Current State of Plastic Recycling
In Japan, thermal recycling is the primary method for processing plastics, while chemical recycling, which involves chemical reactions, is still uncommon. However, the expansion of material and chemical recycling is essential to achieve the advanced recycling-oriented society that the world envisions.
Plastic material flow in 2021.
[RePOS®]
DIC’s complete circular model of polystyrene recycling
DIC is pioneering a fully circular model for polystyrene (PS), the material used in plastic food trays, which are most familiar to consumers. This model utilises chemical recycling and the world’s first dissolution separation recycling technology.
What is RePOS®
The challenge in plastic recycling has been how to regenerate and incorporate colored waste plastics into the recycling flow. DIC is working on producing polystyrene pellets that can be reused in various products through both ‘chemical recycling’ and ‘material recycling’ in the field of polystyrene. We have named the products created through this fully circular polystyrene model “RePOS®.”
Dissolution separation recycling
(Dic method: Deinking chemical process)
Used white foam trays from households are recycled back into food trays. However, coloured foam trays pose a challenge as the recycled pellets turn black during the recycling process, limiting their reuse to items like hangers and other miscellaneous household goods.
To address these challenges, DIC has leveraged its expertise in printing ink technology and resin design to develop a new dissolution separation recycling technology, the ‘Dic Method: Deinking Chemical Process.’ This process removes the colouring components from black recycled pellets and reintegrates them into the polystyrene production plant.
With the Dic Method, coloured foam trays can now be recycled in the same manner as traditional white trays.
