A Century of Chemistry, A Future of Possibility
January 20, 2026
One hundred years. It's a milestone that invites reflection, and even more so, celebration. This June, our parent company, Kuraray, marks a century of innovation, perseverance, and purpose. From our founding in Kurashiki City, Japan, to our position today as a global leader in specialty chemicals and advanced materials, we have never stopped pursuing what seemed impossible. This centennial belongs to everyone who has been part of our journey: our employees, customers, partners, and the communities that have embraced us around the world.
View of Rayon Factory, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Our story began in 1926 when our founders, Magosaburo and Soichiro Ohara, set out to commercialize synthetic rayon, cutting-edge technology at the time.
However, they built more than a company; they established a philosophy that still guides us. Soichiro Ohara believed.
"any profit a company might gain should be confined to those profits that come from technological innovation and from consideration of the social and economic benefits it brings."
That conviction remains our foundation: to achieve what no one else can while giving back to society. From Japan's first domestically developed synthetic fiber to becoming the world's largest producer of EVOH barrier resins and PVOH polymers, Kuraray has consistently turned possibility into reality.
Today, Kuraray products touch lives in ways many people never realize, hidden in plain sight, making everyday life simpler, safer, and more sustainable
From the food in your refrigerator to the car in your driveway, our materials quietly deliver performance, protection, and sustainability every day. Across our portfolio, this impact is reflected through materials such as:
EVAL™ EVOH. Our EVAL™ EVOH barrier resins help extend food freshness and reduce packaging waste, supporting food safety while minimizing environmental impact.
KURARAY POVAL™. Powered by polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) technology, our KURARAY POVAL™ has BPI Certified & OMRI Listed® grades available and synthetic polymer microparticle definition exempt grades available as well.
PLANTIC™. Derived from renewable cornstarch, PLANTIC™ represents the future of sustainable packaging.
Source: Kuraray Report 2025
None of this would be possible without our people
Across Kuraray America's (KAI) facilities in Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia, and at our Houston headquarters, our teams unite diverse backgrounds and expertise around a shared commitment:
- putting safety first,
- putting customers at the center,
- respecting one another, and
- never stopping in our pursuit of new value.
That commitment extends beyond our facilities into our communities through partnerships with San Jacinto College, environmental initiatives with Galveston Bay Foundation like Trash Bash® and Bike Around the Bay, and scholarship programs that invest in tomorrow's workforce.
KAI volunteer Team @ 2025 Bike Around the Island Event, Galveston Bay Foundation
As we celebrate our past, we're equally focused on our responsibility to the future
Our mission, "for people and the planet, to achieve what no one else can" drives everything we do. We've earned ISCC PLUS certification for our Kuraray America EVAL and PVOH operations, validating our use of renewable and circular feedstocks like bio-circular ethylene derived from used cooking oil. Our achievements support our ambitious goals: reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 63 percent by 2035 compared to 2021 levels and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The Kuraray Group has a goal to reduce Scope1, 2 emissions by 63% by 2035 compared to 2021 levels.
SOURCE: Sustainability Medium-term Plan for Planet | Kuraray
Our Medium-Term Management Plan “PASSION 2026”, centers on three priorities: Planet, Product, and People
On the environmental front, we're implementing green electricity contracts, low-carbon steam systems, and circular acetic acid sourced through advanced recycling. On the innovation front, we're expanding our sustainable product portfolio and deepening partnerships with customers who share our vision of a circular economy. And across operations, we're embracing digital transformation through initiatives like Project KuralytiX, applying artificial intelligence to drive operational excellence. The next 100 years will demand solutions we haven't yet imagined, and we will be there to create them.
As I reflect on this centennial, I'm filled with gratitude and optimism
Gratitude for generations of Kuraray employees whose ingenuity built this company, for customers who trusted us to help solve their toughest challenges, and for communities that welcomed us and allowed us to grow. And tremendous optimism for what lies ahead. The world needs innovative, sustainable solutions now more than ever. Kuraray America is ready.
Our 100-year story is written by people
Through our Centennial Series, we will spotlight
- leaders who steer our vision,
- honor legacy voices whose experience and commitment built our foundation, and
- elevate rising stars who are shaping Kuraray America’s next chapter.
I encourage you to look out for these stories as we celebrate the individuals and their teams who define our past, present, and future. Here's to a century of chemistry and a future of possibility, to the next century of achieving what no one else can. Because at Kuraray America, possible starts here.
With appreciation and excitement for the future,
Hans Vandommele, President and CEO, Kuraray America, Inc.
