Unicharm CEO issues 2025 New Year message, highlights commitment to cohesive society amid global challenges; in 2024, company accelerated RefF disposable diaper recycling project, launched products made with recycled pulp, launched Sofy brand in Africa

I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your special support and kindness throughout the past year.

At the beginning of 2025, I would like to extend my greetings to you all.

The year 2024 was a year of dramatic changes in the global landscape, leading to a continued period of uncertainty for business activities.  Heightened geopolitical risks and the acceleration of global inflation cast a significant shadow over economic activities. Furthermore, the increasing frequency of natural disasters caused by extreme weather around the world has had a devastating impact on people's lives and disrupted supply chains.

Considering this volatile environment, we at Unicharm, guided by our corporate brand essence of "Love Your Possibilities" (can achieve anything, at any time), continue to strive towards the realization of a "Cohesive Society" - a society where everyone can live their own lives with dignity, supporting each other.

To deliver value that contributes to the realization of such a "Cohesive Society," we have been diligently observing the situation, enhancing our sensitivity to listen to even the smallest of voices that we may have failed to hear in the past, and striving to create unique value.

Let me share some specific examples. In Japan, we have accelerated the development of the "RefF (Recycle for the Future) Project," which promotes the horizontal recycling of used disposable diapers. We have launched "MamyPoko Pants RefF," "Lifree RefF," and "Deo Toilet Deodorizing and Antibacterial Sheets RefF," which all are made from recycled pulp, and we are expanding sales channels and collaborating with local governments. We have also launched the "Sofy Be" app, which helps women understand the relationship between hormones and their physical conditions, as part of our initiative to improve women's health and quality of life.

As a new challenge, our Sofy brand was launched full-scale in Africa. We will provide all women with hygienic and comfortable lives through activities that support menstrual education and women's social advancement.

Our company aims to be "No. 1 in the world by 2030." To achieve this goal, we aim to be "No. 1 in the world" in terms of both "relative value" and "absolute value." In this rapidly changing environment, we need to explore the essence of all things and further accelerate our growth to achieve this goal. With this in mind, I chose the letter "U" as the letter representing our determination for 2025. The "Uni" in our company name, "Unicharm," originally had three meanings: "Universal," "Unique," and "United," embodying our desire to be an integrated company that provides unique products and services that are accepted worldwide. We will significantly raise the bar for these meanings and continue to evolve.

(1) The Pursuit of "Unique"

We aim for unparalleled uniqueness in all our value creation activities. We will explore unprecedented uniqueness in all aspects, not only in our products but also in our organization, human resources, and structure.

(2) "Universal" Penetration

We aim to make our products and services available to everyone in the world, "anytime, anywhere," regardless of their economic situation, culture, or lifestyle.

(3) "United" Bonding

All employees will unite and work together toward a common goal. We will promote "Management with Resonance" in which each employee believes in their own potential, demonstrates their characteristics and strengths, complements each other's shortcomings, and thinks about the whole.

We look forward to your continued guidance and support for this year as well.

Thank you very much.