Makers of Ultrasuede Receive UN Humanitarian Award

Furniture World News

Toray Industries, Inc. (www.toray.com), the makers of Ultrasuede announced that they've been awarded the United Nations Association of New York’s (UNA-NY) 2008 Humanitarian Award for its efforts to address the impact of global climate change. The award was presented at a gala dinner held in late October at the United Nations that focused attention on the importance of environmental sustainability. Mr. Sadayuki Sakakibara, President and CEO of Toray Industries, accepted the award for the company, which has been working to prevent climate change by developing materials and technologies that help save energy and resources. The UNA-NY’s Humanitarian Award was also presented to Ban Ki-moon, secretary general of the United Nations, and Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, president of Iceland. Addressing guests at the award dinner, Mr. Sakakibara said “Global warming is a serious problem for the planet, and that everyone, especially the business community, has a responsibility to take bold actions to protect against it.” He cited Toray’s advancements and pledged that the company would do its best to continue to be worthy of the award by developing materials and technologies that will ensure the sustainable growth of society and the health of the planet. Among the Toray Industries technologies that support environmental stewardship that were highlighted at the event were its reverse-osmosis membranes and carbon fiber composite materials. Toray’s reverse-osmosis technology is used in water treatment plants throughout the world to produce 14 million tons of clean water every day for 60 million people. The company’s carbon fiber composite materials are now being used by Boeing to produce an “all-composite” aircraft that will be 20 percent lighter than conventional aircraft and will use less fuel and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In his acceptance speech, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon acknowledged the growing role of corporations, like Toray Industries, in addressing climate change. “The message is clear, with good partners and a long-term approach we can create a safer, more prosperous, and more peaceful plant for generations to come.” Toray Industries, Inc. is the world leader in synthetic fibers and textiles, carbon fibers, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and high-performance films. Annual sales exceed US$16 billion. Visit the Toray Industries Web site at www.toray.com. Toray Industries, Inc., is located at Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, 1-1, Nihonbashi-Muromachi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-8666, Japan; telephone +81-3-3245-5111, fax +81-3-3245-5555. Toray Ultrasuede (America), Inc. (TUA) is part of the Toray Group, a corporation with operations around the world. Toray invented the technology that made ultra-microfiber materials possible and remains the worldwide leader in these advanced materials - researching, developing and marketing them through its global Microfiber division, founded in 2001. Additional information about TUA is available at www.ultrasuede.com