Carbon Design
【Where Research Meets Scale】
C1-based SEG® technology. CO₂-derived chemicals. Bio-based materials.
By combining Japan's R&D excellence with China's scale-up capabilities, we transform fundamental research into viable commercial products.
Business Features
We are developing and licensing SEG® technology based on C1 Chemicals.
To date, we have concluded 23 licensing agreements for SEG® technology, and we are developing projects on a scale of approximately 10 million tons per year. ethylene glycol produced using this method accounts for more than 30% of the market share in China.
Our binational research network supports the complete development pathway—fundamental research through industrial-scale validation—driving innovation in advanced catalyst technologies.
Furthermore, we have established a mass production system for metal solid catalysts, including SEG® catalysts, at our catalyst plant in Nantong City, China.
We're developing technologies and catalysts to produce ethylene glycol and paraxylene from CO₂—and bringing them to commercial scale. These breakthrough processes, which enable polyester and PET bottles to be manufactured from CO₂, are attracting widespread attention across industries.
Projects
There are only 25 years left until carbon neutrality is achieved by 2050. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has sounded the alarm that to achieve this ambitious goal, approximately 1 billion tons of CO2 will need to be removed from the atmosphere per year. Technologies that have attracted attention so far include direct CO2 capture from the atmosphere, such as Direct Air Capture (DAC), developed by companies such as Swiss company Climeworks. However, CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is only 0.04%, making it difficult to increase capture efficiency. Among these, attention is now turning to the ocean, the source of all life.
Business
We are developing and licensing SEG® technology based on C1 Chemicals.
We have our own catalyst factory in Nantong, China. This plant has established a mass production system for SEG® catalysts, low-temperature denitrification catalysts, and catalysts for electrolyte solvents. In addition, with our high technical capabilities, we are able to undertake OEM manufacturing of catalysts and participate in multiple national projects.
At HighChem, we are working on the development of technologies and catalysts for producing ethylene glycol and paraxylene from CO₂, based on C1 technology, and their implementation in society.
HighChem has built close relationships with suppliers of biodegradable plastic and biomass plastics in China and other countries, and has established a stable supply system for a wide range of bioplastics, including polylactic acid (PLA), marine degradable PHA, and bionylon.
HighChem is globally expanding its Corn-derived polylactic acid (PLA) fiber. PLA fiber has been attracting attention as a carbon-neutral material, and HighChem is expanding it globally under the name "HIGHLACT®." We are also focusing on the development of next-generation polyester using green MEG, which is currently under development.
Products
Marine biodegradable, made from 100% plant-derived materials. Available in both powder and pellet types.
Marine biodegradable, made from 100% plant-derived materials. Available in both powder and pellet types.
Nylon resin made from 100% bio-based raw materials
47% of the raw materials are plant-derived, and its properties are similar to Nylon 66.
A representative type of biodegradable resin, supplied by China’s largest producer, BBCA, through its authorized distributor. Stocked and sold in Japan.
This is a PLA-based knitting yarn.
These are cut-and-sew fabrics made with PLA. We offer a variety of options, including 100% PLA, PLA/cotton blends, and PLA/TENCEL™ blends.
We offer 100% PLA, PLA/cotton blends, and PLA/TENCEL™ blends in yarn counts ranging from 10s to 60s.
We offer 100% PLA filament in a selection ranging from 50 to 150 denier.
These are woven fabrics made with PLA, used in applications such as chino and denim.
