Kaneka Significantly Increases The Production Capacity of Degradable Polymer PHBH

On February 6, Kaneka announced that it will significantly increase the production capacity of its Kaneka biodegradable polymer Green Planet™ in Japan. The new factory will be constructed at the Kaneka Takasago production base with an investment of approximately 15 billion yen. Its production capacity is 15,000 tons/year, bringing Kaneka's total production capacity to 20,000 tons/year.

Plastic pollution has become a widespread problem, with single-use plastics banned in many parts of the world. Also in Japan, the Plastics Resource Recycling Law, set to take effect in April, will mandate a reduction in the use of single-use plastics. Due to its biodegradable properties, Green Planet™ promises to be an innovative solution to the environmental hazards posed by single-use plastics, while maintaining similar functionality to conventional plastics.

Green Planet™ PHBH is a biomass polymer produced by microbial biosynthesis using vegetable oils. The material is readily biodegradable in soil and water (salt and fresh water). Thirty years ago, when Green Planet began development, it was known as the wonder polymer, but industrial-scale production was still just a dream. However, the development of innovative microbial biosynthesis brings a clear vision for the commercialization of a green planet. In addition, huge advances in formulation and processing technology have made it a reality. This is possible because Kaneka has a wide range of core technologies related to fermentation and polymer production.

Kaneka estimates that Green Planet™ could replace approximately 25 million tons of traditional single-use plastic products per year. Green Planet™ is already used in straws, cutlery, coffee capsules, bags, films and more, with more than 5 million tons per year in these applications alone. The number of inquiries Kaneka is receiving from environmentally conscious brand owners is growing rapidly, and Kaneka will expand its supply capacity to meet growing demand. Led by the "local produce local consumption" policy, Kaneka plans to further increase production capacity in Europe and the US, where demand is also rising. Green Planet™ has commercial potential in the hundreds of thousands of tons and will be one of the core products in Kaneka's portfolio.

Green Planet™ can be used in a wide range of applications and this range is expected to expand further in the future. Therefore, the new production plant is seen as the basis for future process technology development. By operating this new plant, Kaneka plans to further develop new products through process innovation, which will lead to increased productivity and lower costs.