Kuraray, a leading global specialty chemicals company based in Japan, has achieved ISCC PLUS certification for its Frankfurt production facilities, highlighting its commitment to sustainability. The certification, awarded by Berlin’s Control Union, encompasses the products KURARAY POVAL™ (polyvinyl alcohol, PVA/PVOH) and MOWITAL® (polyvinyl butyral resin, PVB resin). Recognized globally, ISCC PLUS certification verifies the sustainable sourcing and production of raw materials throughout the product value chain, meeting the increasing demand for traceable environmental credentials.

As sustainability becomes a crucial consideration across industries, Kuraray’s ISCC PLUS certification aligns with growing customer expectations and impending regulations like the EU’s Green Claims Directive. This directive emphasizes transparency, requiring companies to provide verifiable evidence for environmental claims, positioning certified products like KURARAY POVAL and MOWITAL as key solutions for environmentally conscious customers.

The bio-based versions of these products are manufactured using sustainable inputs. For instance, KURARAY POVAL utilizes bio-VAM derived from recycled cooking oils, while MOWITAL incorporates biocircular PVA and bio-butyraldehyde. Both products rely on second and third-generation raw materials, avoiding competition with food resources. The certification process also employs the mass balance approach, ensuring accountability and traceability of eco-friendly materials even when mixed with conventional ones.

Since 2022, Kuraray’s biocircular EVAL product has held ISCC PLUS certification, marking the company as a pioneer in certifying ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH). This certification applies to all EVOH variants produced at Kuraray’s Antwerp site, reinforcing its leadership in sustainability.

Looking ahead, Kuraray plans to expand ISCC PLUS certification to additional products and production sites, including Troisdorf and Holešov in Europe. According to Dr. Jörg Schappel, Director of Safety, Health & Sustainability at Kuraray Europe, this stepwise approach is part of a broader strategy to integrate sustainability across the company’s global operations.

“By certifying our bio-based and biocircular products, we provide customers with reliable proof of sustainability, aligning with the evolving regulatory landscape and consumer demand,” stated Dr. Schappel. “This ensures we remain at the forefront of sustainable innovation.”

Kuraray’s proactive certification efforts underscore its commitment to fostering a more sustainable chemical industry while addressing market and regulatory shifts towards environmental accountability.

Kuraray Europe GmbH, established in 1991 and headquartered in Hattersheim near Frankfurt am Main, Germany, achieved annual sales of €1.3 billion in 2022. The company employs over 830 people across its German locations in Hattersheim, Frankfurt, and Troisdorf. As a global leader in specialty chemicals, Kuraray is among the largest suppliers of industrial polymers and synthetic microfibers, serving various industries with products like Kuraray Poval™, Mowital®, Trosifol®, and Clearfil™. Additionally, the company has around 215 employees at seven other European sites, focusing on developing and applying innovative high-performance materials for sectors such as automotive, paper, glass, packaging, architecture, and dentistry. Kuraray Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tokyo-based Kuraray Group, a publicly listed company with a global workforce of over 11,700 employees and annual sales of €5.5 billion.