Initiatives for plastic resource circulation and prevention of marine pollution

「In addition, we expanded the deployment of functional materials, including environmentally friendly materials.」

「In inorganic materials, we are strengthening the development and overseas expansion of high-performance cosmetic ingredients that replace microbeads or are used in UV-care products, as well as barrier materials for monomaterial packaging in food-packaging applications.」

「In inorganic materials, we expanded overseas sales of high-quality cosmetic ingredients that replace microbeads and synthetic mica for food-packaging films with barrier properties.」

「In inorganic materials, we are also actively expanding overseas sales of high-quality makeup-cosmetic ingredients with a translucent appearance and matte texture as alternatives to microplastics, and synthetic mica for food-packaging films with barrier properties designed to reduce food loss.」

「For inorganic materials, as environmental regulations concerning plastics reduction and recycling have become more stringent, we have focused on developing functionality in materials that meet customer needs, including synthetic mica that improves the barrier properties of packaging materials by leveraging our proprietary technologies, as well as on sales activities aimed at capturing overseas demand.」

「During the cumulative second quarter under review, there were no significant changes in the matters described in this quarterly report regarding the business and accounting conditions that management recognizes could materially affect the financial position, operating results and cash flows of the consolidated companies, or in the “Business and Other Risks” described in the securities report for the previous fiscal year.」

「During the three-month period ended 30 June, there were no new risks that management recognizes as having the potential to materially affect the financial position, operating results or cash flows of the consolidated companies, and no material changes to the business risks described in the annual securities report for the previous fiscal year.」

「During the cumulative third quarter under review, there were no significant changes in the matters described in this quarterly report regarding the business and accounting conditions that management recognizes could materially affect the financial position, operating results and cash flows of the consolidated companies, or in the “Business and Other Risks” described in the securities report for the previous fiscal year.」

「During the cumulative second quarter under review, there were no significant changes in the matters described in this quarterly report regarding the business and accounting conditions that management recognizes could materially affect the financial position, operating results and cash flows of the consolidated companies, or in the “Business and Other Risks” described in the securities report for the previous fiscal year.」

「In Japan, amid the trend toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries issued the “Strategy for a Sustainable Food System,” while fertilizer-related organizations issued the “Action Policy for Preventing Marine Outflow of Plastic Coating Shells in Controlled-Release Fertilizers,” among other initiatives, resulting in growing demands for environmental action.」

「Since the SDGs were adopted at the UN Summit in 2015, discussion of how plastic resources should be circulated has intensified, and the industry is also being called on to take measures to prevent plastic fragments from entering the oceans.」