CSR Report 2024
Shaping a Sustainable Society with Engineering Plastics< Trademark Attribution >DURACON® is a registered trademark of Polyplastics Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries.
DURANEX® is a registered trademark of Polyplastics Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries.
RENATUS® is a registered trademark of Polyplastics Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries.
DURAFIDE® is a registered trademark of Polyplastics Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries.
LAPEROS® is a registered trademark of Polyplastics Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries.
TOPAS® is a registered trademark of TOPAS Advanced Polymers GmbH in Germany, the United States and other countries.
PLASTRON® is a registered trademark of Polyplastics Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries.
DURAST® is a registered trademark of Polyplastics Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries.
SARPEK® is a registered trademark of Polyplastics Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries.

Corporate Social Responsibility
2023.4 - 2024.3

Contact

Polyplastics Co.,Ltd.
CSR Group

Scan Here

General Administration Department
Corporate Support Division
JR Shinagawa East Bldg., 18-1, Konan 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8280, Japan
Phone : +81-3-6711-8600
Our Sustainability Site
https://www.polyplastics-global.com

2024.08.1.5M 1st(1-01)CSR24-E

At a Glance

Corporate Outline
Company Name
Established
CapitalShareholders
Representative

Supporting global manufacturing with engineering plastics

Number of Employees

Polyplastics is Japan’s first specialized manufacturer of engineering plastics. Engineering plastics are made from functional

Business Operations

resins with such properties as superior mechanical strength and heat resistance. It is used in a variety of products, including
aircraft, automobiles, home appliances, and food packaging, and is indispensable to modern manufacturing. Through its network

Polyplastics Co., Ltd.
May 1964 (Founded: June 1962)
3 billion yen
Daicel Corporation
Takashi Miyamoto,
Representative Director and President
2,383(Polyplastics Group, as of March 31,
2024)
Manufacturing and sales of various
types of engineering plastics andpolymersof 32 bases spread across 13 countries and regions, the Polyplastics Group provides engineering plastics and technical support

Editorial Policy

to customers worldwide.

This report contains information about the activities the
Polyplastics Group conducted during the 2023 fiscal year.
The term “employees” as used in this report refers to
all those who work in the Polyplastics Group.

Applicable Period
April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Number of Employees

2,383

R&D/Technical Solution Center

Production

6

7

sites

plants

China

Sales

Organization Covered

19

The Polyplastics Group

offices

Korea

Shanghai

USA

Seoul

Guangzhou
Nantong*

Raunheim*

Fuji

Leuna

Taipei
Kaohsiung

MexicoNagoyaDelhi

Singapore

Pathum Tani

Mumbai

Kuala Lumpur

Jakarta

Chennai

Kuantan

Ho Chi Minh

Bangkok

Hanoi

05

CEO Message

07

DURACON® POM Accelerates
Next-Generation Initiatives

09

LAPEROS® LCP Powerfully
Supports Next-Generation
Communication Technology

11

Engineering Plastics Business

13

Harmony with Environment

17

Developing Talented and Engaging
Human Resources

19

Social Contribution Activities

22

Compliance

Querétaro

Osaka

ASEAN

India

Our CSR

Highlights 2023

Tokyo

Hong Kong

Oberhausen

03

Farmington Hills

Japan

ShenzhenGermany

Contents* There are 2 sales offices in Raunheim
and 2 plants in Nantong.
Created from data current as of the end of March 2024.

Consolidated Net Sales

186.8

billion yen

AcetalCopolymer

01

Polybutylene
Terephthalate

Consolidated Operating Income

20.5

Polyphenylene
Sulﬁdebillion yen
Polyethylene
TerephthalateLong Fiber Reinforced
Thermoplastics®

Engineering plastics
Fine powder®

Polyetherketone

Liquid Crystal
Polymer

Cyclic Oleﬁn
Copolymer®

TOPAS COC

RENATUS® PET

PLASTRON LFT

DURAST Powder

SARPEK® PEK

Superior transparency andsafety suited to healthcare
and food packaging
applications

High heat resistance andsuperior electrical properties
rivaling those of thermosetting
resinsCombining rigidity and highimpact strength to expand thescope of resinification

Enabling improved properties,
streamlined manufacturing
process, and reduced material
loss

High strength and rigidity withhigher heat resistance anddurability to replace metals inharsh environments

DURACON® POM

DURANEX® PBT

DURAFIDE® PPSLAPEROS® LCP

Well-balanced mechanicalproperties and outstanding
sliding properties

Superior electrical properties
and reliability for electronic
devices and components

A linear polymer that isextremely tough and shock
resistant“Super Engineering Plastics”
with thin-wall flowability thatchallenges assumptions
about engineering plastics

02

Our CSR
Shaping a Sustainable Society
with Engineering Plastics

Toward a Sustainable
and Abundant Future
for Society

Shaping an abundant future for society through our engineering plastics business,mentioned in our Corporate Philosophy, is our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
We focus on CSR both in terms of business activities and social contribution
activities, while actively working to meet the expectations of the global community
in SDGs, Carbon Neutrality and other areas.

Circular Economy

Carbon Neutrality

As part of our efforts to facilitate and strengthen CSR activities
within the Polyplastics Group, we use the perspectives of theSDGs as important indicators when putting our approach to
CSR into action.

Developing Talented
and Engaging
Human Resources

Harmony withEnvironment

Utilizing and contributing to
the development ofReducing environmental
talented and engaging
impact and carrying out businesshuman resources
operations in harmony
with environment

Engineering
Plastics BusinessCorporate Philosophy
MISSION

VALUE

We contribute to building an abundant future society
by innovation and developing talented andresponsible people, through pursuing the unlimited
potential of engineering plastics

1. The “Polyplastics-Way”: We create value together with our customers

VISIONThe excellent solution provider forengineering plastics• We consider each other important. We respect individuality and diversity.
• We emphasize teamwork based on mutual trust and cooperation among all employees.
• At the same time, as a team, we embrace the challenge of seeking to constantly evolve.
• We call this team the “Polyplastics-Family,” which is our most important basic value.

Contributing
to Society• Contributing to local prosperity• Cultivating the next generation• Supporting employee-led social
contribution activities

Contributing to the shaping ofan abundant society throughengineering plastics solutions

c ti vi tie sness A O u r B u s i n e s s A c t iisuvitiesBthrough
Co

i
ntr

ing
but

to S

ociet

y

Soc

Pro

vid

CSR Policy
With the aim of shaping a sustainable andabundant future for society, we pursue
CSR in our business activities and social contribution activities.

ial

ing

Op

Co

po

rtu

ntr
nit

ibu

ies

fo

tio

rS

oc

n

ia

Ac

lI

m

pr

ti v
o

i

ve

03

2. The “Polyplastics-Family”: Our teamwork

Prioritizing compliance andcarrying out business ina socially fair andappropriate manners t
tie m e n

We will continue to provide the excellent solutions forengineering plastics to our customers, in technology,
quality, services, supply, and all other aspects• We always stand closest to our customers.
• We understand customers’ needs by knowing our customers from the inside out.
• We continue to provide higher-than-expected value based on brilliant technology
and services.
• Following the above, we build strong relationships of trust with our customers andgrow and develop together with them.
• We call these activities the “Polyplastics-Way,” which is our most important basic value.

Compliance04

CEO Message
Average Global Surface Air Temperatures
Reach Record HighsIn Order to Continue Being the Most Trusted
Leading Engineering Plastics Company

In FY2023, the effects of the three-year-long COVID-19

To remain a leading engineering plastics company in the future,

pandemic finally settled down, the flow of people around thewe must strengthen the foundations of sustainable

world returned, and economies have begun to move toward

management in terms of safety, quality, and compliance, and at

normality. On the other hand, parts manufacturers accumulated

the same time be a company that contributes to achievement

large inventories in preparation for the tight supply and demandof a carbon-neutral, recycling-oriented society.

caused by the logistical disruption due to COVID-19, and it took

We face a mountain of challenges in quality, cost, procurement,time to consume those inventories, making it a tough year forand new technical development, but we will overcome themthe engineering plastics market.

step by step with innovative and sustainable solutions throughLooking at the global environment, the average global surface

co-creation: the power of business collaboration with other

air temperature in 2023 was 1.4°C higher than before thecompanies in the industry and supply chain integration (crossIndustrial Revolution, a record high (according to the Worldvalue chain) beyond the Daicel Group’s corporate framework.

Meteorological Organization (WMO)). In response to steadily

Our Corporate Philosophy is “We contribute to building an

advancing climate change, various countries have announced aabundant future society by innovation and developing talented

flurry of strengthened environmental policies and regulations. In

and responsible people, through pursuing the unlimited

addition to our efforts to reduce total greenhouse gas (GHG)

potential of engineering plastics.” We promise to put thisemissions by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2018: Daicel Group),

Corporate Philosophy into practice in partnership with all of our

we will promote the creation of comprehensive environmental

stakeholders.

solutions with a greater sense of urgency than ever before.

Engineering plastics are essential materials for thedevelopment of next-generation technologies that will support
a sustainable future society, such as high-speed, high-capacity

Establishing a Recycling-oriented
Scheme for All Engineering Plastics
To create comprehensive environmental solutions, we first began

communication networks, CASE, and advanced robotics fields.
That is why we will overcome the daunting challenges the
future demands of us, and continue to evolve as a leading
engineering plastics company.

shifting to the use of renewable raw materials. In FY2021, we
began production of POM derived from biomass raw material

Co-creating Innovative and Sustainable
Solutions with Engineering Plastics(bG-POM), and in FY2023, we proceeded toward obtaining
sustainability certification for our entire Group in order tostrengthen our sales infrastructure for this product. By switching
the raw materials of engineering plastics to renewable ones while

Takashi Miyamoto
Representative Director and President

utilizing the mass balance method, we will strengthen our sales
to the electronics parts and medical fields, where the need forenvironmentally-friendly materials is increasing rapidly.
Next, we started our Re-compounding business and entered therecycling business. We plan to promote the development of PCR
materials to meet the European End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV)
Directive (to use 25% recycled materials in FY2030), utilizing theexpertise we have accumulated in this area.
In the future, the Daicel Group will make our raw materials
biomass-derived and establish a recycling-oriented scheme for all
engineering plastics, by combining mechanical recycling,chemical recycling, energy recovery, and conversion of carbon
into raw materials.

05

06

1

Highlights 2023

DURACON® POM Accelerates
Next-Generation Initiatives�
As manufacturing has evolved rapidly in recent years, there is an increasing need for human resources who can generateinnovation and support future manufacturing growth strategies.

In Japan, however, there are concerns about a shortage of human resources for future manufacturing, due to thedeclining birthrate and aging population, and due to many young people losing interest in science.
As an engineering plastic manufacturer, Polyplastics was also faced with the important task of fostering the next

generation who have manufacturing mindset.

Lighter, Faster Machines Improved
with DURACON® POM

Supporting Overall Championship
Victories with EVs

In 2011, we first met the Nagoya University Formula Team “FEM”.

DURACON is used in several places in FEM machines, one of which

FEM aims to become the first team in history to win the overall

We will continue to support the initiatives of FEM, which embraces

FEM is a strong team that has won the overall championship in theis stabilizer bearing parts. Because EVs tend to go faster whenchampionship with an EV. They believe that the key to victory is tothe manufacturing mindset and the spirit of taking on challenges,

Student Formula Competition. The purpose of the Student Formula

cornering, the body and tires tend to tilt, making it difficult to

reduce the weight of the machine body and to improve the stability

by providing further engineering plastics solutions.

Competition is to foster future engineers. Teams organized bystabilize the vehicle’s driving. That makes the performance ofof the machine’s operation, which is currently a major issue. They

students spend a year designing and building a formula-type racingstabilizers, which keep the vehicle body level, vitally important.

will be working on progress in manufacturing and machine design

machine. In this competition, they compete not only in driving time,

Using DURACON, which has a low coefficient of friction and is very

aspects, including the use of engineering plastics.

but also in comprehensive skills such as planning, technical skills,

slippery, for the bearing portion of the stabilizer, FEM was able toand safety.

suppress the tilting of the vehicle body and achieve stable driving.

Developing the manufacturing mindset in the next generation is an important social issue, not only in Japan but around theFEM was one of the first teams in Japan to shift to EVs (Electric Vehicles),world as well. In addition to our ongoing support for FEM, we will continue to promote the appeal of engineering plastics to theand has taken on the challenge of advanced initiatives such as the use

world and actively work to foster the next generation interested in manufacturing.

of “4-wheel in-wheel motors,” in which each wheel is controlled by anindependent motor.

■ Principle of stabilizers (when turning left)

Nagoya University Formula Team “FEM”

Our product DURACON POM, an engineering plastic that is lighter than®

metal and easier to cut, was selected as a way to further reduce theweight of the car body.
Stabilizer

Stabilizer link
Stabilizer link bushing

The stabilizer suppresses suspension movementthat occurs during curves,
thereby reducing roll and stabilizing the vehicle.

07

08

2

Highlights 2023

LAPEROS® LCP
Powerfully Supports Next-Generation
Communication Technology
It is said that the advance of IoT technology will usher in a “connected society” in which not only smartphones and PCs, but also
automobiles, medical devices, and all things will be connected to the Internet.
That connected society will lead to a sustainable society. However, next-generation communication technologies that support aconnected society are prone to radio wave loss, and material properties for communication equipment are important.

Challenges of Next-Generation
Communication Technology

Development of LAPEROS LCP S125P®

For example, it is expected to eliminate regional medical disparities

resistant to disasters and crime through real-time video analysis

through remote surgery, achieve a safe society through advanced

using drones and sensors, and reduce GHG emissions by reducing

automated driving technologies, develop safe cities that are

the need for travel and optimizing logistics.

We have developed the new LAPEROS® LCP S125P grade as a

Through the newly developed LAPEROS S125P grade with low dielectric constant and low dielectric tangent, we will help to

Next-generation communication technologies such as 5G and 6G,

material that meets these requirements.

solve issues in next-generation communication technology and attain a connected and sustainable society.

which support the attainment of a connected society, will achieve

This S125P grade has a lower dielectric constant of approximately

ultra high-speed communications by using high frequencies that are

1.0 or more compared to common grades, resulting in lower

wider than the conventional frequency ranges (band widths).

transmission loss.

However, the higher the frequency of radio waves, the more they are

Another major feature of this grade is that it combines LCP’s

absorbed into other energy types, such as heat, causing transmission

inherent properties of liquidity with low dielectric constant and low

losses. Attenuation of radio waves due to transmission losses leads

dielectric tangent. In the past, using additives to lower the relative

to communication delays, so it is important to suppress these losses

dielectric constant and dielectric tangent resulted in lower liquidity.

in order to attain a connected society. Therefore, materials with low

However, through repeated analysis in the development stage anddielectric tangent and relative dielectric constant are required as

optimization of additive conditions, we succeeded in combining

materials in telecommunication equipment.

low permittivity and dielectric tangent with high liquidity. This
allows for low dielectricity and low dielectric tangent, while also
making it easy to mold small parts such as connectors, as is thecase with ordinary LCP.

Eliminating
Regional Healthcare
Disparities▶ Remote surgery

The S125P grade is expected to play an active role in more andAttaininga Safe Society▶Automated driving

more devices as high-speed communications become increasingly
widespread, and is seen as a plastic that will support theattainment of a connected society.

A Sustainable Society
Attained Through Connecting
The construction of a connected society through high-speed

Developing Safe Cities

Reducing GHG Emissions▶ Logistical optimization andtravel reduction

LAPEROS is also used indata centers
to support a connected society.

▶Crime prevention anddisaster response

DATA ER
CENT

communication technology is expected to open the way to a moreconvenient, safe, secure, and sustainable society.

0910Engineering Plastics
Business

02 Elastomer-less PPS

Contributing to shaping of an abundant society throughPPS has excellent heat and chemical resistance, and is used for

defects. Also, there is no risk of outgassing during remolding,applications such as around automobile engines, electricalmaking it easier to recycle within the customer’s process.

components of PHEV/EVs, and smartphones. In recent years, theThe development of elastomer-less resins is a revolutionary

Subject

the provision of engineering plastics solutions

method of integrally molding plastic and metal has become theengineering-plastics solution to meet the ever-increasing recycling

mainstream in order to meet the demand for downsizing andneeds of our customers.

weight reduction of parts. In this molding process, the plastic may

We will continue to develop high value-added plastics that combine

crack when temperature changes, due to the difference in linear

functionality and environment-friendliness.

expansion coefficient between the metal and plastic portions.
Therefore, plastics are required to have high heat shock resistance

Conventional PPS(referred to as “HS resistance”) to prevent that.
Conventionally, elastomers have been added to PPS as additives toprovide HS resistance. However, the gas generated by elastomers

New PPS grade（1140HS6）

Reduced outgassing due to elastomers

Poorfilling

Improved
recyclabilityGasburning

Reduction ofmolding defects

Mold
deposits

Mold deposit
reduction

during plastic molding causes various defects such as poor filling,molded product burning, and mold deposits*.

Subject

01

To solve these problems, our new PPS grade (1140HS6) has

LCP Utilizing Key Monomers Derived from Biomass

succeeded in achieving HS resistance without the use ofelastomers. This reduces the generation of elastomer-derived
gases during molding, reducing mold deposits and molding

In recent years, there has been an ever-increasing need to convert products to biomass. In FY2021, we began manufacturing bG-POM*Deposits adhering to mold surfaces, gaps, parting lines, etc. during injection molding.

utilizing biomass-derived materials, and this year we are introducing LCP as our second product utilizing biomass-derived materials.
Subject

03 Smart Molding Technology

Biomass-derived Material
for One of Key Monomers

Contribution to a Recycling-oriented Society

LCP is widely used in ultra-compact precision connectors for theincrease of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere, because the CO2

latest IT devices, such as tablets and smartphones, which areabsorbed from the atmosphere by plants and the CO2 emitted

Until now, when our Technical Solution Center (TSC) providedof sensors to determine abnormalities from sounds, vibrations, andbecoming smaller and smaller. We can now switch one of the key

when the products are disposed of cancel out. The active use ofmolding support to customers, highly-skilled molding technicians

odors emitted by molding machines, by applying an AI that ismonomers used as raw material for LCP to a biomass-derived

biomass-derived materials contributes greatly to the attainment ofrelied on sensory information obtained from the molding machine,

trained on the sensory information output by the molding machinematerial.

a recycling-oriented society.

such as sound, vibration, and odor, in addition to simple numericaland instantly applies corrections to the molding conditions. ThisThe use of biomass-derived materials effectively reduces theThis is because the Group company that manufactures it has

We also plan to introduce equipment that will further contribute to

information, to determine if there are abnormalities.

technology enables even young, inexperienced molding technicians

acquired sustainability certification for recyclable raw materials.

energy conservation in the LCP manufacturing process, aiming to

However, since such high skills are cultivated through years of

to mold more consistently, providing customers with high-quality,

In the future, we plan to sell LCP made from sustainable raw

make LCP more environmentally friendly in terms of carbon

experience, there are only a limited number of personnel available

efficient molding support and reducing defective products bymaterials, including biomass-derived raw materials.

footprint.

for molding support projects that require advanced technology, andquickly responding to molding defects.

As a leading engineering plastics company, we will make not only

there have been issues in terms of efficiently providing high-quality

In the future, TSC plans to provide not only molding support within

LCP but also all of our engineering plastics environmentally friendly

molding support.

TSC, but also to deploy the technology in customers’ molding(in terms of GHG reduction during manufacturing, biomass

To solve these issues, our TSC has decided to introduce AI-based

processes, aiming to provide even higher quality engineering

conversion, recyclability, etc.), and provide comprehensive

smart molding technology. This technology uses 15 different types

plastics solutions.

environmental solutions that promote the attainment of a
In order to sell products with sustainability certiﬁcation,
sales companies must also be certiﬁed.
Sustainability
Certification

Raw Material
Manufacturers

Sustainability
Certification

PlantsSustainability
Certification

sustainable society.

Absorption of CO2●
CO2

CO2

CO2

+
Emission of CO2●

CO2 in the atmosphere

Plus/minus zero

CO2

CO2

Sales
Companies

Waste
Producing LCP utilizing biomass-derived raw materials

11

CO2

BeforeDefect occurs

Experienced molding technicians make judgments
based on their experience, from sensory
information such as sound, vibration, and odor.

Molding defects are caused by delayed
responses due to labor shortages.

After
AI identifies defects by quantifying sensory
information such as sound, vibration, and odor.

Molding
machineAnyone can make a quick response.

The smart molding technology enables less experienced workers to achieve stable molding,which leads to the reduction of off-spec products.
12Harmony with Environment
Reducing environmental impact and carrying out

Subject

02 FY2023 Performance Medium-Term Targets

business operations in harmony with environment

CO2 Emissions Reduction
The introduction of advanced control technology to
the TOX process at the Fuji Plant in FY2023 has
substantially reduced CO2 emissions.
On the other hand, production at lower rates due toproblems at the Kaohsiung and Kuantan plants
resulted in worse efficiency of energy use, and weonly achieved a slight improvement in CO2 emission
intensity.
We plan to make large investments for growth
toward 2030, and although CO2 emissions are
expected to increase as a result, we aim to reduce
emissions to the same level as in 2018, the baseyear. We will do it with thorough energy
conservation through production and technologicalinnovation, energy conversion away from fossil
fuels, and other measures, as well as significantly
reducing emission intensity.

Environmental
Promotion System

Subject

0150%

Total GHG emissions(Scope 1, 2)

reduction

30%(including CO2 derived from raw materials)

Based on our Corporate Philosophy, the Daicel Group
Guidelines for Conduct and Code of Ethics, and our CSR
policy, the Polyplastics Group is committed to reducing theenvironmental impact of all business activities in thedevelopment, production, and sale of our products. In doing
so, we aim to contribute to achievement of a sustainable
society in which economic development is attainable
together with global environmental conservation.

(vs. 2018)

1. Compliance with environment-related
regulations

Polyplastics GroupPCF-focused GHG
emissions intensity

reduction(vs. 2018)

We have established an Environmental Strategy Promotion Subcommittee
under the CSR Committee, with the Carbon Neutral Business Strategy Office
as an administrative office.
Based on the growing environmental needs of our customers, we will provide
comprehensive environmental solutions, including market development withan understanding of the circular economy as a business opportunity,
activities to meet GHG reduction needs, and the supply of green products.

2,500
2,000

1.60
1.3３

1.35

1.34

1.36

50%

1.40

1.35

1,500

By 2030
Daicel Group
Total GHG emissions(Scope 1, 2)

1.21

1.20

reduction(vs. 2018)

1.00

1,000
0.84

500

0.80
686

0

648

640

2018 2019 2020

651

647

633

600

2021 2022

2023

2030

0.60

(year)

Collaboration

CSR Committee（%）

Recycling rate

(k tons)

100

5,000
98.6

4,000

80

business activities

Promotion of energy saving activities
Reduction / Reuse / Recycling of waste

Utilization of renewable energy
Effective use of water resources

4. Fostering an environmental mindset

0

Reducing Emissions of Chemical
Substances (PRTR*1 Substances)
In accordance with the Law for PRTR and Promotionof Chemical Management (PRTR Law), we survey
and monitor our annual emissions of the chemical
substances covered by the law, and report the results
to the government.
In FY2023, we were able to reduce emissions of
PRTR substances by 40.2% from the previous year,
by increasing the treatment capacity of ourscrubbers (exhaust treatment equipment). However,we were unable to achieve our 2023 target of a 50%
reduction from the 2019 level because we did notinstall combustion equipment*2 to control emissionsof PRTR substances due to difficulties in installation
locations. We will work to reduce emissions of PRTR
substances through significant improvements withour current equipment.
*1 Pollutant Release and Transfer Register*2 Capable of reducing PRTR substance emissions by up to 95%

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

At least

95

1,000

waste to air, water and soil
Collaboration

Simple incineration volume

We improve the convenience of society through our
products and contribute to the development of arecycling-oriented economy by reducing the size, weight
and life of our customers' products.
In addition, we continue to actively address to solve social
issues such as environmental problems through thedevelopment and provision of products and solutions that
contribute to global environmental conservation.

3. Reducing the environmental burden in all

By 2025
Group recycling rate

Landfill volume

85

Reduction of emissions of chemical substances andAdministrative OfficeMedium-Term Target

Recycling rate

2,000

Reduction of CO2 emissions to mitigate climate change
Committees,
etc.

Industrial Waste Reduction
From 2023 onward, the Daicel Group is using
recycling rate as a management indicator.
Polymer dust from our Kuantan Plant, which we
previously disposed of as landfill, is being recycled
starting from this fiscal year for use as alternativefuel for cement plants. Also, our efforts to reduce
the amount of landfill waste disposal by reviewing
the sorting of plant and general waste achieved arecycling rate of 98.6%, an improvement of 3.8
points from the previous year.
We are striving to further improve our recycling rate.

our products

Regular and quantitative grasping of environmental load

13

Polyplastics Group CO2 emission intensity (Intensity)(k tons)90

In all business activities such as product development,
production and sales, we actively work on protecting
the global environment, including the following
initiatives.

Corporate Management Meeting

Environmental
Collaboration Carbon Neutral
Strategy
Business
Promotion
Strategy Office
Subcommittee

Polyplastics Group total CO2 emissions

3,000

2. Contribution to environment through

CSR Promotion System

Sustainable
Management
Committee

Daicel Group total CO2 emissions

Polyplastics Group Environmental Basic Policy

2030 GHG Reduction Target
Daicel Group

Medium-Term Target

Daicel Group total CO2 emissions (Scope 1, 2)

97%

75

(year)

Medium-Term Target
PRTR substance emissions(Fuji Plant)

By 2024

PRTR substance emissions (left axis)
Fuji Plant production volume (right axis)（kg）
30,000（t）160,00075%

reduction(Fuji Plant, vs. 2019)

25,000130,360（t）

20,000120,000
100,000

15,00010,00075% reduction
vs. FY2019

80,0004,905（kg）

5,000
0

140,000

2019
（BM）

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024
（TGT）

(year)

014

Subject04 Heat Pinch Analysis at Kuantan Plant
Subject

03

New Environmentally-friendly
LCP Polymer Plant

LCP is an essential material for the development of next-generation
high-speed communication technology. In 2024, we are building a
new LCP polymer plant with an annual production capacity of 5,000
tons at our Kaohsiung Plant, our first overseas LCP polymer plant.
This plant not only supports the sales expansion of LCP, but is also
environmentally-friendly.

Three Environmentally-Friendly Aspects

As one of our energy conservation efforts, we have been using asteam, which cannot be

waste heat recovery method called “dual utility,” by which heat isrecovered by conventional

reused between multiple distillation columns at each plant.

dual utility, by compressing

Currently, in order to achieve the GHG reduction target for 2030,

it to a higher temperature.

we have begun full-scale efforts to further optimize the use ofIf we can optimize the use

such heat, which will lead to further energy conservationof heat throughout thethroughout the Group.

plant while also introducing

As the first step, in FY2023, we conducted a “heat pinch analysis”

these new technologies, weto study technologies to optimize heat utilization, using our

see the potential to reduce

Kuantan Plant in Malaysia as a model plant.

CO2 emissions by up toThis analysis identifies areas where waste heat is generated and68,200 tons/year (40%).

areas where additional heat is required in the manufacturing

We will continue to study specific measures to fully realize theprocess, and also numerically visualizes the amount of heatpotential for such reduction.

required, making it possible to identify efficient heat exchange

In the future, we plan to use the same heat pinch analysis tocombinations.

optimize heat utilization at plants other than the Kuantan plant,

Based on the results of this analysis, we have now also finishedwhich served as the model plant in this example, and develop

compiling our items to improve for energy conservation. One ofGroup-wide initiatives to achieve our GHG reduction target for

the improvement items includes vapor recompression (VRC)

2030.

technology, which makes it possible to reuse low-temperature

・Energy consumption

Reducedby approx.

30 %*² The line connecting the temperatures of the areas requiring heat

Temperature

・ CO2 emissions
・VOC emissions

Reducedby approx.
Reducedby almostRange in which heat is recoverable expands

Range in which heat is recoverable

Temperature(the range in which the provided and received heat compound lines overlap)(the range in which the provided and received heat compound lines overlap)

9,000 tons
Heat provisioncompound line

Heat provisioncompound line*1

100 %Heat reception
compound line

Heat reception
compound line*2

The synthesis process for LCP uses a lot of nitrogen. In the past, we

The new plant will also include exhaust gas combustion

used a nitrogen gas generator, but it required a large amount of energy.

equipment to reduce VOC emissions. Combusting exhaust

The new plant will therefore introduce new nitrogen circulation

gases generated in the manufacturing process treats organic

equipment to recycle nitrogen that has once been used. This

compounds contained in the gases, to reduce VOCs (volatile

reduces the amount of nitrogen used to one-tenth of theorganic compounds). This allows almost 100% reduction of

conventional amount and greatly reduces the energy required to

VOC emissions, and enables compliance with strict local VOC

produce nitrogen. As a result, the entire LCP plant is expected toemission control standards.

attain energy savings of approximately 30% and signiﬁcantly

We will continue to support the accelerating development of a DX

reduce CO2 emissions. The entire LCP plant at our Kaohsiung Plant

society with engineering plastics, as well as promoting theis expected to reduce its annual CO2 emissions by approximately

construction and operation of environmentally sustainable plants.

9,000 tons.

Nitrogen circulation equipment
Once used, nitrogen contains byproducts that affect quality, so it is important to remove these byproducts within the process, inorder to reuse the nitrogen. Since the plant’s continuous operation could be disrupted if the byproducts were not properly
removed, we conducted a thorough investigation of the types, properties, and amounts of byproducts generated in advance of
this project. After further study, including numerous proving trials, we ﬁnally reached a point where we could introduce theequipment that could be expected to operate continuously.

15*¹ The line connecting the temperatures of areas with surplus heat

Adjusting temperature and pressure to increase
the range in which heat recovery is possible

Heat amount

Heat amount

Subject

05 Carbon Neutral Business Strategy Office
In FY2023, we established the Carbon Neutral Business Strategy

In addition, we are working on activities to spread awareness of

Office to plan and promote new business with carbon neutrality as

environmental issues and environmental projects from the bottoma growth driver. Given the importance of carbon neutrality to ourup including basic environmental education for all employees, so

company, this office has newly formulated an Environmental

that they can understand what to do specifically.

Business Strategy Policy as part of our management strategy, in

We will create and promote new business with the aim ofaddition to the business strategy policy for each product.

becoming a solution provider for our customers in the field ofThis policy includes the sustainable use of all plastics, the PCF

carbon neutrality, and continue to provide engineering plastics that

Reduction Action Plan, which incorporates our goal of a 30%

will be needed in the society of the future.

reduction of our product carbon footprint (PCF) in FY2030 into a
specific action plan, and actions to establish recycling businesswith a view to post-consumer recycling.

16

Developing Talented andEngaging Human Resources

02 Support System for Employees with Disabilities

Utilizing and contributing to development of talented

Our Job Support Team consists of eight employees withand engaging human resources

Subject

intellectual disabilities and three employees as advisors who assist
them in their activities, performing a variety of 50 different tasks.
In order to ensure that employees perform their work safely,
advisors provide support such as assigning work based on theiraptitudes, giving advice on learning the work, and discussing any
problems that may arise. They communicate according to each
employee’s personality and characteristics, so that the team canwork smoothly.
They are also considering new work for the future, and we willcontinue to provide a wide range of services for employees withdisabilities.

Subject

01

Toward Achieving “Sustainable People”
Throughout the Daicel Group

With the recent trend toward globalization, it has become essential for companies to secure diverse human resources, and initiatives for

Subject

03 Aiming for Open and Easy-to-Understand Communication

diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DE&I”) have become even more important. The Daicel Group has positioned DE&I as one of its key
management issues, and is creating a system that enables each of its diverse employees to maximize their unique abilities and individuality.
In FY2016, Daicel promoted the use of childcare leave for female

childcare leave into the 90% range. We will continue to create aemployees and established paid leave incentive days. Since then,

comfortable work environment that facilitates independent career

Daicel has introduced working from home and satellite work todevelopment for employees regardless of gender.

create a workplace environment where not only women but diverse

Daicel plans to set a 30% diversity rate target in its recruitment

employees of all kinds can play active roles.

efforts, in order to further ensure the diversity of the Daicel Group.

In addition, Daicel and Polyplastics began cooperative efforts in

We will also introduce an executive mentor system and continue toFY2021 in order to further accelerate the promotion of diversity

hold roundtable discussions between executive officers andthroughout the Daicel Group. Specifically, we started by holding

female managers, with the aim of developing female executive

exchange meetings for female employees in FY2021, began

officers within Daicel.

co-hosting LGBTQ seminars, and introduced a same-sex

Based on equity, in the sense that everyone has a fair opportunity

partnership system at both companies in FY2023.

to take on challenges, we released our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

These efforts have raised the percentage of female managers at

Declaration (DE&I Declaration) and expand the circle of value

Daicel which increased from 1.6% in FY2016 to 5.6% in January

co-creation at a higher level throughout the Daicel Group.

2024, and brought the percentage of male employees taking

At our Leuna Plant (Germany), all employees ranging from theproduction to the administrative department were trained to
improve their communication skills in practically useful ways.
This training program aimed to improve skills in interactive
communication and self-reflection, including “active listening” andhow to give appropriate feedback.
This training has helped employees reaffirm the importance of
teamwork, and has helped to create workplace environments where
diverse employees can play active roles.

Training (work on placing the ruler on the floor so it doesn’t leave anyone’s fingers)■ Creating a workplace where diverse employees can play active roles“Kurumin Certification”

Childcare Leave Usage Rate

Rate of Employees with Disabilities

We were granted “Kurumin
Certification” by the Tokyo Labor
Bureau of the Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare, as a company
that supports child raising. We
earned certification for the fourthconsecutive time, after 2017, 2019,and 2021.

In FY2023, 100% of eligible women and 90.9% of eligible
men took childcare leave. The rate of male employees
taking childcare leave is 73.8% higher than the national
average.

Our rate of employees with disabilities in FY2023 was 2.51%,
exceeding the statutory employment rate of 2.3%. We will continue
to exchange information not only with local special-needs schools
but also with organizations that support people with disabilities, toexpand our recruitment activities more widely and to actively
recruit people with physical disabilities (upper limbs and lower
limbs), in addition to people with intellectual disabilities.

(four consecutive times)

Daicel Group Personnel Policy

Sustainable People
We promote “People-centered Management” thatenables all our diverse employees to grow while
establishing their own presence and achieving fulﬁllment.

BM* 80.2%

100

FemaleI will hone my skills and mind, achieve self-actualization by taking

90.9

Male

advantage of the opportunities at the company, and increase my happiness.

0

I will work creatively together with my teammates and increase our

20

40

60

80

100 （％）*The benchmark is the FY2022 national average.
(Based on the 2022 Basic Survey on Equal Employment by the Ministry of
Health, Labour and Welfare)happiness. I will also create and provide value, contribute to a more
prosperous society, and increase the happiness of all.

（％）

2.5

BM* 17.1%

2.4

Statutory employment rate

2.2%*1

2.43

Statutory
2.39 employment rate

2.3%*22.3
2.2*1 April 2018
onward

2.10

2.1
0

2.51

2020

2021

2022

*2 March 2021
onward2023

Ms. Yoshino, DE&I Promotion Office, Human Resources Group, Daicel Corporation; Ms. Kodama,
DE&I Promotion Office, Human Resources Department

1718

Social Contribution Activities
Providing opportunities to make society betteras a corporate citizen

Contributing to Local Prosperity

KuantanContributing to the prosperity of the local area,
which is the foundation of the business activities

Farmington Hills

Cultivating the Next Generation

Kaohsiung

Offering a forum for nurturing the next generation for securing
human resources that would sustain the future society

Singapore

Eco-rafting event

Participation in NGO activities

Fuji Plant and TSC Tourfor Taiwanese high school students

Christmas gifts for children
in needIn Kuantan (Malaysia), eight
employees participated in an
eco-rafting event organized by alocal organization to preserve theenvironment of rivers, which are an
important means of transportation.
On the day of the event,participants were divided into
teams and planted a total of 100 mangrove saplings while rafting.

In Farmington Hills (USA), employees
participated in reforestation activities andnature-education activities organized by
an NGO. 32 employees participated inreforestation activities, cutting weeds toencourage tree growth in a local park.
In educational activities, 30 employees participated in a
“Nature Study Hiking Tour” to learn about the importance ofprotecting organism habitats.

A total of 35 teachers and students from a local high school in
Kaohsiung visited our Fuji Plant and TSC in Japan. This activity
was part of the school’s Chemical Industry Program, whichaims to provide career education related to the chemicalindustry. Students toured the plant’s control room, and theshowroom and molding room in the TSC. Students made many
appreciative comments after the tour.

In Singapore, 14 employees participated in a “Secret Santa”
event held throughout the office building. In this event, children
in need prepared wish cards, and based on the cards,
participants sent Christmas gifts to them through a support
organization. Our employees gave supplies such as coloredpencils, pencil cases, and school backpacks as a gift.

バンコク、
Bangkok 高雄
and Kaohsiung

Bangkok
Querétaro

Charity marathonsTree-planting activities

In Bangkok (Thailand) and Kaohsiung,
employees participated in charity marathons
to improve their health and strengthen ties
with their local communities. Event
participation fees were donated through theorganizers to the Breast Cancer Foundationof the Thai Red Cross Society and welfareorganizations.

In Querétaro (Mexico), employees
participated in a tree planting activity
which is one of the reforestation
programs organized by an NPO topreserve the local natural environment.
10 people participated, including
employees and their families, planting
one sapling each.

Kaohsiung, Bangkok, and Nantong

Lecture on engineering plastics

Painting contest

In Bangkok (Thailand), we gave alecture to 80 university students
enrolled in a local engineering college,
introducing the company, its products,
and the development of industrial
parts made of engineering plastics.
In the future, we will continue ouractivities with a view to conducting
joint research with the university.

Kaohsiung, Bangkok (Thailand), and Nantong (China) held
painting contests for local elementary school students on thethemes of “Global Environment,” “Environmental Conservation,”and “My Parents and My Hometown,” respectively. These
contests are designed not only to raise children’s environmental
awareness, but also to help develop their talents. Employees
voted to select the most outstanding paintings from among thosesubmitted by the children, and each was awarded a scholarship, acertificate of recognition, and a gift.

後送

19

20

Supporting Employee-led
Social Contribution Activities

Supporting social contribution activities by leveraging
the voluntary mindset of individuals

Compliance
Prioritizing compliance and carry out businessin a socially fair and appropriate manner

All locations

CO2 Reduction Challenge
In FY2023, we established a common theme for CSR acrossour entire Group, including overseas group companies, andimplemented the CO2 Reduction Challenge as the firstinitiative. Each company in the Group implemented uniqueactivities, such as each household saving electricity for threemonths, to encourage employees to reduce CO2 emissions
in their daily lives. Through these efforts, the entire Grouphas been able to reduce annual CO2 emissions byapproximately 36 tons.

Hong Kong

In Kuantan (Malaysia), an energy-saving program was organized and an award to
the employee who saved the most electricity was presented.

Germany“Green Monday”

Gardening at the plant

In Hong Kong, a “Green Monday” event was held every
Monday in July for eating meatless lunches. Among foodproducts, meat is said to have the highest carbon footprint.
The event was organized with the goal of reducing employees’
carbon footprints by reducing their consumption of meat.
A total of 13 employees participated in the four events,
switching 41 meals to vegetarian meals.

Our Leuna Plant (Germany) has started a greening program tocreate a flower garden on the plant premises, to conserve
biodiversity. Planting flowers with a long blooming season isan ingenious way to contribute to the conservation of insects
and other ecosystems. This initiative is expected to absorb
approximately 200 grams of CO2 per square meter offlowerbed.

Subject

01

Our Commitment Revised

The Daicel Group has abolished the previous Group Conduct Policy,

guide to ensure that our Code of Conduct / Ethical Standards are

replacing it with the Daicel Group Code of Conduct, for each andput into practice. We aim to be a corporate group that contributes

every employee to be constantly aware of and practice in every

to society as a good corporate citizen, while conducting businessaction, and Daicel Group Ethical Standards, as a universallyoperations that earn trust and high expectations from society.

applicable code for all areas of corporate activities.
New elements added to the new Ethical Standards include strict
compliance with the terms of contracts with customers to ensurethat inappropriate quality-affecting behavior does not occur,consideration for human rights and the environment, which are
increasingly demanded by society, and adherence to the EthicalStandards throughout the supply chain.
We have also completely revised Our Commitment as a practical

Daicel Group

Shanghai“Mottainai* Initiatives”
for the sixth consecutive year

Charity meal boxes for people
in needFor the sixth consecutive year, we conducted “Mottainai
Initiatives,” a program to collect items that people are nolonger using at home and donate them to an NPO. In FY2023,
the event was further scaled up with the addition of four new
Daicel sites, and a total of 3,590 donated items were collected,
exceeding the number donated the previous year.

In Shanghai (China), volunteers distributed charity meal boxes
to the elderly who are living alone, the needy, and those livingon the streets. Eight employees participated in the event, andwere divided into two groups: those who distributed thelunches at designated locations and those who walked around
distributing the lunches on the street, distributing a total of 80
boxes.

*Mottainai means “What a waste!” in Japanese

Subject

02

Campaign to Eliminate Harassment

In FY2023, our Campaign to Eliminate Harassment in thework to create a comfortable workplace environment for every

Workplace was implemented to deepen employees’ understanding

employee, free from discrimination and harassment.

of harassment and further raise their awareness of the need toeliminate it. In addition to the messages from the executive officer
in charge of compliance and risk management, we provided
leadership training for department managers, e-learning education
for all employees, and group discussions within departments using
specific examples, to reiterate the need to prevent harassment in
the workplace.
We will continue to respect the diversity, personality, andindividuality of all employees working for the Group, and actively

21

22