CSR Activity Report (CSR Guideline Activity Reports) - Contributing Solutions to Social Issues through Business Activities

Sustainability Innovation Business Expansion Project

Revenues from Sustainability Innovation Business

■Reporting scope
Toray Group
■Target
1,600 billion yen (Fiscal 2025)

Fiscal 2023 Result

1,311.5
billion yen

The Toray Group mission is to deliver innovative technologies and advanced materials that provide real solutions to the challenges the world faces with balancing development and sustainability.

Under the Medium-Term Management Program, Project AP-G 2025, which began in fiscal 2023, the Group has combined its Green and Life Innovation businesses to create the Sustainability Innovation (SI) business, which it aims to further expand. In fiscal 2023, the SI business accounted for 53% of Toray Group’s consolidated revenue.
In fiscal 2023, Toray Group products helped to reduce CO2 emissions1 in the value chain by 395.29 million tons (10.3 times higher than in fiscal 2013) and added 73.00 million tons of water filtration2 (2.7 times higher than in fiscal 2013).

Contribution to CO2 reduction in value chain in fiscal 2023
395.29 million tons-CO2
(10.3 times compared to fiscal 2013)
Volume of CO2 emissions avoided through use of Toray products
Volume of CO2 emissions avoided through use of Toray products
  1. * Figures in the circles above represent CO2 emissions for the entire product life cycle.
    Source: Innovations for Greenhouse Gas Reductions, Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA)
Contribution of Toray water treatment products in fiscal 2023
73.00 million tons
(2.7 times compared to fiscal 2013)

To achieve global carbon neutrality, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced across entire supply chains. Accordingly, there is a growing demand for product carbon footprint data to be made available and for carbon levels to be reduced. The Group is undertaking a succession of product footprint calculations and has begun providing data to some business partners.

As part of efforts to address global environmental issues, it is important for companies to consider the entire life cycle of their products and services when deciding how to reduce environmental impact, while enhancing economic and social value at the same time.
Toray Group has long promoted product life cycle management (LCM). The Group’s aim is not only to achieve its own carbon neutrality, but to also help realize a carbon-neutral society through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across the entire supply chain.

  1. 1 Toray calculates the value chain CO2 emissions reduced throughout the entire product lifecycle in accordance with the chemical sector guidelines of the Japan Chemical Industry Association, and the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA).
    In recent years, new calculation guidelines have been released by various organizations, and the Group is considering revision of its calculation method based on the updated standards.
  2. 2 Water treated annually with Toray water treatment membranes. It is calculated by multiplying the amount of fresh water that the Toray membranes can produce per day, including reverse osmosis (RO), ultrafiltration (UF) and membrane separation bioreactors (MBR), by the number of membrane elements sold.
Net Sales (Revenue) from Sustainability Innovation Businesses (Toray Group)
Net Sales (Revenue) from Sustainability Innovation Businesses (Toray Group)

Fiscal 2023 Initiatives for the Sustainability Innovation Business

Toray’s SUMMER SHIELD™ Fabric Protects Participants at 5th All Japan Beach Volleyball U-23 Men's and Women's Select Championship

Players taking a break under a SUMMER SHIELD™ canopy during a matchPlayers taking a break under a SUMMER SHIELD™ canopy during a match

Beach Volleyball NEXT 2023, the 5th All Japan Beach Volleyball U-23 Men's and Women's Select Championship was held under the scorching sun at the Okura Coast beach park in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture. To help protect participating athletes and staff from the risk of heatstroke, shade canopies made from SUMMER SHIELD™ fabric were set up. On the day of the event, a trial was carried out to compare traditional canopies made of coated fabric and those made using SUMMER SHIELD™. The participants were able to experience the cooling effect of each canopy type, and surface temperatures were compared using a thermal camera.

Toray Participates in the Net Zero Forum Shiga

Toray Senior Director Toshiyuki Nonaka delivering his presentationToray Senior Director Toshiyuki Nonaka delivering his presentation

Net Zero Forum Shiga was launched with the involvement of various stakeholders in Shiga prefecture. Its aim is to help achieve net zero emissions in the prefecture and enhance the quality of life for residents, while promoting sustainable development for the region and its economy. Toray Senior Director Toshiyuki Nonaka spoke at the forum. The event was attended by a diverse group, including business representatives, experts, and government officials. In his presentation, Mr. Nonaka highlighted Toray's net-zero activities. He also discussed global trends, changes in the industry, energy and CO2 reduction initiatives, as well as movements in the plastics and food sectors aimed at circular economy creation. He emphasized the importance of inter-company collaboration across regions and diverse initiatives involving industry, government, and academia.

Click here for the main initiatives for CSR Guideline 7, “Contributing Solutions to Social Issues through Business Activities” in CSR Roadmap 2025.