hide kasuga 1896 Co., Ltd. Selected for the “300 Thriving SMEs and Small Businesses” Initiative in the GX/DX Category

hide kasuga 1896 Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hideyuki Kasuga) has been selected for the “300 Thriving Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Small Businesses” program, which honors small and medium-sized enterprises that are undertaking business transformation and taking on new ventures, and are expected to contribute to the growth of both the local and Japanese economies. Our Representative Director, Hideyuki Kasuga, attended the awards ceremony held on May 29, 2026, at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry auditorium as a recipient.

Two Key Factors That Led to the Award

In receiving this award, the two circular economy initiatives we are promoting were highly commended.

First, regarding PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), for which there are concerns about resource depletion, the company is not only developing recycling technologies but also promoting the establishment of markets and circular economy schemes to facilitate its widespread adoption in society.

Second, we are developing “TRANSWOOD®,” an environmentally friendly material that is entirely bio-based and highly recyclable, and are moving forward with the development and implementation of a circular platform concept centered on TRANSWOOD®.

① About “BLANC BIJOU PARIS,” the Brand That’s Forever White

From the Creation of New Markets for PTFE to the Realization of Resource Recycling

PTFE is an indispensable material in the semiconductor industry; however, while there are concerns that fluorite—its raw material—may become depleted in the future, much of the used PTFE is currently disposed of in landfills.

To address this issue, Hideyuki Kasuga has been working to establish a PTFE recycling system based on the concept of “value creation and regeneration.”

Recognizing the aesthetic value in the timeless whiteness and uniquely smooth texture of the fluoropolymer “PTFE”—a material that had previously rarely been seen by the general public—we established the luxury consumer brand “BLANC BIJOU PARIS®” in Paris, France, in 2009.

By commercializing PTFE as art pieces, tableware, and fine jewelry, we have unlocked new possibilities for a material that had previously been used primarily for industrial applications, thereby creating new business opportunities in the consumer sector—where high strength is not always required. Furthermore, through approximately 10 years of joint research with Shinshu University, we pioneered the world’s first practical material recycling technology for PTFE. We are currently working with raw material manufacturers and major trading companies to promote the widespread adoption of this technology.

② About “TRANSWOOD®,” a brand of environmentally friendly materials 

All-bio materials that circulate for 100 years

TRANSWOOD® is an eco-friendly material brand conceived and developed by Dr. Hideyuki Kasuga, Ph.D. in Engineering, based on the concept of a “material that can be recycled for 100 years.”It is an all-bio, eco-friendly composite material created by combining “wood-derived materials” with “biomass resins” made from waste cooking oil and other sources. In addition to being lightweight and strong, it is highly recyclable, and we are working to build the TRANSWOOD® platform, which enables continuous circulation of the material into applications such as tableware, furniture, home appliances, automotive interiors, and structural materials.

Furthermore, the unique textures of the material created through various molding methods, along with its distinctive aesthetic appeal, are key features of TRANSWOOD®. It simultaneously reduces CO₂ emissions and plastic usage, contributing to the implementation of a circular economy in society.

About the 300 Thriving Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Small Businesses

Organized by: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Small and Medium Enterprise Agency

Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry website

https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2026/05/20260528001/20260528001.html

The “300 Thriving Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Small Businesses” program recognizes model small and medium-sized enterprises that are taking on the challenge of business transformation and new ventures in response to changes in the economic and social structure, and that are expected to contribute to the growth of both the regional and national economies.

List of the "300 Thriving Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Small Businesses" for Fiscal Year 2025:

https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2026/05/20260528001/20260528001-ar3.pdf