Teijin Is Pushing For Biomass-derived Materials in Conjunction with Mitsui Chemicals

As Japan’s first company to develop and market biomass-derived polycarbonate (PC) resin, Teijin is at the forefront of what is possible to ensure sustainable manufacturing and pushing for carbon neutrality with a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout individual product life cycles.

This cutting edge, joint initiative followed? Mitsui Chemicals Group ’s achievement of ISCC PLUS certification from the?ISCC - International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, based on which Mitsui Chemicals will begin supplying biomass bisphenol A（BPA） produced with the mass-balance approach. Teijin works closely with other industry leaders, with a collaborative approach needed to ensure we reduce our carbon footprint and impact on global environments.

In the aforementioned ISCC PLUS-certified mass-balance approach, materials are tracked through complex value chains - significantly with verifiable data. Teijin will develop and produce?#biomass?#PC?resins using the same BPA.?

Our process involves the procurement of biomass-derived BPA from Mitsui Chemicals to produce biomass derived PC resins, which boast the same physical characteristics as our existing petroleum-derived PC resins. This will position our new?#sustainable?offering amongst our trusted industry solutions for different markets. The newly created biomass-derived versions will be able to be used in commercial applications to bring innovative materials to be part of our everyday lives.

By expanding the sales of products containing plastics produced through biomass conversion, Teijin (alongside Mitsui Chemicals) aims to research, develop and produce more environmentally friendly products throughout supply chains. Our partners at Mitsui Chemicals, for example, are considering expanding their procurement network for bio-based hydrocarbons in order to provide stable supplies of related products to the market.?

As a company who constantly strives for better, aligning ourselves with partners with equally considerable sustainable goals means we can develop stronger solutions to markets in a vast number of industries.

Teijin’s goals are long term - demonstrating our commitment to our plans. We expect to acquire ISCC PLUS certification in the first half of 2023 and thereafter start commercial production of biomass-derived PC resins. We are already placing emphasis with our customers that conventional, petroleum-derived PC resins can be easily replaced with biomass-derived versions for more environmentally friendly products thanks to our research and development of sustainable products which don’t sacrifice performance.

We at Teijin also have declared a plan to reduce internal GHG emissions to virtually zero by 2050. In the interim, the target is a 30% reduction by 2030 compared to 2018, including by cutting emissions from Teijin products in use by an amount greater than emissions from its total supply chain by 2030.