JEPLAN, INC. (Representative Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer: Masaki Takao, hereinafter “JEPLAN”) and TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. (Representative Director, President and CEO: Katsuya Sase, hereinafter “TAIYO YUDEN ”) are conducting an initiative to recycle PET raw material BHET*¹by chemically recycling*² PET film used in the manufacturing process for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC).

In the manufacturing process of MLCCs, PET film is used to form dielectric sheets. In this initiative, JEPLAN's chemical recycling technology will be utilized to chemically process used PET film, remove impurities, and confirm that high-purity BHET of the same quality as petroleum-derived PET can be obtained for reuse in PET products. Both companies plan to progressively introduce the initiative to recycle PET film through chemical recycling starting in 2026.

*1 BHET stands for bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthalate, an intermediate raw material used in the manufacture of PET resin and 
    a type of monomer. 
*2 A recycling method in which used plastics and other materials are chemically broken down to the raw material level and reused 
    again as raw materials for new products. 

The MLCC manufacturing process includes a coating process in which dielectric is applied to PET film to form a thin, uniform dielectric sheet. Conventionally, used PET film has been recycled by mechanical treatment to remove impurities such as dielectric attached to the surface, and then crushed and returned to PET raw materials in pellet form for material recycling.

We have now confirmed that chemical recycling of PET film discharged from the MLCC manufacturing process can remove impurities such as additives contained in the film, and thus BHET can be recycled to the same quality as petroleum-derived BHET. Both companies will work together to recycle PET raw materials by using BHET as a raw material for a wide range of PET products, including PET film.

JEPLAN utilizes proprietary PET chemical recycling technology to break down used PET bottles and other materials to the molecular level, remove impurities such as pigments and metals, and recycle them into recycled PET resin of the same quality as that derived from petroleum. This reduces the use of new underground resources and contributes to the reduction of CO₂emissions*³. In addition to the recycling of PET bottles and polyester fibers, which are already being used commercially, we are also promoting the use of other PET products, such as PET film and cosmetic containers, as recycled raw materials. Through this scheme, we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by increasing the total amount of recyclable PET and effectively utilizing resources.

The JEPLAN Group will continue to work together with domestic and overseas partners to realize its mission of "We circulate our world," and the entire group will work together to drive the circular economy.

*³ JEPLAN website "Sustainability": https://www.jeplan.co.jp/sustainability/

■ TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. ( https://www.yuden.co.jp/en/ )

TAIYO YUDEN is an electronic components manufacturer that was founded in 1950. The company are engaged in research and development, production, and sales of various electronic components such as capacitors, inductors, and FBAR/SAW devices, and are expanding business globally.

To provide products that meet the needs of our customers and society, the company firmly believe in creating products starting from the development of materials. As a result, our products have been highly rated in a wide range of fields, including electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets, automobiles which are rapidly being transformed by IT and electronics technology, and information infrastructure and industrial equipment.

【The original press release is in Japanese】

【JEPLANプレスリリース】JEPLANと太陽誘電：積層セラミックコンデンサPETフィルムをケミカルリサイクルによりPET原料（BHET）に再生.PDF