Hagihara and Mitsui to Enhance Blue Tarpaulin Recycling in Japan

Japan’s Hagihara Industries and Mitsui Chemicals are set to introduce an innovative trial aimed at enhancing the recycling process of blue tarpaulins, kicking off in December 2024. The collaboration seeks to differentiate Hagihara’s products from competitors in the realm of used tarpaulins, ultimately improving the quality of recycled materials.

Mitsui’s cutting-edge chemical tracing technology will play a crucial role in identifying various materials found in recovered tarps. This advancement is expected to elevate the quality of recycled content in new products and significantly contribute to the establishment of a circular economy.

Hagihara Industries, the largest producer of blue tarps in Japan, is committed to creating a more sustainable society. In 2021, the company initiated the ReVALUE+ project, a groundbreaking effort that repurposes discarded blue tarps as raw materials to create new tarpaulins through a process known as horizontal recycling. However, the presence of contaminants and products from other companies within the recovered tarps has hindered the quality of the recycled output, limiting the proportion of recycled material that can be integrated into new products.

To tackle these challenges, Hagihara is harnessing its expertise in industrial machinery production. The company is developing advanced cleaning technologies, sophisticated granulation equipment designed for effective contaminant removal, and methods to improve resin viscosity. Meanwhile, Mitsui Chemicals is focused on advancing the recycling of plastics and enhancing transparency in recycling processes. Their goal is to create a seamless integration of material and informational recycling within a circular economy framework.

The upcoming trial will utilize Mitsui’s chemical tracing technology to devise a system for analyzing the used blue tarps collected by Hagihara Industries. This method aims to differentiate between Hagihara products and those from other manufacturers, with the intent of boosting the quality of horizontally recycled goods. Both companies envision that this collaborative effort will significantly advance the ReVALUE+ project and enhance traceability management through Mitsui’s RePLAYER Blockchain Platform.

Together, Hagihara Industries and Mitsui Chemicals are on a mission to refine the recycling landscape for blue tarpaulins, paving the way for a more sustainable future. As they embark on this trial, they hope to set a precedent that could inspire similar efforts in various sectors, championing the cause of a circular economy.