Kirin Unveils New and Faster Recycling Method for Plastic Bottles

Read the full story on Japan 2 Earth - Kirin Unveils New and Faster Recycling Method for Plastic Bottles

Kirin Central Research Institute, a subsidiary of Kirin Holdings, announced a new technology in recycling PET bottles on December 15. The new development reduces the time it takes to break down plastic material by about 90%. The technology is based on chemical recycling, where raw materials are broken down to the molecular level to recover chemical components. Kirin aims to implement the technology by 2030.

Lower-Temp and Shorter-Time Recycling

Conventional chemical recycling methods require high temperatures of several hundred degrees Celsius and high pressure to break down PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a raw material used in plastic bottles and synthetic fibers. Processing can take several hours. 

With the new technology, a mixture of PET, an alkaline component, and alcohol at specific ratios enables the plastic to degrade at a low temperature in the 35 to 55 degrees Celsius range, and in a short time of around 15 minutes.

Continue reading the full story on Japan 2 Earth to learn more about Kirin's improved recycling methods.

And find more great articles on the environment and the challenges of achieving the SDGs on our new website Japan 2 Earth (J2E), sparking a transition to a sustainable future.

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(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Hiroaki Tanabe

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