Lion Corporation

Sumida-Ku, JAPANwww.lion.co.jp/en/
Invested through
  • Triodos Future Generations Fund
  • Triodos Impact Strategy Fund - Defensive
  • Triodos Impact Strategy Fund - Balanced
  • Triodos Impact Strategy Fund - Offensive
  • Triodos Impact Strategy Fund - Dynamic
Asset ClassesListed equity
Impact strategyImpact Equities and Bonds
ISIN codeJP3965400009
Industry groupConsumer Staples
Aligned with SDGs
  • Good health and well-being

Lion is one of Japan’s largest household and personal care companies. It manufactures and sells a wide range of lifestyle-related consumer goods in Japan and Asia for oral care, beauty care, fabric care, living care, and over the counter pharmaceuticals. It is the top Japanese maker of toothbrushes and toothpaste in the oral care field. Its industrial products business makes chemical products such as activators derived from oils and fats, as well as industrial-use detergents. In the overseas business, the firm manufactures and sells a wide range of laundry detergents, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and hand soaps mainly in Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, and China. The company was founded in 1891 and employs close to 7,500 people.

Investment rationale

Globally, millions of people lack adequate safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), which are crucial for human health and well-being. As it relates to children specifically, UNICEF states that over 700 children under age 5 die every day of diarrheal diseases due to lack of appropriate WASH services. In areas of conflict, children are nearly 20 times more likely to die from diarrheal disease than from the conflict itself. Also, poor oral hygiene can lead to further health diseases beyond clean teeth, such as heart and lung diseases, increases the risk of stroke, and low birthweight or premature births. Therefore, selling hygiene-related products is clearly a way to prevent diseases and to improve the health and well-being of children.

Lion provides a broad range of products that support personal hygiene. These include toothbrushes, cleaning products, soap. In doing so, Lion contributes significantly to personal hygiene in Southeast Asia.