Kao Corporation Receives Top Ratings in Environmental Standards for Second Consecutive Year

Kao Receives Triple-A Rating in Climate Change, Water Security and Forests Sustainability Efforts

Kao Corporation has been given a triple-A score for its sustainability initiatives by the nonprofit organization CDP for the second consecutive year. The rating includes the highest score in three sustainability categories: Climate Change, Forests and Water Security. Kao is one of only 14 other companies to receive inclusion in all three.  

In April of 2019, Kao Group launched its own Environmental, Social and Governance Strategy, Kieri Lifestyle Plan. Through this plan. Kao has continued to take active steps to reduce their carbon footprint through every stage of production including manufacturing, usage and disposal. 

“Receiving a triple-A score in CDP’s rankings two years in a row is a great honor and is a huge motivation for Kao to push even further to build and grow a purposeful business and help people live a more sustainable lifestyle.” explains Dave Muenz, Executive Officer in charge of ESG at Kao Corporation. “We made some big decisions from last year, which we believe has helped us earn this recognition. These include committing to going beyond carbon zero to carbon negative by 2050, and launching programs for our palm oil supply chain.”

The triple-A score is the result of efforts made across the entirety of Kao’s value chain. They will continue to take further actions in each category:

• Climate Change: Commit to 1.5 degrees scenario in carbon reduction targets, as well as joining RE100. 
• Forests: To combat the challenges in the palm oil supply chain. Kao launched the SMILE program. Which supports smallholder plantation farmers to increase yield, improve living standards and alleviates pressure on deforestation.
• Water Security: Reduce water in products using an “eco together” approach with shareholders.