BASF Ultrason® Enables Kyoraku’s Amberware: Timeless Honey‑Tinted Tableware

DE:
Der japanische Kunststoffverarbeiter Kyoraku nutzt die honigfarbene Tönung des BASF-Polyethersulfons Ultrason® E als Designelement in seiner Geschirrserie Amberware.
EN:
The Japanese plastic products manufacturer Kyoraku uses BASF polyethersulfone’s Ultrason® E original honey color as design feature in its Amberware design tableware.

(IN BRIEF) BASF’s Ultrason® E 3010 nat serves as the foundation for Amberware, a reusable tableware concept by Kyoraku that leverages the material’s natural honey‑amber tint, toughness, and chemical resistance. These lightweight, microwave‑ and dishwasher‑safe plates resist cracking and chipping—backed by a lifetime guarantee—and their amber hue deepens rather than fades over time. Amberware supports circular‑economy goals by replacing disposable plastics and reducing packaging waste, while Ultrason®’s broader thermoplastic range underpins applications in filtration, automotive, and aerospace industries.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUDWIGSHAFEN, 24-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — BASF’s high‑performance thermoplastic Ultrason® E 3010 nat now stars in Amberware, a distinctive tableware line developed by Tokyo‑based plastics manufacturer Kyoraku. Crafted from this tough, chemically resistant polyethersulfone (PESU) with its naturally honey‑amber hue, Amberware plates offer a warm, translucent glow that intensifies over time while retaining exceptional functionality: they’re lightweight, heat‑ and microwave‑resistant up to 180 °C (220 °C short‑term), crack‑proof, and dishwasher‑safe withstanding a wide range of cleaning agents. Their durability and design longevity help minimize single‑use plastics and packaging waste in household, catering, and takeaway contexts—championing a circular‑economy approach.

Compared to porcelain, Amberware delivers superior break resistance and significantly reduced weight. Kyoraku backs this performance with a lifelong guarantee against cracking and chipping, following rigorous mechanical testing of Ultrason®. Unlike conventional plastics that fade and weaken under UV exposure, Amberware’s evolving amber tint celebrates its enduring quality, signaling sustainable living without sacrificing safety or performance.

“Amberware’s concept is simple: create a plastic product designed to age gracefully,” explains Koichiro Yoshida, Senior Manager at Kyoraku. “Our customers can watch the plates’ amber color deepen over the years, confident in their unwavering performance. When we evaluated Ultrason®, its precious‑amber resemblance inspired us—it is as enduring and luminous as natural amber after millennia.”

Nami Lohbeck, Global Business Development for Ultrason® at BASF, adds, “Our collaboration with Kyoraku showcases how Ultrason® enables sustainable innovations. Amberware empowers consumers to choose reusable, high‑quality tableware that conserves resources, remains safe through countless washes, and cuts down on disposable‑ware waste.” Using tailored Ultrason® grades, manufacturers can also develop reusable to‑go mugs, tea and hot‑water bottles, and returnable catering dishes.

Ultrason® encompasses BASF’s suite of polyethersulfone (Ultrason® E), polysulfone (Ultrason® S), and polyphenylsulfone (Ultrason® P). Its exceptional thermal stability, chemical resistance, and design versatility make it ideal for applications ranging from water‑filtration membranes to durable household goods and lightweight automotive or aerospace components—often replacing thermosets, metals, and ceramics.

For more on Amberware and other sustainable solutions, visit www.ultrason.basf.com/householdcatering.

About BASF’s Performance Materials division

BASF’s Performance Materials division leads the transformation of the plastics industry by merging sustainability with a competitive edge. Our broad material competencies and product portfolio, backed by deep industry understanding, make us the ideal one-stop-shop. With dedicated material-focused teams and strong R&D power, we deliver industry-leading technologies and expertise to our customers worldwide. Our global network ensures a competitive advantage through superior innovations, regional proximity, and tailor-made solutions that meet local market demands. We are committed to enhancing performance and efficiency across sectors such as automotive, consumer goods, industrial applications, and construction. With BASF, our partners embark on #OurPlasticsJourney towards a more circular and sustainable future. In 2024, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €6.8 billion. Join #OurPlasticsJourney on LinkedIn https://on.basf.com/PM_LinkedIn and in our newsletter https://on.basf.com/PM_Newsletter.

Further information at https://www.performance-materials.basf.com.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

Press Contact:

Dr. Ulla Biernat
+49 621 60-42241
ulla.biernat@basf.com

SOURCE: BASF SE