Progress in Developing New Products Such as Airas

「During the current fiscal year, we launched 17 new products in total across packaging and wet-molded products.」

「In the packaging field, we are focusing development on combinations of distinctive converting technology and specialty paper, and successfully sold 2 new products in new fields. During the current fiscal year, we launched 12 new products in total across packaging and wet-molded products.」

「In paper towels, a new sustainable product has received strong reviews, and sales exceeded the year-earlier level.」

「For 3 proposal-based new products developed in the previous fiscal year for specialty printing paper, we have approached the market and conducted needs surveys. Going forward, we plan to assess the market potential of these products and decide whether to launch them.」

「Demand for the highly heat-resistant insulating paper launched in 2020 continued to be captured steadily, resulting in specialty functional paper sales exceeding the year-earlier level.」

「In the specialty materials business, the launch of 2 new products scheduled for the current fiscal year was delayed by uncertainty over material procurement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been pushed back to the following fiscal year. Development of proposal-based new products using new materials is almost complete, and we plan to approach the market going forward.」

「As a result of responding closely to customer requests and developing new customers for the highly heat-resistant insulating paper launched in 2020, sales of specialty functional paper exceeded the year-earlier level.」

「Against this backdrop, under the Fifth Medium-Term Management Plan, “Jump Forward To Next 10,” a 3-year plan covering fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2022, the Group is moving ahead in earnest with incorporating growth fields explored and launched under the previous plan. We are implementing growth initiatives against the backdrop of social demands for strengthening the core business, resource-reuse businesses and reducing the use of plastics, while developing new products that leverage the Group's one-of-a-kind quality and technology and pursuing new business fields beyond papermaking.」

「The Research and Development Division is developing anti-counterfeit paper, multiple products targeting reduced environmental impact, and functional paper using specialty fibers.」

「The Packaging Planning Division is considering launching a new, high-value-added packaging business that leverages the company's distinctive capabilities, and launched TT-SPARKLE, the first product in the line, in August. At TOKYO PACK 2021, scheduled for February next year, we plan to unveil high-value-added packaging products currently under development.」

「In addition to the anti-counterfeit paper and specialty functional paper developed to date, the R&D Division has begun considering initiatives that address digitalization, electrification and other trends in anticipation of a post-COVID environment. In response to the shift away from plastics, the Packaging Planning Division has also begun new initiatives in the packaging field. We are also advancing plans to launch products for e-commerce and fancy paper products for overseas markets.」

「In specialty functional paper, certain products were adopted in connection with measures to mitigate the impact of the consumption tax rate increase, lifting both sales volume and value above the year-earlier levels. In specialty printing paper, meanwhile, we launched several new products, but their effects have taken time to emerge, and both sales volume and value fell below the year-earlier levels.」

「In specialty functional paper, the adoption of certain products in response to the consumption tax increase lifted both sales volume and value above the year-earlier levels. In the fancy paper field, we launched 2 new products for the domestic market and expect to launch an overseas-oriented fancy paper product during the current fiscal year.」

「In the functional paper field, development of a major project is on track, and its launch is expected during the current fiscal year. A new product is also expected to launch in the security field, where we are additionally pursuing a major project. In the fancy paper field, we are developing new products for overseas and domestic markets.」

「In the fancy paper field, we are focusing on developing products for the following fiscal year after the overseas-oriented new product got off to a strong start, while continuing to develop fancy paper products for the domestic market.」

「In the fancy paper field, we are focusing on developing the next products for the following fiscal year after the overseas-oriented new product got off to a strong start.」

「During the current fiscal year, we successfully developed 8 new products in total, including 4 fancy paper products for overseas markets.」

「In the fancy paper and functional paper fields, we are simultaneously pursuing customer-needs-driven development and the development of proposal-based products.」

「In addition, we continue to actively pursue the development of new technologies and new products that address market needs, beyond those described above.」

「During the current fiscal year, we successfully developed 6 new products in total, including fancy paper, art paper, archival paper and functional paper. TT-Decontamination Sheet, a sheet for removing radioactive materials, was also adopted as a filter at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.」

「In addition, we continue to actively pursue the development of new technologies and new products that address market needs, beyond those described above.」

「We continue to launch new products and steadily expand sales of specialty printing paper, but both sales volume and value fell below the year-earlier levels because customers held back on adopting the products as information-distribution media shifted to digital formats.」

「Sales of specialty printing paper benefited from growth in Airus, a new product launched last year, but demand for general printing did not show signs of recovery, and both sales volume and value fell below the year-earlier levels.」

「During the current fiscal year, we successfully developed a heavy-weight version of Airus, which we successfully commercialized last year. We also successfully developed 3 other new products, including new information paper and new fancy paper products, for a total of 3 new products.」