Synthesizing Methanol from Carbon Dioxide Efficiently to Promote Carbon Circulation

SUMITOMO CHEMICAL Co., Ltd. Shimane University

・Shimane University develops basic research into catalysts and reaction processes to increase reaction yield in the methanol synthesis using carbon dioxide as a raw material.

Collaboration using the world's first new dissolution and separation recycling technology for the complete recycling of polystyrene.

FP Corporation DIC Corporation

In November 2020, DIC and FPCO announced plans to collaborate in the practical implementation of a closed-loop recycling system for polystyrene that maximizes the technologies, as well as the collection and recycling systems, of both companies. In this initiative, colored foamed trays will be recycled into new trays just like conventional white trays using a new dissolution and separation recycling technology, enabling a "tray-to-tray" recycling. Additionally, this effort aims to realize the closed-loop recycling that uses chemical recycling technology to recycle polystyrene to styrene monomer, which is the raw material for polystyrene.

Low-foamed PS containers created by Low-foamed PS sheet and New molding technology.

FP Corporation Sekisui Kasei Co., Ltd.

In response to our customers' needs to further reduce the use of plastic in the market, FPCO has been conducting research on product weight reduction utilizing PSP (polystyrene paper) foaming technology in collaboration with SEKISUI KASEI CO., LTD(SEKISUI KASEI).

Regarding the Use of Recycled Plastic

TOTO. LTD

As part of our initiative to promote the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in our products, we are actively utilizing recycled plastic. In Japan, we use over 100 tons of recycled plastic each month. The main application is in the tank part of toilets, where over 80% is comprised of recycled plastic. In addition, we are increasing the adoption of recycled plastic in other components such as washlets, system baths, and kitchens.

closed recycling system of label backing release liner" Resource Recycling Project"

Resource Recycling Project NEION Film Coatings Corp． TOYOBO CO., LTD. Shionogi Pharma Co., Ltd.

label backing release liner typically uses composite materials of paper and 　 resin, which　are generally difficult to recycle. As a result, they become a large amount of industrial waste and are incinerated. In this project, we replace these label backing release liner with release liner for recycling made from PET-based synthetic paper. After use, the release paper is collected as valuable materials and subjected to material recycling. By using the recycled material again as a raw material for release liner for recycling, we achieve Film-to-Film recycling. This will enable the social implementation of closed recycling system of label backing release liner.

Eliminate Polystyrene Foam Packaging for Large TVs Using enviromentally concious biodegradable biopolymer

Sony Group Corporation

Sony has been transitioning from plastic packaging to paper packaging for small products. For larger and heavier products like TVs, polystyrene foam has remained the primary cushioning material due to it robust resistance during transportation.

Energy efficient purification of bioethanol

Sulzer Japan Limited

Sulzer’s unique design for distillation and dehydration enables bioethanol production with very low steam consumption. Our design is tailored to maximize the heat integration and minimize the OPEX for a sustainable bioethanol production. Our long-standing experience in bioethanol purification ensures a reliable and proven design for advanced bioethanol. We offer complete process plants solution for 1G-bioethanol from edible feedstocks, 2G-bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, Advanced bioethanol from gas fermentation (3G-4G).

Promoting elimination of waste (release paper), improvement of production efficiency at customers’ factories, and resource recycling support after use with the “Heat Labeling System,” which is a thermal bonding method that does not require release paper!

KOTOBUKI SEIHAN PRINTING CO.,LTD

Tack labels, to which a glue agent is applied in advance, are utilized by removing the labels from the label release paper during the process of attaching the labels to the products, and the release paper portion is no longer needed. The amount of release paper used by the entire domestic manufacturing industry is said to amount to 116 million m2 per month, most of which is disposed of or incinerated without being recovered or reused as a resource. We have developed a heat label that uses a heat-sensitive adhesive method that does not require release paper, even though it is pre-applied with a glue, thereby eliminating the need for release paper itself, which accounts for about 40% of the entire label. By proposing solutions to reduce the use of product resources from the design stage and solve the issues faced by stakeholders at each stage, we are working with our customers to reduce waste and costs incurred during the production of release paper, eliminate waste (label release paper) generated after label application, improve work efficiency during production, and support resource recycling after use.

Promoting total solution proposals that accompany customers at each stage with “thermal transfer foil”!

KOTOBUKI SEIHAN PRINTING CO.,LTD

Thermal transfer is a technique in which, by applying heat and pressure to a heat-resistant film with a pattern printed on it, the pattern (ink layer) is instantly applied to the base material (molded product). Normally, in the case of direct printing, the more multicolored the pattern, the greater the increase in base material loss due to printing errors and printing work time, resulting in poor yields and requiring more time for delivery. In the case of hydraulic transfer, not only is a large amount of waste fluid generated after the transfer process, but the process also takes time, resulting in longer time for delivery.

PS Recycle Technology

Sulzer Japan Limited

For pyrolysis of polystyrene, which Sulzer perform with its technology partner VTT, combining the strength of Finland’s strongest research organization with Sulzer’s existing SuRe™ styrene technology. Testing different polystyrene wastes including contaminations of polyethylene and polypropylene has been shown to achieve a 64% yield for styrene monomer. The quality of the monomer is suited to the production of polystyrene in all qualities, including for food packaging applications.

Bio Fuel Technology License

Sulzer Japan Limited

Under the cooperation with BASF, our joint development target is to improve the existing MaxFlux and BioFlux technologies for plastic recycling and biofuels with leading catalyst and adsorbent technology in terms of yields and energy consumption, thereby lowering the carbon footprint of the technology and improving CAPEX and OPEX requirements.

Circular Polymer Technology

Sulzer Japan Limited

Sulzer is a key shareholder in Worn Again Technologies, a company dedicated to textile recycling. In 2022 we announced that the first pilot plant will be built in Winterthur, Switzerland, and that Sulzer has increased its share in Worn Again Technologies. Building on our experience in the process development and licensing of polylactic acid (PLA) polymers and co-polymers, Chemtech is creating a portfolio of process technologies for biobased polymers. In 2022, significant progress was made on establishing pilot plants to test different raw materials, such as lactic acid, and developing formulas to modify properties of PLA polymers. Sulzer’s unique ring-opening technology to produce biopolymers such as PLA is suited to producing other biopolymers and co-polymers. It has been our goal to have a pilot plant platform available to test different synthesis routes and formulas on different scales to accelerate process development – and this was implemented in Switzerland in 2022.