(Yicai) Nov. 8 -- Japanese chemical giant Toray Industries is putting the spotlight on new energy and environmental protection in its debut at the ongoing sixth China International Import Expo.

Tokyo-based Toray is displaying the various applications of its carbon fiber products in the field of hydrogen energy, including carbon paper used in fuel cells, high-pressure storage cylinders for transportation, and membranes for water electrolysis to generate hydrogen during the trade fair in Shanghai.

China has rapidly built an industrial chain for hydrogen, and Toray has developed many materials and technologies related to the low-emission fuel in Japan, which can contribute to the development of China's hydrogen energy industry, Yoshio Himeshima, vice chairman of Toray China Investment, said to Yicai.

China is using "grey hydrogen" which consumes a lot of energy in the production process, while Toray is committed to developing green hydrogen which is generated by renewables, Himeshima said. For example, using carbon fiber to build wind power blades can improve the efficiency of power generation and reduce the cost of water electrolysis.

In terms of environmental protection, Toray demonstrates its water-soluble ink for packaging, which can decrease the emission of volatile organic compounds in the printing process and cut power consumption to less than one-sixth of the usual, thus greatly reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Toray has also brought its plant-based industrial products to the expo to decrease the use of petroleum-based products. For example, it has developed nylon fiber that is fully plant-based and partly plant-based polyester fiber, and both of the environmentally friendly products are now being mass-produced and sold.

The whole world is facing sustainable development issues, such as population growth, climate change, and resource depletion and this is why Toray is hoping to put forward fundamental solutions through innovative technologies and cutting-edge materials to create new value for the upstream and downstream parts of the industrial chain and society, Himeshima concluded.

The sixth CIIE, which began on Nov. 5, runs until Nov. 10.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine