Chemical companies Asahi Kasei and Mitsui are set to establish a supply and procurement scheme for biomethanol produced in the US.

The collaboration aims to find solutions to material procurement and produce low-carbon plastics.

In the US, Mitsui procures RNG (renewable natural gas) generated from municipal waste landfills in the form of biogas and uses it in the mass balance approach to produce biomethanol at Fairway Methanol, a local joint venture.

Asahi Kasei and Mitsui have acquired the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS certification) for their supply chains in order to prove the raw material’s sustainability features for use in final products.

This will enable Asahi Kasei to procure bio-methanol manufactured by Mitsui and to sell various types of engineering plastics which contain the correct amount of biomass raw material allocated under the mass balance approach.

In May, Asahi Kasei invested in the 3D printing startup Castor Technologies to synergise its computer-aided technical service.

The company is also working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Japan by manufacturing various engineering plastics, such as a polyacetal resin, using biomass-based materials.

The company has three business sectors of material, homes and healthcare. Its materials sector includes various products, from battery separators and biodegradable textiles, to engineering plastics.