Denka’s Policies on the Recycling of Plastic Resources

Taking advantage of an integrated management approach involving companies under the Denka Group umbrella, our production system is supported by extensive range of facilities and robust product development capabilities enabling a range of endeavors from the design of synthetic resin materials to the processing and molding of polymers. We are leveraging these strengths to proactively deliver new solutions capable of popularizing the effective utilization of plastics in a way that helps reduce their footprints on the global environment.
In addition, we have been a participant in the Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA) since 2019.

Chemical Recycling in Tandem with Toyo Styrene

To help popularize the recycling of plastic resources, Toyo Styrene Co., Ltd., an equity method affiliate of Denka, has initiated a project aimed at commercializing chemical recycling technologies for processing polystyrene (PS) resin.
As part of these initiatives, Toyo Styrene signed a technology licensing agreement with Agilyx Corporation, a company headquartered in Portland, in the U.S.State of Oregon, that is striving to commercialize chemical recycling technologies. Following the lead of Agilyx, which launched a pioneering verification testing facility in the United States, Toyo Styrene is promoting the construction of the first domestic verification testing facility of this kind on the premises of Denka’s Chiba Plant. With the expected annual processing capacity totaling approximately 3,000 tons, the facility’s operational kickoff is scheduled for the end of fiscal 2022.
To date, the material recycling process conventionally used for plastic recycling has entailed certain restrictions on the recycling of food-related containers. However, the chemical recycling method being tested by the aforementioned facilities is expected to serve as an innovative solution to remove such restrictions as it employs the thermal decomposition of PS into raw material styrene monomer (SM) , which, in turn, can be used to manufacture PS for use in any application. Moreover, the volume of CO₂ deriving from the chemical recycling of polystyrene is far smaller than that deriving from regular PS production process.
Along with extending comprehensive support to Toyo Styrene’s chemical recycling business, we will help it act in collaboration with government agencies and other related organizations to establish a full-scale plastic resource recycling system.

3R Initiatives Undertaken by Denka Polymer

To contribute to the reduction of environmental burdens and industrial waste, Denka Polymer Co., Ltd., a Denka subsidiary, aims to push ahead with the development of environment-friendly products and materials, such as bioplastics, via the use of a development approach based on eco-friendly product design.
For example, this subsidiary makes PLAPS, a food container material comprising a combination of polylactic acid (PLA)—a plastic material derived from starch and other plant products—and polystyrene, as well as CLEALEAD, a new BOPS sheet that is 35% lighter than the usual one made with amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (A-PET). Having developed and released these offerings to promote resource saving, Denka Polymer aims to help its customers reduce environmental burden arising from the use of its products.
Furthermore, in addition to deploying proactive energy-saving measures at its production bases, Denka Polymer is striving to reuse plastic scraps derived from its manufacturing facilities as container materials, with the ultimate aim of achieving the recycle of virtually all waste plastics.