News Release
HighChem Forms Partnership with Sekisui Kasei Co., Ltd. on Biodegradable Plastics
HighChem Company Limited (Head Office: Minato Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Ushio Taka hereinafter referred to as HighChem) and Sekisui Kasei Co., Ltd. (Head Office: 2-4-4 Nishitenma, Kita-ku, Osaka City Representative Director and President: Masato Kashihara hereinafter referred to as Sekisui Kasei.) recently concluded a strategic basic agreement to cooperate with each other to promote the development and sales expansion of biodegradable plastics.
Through the recent partnership between the two companies, we will combine Sekisui Kasei's resin modification technology and their long-standing expertise in developing recycled products with HighChem's raw material procurement capabilities in China and market development strengths in both Japan and China. This collaboration aims to tap into new demand for biodegradable plastics.
Sekisui Kasei Aims to Replace 50% of Raw Materials with Eco-Friendly Alternatives by 2030
In response to global environmental issues such as climate change and marine debris, Sekisui Kasei has set a goal of replacing at least 50% of the raw materials that make up all of its products with recycled materials, biodegradable plastics, or biomass-derived plastics by 2030. In addition, the resin modification technology that the company has cultivated over the years has been widely applied to businesses in the food, industrial materials, and automobile fields. In addition, polymer particles, which are non-foamable materials made using polymerization technology, are widely used as additives in the optical, liquid crystal, paint, and cosmetic fields around the world.
Providing total solutions for biodegradable plastics
HighChem, a leader in biodegradable plastics, has been advancing market development initiatives, including a strategic business partnership with BBCA Group, the largest PLA (polylactic acid) manufacturer in China. This collaboration underlines HighChem's commitment to expanding the biodegradable plastics market through effective supply chain and business strategies. In addition to PLA (polylactic acid), we have established a system to import and sell a total of seven types of biodegradable plastics, including PBAT (polybutylene adipate/terephthalate) and PHBV, a marine degradable resin. In December 2021, we announced the next-generation PLA (polylactic acid) material "HIGHLACT®" and are also working on the development of PLA fibers for global apparel brands.
Sekisui Kasei
Company Name: Sekisui Kasei Co., Ltd. Industry Co.
Location: 2-4-4 Nishitenma, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Representative Director Masato Kashiwabara
Business: Manufacturing of foamed plastic resins and sheets as material products to manufacturing and sales of final products, etc.
HighChem
Company Name: HighChem Company Limited
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo 3-1, Toranomon 1-chome, Tokyo Toranomon Global Square 11F
Representative Director : Taka Ushio
Business： Export/import and sales of Chemicals / outsourced manufacturing / Technology Licensing related business / manufacture and sales of catalysts / Biodegradable Materials import and sales, etc.
Media inquiries regarding this release
HighChem Co., Ltd. PR Division – Eriko Kuroiwa
E-mail: kuroiwa@highchem.co.jp Phone: +81-3-5251-8580 / +81-90-6539-4213 (Kuroiwa)