In Japan, Toray Industries and Idemitsu Kosan Co. are jointly building a supply chain for plastics made from biomass naphtha. Specifically, the two companies are developing biomass-based styrene monomer to be used in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
Under the terms of the deal, Idemitsu will leverage the mass balance method to manufacture styrene from biomass. Toray will then use the styrene to produce Japan’s first biomass-based ABS at its Chiba, Japan plant. Production is expected to begin in October.
The partnership between Idemitsu and Toray aims to lower emissions from the plastics sector. ABS resin is a thermoplastic polymer that is hard and impact-resistant. Applications include automobiles, electronics, and toys.