Kao Sustainable Product Development Policy

A sustainable lifestyle is increasingly essential given the many environmental and social issues that exist throughout the world today.
We will realize a sustainable, healthy planet for the future by living a beautiful life inside and out, and making thoughtful choices for our environment and society.
We will develop our products to advance this way of living (Kirei Lifestyle).

New ideas of “Maximum with Minimum”

  • Kao will focus on holistic optimization in materials, formulation, processes, and packaging by utilizing technologies based on our essential research. Striving to eliminate negative impact on the environment, biodiversity, and human rights will help ensure a sustainable life for future generations, while maximizing value for all stakeholders, which include our diverse customers, communities, and future society.

Product development stewardship throughout the entire lifecycle

  • Through advancements in Kao’s Research & Development for unique raw material, product formulation, packaging and manufacturing, we promise to realize meaningful and lasting sustainability throughout the product lifecycle.
  • We aim to utilize raw materials derived from waste and carbon dioxide, and to design products that are easy to recycle.

Making a sustainable tomorrow a reality, together

  • We aspire to create a circular society by working together with our stakeholders through sustainable products by design that deliver maximum value for our customers and yet minimize negative impact in all stages of the lifecycle.
  • The key to this is making them easy and comfortable to use, in order to encourage the wide adoption of sustainable products amongst our consumers and customers.
  • Kao’s unique sustainable technologies are strategically formed with partners, including competitors, to contribute broadly to the sustainability of the earth and society.

As examples of sustainable product development in minimizing the burden on our lives and society, we will promote carbon negative, resource load minimization, recyclable raw materials use, waste minimization, water recycling, traceability, energy load optimization, and human right respects. In maximizing the value on our lives and society, we will promote hard water resistance, high cleanability, long-lasting clothing, quick drying, improved foaming, and comfort. The technologies obtained will be used either for Kao's high-value-added product line-up or in society in product development beyond Kao, thereby realizing a broad contribution to sustainability.

This policy is approved by the ESG Managing Committee, over which the Board of Directors has supervisory function, on June 1, 2022.

Implemented: June 1st, 2022

Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Yoshihiro Hasebe

Policies for ESG Activities

Policies for ESG Activities

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