Sustainability
Kirei Lifestyle Plan
Our ESG vision and strategy is here to help our consumers live a beautiful life.
Since our business was founded in 1887, we have always put our consumers at the heart of everything we do. Today, this remains the foundation of our Group’s corporate philosophy, underpinning all of our activities. Every bold innovation, thoughtful new product and breakthrough action is in service of our consumers’ needs.
Our Environmental, Social and Governance actions are no different. We have committed to enhancing our contribution to society through a renewed focus on ESG. And our ESG strategy is in service to our consumers’ needs, behaviors and desires to live sustainable lifestyles that contribute to a more sustainable world. We call this the Kirei Lifestyle. We are stepping up innovation at every level of our business to support our consumers in living a beautiful life, inside and out.
Our ESG Vision
A Kirei lifestyle means living a beautiful life inside and out.
A Kirei lifestyle is full of compassion. Where making your own life clean and beautiful never compromises the beauty and cleanliness of the world around you.
A Kirei lifestyle is enjoying today, with the peace of mind that those joys will be there tomorrow. It’s the chance to express who you truly are, with the confidence that you are walking the right path. Even in the smallest, everyday moments.
That’s why at Kao, everything we do is in service of this lifestyle. It’s why we do what is right, not what is easy. We put our innovation and imagination to the task of enriching lives by finding ways for people the world over to live the Kirei lifestyle.
Kao’s ESG Commitments and Actions
To learn more about our vision, commitments and actions, you can click on each of the elements below or download our full ESG plan.
My Kirei Lifestyle
Making my everyday more beautiful
Making thoughtful choices for society
Making the world healthier & cleaner
Walking the right path
Our ESG Strategy – Kirei Lifestyle Plan
Junko Ohtani, Senior Vice President ESG, talks about Kao’s commitment to the Kirei Lifestyle Plan and creating a more sustainable world.
Kao has a long-standing commitment to sustainability and serving society going back 130 years to our founder. This commitment is evident today in our ESG strategy – the Kirei Lifestyle Plan. A Kirei life means living a beautiful life inside and out – a sustainable lifestyle that contributes to a sustainable world.
Christa, ESG, Americas and EMEA
I am extremely excited about Kao’s approach to sustainability. By leading with science and technology, we will deliver amazing innovations that our consumers want and our planet needs. We have embedded our passion, values and integrity into the Kirei Lifestyle Plan to ensure we deliver the uncompromising safety and performance our consumers want and expect from us.
Andrea, Research and Development, Americas
Recognition for Our Responsibility
We proudly accept recognition for our efforts and appreciate our people for working hard to make a difference.
- Kao was recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, a U.S.-based think tank, in 2026 as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies – recognition we have received 20 years in a row.
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Recognized for the ninth consecutive year by CDP as a Supplier Engagement leader for its initiatives in reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change across its supply chain.
- Kao Corporation was included in the FTSE4Good Index Series, a global stock indices for environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing.
- Kao is a member of the Japan Clean Ocean Material Alliance.
- The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approved Kao Group’s plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030.
- Kao joined The Climate Pledge, a commitment co-founded by online retailer Amazon and environmental advocacy group Global Optimism.
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