Joint research toward the realization of a circular economy for plastics
Honda Trading Corporation announced that it has launched joint research aimed at realizing a circular economy for plastics. The company will strengthen its initiatives for resource circulation to help achieve a sustainable society.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 19:10
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (3h 46m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 07:57 (393h 1m after Collected)
Honda Trading Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Tatsuya Natsume) has participated in an initiative planned and promoted by Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (President: Katsuhiko Kato) and Mizuho Research & Technologies, Ltd. (President: Masatoshi Yoshihara). Together with Ishizaka Group (Representative Director: Takamitsu Ishizaka), CFP Corporation (President: Namie Fukuda), Taiyo Oil Co., Ltd. (President: Takahiro Yamamoto), Toyota Tsusho Corporation (President: Toshimitsu Imai), and Nissan Trading Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Tsuyoshi Ishii), we have conducted a joint study on the feasibility of establishing a plastic recycling supply chain utilizing chemical recycling, primarily in the Kyushu region, as part of efforts to realize a circular economy for plastics.
1. **Background of the Joint Study**
In recent years, the demand for reducing environmental impact has been increasing both domestically and internationally, driven by the growing severity of plastic waste issues and the push toward a resource-circulating society. Particularly in the European Union (EU), the proposed revision of the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulation indicates a direction where the use of a certain percentage of recycled plastic materials will be mandated in the production of new vehicles. In response to these global regulatory trends, the Japanese automotive industry also faces an urgent need to expand the use of recycled materials and establish new supply chains for stable procurement.
Against this backdrop, the eight participating companies combined their expertise to conduct a joint study on the feasibility of building a plastic recycling supply chain to supply the recycled materials necessary for automobile manufacturing in Kyushu—a region where the automotive industry is concentrated and where semiconductor-related industries are being established.
2. **Overview of the Joint Study**
(Items Conducted)
* Survey of collected volumes of waste plastics
* Analysis of recycling technologies (compatibility with liquefaction plants and oil refineries)
* Analysis of facility locations and logistics
* Cost analysis regarding recycled materials
* Analysis of acceptance by end-users
* Verification of measures to bridge price gaps
(Conceptual diagram of the chemical recycling chain in Kyushu)
(Roles of each company)
1. **Background of the Joint Study**
In recent years, the demand for reducing environmental impact has been increasing both domestically and internationally, driven by the growing severity of plastic waste issues and the push toward a resource-circulating society. Particularly in the European Union (EU), the proposed revision of the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulation indicates a direction where the use of a certain percentage of recycled plastic materials will be mandated in the production of new vehicles. In response to these global regulatory trends, the Japanese automotive industry also faces an urgent need to expand the use of recycled materials and establish new supply chains for stable procurement.
Against this backdrop, the eight participating companies combined their expertise to conduct a joint study on the feasibility of building a plastic recycling supply chain to supply the recycled materials necessary for automobile manufacturing in Kyushu—a region where the automotive industry is concentrated and where semiconductor-related industries are being established.
2. **Overview of the Joint Study**
(Items Conducted)
* Survey of collected volumes of waste plastics
* Analysis of recycling technologies (compatibility with liquefaction plants and oil refineries)
* Analysis of facility locations and logistics
* Cost analysis regarding recycled materials
* Analysis of acceptance by end-users
* Verification of measures to bridge price gaps
(Conceptual diagram of the chemical recycling chain in Kyushu)
(Roles of each company)