Special Edition Revised Edition
“Introduction to SDGs” Sustainable Development Goals
GSC plays a driving role in SDGs
Let's change the world towards a sustainable future!

The SDGs are global goals adopted by the United Nations, and it is essential to harmonize the three elements of economy, society, and the environment in order to achieve sustainable development. This way of thinking is shared with the GSC, which aims to achieve both environmental conservation and economic development for the sustainable development of society. As a special issue, this text aims to explain the SDGs from the perspective of the GSC and encourage everyone to think about and put them into practice.

No.1 Revised Edition
Received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award of the 12th GSC Awards (2012)
New Laundry Proposal for Pioneering a Sustainable Society
Kao Corporation Inc.

Kao Corporation views laundry detergents from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective in order to realize a sustainable society. Kao has made products compact and developed laundry detergents that dispense with just one rinse cycle instead of the conventional two cycles. Kao proposes "eco together," a new laundry style that reduces environmental impacts together with consumers through just one rinse cycle.

No.2 Revised Edition
Received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award of the 2nd GSC Awards (2002)
Novel Non-phosgene Polycarbonate Production Process Using By-product CO₂ as Starting Material
Asahi Kasei Corporation

Asahi Kasei Corporation has successfully produced a polycarbonate resin by using the by-product carbon dioxide, which has been emitted into the atmosphere until now, as a starting material.
 This production process does not use toxic materials such as phosgene as a starting material, which suppresses generation of wastewater and waste products.
 This is a breakthrough process with excellent environmental, social, and economic benefits.

No.3 Revised Edition
Received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award of the 13th GSC Awards (2013)
Development of Carbon Fiber Composite Materials for Lightweight Commercial Airplanes
Toray Industries, Inc.

Toray Industries, Inc. have developed carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), a composite material that enables the fabrication of lightweight airplane structures.
 Reducing the weight of an airplane permits the carriage of more passengers and cargo and extends the flight distance. A lightweight airplane conserves energy, causes low CO₂ emissions, and minimizes the emission of greenhouse gases that cause global warming.

No.4 Revised Edition
Received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award of the 14th GSC Awards (2014)
Development and Commercialization of High Performance Transparent Plastics Derived From Plant-Based Raw Material
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation succeeded in the development and commercialization of transparent engineering plastics whose main raw material is isosorbide derived from renewable resources. Not only was the environmental impact reduced by using a unique process utilizing renewable resources, but the performance of the product, such as excellent impact resistance and weathering resistance, was radically improved as well.

No.5 Revised Edition
Received both the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award and Minister of the Environment Award at the 15th GSC Awards (2015)
Development of High-Performance Reverse Osmosis Membrane
Contribution to the Solution of Global Water Issues
Toray Industries, Inc.

Toray Industries, Inc. has developed a high-performance reverse osmosis membrane with exceptional water permeability, removal performance, and fouling resistance. Membranes that achieve both energy saving and high quality water production are regarded as epoch-making technology that contributes to the solution of water issues worldwide.

No.6
Received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award of the 17th GSC Awards (2017)
Development of Low Environmental Load Battery for Idling-Stop System Vehicle with High Charge Acceptance and High Durability
Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. (Currently Energywith Co., Ltd.)
Hitachi, Ltd.

Idling-stop systems heavily burden on the battery, causing existing batteries to rapidly degrade, with short battery lifetimes. This technology resolves this problem and contributes to the reduction in CO₂ emissions.

No.7
Received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award of the 18th GSC Awards (2018)
Development of Water-based Inkjet Ink for Food Package
Kao Corporation

Kao Corporation developed a “water-based inkjet ink” for printing on the plastic films used for packaging daily commodities and food.
The ink maintains a high image quality and has lower volatile organic compound emissions, thereby reducing its environmental impact.

No.8
Received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award of the 8th GSC Awards (2008)
Development and Commercialization of a New Manufacturing Process for Propylene Oxide Utilizing Cumene Recycling
Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. developed a new manufacturing process for propylene oxide, which is used as a raw material for polyurethane and other materials.
The new process enables high yields of propylene oxide while reducing its environmental impact.