Technology data

Possible Applications

PHBH™ is a polyester similar to polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) and has excellent biodegradable property in various different conditions. For examples, it is compostable at ambient temperature (Home compost), and also biodegradable in soil and sea water. As an alternative resin to PE or PP, PHBH™ can be used in a variety of applications. The most suitable applications are difficult to recollect and sort after use, such as agricultural mulch-film, food packaging, bin liner, fishnet, etc. Moreover, PHBH™ could contribute to solving the issue of plastic waste in developing countries since PHBH™ decomposes into carbon dioxide and water over time when exposed to microorganisms.

Competitive Advantage

PHBH™ is produced by microbial fermentation with plant oils as its carbon sources. PHBH™ can be processed into various plastic products by commonly used equipment. After use, PHBH™ biodegrades in the presence of microorganism into carbon dioxide and water. In other words, PHBH™ creates a carbon neutral system. Moreover, its biodegradability in sea water provides a great solution to the problem of marine microplastic pollution, which has become a major global issue.

Performance

Biodegradability
PHBH™ has excellent biodegradability under aerobic, anaerobic, aquatic and composting conditions and is proven to be an environment-friendly plastic.

          Composting(aerobic conditions)                                  Bio-gasification(anaerobic conditions)

As illustrated in the above graphs, PHBH™(shown as red) shows the same or higher level of biodegradability than cellulose (blue), which is a standard control according to ISO standards. PHBH™ can transform via biodegradation to reusable resources such as compost and methane gas.

Biodegradability in sea water

1) Biological oxygen demand (BOD) and immersion test

2) Immersion test with thin film

In addition, papers on the biodegradability of PHBH™ in sea water and fresh water were published by T. Morohoshi.
T. Morohoshi et al, Microbes Environ., 33 (2018) 19-25
T. Morohoshi et al, Microbes Environ., 33 (2018) 332-335

Biodegradability in soil

Certification
Among the current available certification on biomass content and biodegradability, PHBH™ is certified by the certification organizations in Europe, USA and Japan listed below.

Mechanical Properties
With two grades, 151C as flexible type and X131A as rigid type, PHBH™ can be usable for a variety of applications. PHBH™ has better gas and moisture barrier properties compared to other biodegradable polymers such as PLA, PBS and PBAT.

Technical Maturity / Past Record of Introduction

PHBH™ has been launched to the market since 2008 and is used mainly in France and Germany for fruit & vegetable bags and compostable bags. Yearly sales of of PHBH™ in 2018 has achieved 1150 tons.
In developing countries, we have successfully incorporated PHBH™-based compounds in the production of bin liners in commonly used blown film machine of a Kenyan film manufacturer. In Kenya, we have been supporting the National Environmental Management Authority and the Kenya Bureau of Standard for the introduction of certification and labelling system related to biodegradability. By collaborating with local organizations and conducting technical training to local processing manufacturers, we help to promote understanding and adoption of biodegradable polymer-based bags.

Information of Patent Related to This Technology

Number of Applications: 364 (as of December 31^st, 2018)

The representative patents are:
1) Process for the production of 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid copolymers (JP277757, Application Date: Sep.
    17th, 1991)
2) Microorganism capable of producing improved polyhydroxy- alkanoate and method of producing
    polyhydroxyalkanoate by using the same (JP5670728, Application Date: May 26th, 2009)

3) Microorganism having multiple genes encoding PHA synthase and method for producing (WO2015/146196, Application  
    Date: Mar. 27^th, 2015)

Company data

Name	KANEKA CORPORATION
Address	Tokyo Head Office: 1-12-32 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6025 Osaka Head Office: 2-3-18, Nakanoshima, Kita-ku Osaka 530-8288
Capital	JPY 33,046 million (As of March 31st, 2018)
Contact person	Mr. Mitsutoshi Moro BDP Marketing Group New Business Development Department TEL: +81-6-6226-4380 FAX: +81-6-6226-4719 Email: bdp_phbh@kaneka.co.jp
Number of employees	10,234 (Consolidated, as of March 31st, 2018)
Date of company foundation	September 1st, 1949
The type of business	Vinyls and Chlor-Alkali, Performance Polymers, Foam & Residential Techs, E & I Technology, PV & Energy management, Performance Fibers, Medical Devices, Pharma & Supplement Nutrition, Foods & Agris

International Operation

Number of employees for international operation(including overseas operation, if any)		2,499 (As of December 31st, 2018)
Overseas offices	City , Country	Name of company
	Brussels, Belgium	Kaneka Europe Holding Company N.V.
	Westerlo-Oevel Brussels, Belgium	Kaneka Belgium N.V.
	Brussels, Belgium Eschborn, Germany	Kaneka Pharma Europe N.V.
	Liege, Belgium	Kaneka Eurogentec S.A
	Wesseling, Germany	Kaneka Modifiers Deutschland GmbH
	Leuven, Belgium	Kaneka’s European Photovoltaics Research Laboratory
	Accra City, Ghana	Kaneka Africa Liaison Office
	Pasadena, Texas	Kaneka Americas Holding, Inc.
	Pasadena, Texas	Kaneka North America LLC
	New York, N.Y.	Kaneka Pharma America LLC
	São Paulo City, Brazil	Kaneka South America Representative Ltd.
	College Station, Texas	Kaneka US Material Research Center
	Newark, California	Kaneka US Innovation Center
	Newark, California	Kaneka Aerospace LLC
	Shanghai, China	Kaneka Asia Co., Ltd.
	Shanghai, China	Kaneka Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
	Jiangsu, China	Kaneka Eperan (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
	Shandong, China	HiHua Fiber Co., Ltd.
	Guangdong, China	Kaneka (Foshan) High Performance Materials Co., Ltd.
	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Kaneka (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
	Pahang, Malaysia	Kaneka Eperan Sdn. Bhd.
	Pahang, Malaysia	Kaneka Paste Polymers Sdn. Bhd.
	Pahang, Malaysia	Kaneka Innovative Fibers Sdn. Bhd.
	Pahang, Malaysia	Kaneka Apical Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
	Pahang, Malaysia	Kaneka MS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
	Jurong Industrial Estate, Singapore	Kaneka Singapore Co. (Pte) Ltd.
	Binh Duong, Vietnam	Kaneka Pharma Vietnam Co., Ltd.
	New Delhi, India	Kaneka India Pvt. Ltd.
	Karawang, Indonesia	PT. Kaneka Foods Indonesia
	Bangkok, Thailand	Kaneka (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
	Taipei, Taiwan	Kaneka Taiwan Corporation
	Seoul, South Korea	Kaneka Korea Corporation
	Queensland, Australia	TGA Pastry Company Pty. Ltd.

Modality of Business Transaction

Dicrect Investment
We focus on the development of core technologies in Japan, while setting up a production plant in local market based on market demands(investment through equity capital) 

      Partnership
      We work closely with our partners through technical service and product development.

Schematic illustration of the technology

KANEKA homepage

English Version:     http://www.kaneka.co.jp/en/branch/nb_development/
Japanese Version:  http://www.kaneka.co.jp/business/material/nbd_001.html
Kaneka Belgium:    http://www.kaneka.be/new-business/kaneka-biodegradable-polymer-phbh

News release

2018.10.15:          http://www.kaneka.co.jp/en/service/news/nr20181019/
2018.8.7:              http://www.kaneka.co.jp/en/service/news/nr20180824/
2017.11.15:          http://www.kaneka.co.jp/en/service/news/nr201711152/
2011.5.12:            http://www.kaneka.co.jp/en/service/news/trial-production-system-for-100-plant-based-biopolymer-                            product-now-operational-new-product-to-be-marketed-as-kaneka-biopolymer-aonilex/