Recently, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), Suntory Holdings Limited and ENEOS have reached an agreement to distribute bio-based materials using a mass balance methodology to create a supply chain for sustainable PET bottles derived from biomass, such as used cooking oil.
The mass balance approach expresses the concept of the quantity (quality) of biological resources (bio), i.e., organic resources of animal and plant origin (excluding fossil resources such as oil and coal), which can be recycled for energy and materials. Specifically, used cooking oil, etc. The process of tracking the quantity and sustainability characteristics of biomass as it is mixed with non-biomass in the manufacture and distribution of a product, and allocating biomass feedstocks to specific portions of the product in proportion to their inputs.
The supply chain for this collaboration is as follows: (MC is responsible for the management of the entire supply chain mentioned above)
1. NESTE will provide bio-based feedstock derived from naphtha to replace fossil naphtha. Bio-naphtha is produced from biomass resources such as used cooking oil.NESTE uses 100% renewable feedstocks such as waste and residual oils and fats such as used cooking oil.
2. ENEOS produces bio-paraxylene (PX) from bio-naphtha at its Mizushima refinery (using mass balance method in Bio PX production)
3. Production of bio-high purity terephthalic acid (PTA) and bio-PET bottle resin (PET resin) using bio-PX
4. Suntory utilizes bio-PET resin to produce sustainable PET bottles for its products
This is the world's first commercial-scale production of sustainable PET bottles using bio-PX derived from bio-naphtha.
By the end of 2023, the equivalent of approximately 35 million PET bottles of Bio PX will have been produced and will be used as a raw material for Suntory's 2024 sustainable PET bottles.
MC believes that the use of biomass for PET bottles, coupled with the further development of recycling systems, will play an important role in achieving a low-carbon decarbonized society as well as reducing dependence on fossil resources.
For PET bottles, methylene glycol (MEG), which makes up about 30% of the main raw material for the PET resin used in PET bottles, has always been produced from biomass, while the remaining ~70% of high-purity terephthalic acid (PTA) derived from paraxylene (PX) has not yet been converted from biomass on a commercial scale.
Through the development of this supply chain, MC will contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions through the introduction of PET resins produced by bio-PX, compared to traditional petroleum-derived products.
MC will continue its efforts to convert various fossil fuel-derived plastics into bio-based plastics to achieve a low-carbon and decarbonized society.
Suntory Group is a food, beverage and liquor company of global scale. It produces and supplies a wide range of products, including alcoholic beverages such as whisky, spirits, beer and wine, as well as non-alcoholic beverages such as fermented tea, bottled water, carbonated drinks and instant coffee. It is also actively expanding its business in the healthcare, floral and restaurant industries.
Founded in 1888, ENEOS Corporation has a history of more than 130 years and is one of the most comprehensive energy companies in Japan and the world. Our parent company, the Citation Group, has been ranked among the Fortune 500 for many years and holds a leading position in the domestic fuel oil and lubricant market, with a market share of more than half of the total.
NESTE is the world's leading producer of sustainable jet fuel, renewable diesel and renewable feedstock solutions for a wide range of polymer and chemical industry applications. The company is currently introducing renewable and recycled raw materials such as liquefied waste plastics as raw materials for refineries.
