Mitsui Chemicals and Kaisei partner to commercialise a new approach for bio-polypropylene production


Type of post: NEWS.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. is collaborating with Kaisei Inc. to commercialize bio-polypropylene (bio-PP). Japan's Ministry of the Environment has adopted Mitsui Chemicals' bio-PP pilot project to boost the use of renewable resources and support a carbon-free society.


Figure 1. Mitsui Chemicals’ approach for bio-PP production (extracted from the press release)

The name of the initiative is Bio-PP pilot and it is a three-year project beginning in 2019. Mitsui Chemicals will develop a bio-PP industrialization demonstration test, conducting multifaceted evaluations of technologies, quality, economic efficiency and environmental impact. Kaisei will cultivate biomass feedstock used by Mitsui Chemicals, collect wastes generated from biomass feedstock, supply electricity to manufacturing facilities and produce biofertilizer. By collaborating with Kaisei, Mitsui Chemicals aims to contribute to society through environmentally friendly action with a circular model that leverages the supply chain.

Figure 2. Circular model throughout the manufacturing supply chain (extracted from the press release)

PP has a wide range of applications (automobile parts, medical care products, home appliances, packaging…) and accounts for more than 20% of the plastic produced in Japan. However, due to technical difficulties, production of PP from biomass has not been established at the industrial level. After the project, Mitsui Chemicals will consider commercialization of bio-PP (production would start in 2024 at the shortest).

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