Shimano Sustainability Profile

Sustainability Summary

Good On You - Not listed
Ethical Consumer - This information is locked, visit Ethical Consumer's website
B Corp - No
Trustpilot - 1.9/5 (90 reviews)
This is an unclaimed profile. Shimano has not joined Sustainability Tracker to verify their sustainability credentials. We gathered what we could from public sources.

Shimano shows a mixed sustainability picture. Its own reporting and press coverage point to real work on factory water use, packaging, worker safety, and employee training. It has also reported lower water use and some cuts in emissions over time, although emissions were nearly flat in 2020. Independent consumer sentiment is weaker: Trustpilot reviews for shimano.com are poor overall, and there is not enough third-party evidence here to confirm a strong external sustainability reputation. Overall, the available material suggests active environmental and workplace management, but limited public proof of broad, independently verified ESG performance.

Positive Sentiment Found
There is some positive third-party and public-facing evidence around Shimano’s sustainability work, but it is limited. A Bicycle Retailer report from 2021 described lower factory water use, a plan to reduce disposable plastic in packaging, and a reported drop in emissions compared with 2016. The same report also noted that Shimano had introduced an ISO 45001-based management system, which is an international standard for workplace health and safety, and that it was training staff on ethics, security, and anti-harassment topics. The Commons Earth site also shows that its app rates brands for sustainability and has a 4.8/5 average app rating, but it does not provide a Shimano-specific score in the material shown. Overall, the positive signal is more about Shimano’s own reported actions than strong independent praise.

Common Criticisms:
The clearest negative signal in the material is customer feedback. Trustpilot shows a poor 1.9 out of 5 rating for shimano.com based on 90 reviews, which suggests many customers were unhappy with their experience. A second Trustpilot page for shimanosales.com shows 2.8 out of 5 from only 3 reviews, but that is too small to be very reliable. Beyond reviews, the material does not show a detailed independent ESG critique, but it also does not provide broad public proof of certifications, full emissions data, or a complete sustainability report. That lack of clear third-party verification makes it harder to judge the full picture.

About Shimano

Status
Unverified

Website
Visit Website

Shimano Sustainability Actions

Cut factory water use

Shimano reported that it reduced water use at its factories by about 7% in 2020. The company said total water intake across its plants in Japan and other locations fell to 1.57 million cubic meters, down from 1.69 million in 2019. The report also said this was part of a longer trend that had been going on for several years. This matters because lower water use can reduce pressure on local water supplies and cut waste in manufacturing.

6 12

Reduced disposable plastic use

Shimano said it was moving away from disposable plastic in product containers and packaging. It also said it was studying alternative materials that could keep costs reasonable while still protecting product value. In plain terms, the company was trying to use less single-use plastic in how it ships and presents products. Packaging changes like this can reduce plastic waste, especially when they affect large numbers of products.

12 14

Managed workplace safety

Shimano said it had put in place a management system based on ISO 45001, an international standard for workplace health and safety. The company said it planned to earn certification under that standard. It also said its social work included training linked to safety and working conditions. This shows the company was putting more structure around worker protection, even though the source does not confirm that certification had already been awarded.

3 8

Trained staff on ethics

Shimano reported employee training on its “Fundamental Principles of Team Shimano,” which it described as going beyond legal compliance to include ethics, manners, kindness, and consideration. In Japan, 96% of new employees, new managers, and existing managers took e-learning on 12 related topics. Globally, 91% of managers completed training on information security and on preventing discrimination and harassment. This suggests the company has tried to build a shared code of conduct across its workforce.

4 5 8 16

Reported lower emissions

Shimano said its carbon dioxide emissions at all plants were 142,000 tons in 2020, which was almost unchanged from 2019 but still down 4.7% from 2016. The company also said its revenues had grown since 2016, so the emissions drop was not just because the business got smaller. This is useful context, but the 2020 figure also shows that emissions were not falling quickly that year.

9 12 13

Shimano Sustainability Commitments

2024

ESG Implementation Plan

Publication of comprehensive ESG Sheet for FY2024 outlining environmental, social, and governance initiatives

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Shimano published a sustainability report?

Confidence: Moderate. As of July 2026, Shimano has published ESG and sustainability-related reporting, including material covered in a 2021 industry article that referred to its environmental, social and corporate governance initiatives. The material here does not show a full standalone sustainability report page, so the exact scope is not clear from third-party sources alone. Consumers who want the latest version can check Shimano’s own sustainability pages or ask the company for the most recent report.. Sources: Bicycle Retailer, SustainabilityTracker - https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2021/02/09/shimano-trims-water-use-promises-plastic-reduction, https://www.sustainabilitytracker.com/brand/shimano/

What is Shimano's sustainability rating?

Confidence: Low. As of July 2026, no independent sustainability rating for Shimano is shown in the material provided from Good On You or other rating bodies. The only clear third-party score here is Trustpilot’s 1.9 out of 5 for shimano.com, which reflects customer service reviews rather than sustainability performance. That means there is not enough public third-party evidence here to give Shimano a formal sustainability grade. Consumers can look for a current sustainability tracker profile or request a recent ESG report from Shimano directly.. Sources: Trustpilot, SustainabilityTracker - https://www.trustpilot.com/review/shimano.com, https://www.sustainabilitytracker.com/brand/shimano/

What sustainability certifications does Shimano have?

Confidence: Moderate. As of July 2026, the material shows Shimano using an ISO 45001-based management system, and ISO 45001 is an international standard for workplace health and safety. The source says Shimano planned to earn certification, so this does not confirm that certification had already been granted. No other sustainability certifications are clearly verified in the material provided. If a shopper needs proof of a specific standard, it would be sensible to ask Shimano for current certificates or audit documents.. Sources: Bicycle Retailer - https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2021/02/09/shimano-trims-water-use-promises-plastic-reduction

What is Shimano's carbon footprint?

Confidence: Moderate. As of July 2026, Shimano has not published a full carbon footprint in the material provided, but one report says its factory carbon dioxide emissions were 142,000 tons in 2020. That was nearly flat from 2019 and down 4.7% from 2016. This is only part of the picture because it covers plant emissions, not necessarily the full footprint across the supply chain. Consumers who want a complete number should look for a full emissions inventory or ask Shimano for Scope 1, 2, and 3 data.. Sources: Bicycle Retailer - https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2021/02/09/shimano-trims-water-use-promises-plastic-reduction

Is Shimano's packaging sustainable?

Confidence: Moderate. As of July 2026, Shimano has said it is working to reduce disposable plastic in containers and packaging and is looking for alternative materials. That suggests packaging changes are underway, but the material does not prove that all packaging is sustainable or plastic-free. There is also no detailed third-party packaging audit here. Consumers who care about packaging waste may want to ask Shimano which products use reduced-plastic packaging and whether the materials are recyclable in their area.. Sources: Bicycle Retailer - https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2021/02/09/shimano-trims-water-use-promises-plastic-reduction

Is Shimano ethical in its labour and supply chain?

Confidence: Moderate. As of July 2026, Shimano has some signs of labour and ethics management, including training on discrimination, harassment, information security, and its internal principles. It also said it had set up a management system based on ISO 45001, which focuses on worker health and safety. However, the material does not show a full independent supply chain audit, living wage data, or detailed labour certification. That means the public evidence is partial, not complete.. Sources: Bicycle Retailer - https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2021/02/09/shimano-trims-water-use-promises-plastic-reduction

What is Shimano doing about sustainability?

Confidence: High. As of July 2026, Shimano says it has cut factory water use, is trying to reduce disposable plastic in packaging, and has reported lower emissions than in 2016. It has also introduced workplace safety management based on ISO 45001 and trained staff on ethics, security, and anti-harassment topics. These actions show a mix of environmental and social work, but the public evidence here is still limited and does not show a full independent sustainability rating. Consumers can ask Shimano for its latest ESG report and emissions data.. Sources: Bicycle Retailer, SustainabilityTracker - https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2021/02/09/shimano-trims-water-use-promises-plastic-reduction, https://www.sustainabilitytracker.com/brand/shimano/

Sustainability Summary

About Shimano