Kaneka Builds 5.000 tons PHBH Plant

Kaneka has completed the capacity building of its Biodegradable Polymer PHBH at the Takasago Plant. The completion ceremony was held on December 17th.

The investment was around 2.5 billion yen, the production capacity is approximately 5,000 tons / year, five times that of the previous model.

In recent years, marine pollution caused by microplastics has become a global social problem as it affects ecosystems.

However, PHBH ® , a 100% plant-derived biopolymer, is certified to biodegrade in seawater.

It acquired “OK Biodegradable MARINE (1) certificate and is expected to contribute to reducing marine pollution.

In addition, it has been added to the positive lists of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Sanitation Council for Polyolefins and the European Commission , and the countries and regions that can be used for food contact applications are expanding.

In Europe, various regulations have been tightened to reduce disposable plastics.

In France, regulations are tightened from January 2020, and PHBH ® sales are expected to expand rapidly.

The PHBH ® straws were adopted in November by Seven-Eleven (10,000 stores in Japan) and we are also jointly developing cosmetic containers with Shiseido.

In addition, many global brand holders are studying a wide range of applications such as straws, plastic bags, cutlery, and food containers and packaging materials, and the 5,000-ton / year plant is expected to become fully operational at an early stage.

In addition to the expansion of production capacity, it is expected that construction of a full-scale mass production plant will be decided at an early stage in order to respond to the growing demand on a global scale in a timely manner.

Based on the idea that Kaneka makes the world healthy, we will continue to provide value globally as a solution provider.

In September, we issued a green bond (environmental bond) for the purpose of financing PHBH ® production facilities and R&D.

(1) In seawater (30 ℃), biodegradability should be 90% or more within 6 months.

 

REFS

Kaneka Biodegradable Polymer PHBH® plant completed annual production of 5,000 tons

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