Climate Change : Contribution through Product Characteristics

The Group produces over 5,000 silicone products, including household products and products for the automotive, construction, and energy sectors. While being put to each of their uses, these products are contributing to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

In March 2024, the Global Silicones Council carried out a study of the entire silicones market, examining silicone greenhouse gas emissions at the phase of production and how much greenhouse gas emissions are curbed by the use of silicone, in comparison to silicone substitutes and alternative methods.^* The study found that the silicone used as a product has the effect of reducing emissions by 14 times that of greenhouse gases emitted during the manufacturing and disposal of silicones. This is equivalent to a reduction of 148 million CO₂-tons of greenhouse gases annually.

Silicone used in automobiles, construction account for the greatest share of overall silicone greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Silicone is contributing significantly to the improvement of sustainability.

Approximately 60% of the raw materials used in PVC are salts, which are abundant throughout the world. Compared to other general-purpose resins, the benefits of PVC include a low dependence on petroleum resources, placing a relatively small burden on the environment. The process of manufacturing PVC from raw materials uses around 60% of the energy required to make other general-purpose resins. Highly durable and easy to recycle, PVC is used for a wide range of social infrastructure materials, including vinyl windows, water and sewerage pipes, public works and other construction.

Compared to aluminum, PVC resin windows have lower thermal conductivity and are superior in insulating properties, so they are expected to protect indoors from the heat and cold of the outside air and save energy. Installing resin inner windows (double-layer glass) in single-pane aluminum windows can reduce the amount of heat loss from windows by 64% compared to single-pane aluminum windows alone.^*1 By reducing the amount of heat that enters or leaves your home through windows, you can maintain a comfortable room temperature and also save energy.

Resin windows have become mainstream in Europe and the United States, and are also becoming increasingly popular in Japan in recent years. In Japan, shipments of resin windows in FY2023 totaled 31,459 tons, a record high for the second consecutive year^*2. In addition, the ratio of resin windows in detached houses in Japan increased by 4.7% from the previous year to 33.2%. Looking specifically at Hokkaido, which is a cold region, 98.3% of the windows of detached houses are made of resin.^*3 Adopting resin windows in Japanese detached houses by 2030 would enable the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 640,000 tons per year^*4.

Rare-earth magnets are roughly 10 times as strong as conventional ferrite magnets, offering a great deal of magnetic force despite their compact size. These properties allow them to contribute to making motors for hybrid and electric vehicles, energy saving air conditioning compressor motors, and the like more compact, lightweight, and high powered. For example, using rare-earth magnets in air conditioning compressors can improve energy efficiency by 5 to 10%. This cuts overall power usage, helping to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions. Rare-earth magnets are also used in wind power generation motors, contributing to the spread of renewable energy.