Neste, Mitsui Chemicals  enable food packaging made with renewable materials for CO-OP brand in Japan

In Finland, Neste said it is working with Mitsui Chemicals and Prime Polymer, a subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals, to provide more sustainable food packaging solutions for CO-OP, a brand of the Japanese Consumers Co-operative Union (JCCU). 

In the first phase of the collaboration, biobased raw materials will replace fossil ones in the production of the packaging material for a seaweed snack. Going forward, the companies intend to introduce bio-based raw materials also to packaging for further products. 

“Change begins with small things. In this case, it’s slices of dried seaweed,” said Lilyana Budyanto, Head of Sustainable Partnerships APAC at Neste’s Renewable Polymers and Chemicals business unit. “However, the impact of renewable plastics packaging isn’t small at all. It’s a crucial contributor to the sustainability transformation of the plastics industry and reducing emissions along the value chain. We are looking forward to the cooperation with Mitsui Chemicals, Prime Polymer and JCCU evolving.” 

Neste provides renewable Neste RE, a feedstock for polymers that is made entirely from bio-based raw materials. Through Mitsui Chemicals and the company’s subsidiary Prime Polymer, the feedstock is processed into renewable polypropylene under the brand name Prasus, which is then turned into food packaging for JCCU. 

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