March 19, 2024
Denka Company Limited

Denka Launches Japan’s Largest Polystyrene Chemical Recycling Plant in
Cooperation with Governments– Converting Used Polystyrene into a “Resource” –Polystyrene chemical recycling plant
Denka Company Limited (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; president: Toshio Imai; hereinafter “Denka”)
and an equity-method affiliate of Denka, Toyo Styrene Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo;
president: Kenjiro Ishizuka; hereinafter “Toyo Styrene”), completed the construction of a chemical recycling
plant for used polystyrene (hereinafter, the “Plant”) on the premises of Denka’s Chiba Plant (Ichihara-shi,Chiba) on March 19 (Tue).
While plastic is an indispensable material in human everyday lives, the impact on the environment caused byplastic leakage into the ocean or by greenhouse gas emissions from incineration of plastic waste, among otherthings, has been a serious global challenge. We Denka Group believe that the conversion of plastic waste into aresource is a project that we should devote ourselves to with a sense of mission to add unique value to society
from the viewpoint of conservation of the global environment as a chemical manufacturer.
The Denka Group’s chemical recycle method produces material that is equivalent to new material in quality andphysical properties, and that can be used without any restrictions, by depolymerizing polystyrene into styrene
monomers, which can be re-polymerized. This method does not involve incineration, as compared to thermalrecycling. CO2 emissions are therefore inhibited, providing a more environmentally friendly recycling method.
Toyo Styrene started construction of the Plant in February 2022, after signing a technical license agreementwith Agilyx, a U.S. company with a technological edge and a track record in chemical recycling ofpolystyrene resin. The Plant was recently completed in March 2024. We are considering to use the massbalance approach (*1) to produce and supply recycled polystyrene at the Plant. The Denka Group’s production
sites are currently preparing to obtain ISCC PLUS certification.
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With the recent completion of the Plant, Denka participates in the “Creation of a Circular Economy Startingwith Ichihara-shi project,” which is led by the government of Ichihara City, an SDGs Future City in Chiba. Withthis project, Denka and the government of Ichihara City will proceed to create a system of collecting usedpolystyrene generated in Ichihara City. Starting with this effort, Denka aims to build a system for collecting
post-consumer materials (*2) from consumers.
To see the video on the Denka Group’s efforts for chemical recycling, please visit Denka’s official YouTube
channel:https://youtu.be/0UttA_3AXYg
Denka will continue to contribute to people’s lives and society through its world-renowned chemistry for thepurpose of “making the world a better place as specialists in chemistry.”(*1) The mass balance approach is a distribution management method whereby different materials (e.g.,petroleum-derived materials and plastic waste-derived recycled materials) are mixed together, their respective
properties are assigned to parts of the product according to the respective volumes of the materials loaded.
(*2) A post-consumer materials are the substance derived from plastic that has been used by consumers, which
can reuse as a “Resource.”
1. A Circulation Model of Denka Group’s Polystyrene Chemical Recycling

Styrene Monomer

Recycle Styrene Monomer

Styrene Polymerization
Plant

Polystyrene

Polystyrene (PS) Chemical Recycling
Circular Model
Polystyrene Chemical
Recycle Plant

Post-Consumer
Polystyrene

Polystyrene Sheet andFood Container
Manufacturers
Post-Industrial
Polystyrene

Polystyrene ProductsConsumers

2. Overview of the facility• Location: The premises of the Chiba Plant of Denka Company Limited (6 Goi Minamikaigan, Ichihara-shi,Chiba)• Description: A chemical recycling plant for used polystyrene• Investment: Approx. 4 billion yen• Processing capacity: Approx. 3,000 tons/year
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[Reference: Previous press releases related to this press release (Denka’s official website)]• “Denka Decides on the Construction of Chemical Recycling Plant for Used Polystyrene Resins”
January 11, 2022
https://www.denka.co.jp/eng/storage/news/pdf/389/20220111_denka_ps_chemical_recycle_en.pdf• “Denka Affiliate Toyo Styrene to Start a Business for Chemical Recycling of Polystyrene Resins”
April 13, 2020
https://www.denka.co.jp/eng/storage/news/pdf/278/20200413_denka_ps_chemical_recycle_en.pdf[For Inquiries about This Press Release from Media]
Corporate Communications Dept. Tel: +81-3-5290-5511

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