Synthetic rubber for fuel-efficient tires: Nipol® S-SBR ZEON’s S-SBR is attracting attention as a tire material that contributes to vehicle safety and saves energy. The use of fuel-efficient tires has been expanding, as evidenced by the spare tire labeling system that was introduced in Japan in 2010, and will be implemented in Europe and North America. Tire manufacturers in Japan and overseas are expected to increasingly adopt ZEON’s S-SBR as an advanced material that balances a tire’s fuel efficiency and grip. Automobile tires made of fuel- efficient synthetic rubber

Zeoglobule® Polymerized toner Pulverization is the conventional method for producing the toner used in copiers and other printing equipment. Polymerization is a recognized toner production method for consuming less energy. The spherical microcapsule toner produced using the polymerization method developed by ZEON contributes to better print quality at a lower fixing temperature. This in turn allows printers to achieve better energy efficiency. Toner electron microscope image

Products that Help Eliminate the Use of Organic Solvents

Binder for aqueous lithium-ion secondary batteries ZEON markets a binder for aqueous lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that does not use organic solvents and therefore requires less solvent recovery and reprocessing. The binder also maintains working condition standards at battery production plants, which lowers capital investment and operating costs. In addition, growing interest in improved battery performance has led to the adoption of this product for eco-friendly vehicles equipped with lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.

Environmentally Friendly Products that Conserve Energy

QUINTIERTM EV The newly developed QUINTIERTM SV series of oxygen-absorbent resins absorb oxygen when heated and are transparent as well as easy to mold and process. Applying the QUINTIERTM SV series to packaging materials leads to maintaining the flavor of food and reducing waste by extending the shelf life of food products, since these resins absorb oxygen inside the packaging during the processes of sterilization, boiling, and retort. ZEON booth at TOKYO PACK Moreover, QUINTIERTM SV combined with transparent deposition film can completely replace metal packaging materials such as conventional retort aluminum pouches and cans. Because packaging made entirely of plastic is easy to dispose of, environmental impact is reduced. In addition, its light weight lowers transportation-related energy consumption.

Products that Help Protect the Ozone Layer and Prevent Global Warming

Next-generation fluorocarbon detergent Zeorora® H, Etching gas Zeorora® ZFL-58 The Zeorora® H fluorocarbon detergent and Zeorora® ZFL-58 dry etching gas used for manufacturing semiconductors received the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1998, and Zeorora subsequently won five awards, including the GSC Environmental Award from the Green & Sustainable Chemistry Network (GSCN) in 2003, and an excellence award at the Eleventh Ozone Layer Protection and Global Warming Prevention Awards sponsored by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd., the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of the Environment in 2008. Consequently, these globally recognized products can contribute to mitigating global warming. Ozone Layer Protection and Global Warming Prevention Award

Products with Low Environmental Risks

New ether solvent Cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) The world’s first eco-friendly either solvent, CPME, was made in Japan. Because of its high performance in reducing environmental impact (less waste water, effluents, and CO2 emissions) and its contribution to eliminating hazardous processes and shortening processing times, CPME is used across a wide range of fields such as pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals, aroma chemicals, and electronic materials. CPME was awarded the bronze prize at the CPhI Innovation Awards at CPhI Worldwide 2010 in Paris, the world’s largest fine chemical trade show, and a product award for Profiles in Sustainability, in recognition of its contribution to green chemistry, at Informex 2011, the largest fine chemical trade show in the United States. CPhl Innovation Award

Plant growth regulator (active ingredient: Prohydrojasmon) This plant growth regulator (agrichemical agent) is the result of research into jasmonic acid (a flower aroma compound) and helps prevent problems such as discoloration in apples and skin damage in citrus fruit, which have become more common in recent years due to global warming. It has been used in combination with gibberellin for practical use in the prevention of peel puffing in mandarin oranges since 2010. In addition, it has earned high marks in the agriculture industry for showing outstanding results after a single application and has low impact on the environment due to its excellent biodegradability and eco-friendly ingredients. Jasmomate

Products with Low Environmental Risks Products that Promote Energy Saving

Urethane blowing agent Cyclopentanone ZEON released a cyclopentanone blowing agent for thermal insulation in refrigerators nearly 20 years ago, before depletion of the ozone layer and global warming became serious issues. Today, cyclopentanone is a standard urethane blowing agent used for thermal insulation in a range of products. With zero ozone depletion potential and extremely low impact on global warming, cyclopentanone is recently being widely used for building materials such as thermal insulation boards and panels and for improving the energy-saving performance of houses and other buildings as well as the environmentally sound properties of materials.

Optical film: ZEONOR Film® ZEON was the first company in the world to successfully manufacture optical film using a sheet extrusion process. This cutting-edge process is solvent-free and therefore no toxic substances are released into the atmosphere. In addition, ZEONOR Film® can be used as retardation film and has become an indispensible material for LCD TVs that consume less power. For small and medium-sized LCDs, such as on smartphones, ZEONOR Film® allows for a clear display, even in bright surroundings, while also consuming less energy by incorporating solar power.

Cycloolefin polymer ZEONEX® and ZEONOR® ZEONEX® and ZEONOR® are new thermoplastics with a high level of transparency that are already being used in optical lenses and optical film. Because these thermoplastics are lighter by 20% or more than conventional engineering plastics and have high heat resistance, they can be used in place of glass for a high level of transparency and for high-specific-gravity engineering plastics such as heat-resistant plastics. They are, therefore, contributing to greater mass production and reduced weight, and are also expected to improve the energy efficiency of transportation equipment during transport. Lenses and prisms

Products that Support the Environment

ZEON Johkaso GPU ZEON’s GPU-type johkaso (septic tank) is tailored for the needs of a low carbon society, as it consumes far less energy to transport, install, and operate than conventional products because its outer case is made of PENTAM®, a dicyclopentadiene resin with outstanding shock resistance. This highly regarded combined unit septic tank can be installed in nearly the same space as existing stand-alone septic tanks, making conversion easy. Its sophisticated processing unit also removes nitrogen, contributing to the protection of our waterways. Combined septictanks: conventional GPH (left) and ZEON Johkaso GPU (right)