs both on land and at sea to develop the human resources that support the company and is striving to create an environment in which individuals can develop while they work.
<Risks>
Shortages of talented human resources causing:
- Decrease of competitive strength
- Loss of business opportunities
- Decrease of technological strength
<Opportunities>
- Establishment of a competitive advantage through accumulation of expertise
- Creation of new value by diverse human resources
- Promotion of innovation
- High level of ability to handle high-risk freight (crude oil, LNG, etc.)
Ratio of NYK Group Employees by Region (consolidated)

History of Strengthening Human Capital

- *Global NYK Week
An annual training program held at our headquarters in Tokyo for selected managers from group companies around the world. Since 2012, this program has been conducted with Yusen Logistics Co. Ltd. A training program for senior management has also been conducted since 2013
- More Information: