Reduce atmospheric CO2 by using bioplastics

TOYOBO CO., LTD.

Outline

TOYOBO expands use of bioplastics made from plant-derived materials and contribute to reducing CO2 in the atmosphere.
In the past in Japan, plastic wastes have been incinerated in the aspect of energy recovery, but CO2 emitted by incineration may have contributed to global warming. Although recycling plastics or reducing plastic wastes can reduce CO2 emissions, this does not directly contribute to reducing CO2 present in the atmosphere.

As a manufacturer of plastic film products, we are actively promoting the shift to plant (which absorb CO2 and grow)-based plastics, thereby contributing to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. We gradually increase the volume of bio-plastics in our film product shipments by 2030. The goal is to convert all fossil-based plastic film products into bioplastics by the year 2050. By converting all film products into bioplastics, we expect to reduce 45,000 tons of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Description

1. Goals of Challenge
・ TOYOBO has been selling bio-PET films and no issues remained (except material cost compared with fossil-based plastics).
In order to achive that, it is necessary to shift the increased material costs to the sales prices.
5% of all film products containing bio-plastics by the year 2030.
Convert all film products into bioplastics by the year 2050.

2. Challenges to be overcome in order to overcome the challenge
・ Cost reduction of raw materials
・ Understanding of the cost burden on consumers of environmental adaptation

3. Our specific actions
・ Need to offset increase in raw material costs to minimize impact on final product prices
・ We will propose changes in depth and packaging materials to customers in conjunction with quantitative data.

4. Quantitative effects when the challenge is overcome
・ In the literature for PET, it is calculated that CO2 emissions from plant-based materials
is 0.45t-CO2/t. In other words, 0.45 tons of CO2 in the air is immobilized in 1 ton of PET.
・ Although it is currently unknown that which kind of plastics will be convert to plant-based plastic, if supposed that all plastics TOYOBO uses annually (100.000 tons at 2050) are converted to plant-based plastics, we expect to reduce 45,000 tons of CO2 in the atmosphere.