February 13, 2026 12:10

Japan is launching what it describes as the first integrated value chain for producing bio-attributed plastics via certified mass balance for use in consumer electronics, starting from vegetable waste and used cooking oil.
The project brings together 14 companies across five countries, with Sony at the downstream end of the chain.

The process begins with renewable naphtha produced by Neste at its biorefineries from used cooking oil and other renewable feedstocks. This is supplied as an alternative to fossil raw materials to Idemitsu Kosan, which produces bio-attributed styrene monomer. Formosa then converts the monomer into polystyrene.

Renewable naphtha can also be routed through other pathways. SK Geo Centric and Eneos use it to produce paraxylene, which Toray converts into PET together with terephthalic acid (PTA) supplied by Hanwha Impact.
Alternatively, it is processed into bisphenol A by Mitsui Chemicals for use in polycarbonate produced by Chimei and PC/ABS blends manufactured by Qingdao Haier New Material Development. The renewable feedstocks are also used to produce flame retardants, supplied by Adeka.

At the final stage, Sony will incorporate plastics derived from bio-circular feedstocks attributed through the mass-balance approach—offering virgin-equivalent quality—into its products under the “Creating NEW from reNEWable materials” programme launched with Mitsubishi Corporation to progressively replace fossil-based plastics.

Mitsubishi Corporation also oversees the value chain, including credit management and the promotion of bio-attributed plastics within Sony’s product portfolio.

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