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In December 2005, the trading arm of the Kuraray Group, Kuraray Trading Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka; President: Tetsuzo Kimura) obtained ISO 14001 certification, the international standard for Environmental Management Systems, for its Osaka and Tokyo sales departments and administrative divisions. The company is the 9th plant and office in the Kuraray Group to achieve ISO 14001 certification.

Contributing through its business activities to economic and social progress and to environmental improvement is a fundamental principal for Kuraray Trading, and to this end, the company introduced the following environmental policy on June 29, 2005.

1. Establishing and continuously improving an environmental management system
Kuraray Trading aims to establish an environmental management system that suits its present condition and to set up environmental objectives with periodical reviews for continuous improvement.
2. Compliance with environmental laws
Kuraray Trading complies with environmental laws, regulations and the terms in which it has agreed.
3. Realizing a recycling society
Kuraray Trading is committed to realizing a recycling society by reducing and recycling industrial waste, conserving resources and developing recycling systems.
4. Offering eco-friendly products and services
Kuraray Trading strives for environmental preservation by providing products and services that prevent and reduce further pollution and improve current environmental conditions.
5. Raising employees' environmental awareness
Kuraray Trading implements environmental education for all employees, temporary staff and contractors in order to increase understanding of environmental policies and raise environmental awareness.

As a commercial firm in the Kuraray Group, Kuraray Trading directed the collective strengths of its entire workforce to increase the company's social credibility and develop a system of continuous improvement that could match the standards set by ISO 14001.

In practice, Kuraray Trading contributes to society and actively addresses environmental issues. The company provides eco-friendly products such as recycled fiber from used PET bottles, asbestos-substitute for fiber-reinforced cement KURALON, non-halogen type solvent FINETOP, lead-free resin GENESTAR, vacuum insulation sheet EVAL film, and solvent-free wallpaper EVAL film. The company also focuses on making lighter conveyor belts for auto parts and reducing packaging materials for products such as man-made leather CLARINO. Furthermore, the company promotes paperless offices, increases green purchasing and facilitates waste sorting.

Outline of Kuraray Trading Co., Ltd.

Established October 1961
Capital ¥2,200 million
Shareholder Kuraray Co., Ltd. (100%)
Employees 330 (as of March 31, 2005)
Net sales ¥115.4 billion (as of period ending March 2005)

About ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is one of the Environment Management Systems (EMS) defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO 14001 is the specification that stipulates how to establish EMS and is the core of the ISO 14000 family. Its objective is continuous improvement of EMS and reduction of burdens on the environment.