Japan-based Toyo Styrene, an affiliate of Denka Company and Agilyx have announced plans to commence construction on a 10 ton per day chemical recycling facility in Japan, enabled by Agilyx depolymerisation technology.
The announcement is a culmination of the site technology license agreement entered into in April 2020 by the companies.
The recycling plant will convert post-use polystyrene into a styrene monomer that will be purified using Toyo Styrene’s proprietary purification process. Styrene monomer produced from this process can then be converted back into high value polystyrene products The manufacture of styrene through depolymerisation of post-use polystyrene has a lower carbon footprint as compared to virgin styrene monomer.
The plant will be built at Toyo’s facility in the Chiba Prefecture of Japan.
“As the first step toward the circular economy, we will construct a chemical recycling plant for this project, collect post-industrial materials for the time being, and start a chemical recycling business,” said Sanshiro Matsushita, President of Toyo Styrene. "Furthermore, in order to build a carbon free society through chemical recycling in Japan, we are also planning to participate in a platform that integrates citizens, businesses, and local government, which is being undertaken by Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture.”
The new plant will bring Agilyx’ chemical recycling technology into the Asian markets, opening the door to increase global plastic recycling through circular pathways, according to Tim Stedman, CEO of Agilyx.
“The decision to move into the final stages of this project is a big accomplishment for the members of Agilyx and Toyo Styrene who have worked tirelessly to bring us to this point,” he said.
The original target for completion of the new plant was early 2022. Details about when the plant will start operation have not yet been provided.