Japanese plastics manufacturing group Sekisui (Tokyo; www.sekisuichemical.com) has formed an alliance with Sumitomo Chemical (Tokyo; www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp/english) to combine technologies to chemically recycle plastics waste into polyolefins. Pilot production will begin in 2022 with Sekisui converting the waste into ethanol and Sumitomo using the ethanol as a raw material for polyolefins production. Full-scale market launch of the production method is expected in 2025.

Sekisui brings to the alliance a production technology for transforming plastics waste into ethanol. The technology is based on a 2017 cooperation Sekisui formed with carbon recycling specialist LanzaTech (Roselle, Illinois / USA; www.lanzatech.com) to develop the approach. It enables gasification of combustible waste into carbon monoxide and hydrogen without the need to separate the waste. The gases are then converted into ethanol using a microbial catalyst, obviating the need for heat or pressure. The ethanol will then be used by Sumitomo to produce ethylene and downstream polymers.

According to Sekisui, Japan discards approximately 60m t/y of combustible waste, equivalent to 200 tr kcal if the material is converted to energy. In comparison the amount of fossil fuels used to produce plastic materials in Japan is approximately 30m t/y or roughly 150 tr kcal.