Tungaloy Strengthens Renewable Energy Adoption and Environmental Certification Initiatives!

Tungaloy Corporation has expanded its environmental initiatives through increased renewable energy usage, the adoption of green hydrogen in production and broader implementation of environmental product certification standards. Headquartered in Iwaki, Japan, the company continues to advance its sustainability roadmap under its Think Green programme.

The Think Green initiative is designed to reduce environmental impact through measurable operational improvements and product-level enhancements. During 2025, Tungaloy reported further reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and deeper alignment with international environmental and energy management standards.

Tungaloy was among the first companies in Japan’s cemented-carbide tool sector to achieve ISO 14001 environmental management certification in 1997. In 2024, its Iwaki headquarters also obtained ISO 50001 energy management certification, reinforcing its integrated approach to quality, safety and energy efficiency.

Renewable energy usage has expanded across several facilities. Since 2022, the Nagoya campus has operated entirely on electricity sourced from renewable energy. At the Iwaki headquarters, solar panels installed in 2015 generate approximately 160 MWh annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 75 tonnes per year. In 2023, the Iwaki site transitioned from kerosene to city gas, contributing to a 27 percent reduction in emissions in 2024. Additionally, the Nirasaki campus has introduced locally produced green hydrogen, lowering annual emissions by roughly 300 tonnes.

Collectively, these measures support Tungaloy’s goal of reducing emissions by 46 percent by 2030 compared with 2013 levels, with a longer-term target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The company’s sustainability efforts have also been recognized externally. In 2024 and 2025, Tungaloy received the Environment Grand Prize from the Japan Cutting and Wear-Resistant Tool Association for its environmental initiatives.

On the product front, all newly developed tools are assessed under the association’s Environment-Conscious Products standard, which evaluates both product design and corporate environmental performance. Several product lines, including the DrillMeister and DrillForceMeister exchangeable-head drilling systems and the SH7025 PVD grade for small-part machining, have earned two- and three-star environmental certifications.

Tungaloy has also emphasized waste reduction and resource recovery. Since 2004, landfill disposal rates have remained below 1 percent. Packaging modifications have reduced plastic consumption by more than 1.8 tonnes annually, and a tool collection programme in Japan supports the recovery and reuse of tungsten and other valuable materials.

According to President and CEO Satoshi Kinoshita, sustainability and innovation must advance together. Through its Think Green initiatives, Tungaloy aims to support customers, employees and society while ensuring that manufacturing progress aligns with long-term environmental responsibility.