Sustainability – Resources and Insights Guide | YKK AP
YKK manufacturing plant exterior with loading docks and company logo.

Company Overview

YKK AP America Inc. is an innovation-driven manufacturer of commercial façade systems and residential windows and doors. Along with our subsidiary, ERIE Architectural Products, we support forward-thinking architecture through advanced manufacturing, sustainable design, and long-term value.

Reflective glass building with green trees and sunlight, eco-friendly architectu.

Sustainability

At YKK AP America, we turn architectural innovation into solutions that protect the environment, create value for our customers, and strengthen communities.

YKK window and door hardware with traditional Asian architecture background.

Cycle of Goodness

YKK’s founder, Tadao Yoshida made the “Cycle of Goodness” the central philosophy of all business activities.

Business team members stacking hands in a teamwork gesture.

Fundamental Behaviors

Our 25 Fundamental Behaviors are how we show our values in practice. These behaviors help bring our culture to life.

Cross-section samples of YKK window and door frame profiles.

Products Overview

At YKK AP, we design and manufacture high-quality fenestration solutions for both commercial and residential markets. See the types of products we offer.

Modern glass office building with YKK branding and urban surroundings.

Projects

Our products are used on buildings across the United States. Visit our project portfolio to see commercial projects featuring products from YKK AP and Erie AP.

YKK sliding doors showcase at showroom with modern design.

Showroom

The STUDIO 101 Design Center offers hands-on product demonstrations and training events. Featuring products from our commercial, residential and Erie AP businesses, we have locations in downtown Atlanta, GA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

YKK AP Technology Museum

Take a virtural tour of the YKK AP Technology Museum and learn more about YKK AP’s background.

Modern YKK architectural window systems in a contemporary building.

About YKK AP Inc.

YKK AP Inc. (Japan) is dedicated to building a better society through our Architectural Products (industrial products for construction), such as windows, doors, curtain walls, and exterior products.

YKK manufacturing worker inspecting products in industrial facility.

Careers

At YKK AP and ERIE AP, we believe a career should be more than just a job, it should be a path to growth, purpose, and possibility. When you join our team, you become part of a global company that values innovation, craftsmanship, and collaboration. Here, your ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and your future has no limits.

YKK factory worker wearing safety gear in manufacturing plant.

Employee Testimonials

Our people are the foundation of everything we build. Learn about some the team members who make innovation and excellence part of our everyday work.

YKK consultation for window and door solutions.

Candidate Connect

We are looking for people who want to thrive in a collaborative culture and are motivated to do their best work. Our hiring process is the primary opportunity for us to get to know each other.

YKK window installation at Windsor Cancer Centre donation event.

Social Responsibility

We believe in using business as a force for good. From sustainability to community involvement, we’re committed to making a positive difference.

YKKap booth showcasing window and door solutions at a trade event.

Sales & Marketing

View open positions in areas such as sales, estimating, customer service, and marketing.

Team collaborating on architectural plans at a conference table.

Design & Engineering

View open technical positions across disciplines such as application, design, and mechanical engineering.

YKK manufacturing worker assembling window or door components in factory.

Manufacturing

View open positions in operations, production, and related manufacturing roles.

YKK representatives showcasing building solutions at industry event.

Shared Services

View open positions in business support areas such as information technology, human resources, finance, and purchasing.

Modern glass building with green-tinted windows and lush trees.

RESPONSIBILITY IN ACTION

At YKK AP America, we turn architectural innovation into solutions that protect the environment, create value for our customers, and strengthen communities

We Build a Better Society Through Architectural Products

A Better Society is a Sustainable One.

How does YKK AP America build toward becoming a more responsible corporate citizen?

Customer support icon with hands holding a heart and people.

Prioritize employee well-being.

We foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive workplace where employees can grow, thrive, and feel valued.

Hand holding a star with a plus sign, symbolizing quality and innovation.

Add value for our customers.

Through innovation, quality, and trusted partnerships, we deliver products and services that create long-term value.

YKK eco-friendly sustainability icon with leaf and circular arrows.

Source responsibly

We choose materials and partners that align with our standards for ethics, quality, and sustainability.

YKK eco-friendly logo highlighting CO2 reduction and sustainability.

Reduce environmental impact

From recycling to creating energy-efficient products, we’re committed to minimizing our footprint and protecting the planet.

Sustainable supply chain with logistics and recycling icons.
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Practicing the Cycle of Goodness®

Creating value…full circle.

At YKK AP, we take a holistic approach to sustainability, where every part of our business is connected to creating value for our customers and the world around us. From advancing energy-efficient product design, to responsible material procurement, to ethical business practices, we embed sustainability into every stage of our work. 

Our teams bring purpose to performance, ensuring that innovation, craftsmanship, and responsibility move forward together. By aligning what we make with how we make it, we create outcomes that strengthen communities, support our customers, and protect the environment — ensuring that value is continually renewed and shared.

Transparency Documentation

Here you can access product certifications, disclosures, sustainability reports, and supplier standards that reflect our commitment to quality, responsibility, and transparency.

Third-party verified data on the environmental impacts of products across their lifecycle to support informed material and specification decisions.

Provides ingredient transparency and product attributes in a simplified format to support material selection and align with building and sustainability programs.

Document compliance with applicable Build America, Buy America requirements for federally funded projects. (Last update: September, 2024)

Outlines company qualifications, capabilites and compliance information commonly requested for project documentation and procurement review.

A letter signifying that YKK AP America meets ISO 14001 standards and manufactures our products in the United States.

The Integrated Report communicates YKK AP’s global strategy, governance, and performance, including initatives to address societal challenges through business activities. If reflects how sustainability, value creation, and long-term thinking are embedded across the organization, including YKK AP America Inc.

Consolidates key financial and non-financial sustainability data disclosed in the Integrated Reoport and related publications. It provides detailed metrics and reference data supporting YKK AP’s global sustainability management, including YKK AP America Inc.

Explains the efforts taken by YKK AP America Inc. to eradicate forced labor from our supply chain.

Describes behaviors and best practices that we expect our suppliers to exemplify and adopt.

Defines suppliers’ contractual obligations and required conduct.

Provides notice to individuals regarding certain types of chemicals in our products.

This document outlines the credentials needed for a project to pass LEED specifications.

Measurable Impact

Aluminum industrial rollers stacked in a manufacturing warehouse.

Adoption of Low-Carbon Aluminum

By investing in innovations such as BetterBillet™ aluminum billet and increasing recycled content, we are reducing the embodied carbon of our base materials while maintaining the strict quality and structural performance our customers expect.

YKK water treatment facility with industrial pipes and flowing water.
Tank or reservoir for biological purification and cleaning of dirty sewage water by active sludge. Modern technologies in wastewater treatment plant, toned

Excellence in Water Stewardship

Honored with the Georgia Water Coalition’s “Clean 13” Award, our facilities are recognized for treating wastewater and recycling paint line flush water— protecting our local river basins beyond minimum regulatory requirements.

Group of workers wearing safety vests outdoors, smiling and standing together.

Engagement in Community Stewardship

Beyond manufacturing, our teams actively drive local initiatives like the Rivers Alive cleanup in Dublin, Georgia and regional tree-planting programs, strengthening our communities while fostering a culture of environmental responsibility.

Molten metal being poured into a mold in a manufacturing factory.

100% Closed-Loop Recycling

Our vertically integrated supply chain—from casting to finishing—allows us to capture and recycle 100% of our internal aluminum scrap back into production. This closed-loop process drastically reduces reliance on virgin raw materials and minimizes landfill waste.

Person checking off tasks on a digital task list with a laptop.

Verified Environmental Transparency

We empower sustainable design through third-party validation such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs), providing the verified data architects need to meet LEED, WELL, and Living Building Challenge criteria.

Championing Better

“My role at YKK AP exists for a simple reason: to make sure that everything we do adds value — for our customers, our communities, and the environment we all share. Sustainability isn’t something we check off a list; it’s a lens we apply to product design, material choices, business practices, and the way we show up for one another.”

Ray Shelton

Chief Sustainability Officer
Professional man in business attire smiling, representing YKK.

What Sets Us Apart?

Industrial forklift operating near a high-temperature furnace in a factory.

Vertical Integration

Controlling every step from billet casting through extrusion and fabrication ensures consistent quality, operational efficiency, and careful environmental management over production, allowing us to deliver products that meet both performance and sustainability standards.

Global Commitments & Standards

Aligned with the global YKK AP Group, we support leading frameworks including the UN Global Compact, SDGs, Science-Based Targets (SBTi), and TCFD. These standards drive our governance, ensuring our climate strategy results in measurable, transparent impact.

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Strong Culture

Our culture is grounded in the YKK Philosophy — THE CYCLE OF GOODNESS®. These core values guide our decisions, foster accountability, and drive continuous improvement, creating an environment where sustainability, quality, and people thrive together.

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goods-to-person robot

Technology & Innovation

We leverage advanced manufacturing technologies—including automation and robotics—to elevate operational safety, precision, and efficiency. By continuously modernizing our facilities, we minimize resource waste while delivering the high-performance solutions required by today’s sustainable building standards.

Achievements

Sustainability Forward

YKK logo with ISO 14001 environmental management certification.

ISO 14001 Certification at all manufacturing plants

YKK Ap America Inc. receiving award on stage at ceremony.

First winner of the trademarks for Humanity Award for Environmental Innovation

USGlass 2025 Sustainability Award Winners for Metal and Glazing.

Recognized for sustainable manufactuing processes and the adoption of BetterBillet™

Worker pouring powder coating material onto hand for application.

Recognized by Window + Door magazine for unique processes including making our own vinyl resin

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