Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Masayuki Waga), as an initiative for contributing to the realization of a circular economy and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has developed a heat-resistant biaxially-oriented polystyrene sheet (heat-resistant OPS®) with superior recycling potential, and established a mass production system.

OPS® is lightweight yet strong and boasts excellent transparency and moldability. With these properties, it is widely used in food packaging and containers, including the lids for bento lunchboxes. During the OPS® molding process, material scraps result from the sheet cutting, so efforts have been made by packaging manufacturers to recycle it as raw material. However, conventional heat-resistant OPS®, which can be used in a microwave, is difficult to return to sheet form, as melting and mixing the material scraps poses challenges that make it unsuitable for recycling.

Considering customer awareness of this issue, MCC teamed up with a raw material manufacturer and jointly developed a heat resistant OPS® that can be recycled during the customer’s manufacturing process. Sample work is already being carried out with several customers; some of which have even decided on employing OPS®.

In accordance with KAITEKI Vision 30, the medium- to long-term basic management strategy of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (MCHC) Group, MCC is positioning the promotion of a circular economy as a key element for the realization of KAITEKI*. MCC believes the recycling of products and other materials is one key initiative in this direction. Going forward, MCC aims to contribute to the achievement of SDGs and the realization of a sustainable society by implementing product design that is easily recycled by MCC as well as its customers.

※This reflects the original concept of the MCHC Group to achieve the “sustainable well-being of people, society and our planet Earth.”