Collaboration to use biomass plastics in home appliances
Idemitsu Kosan and Mitsubishi Electric have started collaboration for use of biomass plastics in home appliances, promoting biomass plastics in the home appliance market.
Idemitsu Kosan will produce biomass chemicals using the mass balance method while Mitsubishi Electric will use biomass plastics made from Idemitsu Kosan’s biomass chemicals to produce home appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators.
Biomass supply chain in the collaboration between Idemitsu Kosan and Mitsubishi Electric.
Biomass plastics made from biomass chemicals feature the same quality as petroleum-derived plastics. In addition, CO2 emissions could be reduced throughout the life cycle as they are manufactured from renewable materials. Furthermore, biomass plastics can be used in home appliances without inhibiting material recycling.
Idemitsu Kosan has been working on the production and sales of biomass chemicals as one of its measures to realize carbon neutrality since 2022. Mitsubishi Electric is also working to expand the use of recycled plastics to realize a circular economy.
In addition to current activity, it is essential to develop alternative materials to petroleum-derived plastics, technologies and products which leads to emissions reduction. To solve this issue, the two companies will work together to use biomass plastics made from biomass chemicals in home appliances, contributing to carbon neutrality and realizing a circular economy.
