Itoh Oil Chemicals: Unlocking the endlesspotential of castor oil
Environmentally friendly castor oil is quickly replacing the use of petrochemicals in the manufacturing of a wide rangeof products, from lubricants, plastics and paints, to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
The endless potential of castor
oil has long been recognized by
Itoh Oil Chemicals Company,
which has been in the business ofmanufacturing high-quality castor
oil-based products and derivatives
since 1946 and boasts Japan’slargest castor oil refinery.
But only in recent years, amid
increasing environmental awareness, have many industries opened
their eyes to the benefits of castor
oil, particularly as a substitutefor fossil-fuel based oils and lubricants.
Consumer trends for more environmentally friendly products
has spurred increasing demand for
castor oil and its derivatives in the
manufacturing of everything frombio-based plastics, lubricants andspecialty rubber, to paints and cosmetic products, while its medicinal
properties have also prompted its
rising utilization in the health andpharmaceutical industries.
Such demand bodes very wellfor Itoh Oil Chemicals, which hashelped clients to unlock the potential of castor oil for almost 75years. “We believe this growth isbeing driven by people’s growing
awareness of the magical properties of this product: it is biodegradable, natural, and ecologicallyfriendly,” says company president,
Takuya Katayama.
“These traits are dragging a
lot of industries into the production and use of castor oil. This isvery promising for us. And we will
promote our R&D on castor oiland serve the global environment
by looking for more solutions toreplace petrochemicals.”
Backed by the 75-year experience that has enabled Itoh Oil
Chemicals to perfect its manufacturing processes and techniques, the company supplies thehighest-quality, environmentallyfriendly products, which are usedin various fields, such as the household, medicine, shipbuilding, automobile, construction and civilengineering industries. Unrefined
castor oil arrives at Itoh’s refineryfrom India, where the company
constantly offers its expertise tooil millers in order to improve thequality of the raw material, and,ultimately, the final product.
In response to the latest demands, Itoh Oil Chemicals drawson its R&D prowess to develop new
castor oil-based products for thecosmetics, pharmaceuticals andpolyurethane industries. As theTokyo-based firm looks to diversify
into new markets, co-creation andcustomer engagement will remain
key to its innovation and overall
success. Aside from joint R&D withresearch institutes and universities, the company’s commitment
to listening and collaborating withclients is among its main strengths
and competitive advantages.
“It is always important in any
industry to try to engage with ourcustomers. We drive our customer
engagement through hearings
that provide the benefits of castor oil. These hearings are essen-“We will promote ourR&D on castor oiland serve the global
environment by looking
for more solutions
to replacepetrochemicals”
Takuya Katayama, President,
Itoh Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd.
tial in order to receive customer
feedback,” explains Mr. Katayama.
“It is especially important for us
to know what the final productwill be and then work with thecustomer to co-develop the castor
oil product that would best meetthe needs of their final product.”
As the world confronts themonumental challenge posed byclimate change, Itoh Oil Chemicals
will play an important role as a

Creating
a future withcastor oil

www.itoh-oilchem.co.jp/

leading manufacturer of castor
oil. Not only can castor oil be used
to develop more environmentallyfriendly products and reduce consumption of fossil fuels, but cultivation of the castor plant fromwhich it is derived also contributes
to the reduction of carbon dioxidein the atmosphere by absorbing
these harmful gases.
With all of this in mind, Mr. Katayama, who took over as president
in June, aims to take the companyglobal, with a particular focus on
fast-growing markets in Southeast
Asia. To do so, Itoh Oil Chemicals
seeks international partners withwhom it can develop and distributeits products to a growing base ofcustomers across a broad range
of industries.
“We can provide the high-performance products and the bestsolutions by forming allianceswith partners. They bring local
knowledge, and we will bring thetechnological know-how,” says Mr.
Katayama. “In five years my goal isto expand the business area withinmainland China so that we canget a stronger foothold there. Oursales performance there is looking
promising.”“We also look to move past China
as well and expand into more andmore countries in Southeast Asia.
Castor oil has more potential power in reducing environmental costs
and improving the functionality ofcustomers’ products. Making theworld know about our products
is my most important job.”