Japan: Nine Companies Trial Joint Recycling Model for Flexible Plastic Packaging

The Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI) has launched a cross-industry demonstration project in Japan for the recycling of flexible plastic packaging. Commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, the project involves nine companies from the chemicals, printing, packaging and plastics industries.

The environment ministry-backed project will test a shared platform for delamination and de-inking technologies in flexible plastic packaging recycling. © Nick Fewings on Unsplash

The project focuses on a cooperative platform model that would enable several companies to share recycling facilities and processing technologies. In particular, it will test methods for separating the individual layers of multilayer films and for removing printing inks and adhesive components.

The aim is to assess the conditions required for the industrial application of these technologies. The project will compare the quality of the recyclates produced, the economic viability of the processing methods and security of supply. In addition, the project partners plan to analyse the allocation of roles and cooperation across the entire process chain, from collection through to the reuse of the plastic.

Several jointly defined sample types of flexible plastic packaging will be used in the trials. Separation and deinking processes developed by different companies will be tested and evaluated under comparable conditions.

According to MRI, the recycling of flexible packaging continues to face considerable technical and economic barriers. Multilayer films, printing inks and adhesives, in particular, make it difficult to produce high-quality recyclates. Individual companies are often unable to operate the necessary facilities at an economically viable utilisation rate. By sharing technology and infrastructure, the partners aim to reduce costs, consolidate larger volumes of material and achieve more consistent recyclate quality.

The companies participating in the project are RM Tohcello, Kyoeisha Chemical, Zacros, Dai Nippon Printing, Toyo Seikan, Toppan, Howa Sangyo, Hosokawa Yoko and Mitsubishi Chemical. The Mitsubishi Research Institute is responsible for overall coordination and the evaluation of the results.

Toppan is participating both as a manufacturer of plastic packaging and films and as a developer of separation and deinking technologies. The company is providing test materials and technical expertise and is contributing to the evaluation of the recycling trials.

Based on the results, the partners intend to determine the conditions required to operate a shared recycling platform. They also plan to examine unresolved issues relating to commercialisation, the transfer of the model to other applications and the future development of Japan’s plastics circular economy policy.

The project forms part of a study commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment to support the further development of the country’s national plastics circular economy strategy.