Promoting recycling of plastics
policy
In the "Environmental Policy", TBM has set "resource depletion countermeasures and creation of a recycling-oriented economy" as a priority issue.
why work
Among resources, plastic is a resource that faces international challenges such as dependence on petroleum resources, which are at risk of depletion, and environmental pollution due to spillage into the natural world due to the increase in single use and inappropriate disposal. Also, in Japan, incineration (including heat recovery) has become a common method of disposal after use. There is an urgent need to strengthen and increase domestic processing capacity for waste plastic recycling, which has hitherto been dependent on overseas (mainly China).
In April 2022, the Plastic material circulation Promotion Law (official name: Law Concerning Promotion of material circulation Related to Plastics) was enacted, and in May 2019, milestones (e.g. 2035) set forth in the Plastic material circulation Strategy were implemented. In order to achieve 100% reuse and recycling of used plastics by 2020, it is necessary for all parties to change the way plastic products are made, how they are used, and how they are collected and disposed of.
Initiative policy
Through LIMEX, which was launched as a plastic alternative material, TBM has contributed to reducing the amount of plastic used by customers. We are also promoting value enhancement and a matching business that connects waste plastic generators and recycling businesses.
In order to promote the material circulation, TBM will work to reduce and recycle waste from products that use plastic, mainly in our own factories, but also in business activities at our technology centers and offices. In addition, we will actively work to promote the material circulation in our customers and supply chains.
Goal and current situation
Target
TBM has formulated "TBM Pledge 2030" as an ambitious target for TBM in 2021, the 10th anniversary of its founding. Among them, we aim to "Go Circular | Circulate 1 million tons of LIMEX and plastic in 50 countries by 2030", and we will work on collecting and recycling LIMEX and plastic around the world.
Learn more about TBM Pledge 2030
current situation
Achieving “Go Circular”
In 2022, TBM completed construction of the Yokosuka Circular Plant, the world's first recycling plant that automatically sorts and recycles collected used LIMEX and waste plastic. The completion of the Yokosuka Circular Plant, which has an annual processing capacity of approximately 40,000 tons and an annual production capacity of approximately 24,000 tons of recycled pellets, is a major step toward realizing TBM's goal of "Go Circuler."
Click here for the press release announcing the completion of the Yokosuka Circular Factory.
TBM industrial waste (waste plastics) emissions: about 202.1 tons (2022)
breakdown:
・ Shiroishi Factory: approx. 159.3 t
・Tohoku LIMEX Factory: approx. 38.3 t
Yokosuka Circular Factory: approx. 3.1 t
・Tokyo Lab: approx. 0.7 t
・Hibiya Head Office: approx. 0.7 t *
Management system
The person in charge of waste-related operations at each site, the Administration Division, and the Sustainability Department work together to manage the amount of waste plastic discharged.
Once a year, we compile waste plastic emissions at each site.
education
for internal use
We are working to raise the environmental awareness of our employees by conducting training on the marine plastic problem and resource depletion during new employee training.
for outside
By promoting the "MaaR for business" service that coordinates the material circulation of offices, we are working to improve awareness of waste separation and environmental awareness in companies, and we issue environmental newsletters once a quarter for companies that have introduced the service. This material is also used in our own employee training.
attempt
Emission Control > Manufacturing Stage
Restriction of plastic use
By manufacturing and providing LIMEX, which uses inorganic substances as the main raw material, as plastic alternative, we are reducing the use of plastic itself.
Improved manufacturing yield
We will strive to reduce the generation of offcuts by improving manufacturing yields at our own factories. In addition, we reuse the offcuts generated as raw materials.
Use of post-consumer materials *
By manufacturing and providing LIMEX products using post-consumer materials *, we are reducing the use of virgin (non-recycled) plastics as raw materials. *Materials collected as resources after being discarded by consumers
Emission Control > Use Phase
Minimize single-use plastic
We are promoting the use of personal bottles and curbing the use of disposable plastics such as PET bottles.
Reusable tableware is used for boxed lunches ordered at factories and technology centers.
long term use
Even if it is a used clear file, if it is still usable, it is used repeatedly.
Ingenuity of raw materials
We actively use plastic alternative materials (eg LIMEX) and recycled plastics (eg CircleX).
Recycling, etc.
Recycling of sheet scraps
The offcuts generated when producing LIMEX are reused as raw materials as much as possible. Items that cannot be reused as raw materials are sold as valuables and efforts are made to recycle them. Recycled offcuts are used as materials for various products, helping to reduce the amount of waste plastic that becomes industrial waste.
*Example of use of remnants: "TBM announces "uni LIMEX" ballpoint pen made of new material LIMEX as a plastic alternative"
Thorough heat recovery
For waste products that use plastic, which are difficult to recycle, we recover heat as efficiently as possible.
Promoting the use of recycled plastics
Through the sale of packaging materials made from recycled plastic, we are contributing to the reduction of plastic in our customers' distribution stages.
Click here for press release
Promoting separation and recycling of office waste
Utilizing the "MaaR for business" system, the company will separate and collect waste plastic generated at its Hibiya headquarters, and will mechanical recycling some of it at its own Yokosuka Circular Plant.
・Amount of waste plastic generated: Approx. 663 kg *
・Amount of waste plastic collected: Approximately 147 kg * (approximately 22% of the amount of waste plastic generated) *The amount of waste plastic discharged and collected over a certain period of time is measured, and the annual amount of waste is estimated from the number of employees and the number of business days. .
