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The Lion Group regards resource circulation as a continuous cycle—encompassing materials sourcing, product manufacture, post-sale use and collaborative recycling activities—and is building systems to foster connections with our stakeholders. Our product manufacturing incorporates recycled and biomass-based plastics while reducing resource consumption and promoting reuse through measures such as the introduction of concentrated formulations, lighter weight goods and refillable packaging. After use, we collaborate with consumers, local governments, businesses, recyclers and materials manufacturers to promote the collection and recycling of refill packs and toothbrushes.
We have divided our activities aimed at realizing a resource-circulating society into four categories, namely, input and output (encompassing business activities with direct impacts) and waste and boost (which are collaborative activities with stakeholders that contribute to the circulation of resources). We formulate and implement measures in line with these categories.
Lion proactively uses recycled plastic in its products and packaging to reduce its dependence on petrochemical-derived materials. Our liquid laundry detergent bottles and toothbrush blister packs are made with plastic recycled from disposable beverage bottles (PET bottles) and other sources.
| Material | Category | Product name | Part of Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) PCR＊1 | Laundry detergent | NANOX one | Main bottle |
| TOP Clear Liquid Kaori Tsuzuku (Long-Lasting Fragrance) TOP Sweet Harmony |
Refill pack | ||
| Hair care | MEGAMIS Shampoo, MEGAMIS Treatment |
Refill pack | |
| Polyethylene (PE) PCR＊1 | Fabric softener | SOFLAN Aroma Rich SOFLAN Premium Deodorizing Fabric Softener |
Main bottle |
＊1 Post-Consumer Recycling: The collecting and reprocessing of materials already used and discarded by end-consumers and reusing them to create new products
＊2 Partially incorporated
Overseas Group companies are also expanding the use of recycled plastics in products and packaging. Lion Corporation (Korea) (“LCK”) uses recycled plastics for the main bottle of “Ai-Kekute*”
* “Ai-Kekute”(literally, Oh! Clean!) is a hand soap brand marketed by LCK.
| Country | Material | Category | Product name | Part of product |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korea | Polyethylene (PE) PCR＊1 |
Hand soap | Ai-Kekute＊2 | Main bottle |
| Thailand | Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) PCR<＊1 | Toothbrush | Systema＊2 SALZ＊2 KODOMO＊2 |
Blister dome packaging |
＊1 Post-Consumer Recycling: The collecting and reprocessing of materials already used and discarded by end-consumers and reusing them to create new products
＊2 Partially incorporated
The Lion Group actively promotes the use of plant-based materials in its products and packaging. By using renewable resources, we are reducing our dependence on fossil materials and contributing to the realization of a sustainable society. Furthermore, by reusing post-consumer bioplastics as an energy source, we are able to reduce waste and revitalize local economies, while contributing to realizing carbon neutrality.
| Material | Category | Product name | Part of Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) | Laundry detergent | NANOX one | Main Bottle |
| Body soap | hadakara Moist Body Care Soap Liquid Type | ||
| Dental rinses | NONIO Mouthwash NONIO Plus Whitening Dental Rinse CLINICA Quick Wash CLINICA ADVANTAGE Dental Rinse CLINICA Kid's Dental Rinse CLINICA Jr. Dental Rinse CLINICA Fluoride Medical Coating Systema EX Dental Rinse SYSTEMA Haguki (the Gums) Plus Premium Dental Rinse SYSTEMA Haguki (the Gums) Plus Dental Rinse OCH-TUNE Mouthwash etc. |
||
| Polyethylene (PE) | Laundry detergent | NANOX for Washing Machines with Automatic Detergent Dispensers | Refill pack |
| Hand soaps | KireiKirei Medicated Hand Conditioning Soap＊ | ||
| Pocket Size KireiKirei Medicated Foaming Hand Soap | Outer packaging | ||
| Hand sanitizer | KireiKirei Medicated Hand Sanitizing Gel Plus | ||
| Antiperspirants and deodorants | Ban Sweat-Blocking Platinum Roll-On, Ban Sweat-Blocking Stick Premium |
＊ Partially incorporated
Products that meet the Japan Organics Recycling Association’s requirements for certification are allowed to carry the Biomass Mark. For details, please visit the website of the Japan Organics Recycling Association [Japanese].
List of Lion’s certified biomass products (The Japan Organics Recycling Association) [Japanese]The main containers for the Lion Group’s products can be refilled and reused. We also recommend the use of refill packs as they are constructed from film and are thus produced using comparatively less material than conventional product bottles. For laundry products like detergent, the production of a refill pack uses one-fourth* the volume of material used in making a product bottle. Furthermore, refill packs take up less space after use, so help reduce the volume of household waste. In recent years, we have expanded the categories covered to include products like mouthwash. In these ways, we are reducing the amount of plastic we use.
We evaluate the environmental impact of our products and packaging based on “The Lion Eco-Standard”, our proprietary criteria established from a life cycle assessment perspective. We are reducing plastic usage by making the containers for such products as laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dishwashing detergents more compact, achieving streamlined and lightweight designs through advanced design technology.
The Lion Group believes that improving the recyclability of its products will aid in reducing recycling costs and ensuring the creation of high-quality recycled materials. Based on this belief, we are proactively developing technologies aimed at creating products and packaging that are easier to recycle.
Commercializing Refillable Film Containers with Improved Recyclability
Many refill packs—widely used for such products as detergent—are made of composite materials consisting of multiple layers of plastic film laminated together. This makes them difficult to recycle, so most of them are incinerated. To address this, Lion collaborated with TOYO INK CO., LTD. to create peelable recycling technology that improves the recyclability of these types of refill packs. As a result, in November 2024, we launched a limited-edition run of LOOK Plus Bath Cleansing (Clear Citrus fragrance) in a large-size refill pack created using this new technology. We expect to see recycling progress alongside technologies like this that enable composite materials to be separated into individual substances with high levels of purity.
The Group is committed to ensuring that the products it offers are recycled in an appropriate manner after use and is actively engaged in various initiatives to establish an advanced recycling system throughout society.
Being a specified business entity operating under the Containers and Packaging Recycling System, we contribute recycling operation contract fees. Commissions for remanufacturing in fiscal 2023 amounted to ¥539 million.
The Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling AssociationAmount Contributed to The Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association (After payment)
Aiming to achieve a continuous cycle of plastic use in society, and to go beyond existing recycling infrastructures in order to realize higher quality recycling, Lion is conducting pilot testing for the recycling of used products and containers and packaging in cooperation with household product manufacturers, recyclers, retailers and local governments.
| Recyclable items | Activity name | Area | Main partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toothbrushes | Toothbrush recycling | Over 1,600 locations nationwide | TerraCycle |
| Joint municipal toothbrush recycling | Sumida-ku, Itabashi-ku, Taito-ku and Akashi-shi | Takaroku Corporation | |
| Toothbrush recycling at educational institutions | A number of private nursery schools in Saitama Prefecture | Saitama Private Kindergarten Federation Community Net Inc. Takaroku Corporation |
|
| Refill products | RecyCreation | Ito-Yokado’s Hikifune Store Welcia Pharmacy stores (parts of Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture) |
Kao Ito-Yokado Welcia Pharmacy Store Hamakyorex |
| Kobe Plastic Next: Joining Forces to Recycle Refill Packs |
116 stores in Kobe City | Kobe City NPOs Household product manufacturers Distributors 17 recycling companies |
|
| Bottles | Making New Bottles from Used Bottles Collaboration among consumers, local governments, and companies Bottle Recycling Project for Everyone | Tokyo | Unilever Japan Kao Corporation Veolia Japan G.K. digglue Inc. |
As of March 27, 2026
Promoting Circulation of Plastic Container and Packaging Resources through Partnerships
Kao Corporation and Lion are reaching out beyond their corporate groups in an effort to recycle plastic refill containers and packaging (film packaging), aiming to realize a resource-circulating society.
To accelerate the adoption of recycling, building basic systems for resource collection and developing recycling technologies are indispensable. At the same time, it is necessary to change mindsets across society in cooperation with stakeholders, including consumers, with regard to, for example, sorting plastic packaging after product use.
We work together to raise awareness about the collection system, recycled materials, container design quality, uses for recycled materials and consumer participation. We have set up special collection boxes at the Ito-Yokado Hikifune store (Sumida-ku, Tokyo) and a number of Welcia Pharmacy locations (Tokyo and some parts of Saitama prefecture) to collect used refill packs. We request that those participating in this initiative follow the rules for collection.
Video on how to wash used refill packs [Japanese]
These RecyCreation activities, along with related companies, have received the following commendations.
News Release: Kao and Lion Awarded the New Selection Committee Chairman’s Commendation in the Good Practices of Consumer-Oriented Management Awards [Japanse] News Release: Lion, Kao, Ito-Yokado, Welcia Pharmacy, and Hamakyorex Jointly Receive the Minister of Environment Award in the 6th Japan Open Innovation Prize [Japanese]Demonstration of the Horizontal Recycling of Refill Packs
In May 2023, we launched a recycled plastic version of the XXL refill pack for Lion’s TOP SUPER NANOX For Odors, a highly concentrated liquid laundry detergent. The materials used to create the refill pack consisted in part of recycled materials from used refill packs that had been collected. (Not available at this time.)
This packaging incorporated 9% recycled materials derived from factory waste and 1% derived from recycled consumer products. We are currently working to resolve the challenges associated with ongoing recruitment.
This refill pack has won the following awards together with Lion’s collaborative partners:
President of Japan Packaging Institute Award, Japan Packaging Contest 2023, Japan Packaging Institute 48th (2024) Kinoshita Award, Research and Development Category, Japan Packaging Institute 2024 WorldStar Global Packaging Award, World Packaging Organisation
About Toothbrush Recycling
As a toothbrush manufacturer, we implement the following programs to promote the collection and recycling of used toothbrushes:
Through these programs, we aim to increase the number of toothbrushes collected and improve awareness in society that old toothbrushes can be a useful resource.
Toothbrush Recycling Program [Japanese]The Group participates in various initiatives to realize a resource-circulating society, a goal it cannot achieve on its own.
| Name of Group or Organization | Title | Main Goal of Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Clean Ocean Material Alliance | CLOMA | Resolving problems regarding plastic waste in the ocean |
| Circular Partners〔Japanese〕 | CPs | Promoting collaboration of industry, government and academia to create a circular economy |
| Plastic Packaging Recycling Council〔Japanese〕 | PPRC | Promoting recycling of plastic packaging by collaborating with residents and local governments |
| Ecosystem Society Agency〔Japanese〕 | ESA | Working with local governments and businesses to generate social value |
We have published a development case for an environmentally conscious package precedent search system known as “Plastic and Search” that the Plastic Packaging Recycling Council manages.
Environmentally-Conscious Package Precedent Search System “Plastic and Search” [Japanese]
“Platto Search,” Our company’s page in 2025 [Japanese]
Lion’s four domestic plants all achieved zero waste emissions*1 in 2002. All of Lion’s operating sites,*2 including research institutes and offices, achieved zero waste emissions in 2017.
Furthermore, all waste generated by our company is processed domestically, we do not export any waste overseas.
*1 Our definition：The waste recycling ratio is 99% or more, excluding recycling residues
*2 Chiba Plant, Odawara Plant, Osaka Plant, Akashi Plant, Hirai Office Site, Sapporo Office, Sendai Office, Headquarter, Nagoya Office, Osaka Office, Fukuoka Office, Lion Chemical Co., Ltd. Fine Chemical Production Site, Lion Chemical Co., Ltd. Oleochemical Production Site, Lion Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd. Yokkaichi Plant, Lion Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd. Ono Plant
ESG Data Environment (Waste)We will continue to advance initiatives to reduce waste going forward.
Maintenance and management information based on the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law (Article 15-2-3, Paragraph 2) is made public.