Development of plastic chemical recycling system

JGC HOLDINGS CORPORATION

Figure. Plastic Chemical Recycle

Outline

JGC CORPORATION, the engineering business company of the JGC Group, recognizes plastic recycle as a piece of carbon dioxide management (carbon recycle in a broad sense) and aim to realize chemical recycle by gasifying or monomerizing plastics. Chemical recycle is a technology that can regenerate a new plastic product or a plastic product as good as new from waste plastic. As part of this, JGC has commenced a discussion with EBARA ENVIRONMENTAL PLANT CO., LTD., UBE INDUSTRIES, LTD. and SHOWA DENKO K.K. of a gasification technology collaboration on plastic chemical recycle. JGC HOLDINGS and JGC are not only designing and constructing gasification plant, but also working with companies and local governments to build a value chain for gasification and chemical recycling of waste plastics.

Description

Japan is aiming for a 100% plastic reuse and recycle rate by 2050 through its “Resource Circulation Policy for Plastics”. To achieve this goal, material recycle, which reduces performance of plastic product due to recycle, is not enough. For this goal, chemical recycle is essential because it can regenerate new plastics and plastics as good as new from waste plastics.
JGC is studying and developing both chemical recycle by monomerization applicable to single waste plastics and chemical recycle by gasification that can also recycle composite, mixed and contaminated plastics. The former requires different processes for each type of plastic. Therefore, JGC is trying to expand portfolio.

Meanwhile, with regard to gasification chemical recycle, JGC has begun discussions with companies EBARA ENVIRONMENTAL PLANT CO., LTD., UBE INDUSTRIES, LTD. and SHOWA DENKO K.K. on collaboration on gasification technology for waste plastics. At the same time, JGC is studying and developing a process for synthesizing chemical products from syngas in collaboration with several chemical companies.

These implementations require not only technology, but also cooperation from the entire value chain, including chemical manufacturers, product manufacturers and sellers, as well as consumers and the waste plastic recovery industry. By implementing this plastic chemical recycle, JGC aims to support the achievement of 100% reuse and recycle rates of plastics. Furthermore, the gasification chemical recycle process can be applied as a biomass plastic production process by supplying biomass such as garbage and wood chips as a raw material.
JGC Group is pursuing development aimed at social implementation of plastic chemical recycle system to achieve the goals of “Resource Circulation Policy for Plastics” and “Bio Strategy 2019”.