Daicel Corporation (Head office: Kita-ku, Osaka, President & CEO: Yoshimi Ogawa) received a special award, the “Presidential Prize of the Japan Patent Attorney Association” of FY2020 Chugoku Local Commendation for Invention held by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, for its invention “CELLULOSE ACETATE PARTICLES　and COSMETIC COMPOSITION, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING CELLULOSE ACETATE PARTICLES” (Japanese patent number 6609726).

Furthermore, Daicel was also awarded an “Achievement Award” for making great efforts towardsthis invention. This will be the second time for Daicel to receive a special award since receiving the FY2017 Kinki Local Commendation for Invention for our “Airbag Gas Inflator”.

This invention is spherical fine particles using cellulose acetate which is one of Daicel’s main products. Daicel is proceeding the investigation for providing this invention under the brand name “BELLOCEA®” as a material for use in cosmetics. Cellulose acetate is an environmentally friendly material manufactured from natural acetate and plant derived cellulose which biodegrades into water and carbon dioxide. Daicel successfully developed BELLOCEA® with smooth surface and high spherical particles by processing cellulose acetate using its original fine particle processing technology.

In recent years, pollution of the marine environment caused by microplastics has become a worldwide issue, and the cosmetics industry is also in need of environmentally friendly materials of natural origin. Daicel has already provided samples of BELLOCEA® in order to meet the environmental needs of the cosmetic industry and is now working towards commercialization.

In the FY2020 Chugoku Local Commendation for Invention, Daicel received a special award, the “Japan Patent Attorney Association Presidential Award in recognition of our high effectiveness in inventions and contribution to the improvement of local industries. Daicel also received an “Achievement Award” in the name of the President for efforts towards the implementation of inventions. The award ceremony will be held on October 26, 2020, at SUNRAPPORT MURAKUMO in Matsue-shi Shimane.