Contributing Solutions to Social Issues through Business Activities

Leverage innovation to provide solutions to various social issues such as climate change, resource and energy use, water resource and natural environment conservation, improvement of medical care, and promotion of public health, thereby contributing to sustainable development for society.

Basic Approach

Global environmental issues continue to become increasingly severe, marked by global warming, water scarcity, marine pollution, resource depletion, and loss of biodiversity. The world population is approximately eight billion, a number that is expected to surpass 10 billion by 2050. Meanwhile, developed countries as well as many emerging countries are expected to face rapid population aging, as average lifespans increase and birthrates decline.
In the world of the 21st century, the most critical shared challenges are to resolve global-scale environmental issues and to provide healthcare that helps people lead healthy, independent lives, which involves delivering high-quality medical care that reduces the burden on both patients and medical staff.
In 2018 and 2020 respectively, the Group established and announced the Toray Group Sustainability Vision followed by the Long-Term Corporate Vision, TORAY VISION 2030 to clearly outline the world as envisioned by the Toray Group in 2050. The Group also set KPIs to be achieved by 2030 as long-term milestone targets. Under the Medium-Term Management Program, Project AP-G 2025, launched in fiscal 2023, Toray integrated the Green Innovation and Life Innovation businesses, creating a Sustainability Innovation (SI) Business to better meet diversifying sustainability needs.
By expanding the SI business, Toray Group aims to help achieve Four Perspectives of the World as Envisioned by the Group in 2050, namely, “a net-zero-emissions world, where greenhouse gas emissions are completely offset by absorption” (in other words, a net zero emissions, carbon-neutral world),” “a world where resources are sustainably managed,” “a world with a restored natural environment, with clean water and air for everyone,” and “a world where everyone enjoys good health and hygiene” as outlined in the Toray Group Sustainability Vision.
Through this business expansion, the Group is promoting initiatives for the sustainable development of society.

Structure

To promote activities designed to achieve the Toray Group Sustainability Vision, the Group is advancing SI business expansion and measures to help tackle global warming. It formulates and promotes medium- and long-term roadmaps and action plans to address climate change and the need for circular economy creation. The Group is also managing progress toward achieving relevant numerical targets set for 2030.
Through these initiatives, Toray Group is contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to help achieve a carbon neutral world, as well as promoting the reduction of Toray Group greenhouse gas emissions to become carbon neutral itself. The Group is also accelerating its resource recycling efforts, including recycling and the conversion of key polymers to biomass-based polymers, by developing and promoting group-wide strategies for the implementation of sustainable, circular use of resources. Furthermore, the Group is examining and promoting an overall strategy to reduce its impact on biodiversity and natural capital.
In fiscal 2025, the Group established the Corporate Sustainability Strategic Management Division as a new organization reporting directly to the President. Its purpose is to centrally advance initiatives in three areas: expansion of the SI business, climate change measures, and sustainability information disclosure.
Matters are submitted to the Sustainability Steering Committee, a standing deliberative body on sustainability, for discussion. When necessary, the Executive Committee deliberates, makes a determination, and reports the matter to the Board of Directors.
For more information on the Toray Group governance structure related to the issue of sustainability, please click here.

CSR Roadmap 2025 Targets and Results

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).
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.

Looking to the Future

Worldwide, a range of issues are becoming increasingly interconnected and serious. These include population growth and aging in many countries, as well as climate change, water shortages, and resource depletion. Going forward societies will need to shift to consumption and production modes that more fully consider the environment and people's health.
Initiatives will likely be implemented for moving to a circular economy where products are manufactured, utilized, recycled, and then reutilized as raw materials for new products. This will enable a further transition from a mass production/mass consumption business model to those involving PaaS (products as a service), sharing, product life extension, resource collection and recycling, and circulated supply chains.
In order to better respond to diversifying sustainability needs, the Group is promoting more vigorous expansion of products that can help achieve the aims outlined in the Toray Group Sustainability Vision, namely, Four Perspectives of the World as Envisioned by the Group in 2050.

CSR Activity Report