Bioplastic keeps Teijin busy

Japanese chemical company Teijin has been very busy last month with its bioplastic business.

After rolling out in early September its first bioplastic eyeglasses in partnership with eyewear manufacturer Tanaka Foresight, Teijin also rolled out (literally) its green carpet (also literally and figuratively) at the 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival. The film festival first used Teijin's eco-friendly carpet last year.

This year's green carpet used around 23,000 half-liter recycled PET bottles.

On September 17, Teijin announced the start-up production of its heat-resistant bioplastic BioFront at a demonstration plant in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. The new demo plant expands Teijin's overall BioFront production to 1,000 tons as the company also manufactures the bioplastic at a 200-ton/annum pilot plant in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Teijin plans to increase the annual capacity of BIOFRONT to 5,000 tons by 2011, and eventually to tens of thousands of tons.

Last but certainly not the least, Teijin launched in China its Eco Circle closed loop recycling program in collaboration with major sports apparel company Li Ning Company Limited. As part of the program, Li Ning has designed tennis and training wear using Teijin Fibers' chemically recycled ECO CIRCLE FIBERS.

The 2009-10 winter lineup will be sold at 11 stores managed by Li Ning beginning this month.