Environmentally Friendly Products
Suppliers and Other Trade Partners, Global Environment
Basic Approach
The Sumitomo Riko Group is committed not only to reducing the environmental impact of its business activities but also to helping address social challenges through the development of environmentally friendly products and technologies that comply with environmental regulations.
In FY2024, we began developing a framework for certifying environmentally friendly products based on ISO 14021 (Type II environmental labelling) and aligned with Sumitomo Electric’s Eco Product Certification System (Eco Symbol Program). As a result, the following two products were certified as Eco Products by Sumitomo Electric in FY2025.
In FY2024, we began developing a framework for certifying environmentally friendly products based on ISO 14021 (Type II environmental labelling) and aligned with Sumitomo Electric’s Eco Product Certification System (Eco Symbol Program). As a result, the following two products were certified as Eco Products by Sumitomo Electric in FY2025.
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BEV Motor Mounts
We transitioned from conventional adhesive-bonded outer-shell structures and bracket direct vulcanization bonding structures to an outerless, non-bonded design. This enables disassembly using general-purpose tools as well as mechanical and automated dismantling processes. As a result, the product meets the Eco Symbol Program criterion for “Design for Disassembly” and contributes to reducing resource consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while improving recyclability.
Vacuum Sensing Hoses
In collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation and ZEON CORPORATION, we developed a biohydrin rubber material for vacuum sensing hoses. This product satisfies the Eco Symbol Program criterion for “Renewable Materials” and contributes to reducing petroleum resource consumption and GHG emissions.
Compared with conventional petroleum-based hoses, the product can reduce life-cycle GHG emissions by 20%.
Compared with conventional petroleum-based hoses, the product can reduce life-cycle GHG emissions by 20%.
In addition to the products certified as Eco Products, we continue to develop and manufacture a wide range of products that contribute to reducing environmental impact and protecting the global environment.
Products for New Energy Vehicles
As the development of environmentally friendly vehicles accelerates worldwide in response to climate change, the Sumitomo Riko Group is developing products that address the technical challenges associated with new energy vehicles, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
For BEVs, we provide products with vibration control and noise reduction performance tailored to electric drive motors. For FCEVs, we have developed a rubber sealing component (cell gasket) for fuel cell (FC) stacks. The gasket has been adopted since the first-generation MIRAI, the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle. We have also developed high-sealing-performance hydrogen hoses that supply hydrogen from storage tanks to FC stacks, and these products have been adopted for fuel cell trucks.
For BEVs, we provide products with vibration control and noise reduction performance tailored to electric drive motors. For FCEVs, we have developed a rubber sealing component (cell gasket) for fuel cell (FC) stacks. The gasket has been adopted since the first-generation MIRAI, the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle. We have also developed high-sealing-performance hydrogen hoses that supply hydrogen from storage tanks to FC stacks, and these products have been adopted for fuel cell trucks.
Products for BEVs (Anti-vibration Rubber Components, Hoses, and Noise Insulation Products)
Products for FCEVs (Cell Gaskets, Anti-vibration Rubber Components, and Hoses)
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Fuel-efficient Automotive Products (Low-density EPDM Hoses)
The low-density EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber) hose was developed to reduce component weight. It can be used for a wide range of water-related hose applications, including water bypass hoses and radiator hoses. While maintaining the same strength, durability, heat resistance, and insulating properties as conventional EPDM hoses, the newly developed formulation incorporating lightweight filler materials achieves approximately 20% weight reduction.
Replacing conventional EPDM hoses with this low-density EPDM hose can reduce vehicle weight by approximately 1 kg per vehicle*.
*Based on Sumitomo Riko's internal test results.
Replacing conventional EPDM hoses with this low-density EPDM hose can reduce vehicle weight by approximately 1 kg per vehicle*.
*Based on Sumitomo Riko's internal test results.
Fuel-efficient Automotive Products (Resin Filler Neck Module)
By replacing the metal filler pipe that guides fuel to the fuel tank with a resin filler pipe, we achieved approximately a 40% weight reduction compared with conventional metal filler pipes. This weight reduction contributes to improved fuel efficiency.
In addition, the resin filler neck module offers excellent fuel permeation resistance (preventing fuel from permeating through resin and rubber tubing) and complies with environmental regulations.
In addition, the resin filler neck module offers excellent fuel permeation resistance (preventing fuel from permeating through resin and rubber tubing) and complies with environmental regulations.
VOC-Free Products (Water-developable Photopolymer Flexographic Plates)
Flexographic printing is a printing process that uses flexible rubber printing plates.
AquaGreen® is a water-developable flexographic plate, while many competing products rely on solvents. It is environmentally friendly and gentle on the working environment, while offering high print quality, exceptional productivity, and the added benefit of being waste liquid-free.
AquaGreen® is a water-developable flexographic plate, while many competing products rely on solvents. It is environmentally friendly and gentle on the working environment, while offering high print quality, exceptional productivity, and the added benefit of being waste liquid-free.
Energy-saving Products (High-transparency Heat-shielding and Insulating Film)
Refleshine® is a high-transparency window film designed to reduce solar heat gain and indoor heat loss. By reducing the energy required for air conditioning, it contributes to lower GHG emissions and has been adopted in railway vehicles and buildings.
Leveraging our polymer materials technology, the film provides excellent heat-shielding performance while maintaining the transparency and scratch resistance required for automotive glazing. As a result, it has been adopted for automotive applications, including front windshields and front side windows.
Leveraging our polymer materials technology, the film provides excellent heat-shielding performance while maintaining the transparency and scratch resistance required for automotive glazing. As a result, it has been adopted for automotive applications, including front windshields and front side windows.
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Insulation Material (High-performance Thin-film Insulation)
Finesulight® is a thin-film material that provides excellent thermal insulation properties. We are expanding its application to manufacturing sites, facilities, living spaces, and various products.
When installed around heat sources in factories and facilities, Finesulight® improves thermal efficiency and helps reduce the load on air-conditioning systems, thereby reducing fuel and electricity consumption. This improved thermal efficiency contributes to reducing CO2 emissions associated with business operations, supports our customers’ efforts toward carbon neutrality, and contributes to the realization of a decarbonized society. Finesulight® received the Aichi Invention Award in 2022, sponsored by Aichi Prefecture Institute of Invention and Innovation.
When installed around heat sources in factories and facilities, Finesulight® improves thermal efficiency and helps reduce the load on air-conditioning systems, thereby reducing fuel and electricity consumption. This improved thermal efficiency contributes to reducing CO2 emissions associated with business operations, supports our customers’ efforts toward carbon neutrality, and contributes to the realization of a decarbonized society. Finesulight® received the Aichi Invention Award in 2022, sponsored by Aichi Prefecture Institute of Invention and Innovation.
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