Idemitsu Kosan and Mitsubishi Electric Start Collaboration for Use of Biomass Plastics in Home Appliances

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, “Idemitsu Kosan”) and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (hereinafter, “Mitsubishi Electric”) are pleased to announce that they have agreed to start collaboration for use of biomass plastics in home appliances, with the aim of promoting biomass plastics in the home appliance market. Idemitsu Kosan will produce biomass chemicals using the mass balance method. Mitsubishi Electric aims to use biomass plastics made from the chemicals for Mitsubishi Electric’s home appliances (e.g., air conditioners and refrigerators).

Biomass plastics made from biomass chemicals are considered to have the following characteristics compared to petroleum-derived plastics.

• CO₂ emissions could be reduced throughout their life cycle because they are manufactured from raw materials derived from renewable materials such as plants, used cooking oils, etc.
• They can be used in home appliances without inhibiting material recycling because they are the same quality as petroleum-derived plastics.

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 and technologies and products which leads to reduction of CO₂ emissions. To solve this issue, the two companies will work together to use biomass plastics made from biomass chemicals in home appliances, and contribute to carbon neutrality regarding plastics and the realization of a circular economy.

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