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Together with the EnvironmentRecycling Resources

Sustainability Material Issue 1 Promoting Environmental Initiatives for a Sustainable Planet

Top-Priority Material Issue

Objective
Reduce CO2 emissions throughout business activities.

Objective
Reduce CO2 emissions throughout product lifecycles.

Objective
Achieve a CO2 emissions reduction effect in excess of Lion’s own emissions to help society become carbon negative.

Objective
Actively promote the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and renewable activities.

Indicators (2030) Petrochemical-derived plastic use rate⇒70% or less
Progress
(2023 results)
96% (Japan)
Rate of containers and other packaging using sustainable materials: 3.9%
Globally Common Measures to 2030
  • Reduce usage of petrochemical-derived materials through the increased use of recycled plastic and biomass materials in products, containers and packaging.
  • Continuously promote reduced use and reuse of plastic in products, containers and packaging.

Objective
Reduce water usage throughout product lifecycles

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Using Sustainable Materials in Containers and Packaging

Recycled materials -Utilizing Recycled Materials

Using Recycled Paper

The containers and packaging for our powder laundry detergents and other products are made with recycled paper containing recycled pulp.

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Using Recycled Plastics

Lion proactively uses recycled plastic in products and containers. Our liquid laundry detergent bottles and toothbrush blister packs are made with plastic recycled from disposable drink bottles(PET bottles for beverages) and other sources.

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Main Uses of Recycled Plastics
Type of plastic Type of product Product name Parts using recycled plastic
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Dishwashing detergent CHARMY Magica Bottle
Liquid laundry detergent TOP Clear Liquid
Kaori Tsuzuku (Long-Lasting Frangrance)
TOP Sweet Harmony
Refill pack
Toothbrush Clinica PRO Toothbrush Rubber Head Blister dome packaging
Polyethylene Fabric softener SOFLAN Aroma Rich Bottle
Liquid laundry detergent TOP SUPER NANOX For Odors Ultra-jumbo Refill pack

Includes limited quantity products

Renewable Sustainable Resource Use

Using Plant-Based Plastics in Containers and Packaging

The containers and packaging of some Lion products are made with biomass plastic, made from plant-based raw materials such as corn and blackstrap molasses, a byproduct of refining sugarcane into sugar.
Products that utilize biomass materials

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Main Uses of Biomass Plastics
Type of plastic Type of product Product name Parts using recycled plastic
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Liquid laundry detergent NANOX one Bottle
Fabric softener SOFLAN Airis
Body wash Hadakara Body Soap
Dental rinse NONIO Mouthwash
NONIO Plus Whitening Dental Rinse
CLINICA Quick Wash
SYSTEMA EX Dental Rinse, etc.
Toothpaste CLINICA Advantage Toothpaste, etc. Tube
Polyethylene Liquid laundry detergent NANOX one and NANOX one for Odors
NANOX for Washing Machines with Automatic Detergent Dispensers, etc.
Refill pack
Bleach Bright STRONG
Hand soap KireiKirei Medicated Hand Conditioning Soap
Pocket Size KireiKirei Medicated Foaming Hand Soap External bag
Hand sanitizer KireiKirei Medicated Hand Sanitizing (Gel Plus, Gel)
Antiperspirant and deodorant Ban Sweat-Blocking Roll-On and Stick

Products that meet the requirements for certification by the Japan Organics Recycling Association are marked with the Biomass Mark. For details, please visit the website of the Japan Organics Recycling Association [Japanese].

Promoting the Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reduce Smaller and fewer containers, less packaging

To reduce container and packaging materials, Lion complies with the Lion eco-standard, which is designed to evaluate products over their entire lifecycles by examining each lifecycle stage, from raw material procurement to distribution and disposal. We are increasing the concentration of such products such as laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dishwashing detergents to make their containers more compact while using sophisticated design technology to make containers more lightweight.

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Lion’s Container and Packaging Material Usage (Domestic Household Products)

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*Until fiscal 2021, only containers and packaging materials are taken into account; starting in fiscal 2022, some product plastics are as well.

Reuse Increase refill products

Plastic bottles can be refilled and reused. Film packaging for refill packs can be produced using less material than product bottles, and because they weigh less and take up less space after use, they also help reduce household waste.
Going forward, we will work to minimize the use of plastic materials by both reducing and reusing.

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Lion’s Use of Plastic for Packaging and Reduction Effects

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Efforts are made to ensure that the products offered by the Group are recycled in an appropriate manner after use.

Recycling of Used Containers in Accordance with the Containers and Packaging Recycling System

Being a specified business entity operating under the Containers and Packaging Recycling System, we contribute recycling operation contract fees. For the most recent status of operations under this system, please visit the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association website.

The Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association

Amount Contributed to The Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association (After payment)

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*Total contracting fees for Lion Corporation, Lion pet Co., Ltd. and Lion Dental Products Co., Ltd. is settled and finalized in the year following the year of the contract. Because of this, cost announcements are made two years after incurrence.

Promoting Plastic Product, Container and Packaging Resource Recycling

Aiming to achieve a continuous cycle of plastic use in society, and to go beyond recycling in existing social infrastructures to higher quality recycling, Lion is conducting pilot testing for the recycling of used products and containers and packaging in cooperation with household product manufacturers, recyclers, retailers and local governments.

Main Activities
Recyclable items Activity name Area Main partners
Toothbrushes Toothbrush recycling Over 1,000 locations nationwide TerraCycle
Joint municipal toothbrush recycling Sumida-ku, Itabashi-ku and Taito-ku Takaroku Shoji Co. Ltd.
Refill packs RecyCreation Ito-Yokado’s Hikifune Store
Welcia Pharmacy stores (parts of Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture)
Kao
Ito-Yokado
Welcia Pharmacy Store
Hamakyorex
Kobe Plastic Next: Joining Forces to Recycle Refill Packs 75 stores and 3 other facilities in Kobe City Kobe City
Household product manufacturers
Distributors
18 recycling companies
Bottles Making New Bottles from Used Bottles Collaboration among consumers, local governments, and companies
Bottle Recycling Project for Everyone
Higashiyamato City, Komae City, Kunitachi City 3 household product manufacturers
Veolia Japan G.K.
digglue Inc.

As of May 31, 2024

Promoting Circulation of Plastic Container and Packaging Resources through Partnerships

Kao and Lion are reaching out beyond their corporate groups in an effort to recycle plastic refill containers and packaging (film packaging), aiming to realize a resource-circulating society.
To accelerate the adoption of recycling, building basic systems for resource collection and developing recycling technologies are indispensable. At the same time, it is necessary to change mindsets across society in cooperation with stakeholders, including consumers, with regard to, for example, sorting plastic packaging after product use.

To this end, we are conducting the following four activities.

  • Studying ways to sort and collect plastic film packaging in cooperation with consumers, government agencies and retailers.
  • Creating recycled materials and packaging quality design with consideration for usability in a wide range of products, ease of sorting and collection by consumers, and potential for use across companies or industries.
  • Studying ways to jointly use materials that are collected and recycled.
  • Engaging in promotional and educational activities that will foster greater understanding and cooperation regarding recycling among consumers.

Through the above activities, we are working to improve the economic efficiency of collection and recycling as a whole. First, we are launching collaborative RecyCreation* activities to sort and collect film packaging and raise awareness in cooperation with local residents. By doing so, we are sharing information about the technological hurdles to plastic film packaging recycling.

These RecyCreation activities, along with related companies, have received the following commendations.

News Release: Kao and Lion Awarded the New Selection Committee Chairman’s Commendation in the Good Practices of Consumer-Oriented Management Awards [Japanse] News Release: Lion, Kao, Ito-Yokado, Welcia Pharmacy, and Hamakyorex Jointly Receive the Minister of Environment Award in the 6th Japan Open Innovation Prize [Japanese]
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*“RecyCreation” denotes upcycling through which more enjoyable and improved products are developed and resulting in new value creation, rather than recycling materials for the purpose of reproducing the same types of materials. The concept of this initiative is “Throwing it away after use. We want to change this common practice.”

We have released a concept film presenting these initiatives

Youtube (Japanese)

In-store Collection of Used Refill Packs—Recycling Field Testing

RecyCreation activities are under way at Ito-Yokado’s Hikifune Store (Sumida-ku, Tokyo) and 31 Welcia Pharmacy stores with the aim of field testing the sorted collection of film packaging from used refill packs. Under this initiative, a special collection box has been installed at the store to collect customers’ used refill packaging for such products as detergents and shampoos.

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The process of recycling used refill packs in the RecyCreation initiative
Overview of the Field Test
  • Purpose
    To examine processes for the sorted collection of used refill packs in collaboration with consumers and retailers.
  • Content
    To enhance consumers’ enthusiasm for recycling through RecyCreation. Through the test, we are collecting used refill packs for such products as detergents and shampoos at Ito-Yokado’s Hikifune Store and Welcia Pharmacy stores, studying effective collection systems and developing new recycling technology.
  • Implementation period
    Starting from October 30, 2020
  • Location of collection box for used refill packs
    Ito-Yokado’s Hikifune Store (Sumida-ku, Tokyo) and Welcia Pharmacy stores (Tokyo and parts of Saitama) We will gradually expand this initiative to more locations.
  • How to prepare and return a pack for collection
    • Cut along the top of the pack to open it
    • Rinse out the inside of the pack twice with water
    • Shake off excess water and let dry
    • Put in the collection box
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We have released a concept film of how to wash a used refill pack

YouTube (Japanese)

Demonstration of the Horizontal Recycling of Refill Packs

On May 29 2023, the collaboration launched a recycled plastic version of the XXL refill pack for Lion’s TOP SUPER NANOX For Odors, a highly concentrated liquid laundry detergent. The materials used to create the refill pack consisted in part of recycled materials from used refill packs that had been collected. (Limited quantities available.)

This packaging incorporates 9% recycled materials derived from factory waste and 1% derived from recycled consumer products.

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About the Toothbrush Recycling Program

Program participation is very easy and free.

  • Register an account as an individual, school or other organization in advance
  • Set out collection boxes and collect used toothbrushes
  • A designated carrier will pick up the box by the second business day after a collection request is made
  • The toothbrushes will be reborn as new plastic products, such as planters, instead of being sent to a landfill or incinerator
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Participants receive points according to the weight of the toothbrushes that they send. The points can be exchanged for plastic products produced through TerraCycle's recycling program or donated to a charity of the participant’s choice.

Toothbrush Recycling Program
Using Recycled Materials from Toothbrush Recycling Program to Make Cat Litter Boxes

Domestic Group company Lion Pet Co., Ltd. is currently rolling out the Love Cats Love Earth Sakura Project, through which it donates cat litter boxes and cat litter sets to support people fostering rescue cats. The cat litter boxes are made from 10% recycled plastic from toothbrush recycling.

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Encouraging the Realization of a Resource-Circulating Society

The Group has a wide array of frameworks in place and promotes activities to realize a resource-circulating society, a goal it cannot achieve on its own.

Groups, Activities and Initiatives Encouraging the Realization of a Resource-Circulating Society
Name of Group or Organization Title Main Goal of Activities
Japan Clean Ocean Material Alliance CLOMA Resolving problems regarding plastic waste in the ocean
Circular Partners〔Japanese〕 CPs Promoting collaboration of industry, government and academia to create a circular economy
Plastic Packaging Recycling Council〔Japanese〕 PPRC Promoting recycling of plastic packaging by collaborating with residents and local governments
Ecosystem Society Agency〔Japanese〕 ESA Working with local governments and businesses to generate social value

Unveiling “Platto Search,” an Example of an Environmentally-Conscious Plan

We have published a development case for an environmentally conscious package precedent search system known as “Plastic and Search” that the Plastic Packaging Recycling Council manages.

Environmentally-Conscious Package Precedent Search System “Plastic and Search”〔Japanese〕

Reducing Waste

Zero Emissions from Operating Sites (Domestic)

Lion’s four domestic plants all achieved zero waste emissions*1 in 2002. All of Lion’s operating sites,*2 including research institutes and offices, achieved zero waste emissions in 2017.

*1 Our definition:The waste recycling ratio is 99% or more, excluding recycling residues

*2 Chiba Plant, Odawara Plant, Osaka Plant, Akashi Plant, Hirai Office Site, Sapporo Office, Sendai Office, Headquarters/Tokyo Office(Headquarters from April due to office relocation), Nagoya Office, Osaka Office, Fukuoka Office, Lion Chemical Co., Ltd. Fine Chemical Production Site, Lion Chemical Co., Ltd. Oleochemical Production Site, Lion Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd. Yokkaichi Plant, Lion Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd. Ono Plant

ESG Data Environment

Waste Generation (Overseas)

We will continue to advance initiatives to reduce waste going forward.

Information Regarding the Maintenance and Management Status of Industrial Waste Treatment Facilities

Maintenance and management information based on the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law (Article 15-2-3, Paragraph 2) is made public.

Click here to see the maintenance and management status of Chiba Works.

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