Environmental Surveys, Measurement and Analysis:
Unitika Environmental Technical Center Co., Ltd.

Unitika Environmental Technical Center (UETC) uses the latest equipment and technology to carry out environmental surveys, measurement and analysis, along with various investigations needed by several industries. UETC is certified by Japan's Ministry of the Environment as a qualified contractor for dioxin analysis, and has gained a reputation for solid reliability. To enable more accurate analysis, UETC can analyze trace amounts of dioxins. It is highly experienced in soil surveys (a recent area of concern in Japan), and has measures to combat soil and groundwater pollution permanently. UETC also helps protect living environments through activities such as sick building surveys; air quality, weather, noise and vibration measurements; technical support for water treatment; exhaust gas, odor and work environment measurements; and analysis of river water, waste water, drinking water, asbestos, and insulation oil trace PCBs.

Terramac^®

Terramac is a biomass material made from a polymer derived from plants such as corn. Biomass materials are organic resources derived from sustainable biological sources except for fossil resources. Terramac ultimately degrades into carbon dioxide and water, which are absorbed into plants such as corn for their growth. Then, the corn can be turned Terramac again. So Terramac is part of the world's natural 'recycling system'. Conventional plastic products are made from oil, a limited and non-renewable raw material that will run out in the not-so-distant future if we continue using it. As a non-oil-based plastic product, Terramac is hence the focus of much attention. It has a wide range of applications in clothing, plateware, cups, wrapping films, cosmetic bottles, teabags, planters, trash bags, electronic device components and all areas of consumer demand. Unitika has developed the world's first heat-resistant foam containers and food containers made of polylactic acid, the base ingredient of Terramac. These products are attracting a lot of attention for their ability to hold hot water and their microwave-safe design. Terramac is used in applications such as mobile phone casings, which require demanding durability and heat resistance specifications, and digital MFP parts, which are required to be fire-resistant. Recently, we have used alloy technology to develop a new heat-resistant grade of resin for injection molding that features improved molding performance and shock resistance than conventional resins. This resin is used as an exterior covering for health meters and other applications. Combining the natural advantages of plant material with human technology, Terramac is an attempts to be the ideal material supported by both the Earth and human beings.

Segurova^®

Japan's River Law was partially revised in June 1997, and in line with the new law, Unitika developed Segurova, an anticorrosive sheeting material designed with the concern to natural environments and landscapes. Manufactured using a 3-D weaving technology to ensure that gaps and thicknesses are kept constant, Segurova resists water currents, and provides high corrosion resistance. Designed for weather resistance and endurance, it is mainly comprised of black clope-dyed polyester monofilament. To give some components partial dimensional stability, they use binder fibers with a core and pod structure. The sheet top and bottom layers have a honeycomb structure for easy filling with earth or sand. Segurova can be used in embankment protection works to reinforce the corrosion resistance of herbaceous plants such as lawns or seedlings. It stops corrosion by water currents at embankment surfaces and river banks, realizing a new anticorrosion sheeting-based construction method. Segurova has already become the first product in the industry to be awarded the Public Works Research Center's Anticorrosion Sheet Performance Evaluation Certification (certification No. 0001).

Castlon^®

Castlon is a 100% plant-derived nylon fiber with low environmental impact. It is made from the inedible seeds of the castor oil plant.
It features a unique molecular structure unlike that of conventional nylon fiber that gives it excellent wear, bend, and fatigue resistance, as well as resistance to solvents, dimensional stability, and flexibility at low temperatures. The characteristics of this lightweight, up-and-coming material make it perfect for use in bags and other non-clothing-related applications.

Unibeads for use in Road Marking^®

Unibeads for road marking are microscopic transparent spherical glass beads. Utilizing the effects of recursive reflection lenses, they are used for a variety of road marking applications to help create safer roads by improving nighttime visibility.
They are a recycled product that makes use of glass cullet from waste construction materials. Unibeads are a safe, environmentally-friendly product that does not leach harmful contaminants into the soil.
They have received certification (No. 05 131 001) from the Japan Environment Association as a product that helps reduce environmental impact.
As an environmentally-friendly green purchasing product they are also registered as an Osaka Prefecture-approved recycled product recognized by the Governor of Osaka Prefecture (No. 20-126).

Uniecolo^® / Ecomix^®

Fiber	Nonwoven Sheeting
Uniecolo®	Ecomix®
Demand for PET bottles has been growing year by year, and the cost of fossil fuel-based plastics is rising sharply. For these reasons, used bottles have become an important resource themselves. As part of our efforts to preserve the environment, Unitika has been active in PET bottle recycling. Uniecolo was developed through our outstanding spinning technology. Offering soft hand-feeling and good bulkiness, it is an environmentally-aware fiber with the same features as conventional polyester, and designed to enable reuse of limited resources.	Since recycling is an important part of our environmental preservation efforts, Unitika has developed, by its outstanding spunbond technology, a polyester filament nonwoven fabric called Ecomix, made from scraps of PET bottles or nonwoven fabric products. Ecomix has already obtained the Japan Environment Association's Eco Mark certification (No. 00105029). With outstanding water permeability and endurance, Ecomix has been approved for a wide range of public works applications, including protective mats for water barrier sheets in waste disposal sites, sheets for erosion and torrent control in banking reinforcement construction and harbors, suction-preventing sheets for riverbank protection, and plastic board drains. With its cost-effective wide sheets and highly elastic structure, Ecomix can easily handle warping and projections, and is gaining popularity as sheeting for today's needs.

Sylph^®

Good clothing materials need to be gentle, comfortable and versatile, while enabling attractive tailoring. Materials must meet all these requirements to make novel and comfortable clothing, and Unitika's groundbreaking new material Sylph generates just such new possibilities. More than ten years after the development of lyocell fiber (the raw stock fiber), Sylph was created by using a more evolved form of the raw stock fiber and the latest advanced fabrication technology. Sylph offers a larger variety of high added-value materials, and raises the standard of quality for lyocell products. And since it is also extremely environmentally friendly, Sylph is setting the new standard for materials meeting 21st-century needs.

Naturecot^®

Naturecot is a material that employs organic cotton that meets Organic Exchange^*1 standards.

Organic cotton is defined as cotton grown in soil that has not had any agricultural chemicals applied to it for at least three years. Unitika decided to employ a third-party certification organization to guarantee that customers receive genuine organic cotton products. The company obtained Organic Exchange certification through Control Union^*2 and created a production system that ensures traceability.

^*1 Organic Exchange: A US-based NPO that promotes organic cotton worldwide.
^*2 Control Union: An organic certification organization based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Ecorally reclaims and recycles fibers from used uniforms. It is a recycling system that turns resources into felt and other materials for reuse in new products such as carpets and vehicle interior materials. With recycling following reduction and reuse of waste in the order of priority environmental strategies outlined in Japan's Basic Act on Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society, Ecorally is garnering attention as a recycling system with low environmental impact. In recent years, the role that uniforms play in terms of environmental impact, contributions to local communities, and other factors is gaining importance. As a tool for protecting the environment that connects companies with society and as a tool for enhancing social trust, Ecorally supports the realization of a sustainable and environmentally friendly society.