Toray's basic approach to recycling is known as “Less Energy Recycling.” We strive to achieve waste-free and efficient recycling by employing a variety of technologies according to the properties of the material being recycled.
| Recycling Vision | |
|---|---|
| Company-wide |
|
| Fibers & Textiles recycling |
|
| Plastic recycling |
|
| Composite materials recycling |
|
The Recycling Committee, a subcommittee of the Global Environment Committee, oversees recycling efforts in accordance with the Recycling Activities Principles adopted in 2004. Our goal is to pursue recycling in a sustainable manner through partnerships with customers.
In FY 2006 we established a Recycling Vision to pave the way for dramatic increases in awareness, and we have launched a variety of initiatives in order to implement this vision.
Joint announcement with Patagonia
Toray established the Fibers & Textiles Recycling Department in the Fibers & Textiles Division to facilitate proactive recycling initiatives. For example, we developed technologies to turn Nylon-6 fiber in used clothes into new fiber, due to the fact that manufacturing Nylon-6 from crude oil requires more energy than polyester and other fibers.
During FY 2006, we signed an agreement with Patagonia Inc. to work together on Nylon-6 materials recycling. Under the new initiative, Toray will melt down non-standard materials generated during the manufacture of other products, form the resulting mixture into chips, and spin them into Nylon-6, which will then be used by Patagonia to manufacture clothing for sale. Garments made of this recycled material can be manufactured using approximately 1/6 the energy required to produce clothing using virgin Nylon-6 derived from crude oil. Moreover, CO2 emissions generated during the manufacturing process can be dramatically reduced to approximately 1/5 of the conventional production process.
In recycling ABS, Nylon, PBT, PET, and PPS resins, Toray focuses on material recycling, an approach that allows plastic resins to be reused without undergoing a depolymerization process. We collaborated with Hitachi Appliances, Inc., to develop new technology for separating and recycling glass-fiber-reinforced AS resins used in fans in indoor residential air conditioner units. In addition, we shared the Wastech 2006 Awards Committee Chairperson's Special Award with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Hyper Cycle Systems Corporation in recognition of the success of a program that we have pursued in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric since 2005 to recycle cross-flow fans.
Since developing technology for recycling CFRP for use in reinforcing concrete in 2004, we have been working in conjunction with other carbon fiber manufacturers on the Recycling Committee of the Japan Carbon Fiber Manufacturers Association to promote recycling initiatives for carbon fiber, a material that is expected to see increased production and sales in coming years. During FY 2006, we finalized the specifications for a carbon fiber recycling system in preparation for the construction of a pilot carbon fiber recycling plant, and we look forward to demonstrating the viability of carbon fiber recycling technologies through the construction of this plant.
