The Direction of Sustainability with a View Toward 2050

In response to recent major changes in the environment, such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, Asahi Kasei’s commitment to “Care for People, Care for Earth” has become even more important.
Given this context, Asahi Kasei Group will take on the following two challenges as we look toward 2050. From the perspective of “Care for Earth,” we aim to achieve a carbon-neutral and sustainable world, and from the perspective of “Care for People,” we aim to achieve active life in the new normal.

As we look ahead to 2050, it is predicted that we will be confronted with a variety of social issues. Our Group believes that we will be able to help resolve these issues and that our business opportunities will expand.
For example, in terms of “Care for Earth” (achieving a carbon-neutral and sustainable world), we can contribute to important subjects such as electric vehicles, a hydrogen society, carbon recycling, and achieving a circular economy. We will do so primarily through our businesses in the Material sector, such as recycling technologies, CO₂ separation and recovery, an alkaline water electrolysis system, and battery materials.

• Note:To achieve a carbon-neutral world, it is essential to reduce GHG emissions from our business activities. For more information on the Asahi Kasei Group’s policy toward carbon neutrality, please click here

In terms of “Care for People” (achieving active life in the new normal), we will contribute to the development of homes and communities that can withstand storm and flood damage and extreme heat. We will also contribute through our health care business to help people live healthy and vibrant lives.

In addition to aiming to provide value to society through our two challenges, we will enhance the fundamental activities that support our business activities, such as corporate governance, compliance, respect for human rights, and safety and quality. Our group will also pursue our two sustainability goals of contributing to a sustainable society and sustainable growth of corporate value.

• Asahi Kasei Group's Materiality

Initiatives for Achieving a Carbon-neutral and Sustainable World

Initiative for Achieving a Hydrogen Society

Significance of the initiative	Hydrogen is a key factor for carbon neutrality
Our vision	Becoming a key player in green hydrogen production
Specific initiative	Alkaline water electrolysis

Hydrogen, which is attracting attention as a fuel for automobiles and as a means of storing and transporting energy, is a key factor for carbon neutrality. Based on our knowledge of chlor-alkali electrolysis systems, our Group launched the world’s largest alkaline water electrolysis system in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture in 2020, and began an efficient hydrogen supply operation using renewable energy. As expectations for hydrogen rise worldwide, with various countries in Europe announcing hydrogen strategies, we are also conducting demonstrations in Germany. Our Group aims to commercialize this technology as a frontrunner while leveraging our strengths.

Producing Chemicals using CO₂

Significance of the initiative	The CO2 cycle will be an important element of a sustainable society
Our vision	Practical application of CO2 chemistry in addition to polycarbonate
Specific initiative	Production of functional specialty chemicals based on carbonyl group introduction technology

We are also focusing on CO₂ chemistry, which enables the production of chemical products using CO₂ as a raw material.
In the area of polycarbonate production technology, the EC process has been used in practical applications and is being licensed around the world. The DRC process, which is a further refinement of the EC process, has already been demonstrated as viable and is attracting attention as a technology that enables production regardless of the location of petrochemical plants. We are also developing a technology to produce isocyanate (raw material for polyurethane) from CO₂. We have also started to use the EC process as a basis for the production of electrolyte materials for LIBs, which will become even more essential in society going forward. With regard to CO₂ separation and recovery, we are developing a system that uses our catalyst technology to efficiently separate and recover CO₂ from power plant and factory exhaust gas using a special zeolite (a type of mineral) with a precisely controlled pore structure.

Deploying Technologies, Products, and Services to Achieve a Circular Economy

Significance of the initiative	Promoting sustainable resource usage is essential for decarbonization
Our vision	Development and practical application of technologies and infrastructures that have become bottlenecks in achieving the circular economy
Specific initiative	"BLUE Plastics" Project

In an age when global environmental conservation is a major concern, resource recycling and the use of recycled plastics are being promoted as ways to recycle plastic waste as resources to supply highly convenient products while being considerate of the environment.
However, until now, it has been difficult to prove the recycling chain for products made from recycled plastic and the recycling rate of materials.
We are developing a digital platform based on our belief that, to make a resource-recycling society a reality, it is necessary to visualize the recycling chain of recycled plastics to create an environment in which people can use them with confidence. The social issue of balancing resource recycling with convenience is difficult to solve through the efforts of individual companies alone, so we aim to create a widely accessible platform that can be used by a broad range of people, from every kind of company involved in the recycling chain to consumers.

• Initiative for Achieving a Circular Economy

Active life in the new normal

Achieving Healthy Longevity in an Era of Centernarians

Significance of the initiative	Health-related lifestyle issues are rising due to declining birthrate and aging population
Our vision	Provide homes and services according to changes in health and family circumstances
Specific initiative	Providing secure apartment buildings for senior citizens and homes with services for senior citizens

This is an era where people often live into their hundreds. As senior citizens’ values with regard to homes become more diverse, the Asahi Kasei Group provides optimal homes based on their level of health.
There is the “healthy period,” when people are active and healthy; the “frail period,” when people’s minds, bodies, and social skills decline; and the “need care period,” when people need support. Each stage requires a different type of home.
We offer “Hebel Village,” which consists of safe and reliable apartment buildings for senior citizens where those in the healthy to frail stages can lead healthier and safer lives than they can at their own home.
For senior citizens in need of care, we provide “Village Riche” housing, which includes extensive care services.
We contribute to the formation of a society of healthy longevity by providing senior citizens who feel anxious and inconvenienced living in their own aging homes with the option of changing their residence while they are still healthy to one that is safe, reliable, and conducive to healthy longevity. We also provide security for the future through senior citizen homes that includes services for those who require extensive care.

Contributing to the Resolution of Unmet Medical Needs

Significance of the initiative	The number of unresolved health-related medical issues is increasing due to the aging population, etc.
Our vision	Provide superior products and services globally
Specific initiative	Development and marketing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and related services/materials

As health-related issues are becoming more common due to the aging of the population and other factors, Asahi Kasei Group believes that addressing unmet medical needs will become ever more vital. The Group aims to provide superior products and services globally through its involvement in both pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
In the pharmaceuticals field, we will continue to make contributions in the immunology and transplantation fields.
In the medical devices field, we will focus on serious cardiopulmonary diseases and related fields (acute myocardial infarction, sleep apnea).
In addition, in our bioprocess business, we will address the area of next-generation pharmaceuticals such as gene therapy, cell therapy, regenerative medicine, and next-generation vaccines to further improve the safety and productivity of pharmaceutical formulations.

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