DIC Corporation has announced it is to invest US$9 million at Earthrise, a U.S subsidiary, and Hainan DIC, a Chinese subsidiary, producing an edible blue-green algae, Spirulina, and the natural blue food colourant, LINABLUE.
DIC Corporation is one of the world’s leading fine chemicals companies and the core of the DIC Group, a multinational organisation comprising over 190 companies around the globe, including Sun Chemical Corporation.
A spokesperson for DIC said: “This investment will realise zero water emission from both plants by January 2023. We will seek for various types of algal cultivation technologies other than open outdoor mass cultivation, in alliance with our bio-venture partners, and expansion of bio-derived products portfolio.”
DIC position sustainability as an important management issue. In its management plan “DIC Vision 2030”, it has set a long-term reduction target for CO₂ emissions toward carbon net zero by FY2050. While setting a goal of 50% reduction by 2030 (compared to 2013), making it clear that it will contribute to the realisation of a decarbonised society.
We will seek for various types of algal cultivation technologies other than open outdoor mass cultivation, in alliance with our bio-venture partners, and expansion of bio-derived products portfolio
Mr Ichimoto, Product Manager of Healthcare Foods Product Group, said: “Amid corporate ESG and SDGs initiatives are required these days, in order to strengthen the stable supply of high-quality products with fewer resources, we decide to invest a total of approximately US$9M in equipment, and this is in line with DIC sustainable policies.”
This investment enables DIC to improve the efficiency of water circulation and continuous use of culture solutions at both plants. And consequently, it realises zero-water emission from the production facilities regardless of its mass cultivation of algae, namely aquaculture, and water extraction of LINABLUE, a natural blue food colourant.