Development of Plant-Derived Materials

Striving toward Sustainable Consumption

We are now facing such global-scale risks as accelerating climate change, the depletion of natural resources, disparities in water resource distribution, expanding and graying populations, and food and agricultural issues. Given this critical situation, as a chemical company, we believe it is our mission to realize, through innovation, the efficient use of natural resources and energy, the utilization of renewable resources and the reduction of environmental burden and to thereby enhance environmental and social sustainability.
Initiatives to replace non-renewable petroleum with renewable biomass as the raw material for plastic production are helping to more efficiently use resources and greatly contribute to ensuring sustainable production, part of one of the SDGs.

Developing Plant-derived MMA Manufacturing Technology

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) is developing the technology to manufacture Methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer using plant-derived materials.
MMA is a raw material for acrylic resin and is used in a wide range of areas, including automotive parts, construction materials, and paints. Conventional MMA manufacturing uses petroleum-derived materials and the substitution of plant-derived materials is expected to reduce the environmental impact.

Advances in development of new manufacturing technology suitable for use of plant-derived materials in existing MMA monomer manufacturing processes were seen in 2022, and led to the commencement of a new pilot plant design. Because this new technology has enabled the use of plant-derived materials in existing processes, it offers potential to manufacture MMA with 100％ bio-based carbon content.
We began operating the pilot plant in 2023 and aim to apply this technology to an existing commercial-scale plant in 2026, after verifying the quality and technology.

As the manufacturer with the world’s leading market share in MMA and acrylic resin, the MCC Group will continue to pursue the potential of this business and aim to take an active lead in initiatives aimed at realizing a circular economy.

• Towards a Circular Economy

Achieving the SDGs

MCC is working to replace petroleum-based plastic raw materials with bio-based ones. We are taking actions to help achieve “SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns” at an even higher level by utilizing reusable bio-based raw materials to make plastics. MCC is putting its full strength—including advancing R&D, establishing production technologies, ensuring quality that meets demands, developing markets, and developing global business—into realizing these goals.