Development of Eco-Friendly Products

At Sunstar, we are switching from petroleum-based plastics to recycled plastics and plant-based plastics for our packaging materials and promoting the use of materials that are easier to recycle after use. Furthermore, for our products themselves, we are working to reduce the amount of plastic used, adopt plant-based plastics, and lower the environmental impact during manufacturing.

Policy and Approach

In recent years, expectations for reducing the environmental impact of products have been increasing among customers, local communities, governments, and other stakeholders. In this context, Sunstar is developing products to reduce environmental impact from three perspectives.

  1. In all processes from product development to disposal after use, we strive to promote effective use of resources, pollution prevention, and resource circulation from the perspectives of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renewable and Biodiversity Conservation.
  2. We will reduce the environmental impact of our products by adopting the product life cycle assessment method and quantitatively visualizing the magnitude of the impact of our products on the environment.
  3. We will share best practices and issues related to reducing the environmental impact of product and container development in a timely manner through the global network of our group sites to speed up the development process.
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Eco-friendly plastic products and containers

Reduce

Reduce plastic consumption

De-plasticized design

(Utilization of metal, glass, paper)

Recycle
Use of recycled materials
(Reduction of virgin plastic）
Design for easy recycling
(Monomaterialization and easy disassembly)
Renew
Use of plant-based (bio-based) plastics
(Reduction of oil-based plastics where quality requirements and regulation permits)
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Mid- to Long-Term Environmental Targets and Results

＊ Scope of data:Data from group-owned global plants is integrated. Electricity, water and CO₂ are counted for the US Oral care plant, and electricity and CO₂ are counted for Tsubamex
Consumer Business ＝ Oral care products, cosmetics, health foods, and other consumer product-related businesses

Industrial Business = Adhesives and sealants for automobiles, construction and electronics, and metal parts for motorcycles and automobiles excludes TOYOPOLYMER CO., LTD.

＊ Evaluation criteria: ◎ = Exceeds targets, ○ = Mostly on target, △ = Missed target but making progress, × = Worse than before

＊1 Includes European procurement for consumer business

＊2 Product containers and primary packaging materials (excluding subcontracted products for Japanese consumer goods and industrial goods)

＊3 Recyclable or reusable material = Easily separable by material after product use ）

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“Environmental Data” for details
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Major Initiatives

Here are just some of the eco-friendly products we have developed.

Ongoing plastic reduction in Oral Care Products (Japan, Asia)

Table
Year Activities Results
2015 Thinned toothpaste tube Plastic material reduction 2 tons/year
2016 Expanded SKU for thin toothpaste tube Plastic material reduction
2017

Expanded SKU for thin toothpaste tube

Thinned PET bottle for vegetable juice

Adopted paper can package for health drink

Plastic material reduction 8 tons/year

Plastic reduction 2 tons/year

Paper use 2 tons/year
2018〜2019

Lightened mouthwash bottle

Lightened mouthwash cap

Expanded drink SKU of paper can package

Plastic material reduction 40 tons/year

Plastic material reduction 5 tons/year

Paper use 10 tons/year
2020

Lightened mouthwash pump

Changed packaging for mouthwash set

Plastic reduction of 27 tons/year

Plastic reduction of 9 tons/year
2021

Introduced pump-type mouthwash and

replacement bottle set

Changed mouthwash sampler

Changed POP packaging from plastic to paper

Plastic reduction of 27 tons/year

Plastic reduction of 6 tons/year
2022 Reduced weight of cases and toothpaste caps for portable toothbrushing sets Plastic reduction of 1.8 tons/year
Reduced weight of small mouthwash bottles Plastic reduction of 22.4 tons/year
2023 Thinned Φ31㎜ toothpaste tube Plastic reduction of 12.3 tons/year
2024 Discontinued plastic cases for L-type GUM interdental brushes (for the five existing types) Plastic reduction of 80 tons/year
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Recyclable paper packaging for the toothbrush (Europe)

At our toothbrush plant in Germany, where applicable, we’ve replaced plastic in both primary and secondary packaging with materials that can be fully recycled with paper. Blister bubbles and plastic trays have been substituted with recycled or FSC®-certified paper and transparent window made by cellulose. The handle is made of a plant-based plastic. These changes significantly reduce petroleum-based plastic use and support responsible sourcing in our packaging processes.

Use of low environmental impact materials in products and packaging (Japan)

Most of the toothbrush products use toothbrush bristles that contain plant-based plastic and packaging made of recycled plastic and FSC®-certified paper.
A toothbrush containing plant-based plastic in its handle has been released, becoming the first commercially available toothbrush to be certified with the BP (BiomassPla.) mark.

Progress in usage of recycled materials in packaging (Europe)

We are continuously expanding our range of products that incorporate recycled packaging, such as recycled PET and paperboard. In 2023, 85% of GUM® Brand net revenue was made with products containing 70-80% recycled packaging, and 80% of the sales were generated with products “Made in Europe” minimizing environmental impact through local sourcing.

Floss & Pick with 20% Less Plastic (Europe, Americas)

Floss & Pick, which reduces plastic use by 20% has been launched. This will contribute to reduceing plastic waste. In the Americas, a variant featuring 70 % plant-based plastic in the handle has also been launched.

GUM Original White Toothpaste (Europe)

In June 2025, we introduced our first recycling-ready toothpaste tube with the re-launch of GUM Original White. Both the tube and the carton are fully recyclable, offering consumers an easier way to recycle at home without compromising on whitening performance.

Adoption of plant-based plastics for mouthwash bottles (Japan, Asia)

Starting in July 2023, we have been gradually switching our mouthwash bottles from petroleum-based plastic to plant-based biomass PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and have now completed the switch for 17 varieties.

For our 1300mL large-size mouthwash bottles using biomass PET, plastic usage per unit of liquid volume has been reduced by 50% compared to 500mL bottles.

Use of less plastic in in-store display units (Europe, Japan)

In Europe and Japan, we are striving to reduce our environmental impact by using as little plastic as possible in our in-store display units for toothbrushes and interdental cleaners and instead using recyclable paper and wood materials. In Japan, we reduce environmental impact by blending paper powder, plant-based biodegradable plastic, and recycled plastic into the plastic parts of our store display units. In addition, we strive to reduce waste by recycling our core materials and only replacing whenever contents must be updated.

Reducing petroleum-based plastics in hair care product containers (Japan)

We adopted biomass plastic for shampoo bottles and gained the BP (BiomassPla.) certification. For refill pouch containers, we incorporated recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) into the inner film layer. We also launched a new size three and a half times larger than standard size, striving to reduce plastic usage per unit volume.

KENKODOJO Brown Rice & Soy Drink Sesame Plus (Japan)

Adopting a lightweight paper carton package helped reduce CO₂ emissions in transportation.
This health drink is itself an example of waste reduction since it is made of rice bran, which is often discarded during rice polishing.

Development of low environmental impact motorbike racing brake components (Japan)

Sunstar has cut in half the CO₂ emissions by optimizing the racing brake disks’ production process and developing more sustainable racing brake pads, which emit about 15% fewer fine particles in use. We are building a track record in racing while also working to improve braking performance.

Half the CO₂ emissions during sealant container manufacturing (Japan)

To adapt containers for construction sealants to Japan's Ministry of the Environment-certified container collection and recycling system, we have adopted recyclable plastic cans instead of conventional metal cans. Our containers are made entirely of plastic with handles, enabling direct recycling. This reduces waste generation and enables resource recovery, while reducing CO₂ emissions during manufacturing by 50% compared to existing products.

Reduction of package weight, package plastic and package waste for automotive and construction adhesives and sealants (Global)

We are promoting the use of crushable and film-like containers to reduce waste after use.

"Low Temperature Cure Technology" reducing CO₂ emissions without compromising performance (Americas)

US adhesive development team has introduced a new Low Temperature Cure Technology, a one-component structural adhesive that delivers high-performance bonding while significantly reducing energy consumption. By enabling effective curing at temperatures as low as 130°C, this innovation helps manufacturers lower CO₂ emissions and improve process efficiency without compromising adhesive strength or durability. Extended shelf-life stability also minimizes material waste, supporting more reliable and sustainable production. As industries pursue energy-efficient solutions, this technology empowers customers to meet their sustainability targets while enhancing product performance.

Commercialization of highly durable and weather-resistant construction sealants (Japan)

We are promoting the use of stain-resistant and long-lasting materials.

Use of recyclable containers for shipping adhesives and metal parts (Global)

In an effort to reduce our environmental impact, we use reusable drums to ship automotive adhesives and construction sealants to business partners and we have switched from drums to jumbo tanks to reduce the frequency of shipping. We also use returnable boxes and recyclable metal baskets to ship metal parts for motorcycles.

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