Kao Corporation has released the Kao Sustainability Report 2025, providing a progress report on its ESG strategy, the Kirei Lifestyle Plan.

Junko Ohtani, Executive Officer in charge of Kao’s ESG Division, comments, 

“We are committed to solving social and environmental issues through innovation, anticipating the needs of our consumers and customers. Ensuring our products offer not only superior functional and emotional value but also social value is the key to being chosen by our consumers, helping them achieve more comfortable and sustainable lifestyles simply by using Kao products.”

As part of its Mid-term Plan K27 and Global Sharp Top strategy, Kao aims to use leading-edge technologies to address pressing social and environmental challenges. 

Skincare Advances

The skin protection business is the leading initiative within the Global Sharp Top strategy, helping to improve consumers’ quality of life by combating rising ultraviolet (UV) rays, air pollution, and other environmental factors that can cause skin damage. 

There has been an increase in global demand in this area, and sales have grown significantly. 

Kao’s product range includes UV care products to protect the skin from UV rays, self-tanning (safe color) products to produce a tanned look without UV exposure, and environmental skin protection.

These products use Kao technologies to address market requirements in Japan, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Environmental Awareness

The sales of products meeting Kao’s environmental requirements have increased by 24% in the past year. Like last year, this rise is attributed to an increase in conforming products and market share for the Fabric and Home Care Business.

Raw Materials & Clean Emissions

Kao is committed to sustainably sourcing palm oil. Achieving a traceability rate of 88% demonstrates steady progress towards building a sustainable palm oil supply chain.

To reach carbon zero by 2040 and carbon negative by 2025, Kao introduced low-carbon facilities. This has expanded renewable energy and reduced CO2 emissions throughout the entire product lifecycle.