Eco-friendly Product Development

Demand for environmentally-friendly packaging is growing as we strive to achieve a sustainable society. We conduct research and development of environmentally-friendly products from the perspectives of materials, design, and technology. Core product development is handled by the Packaging Laboratory and by the Sales Management Division, and combined they develop new products to meet the needs of customers and the market as part of the Sales Division, which maintains direct contact with customers.

Product development structure

• Packaging Laboratory･･･Working with the manufacturing sections, this creative section is in charge of the structural design and graphic design of packages, chiefly for paper products. Its staff of about 70 people nationwide brings together varied insights and ideas to manufacture products to meet customer needs. It develops high value added packages designed to reduce environmental impact through designs that reduce weight and conserve resources while proposing eco-friendly inks and single-material structures that are more readily recycled.
• Material Development Dept.･･･This section works with materials makers and research institutions to develop new materials with functions and features to meet customer needs while keeping up with market trends.
• Package Solution Dept.･･･This department analyzes issues on customer packaging lines and proposes optimal packaging solutions for more effcient and rational packaging. It seeks to build long-term partnerships not just by providing packaging materials but also contributing to solutions for customer challenges.

R&D and Information Sharing Committee

With their memberships selected from creative, sales, manufacturing, and other sections, study groups have been established for research and new product development in the three segments of paper containers, paper bags, and shipping packages. Companywide meetings are held twice a year to announce and share information on research results and products developed, and are organized into practical themes that reflect multifaceted information sources such as market trends, customer needs, and social issues.

Draw-formed paper trays to replace plastic trays

We have developed draw-formed paper trays to replace plastic and styrofoam trays. These containers help to reduce plastic use, mainly in food product packaging.

Product features

• Molded paper container made from a single sheet of paper with no adhesive, which can be used with peace of mind even for foods that contain moisture
• Can be stored frozen and heated in the microwave
• Interior coating conforming to the amended Food Sanitation Act enables use as a primary food container

Water-based flexography printers introduced for paper cartons

We introduced water-based flexography printers for paper cartons to reduce environmental impact. Their energy-effcient design helps reduce CO² emissions from printing processes.They use eco-friendly water-based inks that contain nearly zero organic solvents and emit very few volatile organic compounds. Since they do not use the photoinitiators contained in UV offset printing ink, they reduce impact on the human body to improve worker and consumer safety.

One-touch shock absorbent shipping cases

These shipping cases use the same materials as CC-PACK^®* all-paper shock absorbent envelopes. Three layers of special soft material protect against external shocks in transit, making it possible to reduce the use of plastic shock absorbent materials. Lighter in weight than traditional corrugated materials, they also help reduce CO² emissions during shipping.

Product features

• Recyclable, all-paper material
• Made using special paper cushioning material
• Lighter than conventional corrugated materials
• One-touch assembly

*CC-PACK^®

An original shipping packaging materiel developed based on our expertise as a comprehensive packaging provider. Uses special soft shock absorbent material so that gusset width can be adjusted easily to suit the thickness of the contents.

The Pack has earned FSC^® Chain-of-Custody certification for paper and paper products using FSC^®-certified materials and managed raw materials. This means that our customers can use packages made of raw materials from properly managed FSC^®-certified forests and recycled resources. In 2023, we identified achieving a ratio of sales of FSC^®-certified products (paper bags, paper containers, corrugated boxes) to total sales^※ of 50% or more as a materiality KPI. We will fulfill our corporate responsibilities to nature and to society through the sales of FSC^®-certified products.

• ^※Sales = The Pack paper-products business as a whole (nonconsolidated)

FSC^®-certified products as a percentage of sales