Toyoda Gosei, Asics step closer to sustainable targets

KIYOSU, Japan—When Asics set out to find more sustainable materials for its sneakers, Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. stepped up to help.

The Japanese auto supplier provided the sneaker company with remnants of air bag materials from its manufacturing process. The result, Toyoda Gosei said, is a durable sneaker that contributors to a more sustainable society.

For Toyoda Gosei, the sneaker project is one part of a bigger more sustainable equation. The company has been upcycling difficult-to-recycle materials for some time. Airbag fabrics and steering wheel leathers, for instance, have become more durable goods such as pen cases and bags, which are sold under its Re-S eco brand.

And it's all part of a bigger vision for the company, which has it sights locked in on 2030 and 2050 targets that will take it closer to its goal of creating a more eco-responsible company.

"To move closer to the recycling society, or circular economy, envisioned in the TG 2050 Environmental Challenge, Toyoda Gosei aims to minimize industrial waste and water risks," Toyoda Gosei states on its website. "We have set 2030 targets as milestones, and are making every effort to use resources effectively, reducing materials usage and waste volumes through thorough sorting and the design of easily recyclable products."

Founded in 1949, Kiyosu-based Toyoda Gosei manufactures rubber and plastics automotive parts and other products. It employs around 39,500 worldwide.