Teijin's EcoPet only available in Japan - Update

ERJ staff report (DS)

Tokyo -- Teijin Fibers has developed a recycled polyester material which, it says is good enough for use in tyre carcasses. The material, EcoPet plus, is currently being used in the Toyo Proxes NE tyres, aimed at environmentally-conscious consumers.

The raw fibre is made in a closed-loop recycling process called Eco Circle. The company takes production scrap and other sources of pure polyester, such as clothing and garment makers, and chemically treats it to first completely decompose the polymer and then re-spin the fibres. Teijin said in a statement, "The recycled material offers the purity of products derived from petroleum and therefore achieves the demanding performance levels required for tyre cords." 

Teijin said it will recycle the polyester at its Matsuyama facility and then convert the recycled polymer into tyre cord at its Iwakuni facility. At present the product is available only in Japan. A company spokesman said Teijin hopes to make the product availabe in other parts of the world, though it dies not have any time table for this. 

Teijin Fibers said its recycling system reduces energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 80 percent each when compared to systems that produce polyester material from petroleum.

The yarn is supplied in 384-filament bundles of 1670 decitex. The company said it aims initially to sell 10 tonnes/month in 2009, rising to 30 tonnes/month in 2011. 10 tonnes is enough to make around 50 000 passenger car tyres, said the company.

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Press release listing from Teijin

Press release from Teijin