Seaweed grows in oceans all around the world purifying seawater by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO₂) through photosynthesis. It forms underwater forests and serves as spawning sites for fish and forms a protective cradle around fry. Unfortunately, mature seaweed eventually detaches from the reef, drifts away as sea garbage, decays, and eventually releases the CO₂.
Since our founding, Kimica has been working to establish practical methods of producing dietary fiber, “Alginic Acid” from seaweed and to develop various applications that effectively utilize seaweed after it is discarded but before it decays and loses all its potential. Collecting the seaweed after it is naturally discarded onto the beach allows the living seaweed to continue to flourish and thrive. As a global pioneer of alginate, Kimica has been a leader in this industry for 80 years.
We first started our operation by harvesting the natural Eklonia Cava, an Algae that drifts unused along the Boso Peninsula. Next, we expanded into the use of kelp varietals from Hokkaido and Tohoku, and to Chile. In Chile, in the northern part of the country, we collect seaweed along 1,500 kilometers of the coast. We dry it by taking advantage of the dry heat and constant sunlight of the Atacama Desert.
Kimica is committed to sustainable practices as is demonstrated in our plant processes and designs. Our Chilean Plant is located in Paine, Maipo valley, where the byproduct is used as fertilizer to produce high quality grapes for one of the worlds’ leading wines. Additionally, the Chiba plant has made a significant investment to reduce its carbon footprint, by installing an array of photovoltaic panels on its rooftops. Since the establishment of KIMICA, our continued efforts to address sustainability issues have been highly regarded internationally. We received the Japan SDGs Awards in 2020 and two Minister of the Environment Awards in 2021.
We will continue to promote initiatives to resolve sustainability issues, to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), and fulfill our social responsibilities.
At Kimica, we aim to be environmentally friendly, create a sense of community amongst employees, be trusted by local communities and customers alike and continue to maintain a stable supply of high-quality alginate for the benefit of all.