Zenbird Editorial TeamKikkoman Corporation announced it will start converting factory plastic waste into oil through chemical recycling. The food and soy sauce manufacturer will be collaborating with recycling technology specialist CFP Corporation and chemical producer Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. to implement the project.
They will initially target waste plastics, including packaging materials, bottles and caps, generated during the manufacturing process at the Kikkoman Foodtech Corporation’s West Japan Plant. These materials will be collected and transported to a facility operated by CFP, a company with expertise in oil conversion technology.
At the facility, the waste plastics will be decomposed and converted into a generated oil. This process allows the material to be reused as a feedstock for new products, creating a circular system for resources that would otherwise be incinerated. A reduction of carbon dioxide emissions is expected compared to conventional waste disposal methods.
The long-term goal is to create a closed-loop system for Kikkoman’s packaging. The partners are exploring a process where Mitsui Chemicals Group will use the oil produced by CFP to manufacture new plastics. Kikkoman Group would then use these recycled plastics in its own packaging materials.
Future plans include expanding the types of plastic waste eligible for recycling and increasing the range of new packaging materials produced through the scheme. Kikkoman also intends to implement similar initiatives at its other manufacturing sites.
[Reference] Kikkoman Corporation News Release (Japanese)
