The environment, specifically in respect of water-related and energy issues, is one of four key business fields Japan’s Toray Group is currently chasing growth in.

And for its financial year to March 31 2012, Toray has posted record results of US$19.3 billion and operating profit of $781 million.

The group’s Fibres and Textiles division made a solid contribution to this performance, with sales up 9.3% to $7,766 million and operating income up 39.7% to $551 million.

Particularly healthy at the moment are Toray’s lastest spunbond nonwovens operations in Korea and China.