Commercial Operation Begins for Pyrolysis Chemical Recycling Facility Contributing to Recycling of Used Plastics
Chemical Recycle Japan (CRJ), a subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan, has started commercial operation of a facility that pyrolyzes used plastics to produce CR oil, a raw material for petrochemical products. This initiative promotes plastic resource recycling and contributes to reducing environmental impact.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 23:09
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 14:47 (15 min after Collected)
Chemical Recycle Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Hironori Okamura; hereinafter “CRJ”), a subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Noriaki Sakai; hereinafter “the Company”), commenced commercial operation of its pyrolysis chemical recycling *1 facility (processing capacity for used plastics: 20,000 tons/year) on April 27th at its Ichihara plant (Location: Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture), adjacent to the Company's Chiba refinery. A completion ceremony was also held at the same facility on the same day.
*1 Pyrolysis chemical recycling: A method of resource recycling that produces “chemical recycled chemicals” and other products using CR oil, which is produced by pyrolyzing used plastics.
Scene from the startup ceremony by President Sakai. Scene from greetings by CRJ President Okamura.
Scene from the completion ceremony.
This facility produces CR oil *2, equivalent to light crude oil, from used plastics discharged from households and businesses, using a unique pyrolysis chemical recycling technology. The Company adopts a catalytic cracking system *3.
Produced CR oil is re-recycled into “chemical recycled chemicals” and other products by applying the mass balance approach *4 through the petroleum refining and petrochemical units of the Idemitsu Group's refineries and business sites. This enables the circular use of used plastics that were previously often incinerated or landfilled.
Furthermore, CRJ's Ichihara plant obtained “ISCC PLUS certification (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification PLUS)” and an “Industrial Waste Disposal Business Permit” from Chiba Prefecture in March 2026.
Image diagram of this business.
The Company and CRJ will promote the recycling of used plastics through this business, contributing to the realization of a circular economy.
*2 CR oil: Chemical Recycle oil. Oil equivalent to light crude oil produced by pyrolyzing used plastics.
*3 Catalytic cracking system: A chemical reaction process that decomposes plastics using a catalyst.
*4 Mass balance approach: A method in which, during the processing and distribution of raw materials into products, when a raw material with a certain characteristic (e.g., derived from used plastics) is mixed with a raw material without that characteristic (e.g., derived from petroleum), that characteristic is allocated to a portion of the product in proportion to the input amount of the characteristic-bearing raw material.
[Reference]
Business video media “PIVOT” (YouTube): Japan's Unknown “Urban Oil Field” Lacking Resources - The Reason for Turning Plastic Waste into “Oil”
An executive officer and a person in charge will discuss the Company's pyrolysis chemical recycling business with guests.
Press release: Pyrolysis Chemical Recycling Facility Contributing to Realization of Plastic Resource Circulation Completed (January 19, 2026)
Press release: Successful Collaboration of Five Companies to Utilize Recycled Plastics from Used Plastics for Manufacturing and Construction Materials (April 10, 2026)
Press release: Participation in a Demonstration Experiment to Pyrolyze Chemically Recycle Plastic Cups Collected at the Music Festival 'CENTRAL MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVAL 2026' (April 24, 2026)
*1 Pyrolysis chemical recycling: A method of resource recycling that produces “chemical recycled chemicals” and other products using CR oil, which is produced by pyrolyzing used plastics.
Scene from the startup ceremony by President Sakai. Scene from greetings by CRJ President Okamura.
Scene from the completion ceremony.
This facility produces CR oil *2, equivalent to light crude oil, from used plastics discharged from households and businesses, using a unique pyrolysis chemical recycling technology. The Company adopts a catalytic cracking system *3.
Produced CR oil is re-recycled into “chemical recycled chemicals” and other products by applying the mass balance approach *4 through the petroleum refining and petrochemical units of the Idemitsu Group's refineries and business sites. This enables the circular use of used plastics that were previously often incinerated or landfilled.
Furthermore, CRJ's Ichihara plant obtained “ISCC PLUS certification (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification PLUS)” and an “Industrial Waste Disposal Business Permit” from Chiba Prefecture in March 2026.
Image diagram of this business.
The Company and CRJ will promote the recycling of used plastics through this business, contributing to the realization of a circular economy.
*2 CR oil: Chemical Recycle oil. Oil equivalent to light crude oil produced by pyrolyzing used plastics.
*3 Catalytic cracking system: A chemical reaction process that decomposes plastics using a catalyst.
*4 Mass balance approach: A method in which, during the processing and distribution of raw materials into products, when a raw material with a certain characteristic (e.g., derived from used plastics) is mixed with a raw material without that characteristic (e.g., derived from petroleum), that characteristic is allocated to a portion of the product in proportion to the input amount of the characteristic-bearing raw material.
[Reference]
Business video media “PIVOT” (YouTube): Japan's Unknown “Urban Oil Field” Lacking Resources - The Reason for Turning Plastic Waste into “Oil”
An executive officer and a person in charge will discuss the Company's pyrolysis chemical recycling business with guests.
Press release: Pyrolysis Chemical Recycling Facility Contributing to Realization of Plastic Resource Circulation Completed (January 19, 2026)
Press release: Successful Collaboration of Five Companies to Utilize Recycled Plastics from Used Plastics for Manufacturing and Construction Materials (April 10, 2026)
Press release: Participation in a Demonstration Experiment to Pyrolyze Chemically Recycle Plastic Cups Collected at the Music Festival 'CENTRAL MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVAL 2026' (April 24, 2026)