Kao Cororation Awarded Highest Life Cycle Assessment Recognition

Kao Corporation's efforts to reduce environmental footprints and CO2 emissions in the product life cycle has earned it the Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau Director-General’s Award.
Kao Corporation's efforts to reduce environmental footprints and CO2 emissions in the product life cycle has earned it the Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau Director-General’s Award.

Kao Corporation has received the Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau Director-General’s Award, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, for its “eco together with suppliers” activities at the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Japan Forum Awards in 2019.

Previously: ADM & Kao Named 2020 World's Most Ethical

The LCA Japan Forum Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding initiatives related to life cycle assessment for the purpose of supporting companies, organizations and researchers working to reduce environmental impacts in the product life cycle.

Previously: Kao Corporation Recognized as Supplier Engagement Leader by CDP

Recognizing its responsibility as an enterprise that provides products people use on a regular basis, the Kao Group takes active steps to reduce the environmental footprint of its products throughout the entirety of the product life cycle.

Previously: CDP: Kao Corporation Earns A Rating in Climate & Water Protection

In April 2019, Kao launched the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, its environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) strategy, which incorporates 19 key leadership actions. By integrating ESG into the core of its company management, Kao will drive business growth and better serve consumers and society through its enhanced products and services.

This award is in recognition of the Kao’s activities taken together with suppliers to reduce environmental impacts in the raw materials procurement process, which has a large environmental footprint, as well as high evaluation of the improved precision of its life cycle assessments.

Specifically, the Kao Group is conducting the following activities:

  • Collecting information on the CO2 load of delivered raw materials for suppliers that deliver raw materials with high CO2 load, aiming to improve the precision of its life cycle assessments.
  • Participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Supply Chain Program to survey the CO2 emissions management and reduction status for key suppliers, aiming to proactively reduce the environmental footprint of delivered raw materials.
  • Surveying the general environmental management status of all suppliers using Sedex: Supplier Ethical Data Exchange or an original questionnaire form.
  • Implementation of a traceability survey back to the forest or palm plantation for palm oil, paper and pulp suppliers. In addition, participation in the CDP Supply Chain Program to survey the status of supplier initiatives.