From Furoshiki to Non-woven Fabrics, to a Cycle that Wraps the Earth: Sankei's 'Global Sustainable Strategy' Looking Toward its 100th Anniversary

We support 'April Dream,' a project where companies share their dreams for the future on April 1st. This press release outlines the dream of Sankei Co., Ltd.

Translating Japan's 'Wrapping' Culture into Global Infrastructure

Sankei Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi; CEO: Hiroshi Kurasawa) began its journey in 1958 with the business of printing names on Furoshiki (traditional Japanese wrapping cloths). Over the following 70 years, while materials shifted from woven fabrics to non-woven fabrics and applications expanded from household items to industrial materials, one philosophy has remained constant:

'Wrapping is loving.'

This tagline embodies the Japanese spirit of cherishing contents and respecting others. Our dream is not just to provide packaging materials but to fuse this 'wrapping culture' with our non-woven technology and expand into global markets.

Inabe SDGs Business Certification and the Shift to Eco-Friendly Packaging

To realize this dream, our key domestic base is the Daian Factory in Inabe City, Mie Prefecture, alongside our Vietnam factory. In 2025, the Daian Factory was registered as an 'Inabe SDGs Promotion Business.'

Echoing the philosophy of Inabe City—certified as an 'SDGs Future City' in 2020—the factory is accelerating the production of high-performance eco-friendly packaging for export to the US and Europe, where environmental regulations are strict.

Sankei focuses on two pillars of eco-friendly non-woven fabrics:

1. Materials using plant-derived or recycled sources.
2. Biodegradable materials that decompose in soil or seawater.

We focus on 'practical perfection' that meets the high standards of major clients. We solve issues such as damage during transport, condensation, rust, and static electricity by leveraging decades of non-woven processing expertise to balance strength, cushioning, and workability.

Decision for Global Expansion: From Japan to Vietnam, and to a Market of 3 Billion People

'I felt the values of packaging materials change dramatically with the spread of SDGs. A new evaluation axis—environmental consideration—was born in a world where "cheaper is better" was once the rule. At that turning point, I decided to invest the spirit of Furoshiki and 50 years of non-woven technology,' recalls CEO Hiroshi Kurasawa.

A major turning point came in February 2024, when a Japanese company in Vietnam asked us to provide similar eco-friendly materials locally. For our company, which had no overseas bases, this was a 'bolt from the blue.'

'If we only continued business in Japan, future growth would be limited. However, looking at Southeast Asia from Vietnam, there is a market of over 3 billion people. It was a difficult decision for a small local factory to invest directly and establish an overseas base, but I am convinced this challenge will support Sankei for decades to come.'

Following that decision, the Vietnam factory began operations in November 2025. Entering full-scale production in early 2026, it has started its role as a 'mother plant for environmental packaging' for the entire Southeast Asian region. Despite facing various challenges, Kurasawa looks to the future, saying, 'I want us to be a company loved by the people of Vietnam and create products together.'

Aiming for a Centenary: Continuing the Challenge

There is no end to challenges. It may take several years for current investments to bear fruit, but we see this as the foundation for becoming a '100-year company.'

'If we hadn't decided to expand overseas then, we would have just repeated the same year as always. But now it's different. By standing on an unknown stage and discussing business from a global perspective, I feel we are one step closer to our goal of realizing greater happiness for our employees.'

Sankei will continue to translate the traditional Japanese spirit of 'wrapping' into world-standard technology, wrapping all the world's products and the future with love.

About Sankei Co., Ltd.

Headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi, the company plans, manufactures, and sells non-woven products. Since its founding as a Furoshiki manufacturer, it has provided high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions across various fields, including industrial, agricultural, and daily life materials, based on the spirit of 'Onko-Chishin' (learning from the past to create the new).

Contact Information

Sankei Co., Ltd.
Address: 1-6-9 Shimizu, Kita-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
Phone: 052-951-2738 (General Affairs Dept.)
Official Website: https://www.ngo-sankei.co.jp/

'April Dream' is a project by PR TIMES where companies share their dreams for the future on April 1st. We are seriously aiming to realize this dream.