Developing Sustainable Products｜Sustainability

Developing Sustainable Products

We has always regarded addressing environmental issues as the responsibility of a chemical manufacturer. We have been developing environment friendly new products for more than 30 years using voluntary environmental standards aimed at saving resources along with other measures. We have been promoting product development based on development concepts that include solving social issues and contributing to our EHD domains (Environment, Health, Digital (advanced materials)). We are taking on this challenge of realizing a sustainable society.

Product Quality Assurance

We are committed to sustainable manufacturing throughout the entire value chain. To achieve this, and to be aligned with society and industry as well, the Group has strived to obtain ISO certification, an international management standard, as its basis for product development, and to join international environmental certification organizations.
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Shift to EHD (business domains of Environment, Health and Digital (advanced materials))

The basic strategy in our Medium-term Business Plan, INNOVATION 25, announced in February 2021, we have newly defined the three business domains of Environment, Health and Digital (advanced materials) (the EHD businesses). With this major shift in our business portfolio, we aim to become a unique chemical manufacturer that contributes to realizing a sustainable society and circular economy, promoting people's health and the evolution of the hygiene environment, and realizing a smart society by providing pioneering technologies and materials in the field of advanced information technology.

Environment
Health
Digital

Environment

Focusing on businesses that solve social issues related to the global environment, we are working to solve environmental challenges through promoting recycling, and developing products and solutions that save water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce waste throughout the supply chain.

The Neochromato process : Polyester upcycling technology

In collaboration with Elephantech Inc., we have developed a technology that allows for the easy removal of dyes from dyed or printed polyester fabrics, enabling them to be redyed or newly printed. This technology does not use water and can remove dyes almost completely within just a few minutes.
In 2024, this technology received the Director-General, Kansai Bureau of Economy Trade and Industry Prize at the Kinki Regional Invention Awards. The technology was recognized for its potential to enable the reuse of various textile waste materials, significantly contributing to the realization of a circular economy, as well as its potential application in new business development in the fashion industry. This technology has already been adopted by some companies, and through its implementation, we will continue to work towards the realization of a more sustainable society.

Development of a 100% wood-derived, environmentally friendly color developer

In collaboration with Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., we conducted joint research on color developers for thermal paper and developed a new biomass color developer using Kraft Lignin*, a wood-derived compound. Kraft Lignin is attracting attention as a sustainable biomass raw material that does not compete with food uses. Thermal paper is widely used in daily life for receipts and labels, and by promoting the global use of this developer, we are contributing to the creation of an environmentally friendly society.
*Kraft Lignin is the main compound extracted from black liquor, a by-product of the pulp manufacturing process.

The "EvoGreen" series: Textile processing agents made from sustainable raw materials

To support the development of a circular society, we have introduced "EvoGreen-Bio", made from biomass raw materials, and "EvoGreen-Recycle", made from recycled raw materials. Both product lines are environmentally friendly and have obtained bluesign® certification.

Using carefully selected plant-derived ingredients

In recent years, in addition to price and functionality, factors such as ingredient quality and environmental considerations have become part of the decision-making process when selecting products. To meet these customer needs, DEMI Cosmetics and EraL use high-quality ingredients with origins that have been thoroughly verified.

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EraL: Beautiful hair, beautiful world

EraL, a cosmetics company that makes salon-exclusive products, provides aging care* products that support the beauty of hair. In addition to actively adopting environmentally friendly containers and materials, the company provides support to young people aspiring to become hairdressers and conducts cutting-edge aging care research to achieve beautiful, healthy hair.
EraL has a transparency website, which discloses quality information such as the traceability of raw materials used in its products, initiatives to realize a sustainable society, and its commitment to the manufacturing process and quality of its products.

*Age-appropriate care

PFC-free durable water repellent: NEOSEED Series

As the apparel industry moves toward zero use and discharge of hazardous chemicals throughout the textile processing supply chain, the switch from fluorine-based water repellents to fluorine-free durable water repellents is accelerating. We were among the first to develop products that achieve water repellency comparable to that of conventional fluorine-based water repellents. We have received high acclaim from various quarters, including awards such as the "Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize" at the 2017 Local Commendation for Inventions of Kinki and the "2020 R&D 100 Award" sponsored by R&D World Magazine in the United States. We continue to make improvements and develop products with higher functionality and a wider range of applications.

Water-based polyurethane resins: EVAFANOL Series

Polyurethane resins are used in cushioning, insulation materials, paints, adhesives, artificial leather, and so forth. Not only in Europe and the U.S., which are enthusiastic regarding environmental issues, but also in Asia, regulations on organic solvents have been tightened, and many manufacturers using polyurethane resins in the manufacture of the above products have set a goal of zero discharge of hazardous substances, leading to an increase in the need for water-based polyurethane resins. We provide total solutions to customers by leveraging technology accumulated over more than 40 years to design water-based polyurethane resins to suit the needs of each customer and then combine these with other in-house textile finishing treatments, such as dyeing, water repellency, and fire retardancy.

Smart Dyeing Process : Contributing to reducing the environmental impact of the textile industry

"Smart Dyeing Process" enables sustainable dyeing processes by reviewing existing scouring and dyeing processes, reducing and shortening processes, and reducing pollution values of wastewater to realize a sustainable society. This is a general term for solutions that suggests processing recipes that contribute to reducing environmental impact, increasing production efficiency, and improving the work environment.

Laundry agent for linen supply and automatic feeder

This is a high-performance laundry agent that reduces the number of washes, prevents the deterioration of textile products, and makes for easy washing the next time. It has alleviated longstanding problems in the linen supply industry of increased wastewater volume due to repeated rewashing and increased waste due to the deterioration of textile products. To support factory automation and save labor, we have also developed an automatic feeder to be used with the agent, making us the first company to offer a one-stop solution. This not only reduces its environmental impact, but also greatly contributes to improving the work environment.

LIPOBRIGHT DP-310: World-first de-inking agent compatible with UV-curable ink; the catalyst action is the secret to wastepaper recycling

A de-inking agent is used to remove ink from paper when recycling used paper. LIPOBRIGHT DP-310, a catalyzer-type de-inking agent launched in August 2017, was the first de-inking agent in the world to make use of proprietary technology to remove UV-curable ink, something previously considered difficult. This product contributes to reducing the environmental load by improving the recycling rate of wastepaper, which, in turn, leads to the preservation of forest resources, and is still being used by many customers today.

Health and hygiene

One of the challenges facing society is to realize a world in which every person can lead a healthy and happy life. We will contribute to the health and wellbeing of people around the world, through the development of innovative products, such as cosmetics that pursue the health and beauty of hair, antibacterial and antiviral products, and hygiene-related products, etc..

DEMI: Healthy and beautiful hair with the latest hair science

DEMI Cosmetics's hair care brand "Flowdia" has evolved even further, the culmination of hair science research. This new range brings together unique care mechanisms such as the Ballnaid system for selective repair of damaged parts and the Bondaid system which approaches the problem of unruly hair. We will continue to contribute to the fields of beauty and health through beauty salons by the power of science.

The REFRESIA SH series: Disinfectant cleaner for environmental cleaning

Maintaining a clean and safe environment in medical facilities is critical for protecting the health and safety of both patients and staff. The REFRESIA SH series is a one-step disinfectant cleaner using "accelerated hydrogen peroxide" technology that acts quickly against viruses and bacteria. In addition to combining "cleaning" and "disinfection" in a single product, it is highly recognized for its rapid disinfecting action and practicality in its effectiveness against a wide range of viruses and bacteria.

Quick-drying floor cleaner: REFRESIA FW-881

Falls are one of the incidents that can become serious accidents in medical facilities. REFRESIA FW-881 was developed to address the fact that residual moisture after floor cleaning can easily cause fall accidents. In addition to its cleaning power, this new floor cleaner dries quickly, helping to create a safer and more secure environment.

NICCANON Series: Antibacterial, deodorizing and antiviral agent

This antibacterial and antiviral textile finishing agent inhibits the growth of bacteria and reduces the number of viruses that have adhered to the processed area. The agent has wash durability, making it possible to apply antibacterial/antiviral treatment to materials that require repeated washing. In addition, by applying our expertise in textile processing, we can also process materials other than textiles, meeting the diversifying needs for antibacterial and antiviral processing and contributing to a hygienic lifestyle.

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Advanced materials

The demand for digital devices and semiconductors is expanding due to the acceleration of the digital transformation. We will contribute to technology and material areas required in the field of advanced information technology by developing and applying our strengths in monomer derivation technology, polymer synthesis technology, AO addition technology, and fluorine-related synthesis, manufacturing, and processing technology.

Optical component materials

Various specialty resins and raw materials used in optical components for digital devices, such as optical component materials for smartphones and PCs and specialty films for LCD TV screens, simultaneously require multiple functions, including adhesion to metals and other dissimilar materials, transparency, and pressure sensitive adhesion. We contribute to these needs with the resins and raw materials that we develop.

Fluorinated chemicals supporting DX

Fluorinated chemicals are utilized as lubricants and greases for equipment used in manufacturing precision instruments, semiconductors, displays, and so on, for which global demand is increasing with the acceleration of the digital society. They are also used as antifouling agents in smartphones, lenses, and so on for their excellent chemical resistance and high temperature resistance. We are contributing to the digital transformation by developing these fluorinated chemicals and establishing mass production technologies.

Ohtomo-Chemical : Coolant agent for semiconductors

Ohtomo-Chemicals Ins., Corp. develops and manufactures products that are indispensable for the cutting, grinding, polishing, washing, and bonding processes conducted in the production of digital device components, such as semiconductors and crystal oscillators. The company contributes to environmental care and the digital society by reducing the use of petrochemicals and developing zero-emission products through the recycling of coolants, its main product, at the company's own facilities.

Sustainability