Zenbird Editorial TeamJEPLAN Co., Ltd. has announced that its proprietary recycled PET resin, HELIX™, is now utilised in the packaging of more than 50 product items across multiple cosmetic brands owned by Kao Corporation, marking an important horizontal recycling progress within the beauty industry.
The collaboration began in 2021 when Kao first adopted HELIX™ for its TWANY brand bottle containers. Since then, the use of the recycled material has expanded to include major brands such as KANEBO and SOFINA iP. To provide transparency regarding these circular economy efforts, JEPLAN has published a comprehensive list of the products featuring the material on its official HELIX™ brand website.
HELIX™ is produced by Pet Refine Technology, a subsidiary of the JEPLAN Group, using a unique chemical recycling process. Unlike conventional mechanical recycling, this technology decomposes used PET bottles and polyester waste at the molecular level. This allows for the thorough removal of impurities, pigments, and metals that typically degrade the quality of recycled plastics. The resulting resin possesses the same purity and functional characteristics as petroleum-derived PET, making it suitable for the stringent quality and aesthetic requirements of cosmetic packaging.
The JEPLAN Group operates two domestic chemical recycling plants in Kawasaki and Kitakyushu. By diverting used plastic from incineration or landfill and reintroducing it into the production cycle, the company reduces reliance on limited fossil resources. Furthermore, the manufacturing process for HELIX™ contributes to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to the production of virgin PET from petroleum.
The name HELIX™ is derived from the English word for a spiral, symbolising a material that can be circulated repeatedly without loss of quality. JEPLAN intends to continue strengthening its domestic and international partnerships to lead the transition toward a global circular economy.
[Reference] JEPLAN News (Japanese)
