Dr. Ryohei Mori: Building Green Technology for a Carbon-Neutral Future

Dr. Ryohei Mori, CEO of Green Science Alliance Co., Ltd., stands at the intersection of legacy and innovation. As the leader of a nearly 90-year-old chemical business and the founder of multiple deep-tech ventures, he has chosen a path that challenges tradition while honoring responsibility. His work focuses on sustainable materials, clean energy, and next-generation technologies that aim to reduce environmental impact without slowing progress. In this interview, Dr. Mori shares his journey, leadership mindset, and vision for a future shaped by science, purpose, and persistence.

Let’s start with your journey. How did it all begin, and what led you to where you are today?

I took over Fuji Pigment Co., Ltd., a petroleum-based color chemical company founded by my grandfather almost 90 years ago. While continuing that legacy, I also felt a strong need to create something new. That led me to establish Green Science Alliance Co., Ltd., a company focused on energy-efficient and environmentally friendly products for a sustainable and carbon-neutral society. In many ways, it operates like a green tech startup.

Along the way, I also founded Quantum Materials Technologies Co., Ltd., a startup based on quantum dots technology that originated from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan. Today, I serve as CEO of all three companies, balancing tradition with future-focused innovation.

What motivated you to push forward with sustainability, and which values guide your leadership today?

When I took over Fuji Pigment, I was very aware that it was deeply rooted in petroleum-based chemistry. I believed that the world would soon expect businesses to move toward carbon neutrality, lower CO2 emissions, and reduced plastic use to protect the planet. I did not want to be someone who led a company without caring about the Earth’s environment.

That belief became the foundation of Green Science Alliance in 2010. My leadership is guided by responsibility, long-term thinking, and the idea that business should support society, not harm it. Profit matters, but purpose matters just as much.

Every path has its challenges. Was there a defining moment that tested your resolve as a leader?

One of the biggest challenges was internal resistance. The petroleum-based color business was stable and profitable, so many people were not eager to support carbon-neutral and sustainable projects. Even today, the majority of company members still do not fully agree with this direction.

However, external validation kept me going. Green Science Alliance has been supported by several United Nations organizations. In 2020, we were selected as a green technology startup under the UNOPS Global Innovation Centre Japan incubation program, with our technologies registered under WIPO GREEN. In 2025, we are set to receive grant funding from UNIDO for a green industrial recovery project in Ukraine.  I was also invited to speak at the United Nations Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, where I shared our work and vision around sustainable products.

These moments reminded me that even if people close to you doubt the path, there are others in the world who believe in your work. Around the same time, I was also accepted into and graduated from the General Management Program at Harvard Business School, which further strengthened my confidence as a leader.

Innovation plays a central role in your work. How do you personally drive it within your organization?

Even though I am the CEO, I am also a doctor of engineering. I stay deeply involved in research and lead innovation from the front. I usually start by developing new technologies myself, securing patents, and then handing them over to the company’s research teams for further development and commercialization.

This approach allows us to move quickly and stay original. It also shows the team that innovation is not just a slogan but an active, daily process.

Your company works across many advanced areas. Can you share a few examples of what you are building?

We develop a wide range of plant-based and biodegradable products, including plastics, resins, coatings, paints, glue, and agricultural films. We also create biodegradable resin for 3D-printed furniture. In some cases, we use organic waste such as wood, agricultural leftovers, or seaweed as raw materials.  All of these products originated from my own research ideas, and I later brought these technologies together into a single body of work. They were summarized in a peer-reviewed article I published in a leading British chemistry journal, which was featured as the journal’s front cover. The article can be found here:

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2023/su/d2su00014h

Beyond that, we work on advanced materials like quantum dots, metal-organic frameworks, ionic liquids, visible-response photocatalysts, carbon nanotube materials for conductivity and shielding, and platinum-free fuel cells. We are also developing materials for perovskite and organic solar cells, aluminum-based rechargeable batteries, and recycled lithium-ion batteries. Even as a small company, we aim to work at the cutting edge of green and energy-related technology.

In your view, what separates top-performing leaders from others?

A strong leader takes on work that others in the company cannot do. They lead from the front, not from a distance. Passion is also essential. Leaders need to help people see a better future and understand how their work contributes to it. When people feel that connection, motivation follows naturally.

How do you keep your organization aligned with fast-changing market and customer needs?

The market changes very quickly, so I begin by studying trends, gathering information, and starting new research myself. This helps us stay ahead of demand. After that, our research and sales teams work closely together to turn those technologies into real products that the market needs.

This close link between research and business keeps us flexible and focused at the same time.

Looking back, what lesson has most shaped your leadership style over time?

When I was younger, I did not always explain clearly why we were pursuing certain technologies. Over time, I realized how important it is to share the reason behind every direction and decision. When people understand the purpose, they are more willing to support the goal and contribute meaningfully.

What excites you most about the future for your company and the industry?

We have developed many technologies over the years, but the one with the greatest potential is our recycled lithium-ion battery made from waste material known as black mass. Black mass comes from used battery scraps and contains valuable metals like cobalt, nickel, manganese, and lithium.

This could become the world’s first truly recycled lithium-ion battery. In simple terms, it could make rechargeable batteries cheaper worldwide. We are preparing for mass production, starting in Japan and Switzerland, and plan to raise capital to accelerate growth. Looking ahead, we aim to go public, either in Switzerland, the Nasdaq, or Japan.

Dr. Ryohei Mori’s journey reflects a rare balance of scientific depth, business leadership, and environmental responsibility. By choosing to challenge established models and invest in long-term solutions, he is shaping a future where innovation serves both industry and the planet. His work stands as a reminder that true disruption begins with purpose, courage, and the willingness to lead change even when the path is not easy.