SDGs × IP
KAI Group SDGs Initiatives through Patents and Designs
The KAI Group pursues contributing to sustainable business development and enhancing of our corporate value by resolving social issues through the creation and efficient use of our intellectual property.
* The numbers listed above have been calculated based on the criteria of KAI Corporation, taking the 17 goals and 169 targets of SDGs into consideration.
The patent rights held by the KAI Group are characterized by being related to a large number of the SDG goals, which is because the KAI Group develops businesses involving nearly ten thousand items from housewares, such as kitchen tools, confectionery tools and beauty care products, to medical products and cutting instruments for industrial use.
* The numbers listed above have been calculated based on the criteria of KAI Corporation, taking the 17 goals and 169 targets of SDGs into consideration.
Change in numbers of the KAI Group’s patent and design registration applications pertaining to SDGs.
The above graph shows the change in the year-on-year value calculated in comparison with the total number of patent and design registration applications made in 2016, deeming the said number one as the “standard value.”
The KAI Group addresses the development of its products and services in connection with SDGs. As a result, the number of patent and design registration applications pertaining to SDGs is showing an upward trend.
Notable Examples of our Patents
Paper Razor™
Patent No. 6825162, Patent No. 6894054, Patent No. 6858478
This razor is composed of a paper handle and all-metal razor head; as a result, it uses approximately 98% less plastic than the Company’s conventional razors with three blades. Nevertheless, when using such paper razors, the users can enjoy as comfortable a shave as they can using the Company’s conventional plastic razors.
The reduction of plastic usage for this paper razor™ also leads to a reduction of waste generation. As a consequence, this razor accelerates the achievement of Goal 12 of the SDGs, i.e., “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns,” and realizes our contribution to the fight against climate change.
Pretty Paper Razor™ Type L
Patent No. 7266959
The handle of this razor is made from paper, and its blade is made of metal. As a result, it uses approximately 90% less plastic than the Company’s conventional facial razors. Moreover, for the users’ benefit, it can be safely carried by folding the two covers to keep the blade inside. Therefore, this razor also accelerates the achievement of Goal 12 of the SDGs, i.e., “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns,” and realizes our contribution to the fight against climate change.
Ophthalmic Scalpel
Patent No. 5795188
This surgical scalpel is designed to have different shapes on its back and front, which enables the edge of the blade to be stronger and sharper.
As a result, this scalpel enables the Company to contribute to reducing the burden on patients who undergo ophthalmologic surgery.
Slit Knife to Prevent Contamination
by Extraneous Substances
Patent No. 6599587
A knife used in a food processing plant, which is designed to avoid incidents where small pieces are generated as a result of an inexperienced worker cutting a bag filled with liquid ingredients (called “filling”) into small pieces by cutting it multiple times when he/she tries to open it with a knife on the processing line. Using this knife can reduce the occurrence of incidents that stop the processing line because of contamination of the line by such extraneous substances. No matter how skilled a worker is, this knife helps to support them when opening bags.
This knife enables the KAI Group to contribute to increasing the number of adults who have rewarding jobs and skills, such as technical and vocational skills, including youths, foreign people and housewives, as mentioned in Goal 4 of the SDGs.
Compact Electric-Powered Sharpener
Patent No. 6797326
A sharpener for kitchen knives which is a combination of two types of whetstones. Users can sharpen their kitchen knives in a simple and speedy manner by effortlessly running it through this sharpener only once.
Users can continue to use their sharp kitchen knives for a long time, whereby using this sharpener leads to the prevention and reduction of waste generation.
Razor Products Addressing SDGs
Particularly in the field of razors, the KAI Group boasts a large number of its products that address SDGs, and is at the top* of the sector in this regard. The history of the KAI Group razors addressing SDGs can be traced back to more than thirty years ago. In 1991, the KAI Group filed a patent application for the technology pertaining to razors containing biodegradable plastic. Thereafter, in 1996, we offered a razor for sale named “ecore®” made from the said biodegradable plastic which is our patented technology.
The KAI Group focuses on the development of environmentally-friendly razors in order to contribute to the reduction of waste plastic and the circulation of resources, as a duty of a company dealing in disposable razors.
* As of June 2023 (According to the Company’s investigation)
Patent application for biodegradable resin Pub.No.H05-177561
This patented technology is related to razors with handle parts composed of biodegradable plastic, in order to prevent consumers from causing environment contamination by discarding the razors.
ecore®
This product is a razor containing biodegradable plastic made from vegetable materials. Such plastic part can be decomposed by microorganisms existing in the earth, in the same way as the decomposition of grass and trees. The blade is made of carbon-rich stainless steel, and can therefore return to the earth upon biodegrading/rusting (not currently on sale).
PREMIUM DISPO ecore®
China Utility Model Registration No.2019 2 1479415.6
For this product, paper is adopted as a packaging material and recycled materials (PCR) are used for 65% of the materials for the plastic part of the handle, thereby reducing environmental impact.
Paper Razor™
Patent No. 6825162
Patent No. 6894054
Patent No. 6858478
This razor is composed of a paper handle and all-metal razor head; as a result, it uses approximately 98% less plastic than the Company’s conventional razors with three blades.
Pretty Paper Razor™ Type L Patent No. 7266959
The handle of this razor is made from paper, while the blade is metallic. As a result, it uses approximately 90% less plastic than the Company’s conventional facial razors.
Pretty Face L ･ Face T
For this product, paper is adopted as a packaging material and recycled materials are used for 95% of the plastic part, thereby reducing environmental impact.
Intellectual Property Division’s Initiatives to Resolve
Environmental Issues
Since 2021, the KAI Group has participated as a partner company in “WIPO GREEN,” which is a technology exchange platform in connection with environment preservation organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), an agency of the United Nations.
As of June 2023, 10 patents and designs related to Paper Razor™ and Pretty Paper Razor™ Type L have been registered in the WIPO GREEN database.
Such registration of the group of ten patents and designs enables us to have closer communication with the companies and individuals who need the technology related to environmental preservation and enhances the possibility of matching environmentally-friendly technologies from a global perspective.
The KAI Group will continue to engage in the development of environmentally-friendly products and services and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.