Ishizaka Sangyo and Toyota Boshoku Sign Agreement to Promote the Use of Construction Waste Plastic in Automotive Parts

Ishizaka Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Miyoshi, Saitama; President: Noriko Ishizaka; hereinafter "Ishizaka Sangyo") and Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Headquarters: Kariya, Aichi; President: Masayoshi Shirayanagi; hereinafter "Toyota Boshoku") have jointly implemented the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's "FY2025 Project for Accelerating Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration for Establishing a Resource-Autonomous Economy (Demonstration Project for Expanding Applications of Recycled Resources in Areas Where Advanced Recycling is Difficult)" (contracted by Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.). Following the conclusion of this project, the two companies have signed an "Agreement on Promoting the Application of Construction Waste Plastic to Automotive Parts." Through this agreement, both companies will continue to examine the advanced circular use of construction waste plastic and its application in automotive parts through voluntary collaboration. (Left) Hiroki Suzumura, CCNO, Carbon Neutral Environment Center, Toyota Boshoku; (Right) Noriko Ishizaka, President, Ishizaka Sangyo

Background and Future Outlook Most waste plastic generated in Japan is currently used for heat recovery or as a substitute for fossil fuels. Construction waste plastic, in particular, has been considered an area where advanced recycling is difficult. Based on the knowledge gained from this joint demonstration project, the two companies will cooperate within the framework of arterial-venous collaboration (*1) to advance: ・Collection and high-precision sorting of construction waste plastic ・Evaluation of applications for automotive parts (including material evaluation and prototyping) ・Examination of technology and supply systems for mass production and commercialization By doing so, they aim to build a new resource circulation model to realize a circular society. Toyota Boshoku's Initiatives Toyota Boshoku is a global automotive parts manufacturer that develops and produces automotive seats, interior and exterior components, and filters, utilizing a global network of 90 bases in 23 countries and regions. Its vision is to "create the future of mobility that brings inspiration to customers around the world, with an eye on the society of tomorrow." The Toyota Boshoku Group promotes activities with a focus on climate change mitigation, resource circulation, and living in harmony with nature to contribute to the preservation and maintenance of the global environment. Regarding resource circulation, securing a stable supply of high-quality recycled materials has become an urgent issue following the proposal of mandatory minimum recycled plastic content in vehicles in the EU's proposed ELV (*2) regulation (July 2023). Ishizaka Sangyo's Initiatives Ishizaka Sangyo is a company that "designs circulation" with the vision of "Zero Waste Design," aiming to realize a society that does not treat waste as waste by suppressing the consumption of natural resources. In the intermediate treatment of industrial waste, the company performs thorough sorting and classification, achieving an industry-leading reduction and recycling rate of 98%. *1) A term that likens economic activity to the blood circulation of an animal, referring to industries that supply resources and products to society (arterial) and industries that collect, reuse, and recycle used products and waste (venous). *2) ELV (End of Life Vehicle): Refers to vehicles that have reached the end of their life.