SDGs Contribution Product Certification Program

Criteria for certification include the level of contribution toward solving social issues, the scope of their contribution, and business sustainability, and the program was launched in April 2024 based on these three criteria. In FY2025, we adjusted the certification criteria to bring them more closely into line with the program’s objectives. The revised criteria are: the level of contribution toward solving social issues, business sustainability, and innovation.

SDGs Contribution Product certification criteria

Certification is performed annually. Based on applications made from our business divisions, SDGs Contribution Products undergo a review by the SDGs Contribution Product Certification Subcommittee under the Sustainability Committee, and the results of this review are submitted to the Sustainability Conference, the company’s highest decision-making body regarding sustainability, which makes the final decision on certification. Certified products are valid for three years.

SDGs Contribution Products certification process

The scope of certification was expanded in FY2025 to include the products from all Zeon Group companies, not just Zeon Corporation.

Besides the 39 products that were certified in FY2024, in FY2025 a further 6 products received certification, bringing the total number of products that have been recognized as SDGs Contribution Product certification to 45.

The products that have received certification include synthetic rubbers such as solution-polymerization styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) and hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), as well as Cyclo Olefin Polymers, battery materials (lithium-ion battery binders), polymerized toners, synthetic aroma chemicals, and thermoplastic elastomers. Products that have received certification this year include optical films, RIM formulation and RIM moldings.
Recently, the share of Zeon’s consolidated net sales that these 45 products account for has risen to 38%.

Reference: Major SDGs Contribution Products

Products name * Photos illustrating product applications	Applications and contribution points	Relevant SDGs
Solution-polymerization styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) Link	Main application: Fuel-efficient tires Contribution points: Achieved three properties of wet grip, rolling resistance, and abrasion resistance at a high success level by controlling the molecular structure Reduces GHG emissions from improved automotive fuel efficiency Helps prevent air pollution as result of improved wear resistance that generates less dust
Cyclo Olefin Polymers Link	Main application: Medical test devices, containers for pharmaceutical manufacturing, and medical packaging Contribution points: Improved quality and accessibility of medical services associated with inspection and analysis, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and drug transportation and storage based on properties such as high moisture barrier, chemical resistance, high purity, and sterilization compatibility
Lithium-ion battery binders Link	Main application: Lithium-ion batteries Contribution points: Achieved longer life and higher power output of lithium-ion batteries by resisting expansion and contraction associated with charge and discharge, in addition to increasing output by activating a chemical reaction Reduces GHG emissions and helps prevent driving related air pollution when used as power source for EVs Facilitates industrial development and economic growth by reducing the size and boosting the performance of mobile devices, electronic devices, and other products
Newly certified products for FY2025Optical film (ZeonorFilm®) Link	Main application: Optical film for TVs, smartphones, and tablets Contribution points: Contributes to waste reduction through the reuse process of film scraps and other materials 50% or less of GHG emissions from raw materials Contributes to reduced power consumption through use in energy-saving TVs Is produced using renewable energy
Newly certified products for FY2025RIM formulation and RIM moldings Link	Main application: Body panels for trucks and buses, construction machinery, and agricultural machinery Contribution points: Achieved lower CO2emissions throughout the process from raw material procurement and production to disposal than those of other resins 70% of FRP (SMC method), 40% or less of other thermoformed materials Requires about half the energy from manufacturing to disposal compared to general-purpose resins (polypropylene, PP) Contributes to reducing CO2 emissions by improving fuel efficiency through weight reduction of trucks and buses Supports thermal recycling and material recycling, contributing to waste reduction

As part of our Medium-Term Business Plan: STAGE30, we have set a target to achieve a 50% sales ratio of products that contribute to SDGs by 2030. In the future, we aim to expand our range of SDGs Contribution Products across the whole Group to achieve the above target.

Sales ratio of SDGs Contribution Products: results and targets