K 2022 - Together for a better future

October 2022 - This year's K-Exhibition has come to an end, leaving us full of gratitude and zest for action. For over a week, we were able to be part of the event with seven business units and, together with over 3,000 other exhibitors, show our passion and expertise. True to the title of our campaign "We can't create the future alone", we were looking for partners and customers who want to develop ideas together with us and create a sustainable, innovative, and secure future.

Our booth was accompanied and enhanced by our virtual showroom. Whether visiting the show or staying at home, customers and interested parties were able to pay Kuraray a digital visit via various channels. Dr. Matthias Gutweiler, Managing Director of Kuraray Europe GmbH, welcomed all curious visitors in a video message and presented Kuraray's vision for years to come: "For almost 100 years, we have been walking a path: For people and the planet - to achieve what no one else can. To remain true to this vision in the future, we have set ourselves ambitious goals. Sustainability, innovation, and digitalization play central roles in this." This was also reflected in the design of the showroom, which enticed visitors with interactive possibilities. In various virtual rooms, four of our focus segments awaited interested visitors: Automotive, Paper and Packaging, Sports and Outdoor, and Life and Personal Care. There we presented some of our latest developments, of which we are proud:

EXCEVAL™ coated flexible paper bags for coffee beans are a game-changer. Because common multilayer packaging is impossible to recycle due to a barrier aluminum layer and production involves high energy costs, more sustainable solutions are highly needed. Our thin, water-soluble EXCEVAL™ coating, which acts as an oxygen and aroma barrier, provides a solution.

Recyclable paper packaging with Kuraray's renewable and water-soluble PLANTIC™ barrier film was also on display in the showroom. This is a solution that is particularly used for dry products such as coffee or pet food and is already commercially available. The PLANTIC™ film, laminated or extruded onto the inside of the paper packaging, forms a barrier against exterior-or unwanted flavors and oxygen, while an inner sealing layer - e.g. made of polyethylene (PE), (bio) polybutylene succinate (bio-PBS) or polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) - also acts as a moisture barrier.

Live expert presentations on our solutions for current customer challenges that we offered during the trade show are also available as recordings in our showroom and will be accessible for at least another year. The highlight was the first international presentation of our "Innovation Networking Center" (INC) - a virtual and also global organization. The INC represents a new way of driving innovation - creating a platform that puts customers' needs at the center. At the same time, it brings together Kuraray's global network: Experts and technologies that develop sustainable solutions for tomorrow.

For example, we are constantly expanding and improving our portfolio of materials in the Life and Personal Care business. Our Kuraray POVAL™ LV grades were developed specifically for the cosmetics industry and are used in face masks, sun creams, shampoos, and mascara. Of course, the substances are safe to use and also particularly environmentally friendly. We also want to continue to expand the performance of sports and outdoor products and raise them to the next level of quality. Therefore, we are pooling our technical know-how and creative thinking to continually surpass consumers' desire for high-quality, durable leisure equipment in terms of quality and style.

This was also the aim of the constructive and inspiring discussions on site. Trends and current requirements were highlighted, such as the reduction of CO2 emissions, repulpability or biodegradability of packaging, customer needs, and ideas for remedies were discussed. "Our product portfolio and exciting prototypes were available for visitors at our booth - for example, curious visitors could experience our ideas for high-barrier packaging solutions," recalls Joris Bohets, our Market Development Manager at Kuraray Europe and responsible for our Kuraray Poval business unit.

K 2022 offered the great solutions that already exist and the areas where there is still a lot of untapped potentials. Nevertheless, the global shortage of raw materials and the associated price increases remain challenges that we must overcome together. That is why the issue of sustainability is also one of our key innovation drivers in all segments. We are constantly optimizing our barrier materials for Paper and Plastic Packaging products to enable our customers to continue to develop sustainable and reliable packaging. "We are also striving for new forward-looking developments of our materials in the automotive sector, especially in the transition to e-mobility," says Amir Bahrami, Market Development Manager at Kuraray and responsible for our Genestar business unit.

The numerous contacts we were able to make at this year's trade show reinforce our vision: Together with customers and partners, we are taking the path to a sustainable future.

You haven’t experienced our virtual showroom yet?
Then discover it now:
https://bit.ly/3JQbCkH

You want to know more about our focus segment Paper& Packaging?
Click here:
https://www.packaging.kuraray.eu/#case-study

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