Iwatani has established a new company jointly invested by eleven private companies which are engaged in a value chain management concerning plastics like Suntory, Rengo and Toyobo, and started business operations from June.

The new company named “R PLUS JAPAN” is joined by Iwatani, Suntory MONOZUKURI Expert, Toyobo, Rengo, Toyo Seikan Holdings, J&T Recycling, Asahi Group Holdings, Dai Nippon Printing, Toppan Printing, Fuji Seal, Hokkai Can. and Yoshino Kogyosho, all of which manage a value chain in the field of the production, consumption, logistics and resource recycling.

The investment rate of each company has not been disclosed. Mr. Tsunehiko Yokoi executive officer of Suntory MONOZUKURI Expert takes the office of representative director and president of the new company.

The new company is going to support and promote the commercialization of the high-efficiency recycling of used plastics with less environmental burdens which is being developed by Anellotech of US biochemical venture.

What the company is developing this time aims to make generally-used plastics transform back to their raw materials like benzene or toluene using chemical reactions. It is said to control CO2 emission and energy required in comparison with the conventional technologies to combust plastics for the same purpose. The new company plans to put it into a practical use in 2027 and build up a waste plastic recycling plant in the country.
　
Iwatani has so far been selling environmental load reducing plastic products like bio-mass PET and aluminum catalyst PET to beverage manufacturers so as to realize a decarbonized society.

Iwatani’s aim to invest in the new company is to put the environmentally-friendly recycled products obtained from used plastics into the lineup of business. After the technological development has been put into practice, Iwatani intends to play the role of gateway for sales. The new company is planning to invite investors and at present Sumitomo Chemical is considering participation.