E2 Initiative^™

The E2 Initiative Concept

In 2009, JSR launched a project that investigated possible approaches to two major goals: addressing risks related to environmental and energy issues, such as regulatory requirements for global warming mitigation, and finding ways to create new business opportunities. The E2 Initiative is the product of this endeavor. Named after the two initiatives it comprises, Eco-innovation and Energy Management, the E2 Initiative shows the outlook of JSR's Group-wide effort to create value on both aggressive fronts, such as the development of environmentally-friendly products, and defensive fronts, such as CO₂ emission reductions at Group plants.

Schematic Concept of JSR's E2 Initiative

E2 Matrix

The E2 Matrix will serve as the benchmark for bringing the E2 Initiative into being. This illustrative tool shows how we added "environmental impact"—the assessment of a product's impact through lifecycle assessment (LCA), including end-use—to the set of confirmation items used in product development. In all future product development, both "environmental impact" and "economic performance" will be prerequisites, meaning that no products with a large environmental impact will be permitted even if it has great economic potential. In this way we will seek to expand our line of environmentally friendly products and instill the virtue of "environmental performance" into our corporate culture.

Environmental Management at JSR = Symbolic Benchmark of the E2 Initiative: The E2 Matrix

Aggressive Creation: Eco-innovation

Eco-innovation is our initiative aimed at creating new business opportunities by expanding our line of environmentally friendly products and thus providing society with the value of "environmental performance."

Thermal Management Materials

One technology we are currently positioning as an "aggressive creation" area is thermal management materials. Thermal management materials are products that help to reduce energy consumption by controlling (facilitating the effective use of) heat. We are currently offering thermal storage materials that maintain constant temperatures and thermal barrier coating materials that insulate heat. CALGRIP^™, a thermal storage material product, is composed of paraffin, a type of organic compound, combined with a proprietary JSR polymer. The product allows for "thermal control," or the trapping and release of heat, leading to more efficient use of energy. In addition, thermal insulation paints containing SIFCLEAR^™—a thermally insulating material developed by JSR—applied to a warehouse roof resulted in a 6-degree reduction in peak temperature in one test. These products make the most of JSR's expertise as the top maker of polymers.

Effect of JSR's "SIFCLEAR™" for thermal insulation plants

Thermal insulation paints containing SIFCLEAR^™ have been applied to spherical tanks in the Kashima Plant as a test to verify the effectiveness of the product.

Lithium-ion Capacitor "ULTIMO™"

At an early stage we began to work on the development of lithium ion capacitor (LiC), which is a next-generation power storage device attracting market attention. In 2008, ahead of other companies, JM Energy Corporation of the JSR Group successfully began mass production of the device. ULTIMO^™, a lithium ion capacitor developed by JM Energy Corporation, is a next-generation power storage device that features high quality in terms energy density, output, safety, and durability. In February 2013, JM Energy Corporation released Model 4300F onto the market, a high-capacity prismatic cell, as well as the ULTIMO multiple cell connected module capable of operating at high voltage (over 1,000 volts). With these products as well as with a new laboratory facility currently being built to add to R&D capabilities, JM Energy Corporation aspires to meet a wide variety of customer needs. Characterized by their high-speed power storage and discharge compared to batteries, as well as by their much larger power storage than conventional electric double layer capacitors, lithium ion capacitors considerably increase storage efficiency for natural energy power generation, such as solar and wind power generation. Moreover, it is expected that these capacitors will be used in various applications required for industrial, construction, and transport machinery, such as energy regeneration, peak current assistance and storage, and backup power supplies, and will thereby contribute to the realization of a low carbon society.

Defense: Energy Management

In our efficiency promotion project, E-100plus, all companies in the JSR Group are deploying advanced energy-conservation technologies to reduce CO₂ emissions. Monthly emissions for each division and product are now being quantified to help "visualize" progress, with recognition given to particularly successful divisions and products through a newly created award program. We are also aiming to make CO₂ reduction a permanent part of business activities when starting new R&D projects or mass-scale production, for example by including the cost of CO₂ emissions in their budgets.
And for newly developed products with energy-saving features, we are trying to combine such products with our "aggressive" strategy by first testing them internally and then marketing only those that demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing emissions.

Understanding of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and
Water Use in the Supply Chain

We have initiated to plan to investigate which parts of our supply chain emit a significant amount of GHGs and use a large volume of water.
The figures below are the estimated amount of GHG emissions and water used by each tier of our suppliers. We will continue to plan further investigations.

GHG & Water Impact across the JSR Supply Chain (Estimate)/span>

* The size of each circle indicates the level of GHG emissions and water use calculated in terms of cost.
TIER 1: GHG emissions and water use from Tier 1 suppliers
TIER 2: GHG emissions and water use from Tier 2 suppliers
TIER 3: GHG emissions and water use from Tier 3 and lower suppliers

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