A Quick Guide to Unicharm
(Chapter 1: Growth record and business overview)

Unicharm began its business in 1961 with the manufacture and sale of “wood wool cement boards” as building materials. In 1963, the Company entered the feminine care market with the launch of sanitary napkins. Since then, we have developed numerous innovative technologies and products, continuing to lead the industry as a pioneer in feminine care.

In the 1980s, we diversified our operations into early childhood education, wedding information services, resort businesses, and more. Among these, the pet care business launched during this period has continued to support our growth to this day. Anticipating the maturation of the domestic market, we also began actively expanding overseas, and now operate in approximately 80 countries and regions worldwide.

From the 2000s onward, we restructured our business portfolio, selling multiple businesses including our founding building materials segment. Leveraging the nonwoven fabric and absorbent material processing and molding technologies cultivated in the feminine care field, we expanded into baby care, health care, and household products, thereby broadening our role as a company that supports people’s daily lives—child-rearing, nursing care, and housework.

Since the 2010s, with environmental issues such as global warming and plastic pollution becoming increasingly serious, we have accelerated our sustainability initiatives. In 2015, we launched the “RefF (Recycle for the Future) Project,” the world’s first initiative to achieve “horizontal recycling” from used disposable diapers into new ones. Through these activities, we aim to contribute to the realization of a coexisting society and the achievement of the SDGs, with the goal of becoming No. 1 in the world by 2030 in both “relative value” and “absolute value.”

“Relative value” refers to our quantitative financial targets for 2030: net sales of 1.5 trillion yen, a core operating profit margin of 17%, and No. 1 global market share.

“Absolute value” refers to the creation of a circular economy through products and services that embody our corporate brand essence, Love Your Possibilities, and that only Unicharm can deliver—symbolized by initiatives such as RefF and Sofy Be (a menstrual and physical condition management app that helps women understand the relationship between hormones and their physical well-being).

In this way, our goal is not only to provide products, but also to address social issues through services.

Unicharm, which has maintained sustainable growth, has nurtured a corporate culture and spirit called the “Three Types of DNA” that has been passed down ever since its founding. In recent years, our business activities have spread from Japan to the rest of Asia, as well as to the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Because the number of employees born overseas is increasing, we have begun rephrasing the “Three Types of DNA” as “BOP-ship” to make it easier for overseas employees to understand. The “Three Types of DNA” and “BOP-ship” are corporate values that support the basis of our activities, and are common values that each and every employee, including top managemet.

Unicharm aims to address social issues by providing new value through the addition of various services to high value-added products that utilize our nonwoven fabric and absorbent material processing and molding technology. To do this, we channel management resources into our nonwoven fabric and absorbent material businesses, allowing us to launch products that accurately meet customer needs ahead of rivals, thanks to our position as a specialist manufacturer. Backed by powerful technical capabilities, we supply a balanced range of products for pet owners and people of all ages – from babies to the elderly – limiting our exposure to demographic changes and supporting Unicharm’s sustained growth.

Unicharm’s various products and services are seeing increasing demand in regions throughout the world thanks to their being indispensable for leading hygienic and healthy lives. We currently operate businesses in approximately 80 countries and regions globally, garnering high praise for our activities