Kaneka to significantly boost biodegradable polymer production in Japan

In Japan, Kaneka Corporation has decided to significantly increase production capacity for KANEKA Biodegradable Polymer Green Planet in Japan.

Green Planet (chemical name: PHBH) is a biomass polymer produced by microorganism biosynthesis using plant oils. Green Planet™ biodegrades easily both in soil and in water (salt water and fresh water). As Green Planet™ will be eventually biodegrade into CO2 and water, it doesn’t pollute environment. When development of Green Planet began, thirty years ago, it was called a miraculous polymer, but production on an industrial scale was still only a dream. However, the development of innovative microorganism biosynthesis led to clear vision for the commercialization of Green Planet. Further, dramatic advances in formulation and processing technologies turned it into a reality. This was possible only because Kaneka has wide-ranging core technologies related to fermentation and polymer production.

Kaneka estimates Green Planet could replace roughly 25 million tons of traditional single-use plastic products per year. worldwide. Green Planet™ is already being used for straws, cutlery, coffee capsules, bags, films, etc., and these applications alone amount to over 5 million tons per year. The number of inquiries Kaneka is receiving from environmentally conscious brand holders is growing rapidly, and Kaneka will expand our supply capabilities to meet growing demand.