May 7, 2021
Others
Chiba Complex begins Japan's first demonstration study on waste plastic recycling, including mixed plastics. Utilizes oil conversion technology and oil refining and petrochemical equipment to build a waste plastic recycling chain.
Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd., Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Shunichi Kito; hereinafter "Idemitsu") has agreed with Environmental Energy Co., Ltd. (Head office: Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture; Representative Director: Shuji Noda; hereinafter "Environmental Energy") to conduct a verification study of a waste plastic recycling business at our Chiba Complex Works (Location: Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture; Manager: Shinji Araki). This verification study will utilize Environmental Energy Co.'s waste plastic decomposition technology and Chiba Complex' oil refining and petrochemical facilities to recycle mixed plastics that were difficult to recycle using conventional technology, and will promote the construction of Japan's first waste plastic recycling chain with the goal of Resources 15,000 tons of waste plastic per year.
Waste plastic recycling chain aimed at through demonstration
- HiCOP technology: This refers to a catalytic cracking method, a patented technology invented by Manager Fujimoto of the HiBD Research Institute (Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo and the University of Kitakyushu).
Our group and Kankyo Energy Company have been working together since fiscal 2019 to develop technology for recycling waste plastic into oil as part of the Ministry of the Environment's "Subsidy for Carbon Dioxide Emission Control Measures Projects, etc." project. This demonstration will use Chiba Complex, to refine, decompose, and resynthesize waste plastics that have been turned into oil using the refining and petrochemical facilities at the same site. , which will be recycled (Resources) as new plastic, and is the first such initiative in Japan. In the future, we will also consider expanding the system to group Refinery.
In recent years, efforts have been made to address issues such as marine plastic waste, climate change, and the tightening of Resources import regulations in other countries. The importance and social needs of further promoting plastic Resources circulation are increasing. On the other hand, in Japan, out of the approximately 9 million tons of waste plastics produced each year, only a little less than 30% is used for recycled products, and more than 50% of waste plastics are thermally recycled because they are difficult to reuse. Currently, it is being turned into fuel. Under these circumstances, unprecedented and innovative recycling technology is required to meet the expanding needs for recycled plastics.
Our company, which handles everything from crude oil refining to plastic manufacturing, is leveraging its strengths to actively contribute to a low-carbon society by realizing advanced recycling by converting waste plastic into oil both domestically and internationally. I'll go.
■Overview of demonstration
- Implementation location: Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. Chiba Complex
- Demonstration details: ① Using HiCOP technology, Kankyo Energy Company converts waste plastic into oil. The generated mixed oil is re-refined and synthesized using our equipment and recycled into plastic.
- ② Mixed plastics, which were difficult to recycle using conventional technology, can be recycled.
■Role of each company
- Environmental Energy Co., Ltd. (business promoter):
Oil conversion technology/equipment development - Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. (business partner):
Rental of land Chiba Complex, collection and re-refining of produced oil
Regarding news release
contact information
Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. Public Relations Department Public Relations Division