From 2021, some plastic model products developed by BANDAI SPIRITS will use “LIMEX,” a plastic alternative material that uses limestone as its main raw material.

～次世代の素材による環境負荷軽減を目指していきます～

BANDAI SPIRITS Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Yusuke Fukuda, Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter referred to as BANDAI SPIRITS) is collaborating with TBM Co., Ltd., Ltd. (Representative Director and CEO: Nobuyoshi Yamasaki, Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter referred to as TBM) to aim to reduce environmental impact by using LIMEX, a new material made primarily from limestone, in some of BANDAI SPIRITS' plastic model products from 2021 onwards.

The LIMEX used in this project is a composite material made from limestone (an inorganic substance such as calcium carbonate) as its main ingredient, and polystyrene (PS), a material commonly used in plastic models. This is expected to be the world's first use of LIMEX in a plastic model product. By using limestone petroleum-based plastics derived plastics that have been used up until now, the proportion of petroleum-based plastics in the product has been reduced to less than 50% by weight. Other features include the ability to paint the material and a heavier feel compared to regular PS resin. In collaboration with TBM, the material was perfected through repeated improvements to its moldability and strength in injection molding machines.

The first product using LIMEX will be a dinosaur plastic model, scheduled for release in 2021. By switching to LIMEX for the dinosaur plastic model currently under development, it is expected that the amount of petroleum-based plastics used will be reduced by more than 5 tons per year, which will also contribute to reducing _CO2 emissions.

Going forward, we will continue to promote material circulation initiatives to realize a sustainable society by adopting LIMEX in other products (such as for blister materials) and expanding our collection and recycling system for runners, etc.