Kao

Kao Corporation is a Japanese multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1887 as a laundry starch maker, it now leads in personal care and household products. The company's primary segments lude Beauty Care (hair, skin, cosmetics, 35% of revenue), Human Health Care (oral, laundry, and fabric care, 30%), Chemical (specialty chemicals for industrial use, 25%), and Health & Beauty Care (international brands, 10%). Kao operates in Asia, Oceania, North America, and Europe with 34,000 employees, serving markets through brands like Attack, Biore, and Goldwell. Its supply chain involves global ingredient suppliers, with TPRM per the 2024 Annual Report emphasizing ESG audits, REACH chemical compliance, and supply chain transparency for sustainable sourcing and net-zero by 2040. The company invests in bio-based innovations like green surfactants. In fiscal year 2024, ending December 31, Kao reported revenues of 1.58 trillion yen ($10.51 billion), up 3.1% from 2023, with operating ome of 130.0 billion yen (+116.5%), driven by cost efficiencies and premium beauty growth.