Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Toppan, and Kyoeisha Chemical to jointly conduct demonstration testing of packaging material recycling production process
Aimed at achieving horizontal recycling of waste plastic film discharged from manufacturing sites
July 6, 2023
The Mitsubishi Chemical Group ("the MC Group"), Toppan Inc. (“Toppan”) and Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "Kyoeisha Chemical"), signed an agreement on March 15, 2023 to jointly develop a material recycling production process for horizontal recycling*1 of waste plastic discharged from packaging material manufacturing plants. The three companies are pleased to announce that they will begin demonstration testing of the material recycling production process, including the installation of devices to verify the principles of the production demonstration process, in June.
The material recycling technology to be developed in this process will enable plastic composite packaging materials to be peeled, deinked*2 and separated for extraction as resins of different materials. With little deterioration in the quality of each of the separated resins anticipated, consideration is being given to using these recycled resins as raw materials for films used in toiletries such as detergents and shampoos and food packaging materials. The three companies aim to develop a production process for material-recycled plastic film and make it publicly available in fiscal 2027.
The MC Group will marshal the Group’s comprehensive capabilities to design and manufacture principle verification devices that verify the stripping, deinking, and separation processes. Among other things, the Group will introduce and test equipment for separating recycled resin into single material resins. Utilizing its expertise in the production of packaging films, the Group will also fabricate packaging base materials using recycled polyolefin and polyamide raw materials and evaluate their performance for future social implementation.
*1 Horizontal recycling: recycling waste plastic as a raw material to make the same type of product
*2 Deinking: removing ink and adhesive components from packaging materials that have undergone a printing process
The material recycling technology to be developed in this process will enable plastic composite packaging materials to be peeled, deinked*2 and separated for extraction as resins of different materials. With little deterioration in the quality of each of the separated resins anticipated, consideration is being given to using these recycled resins as raw materials for films used in toiletries such as detergents and shampoos and food packaging materials. The three companies aim to develop a production process for material-recycled plastic film and make it publicly available in fiscal 2027.
- Background to development
- Newly developed material recycling technology
- Roles of the three companies
The MC Group will marshal the Group’s comprehensive capabilities to design and manufacture principle verification devices that verify the stripping, deinking, and separation processes. Among other things, the Group will introduce and test equipment for separating recycled resin into single material resins. Utilizing its expertise in the production of packaging films, the Group will also fabricate packaging base materials using recycled polyolefin and polyamide raw materials and evaluate their performance for future social implementation.
- Toppan Inc.
- Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.
- Future goals
*1 Horizontal recycling: recycling waste plastic as a raw material to make the same type of product
*2 Deinking: removing ink and adhesive components from packaging materials that have undergone a printing process