NEC Platforms mass produces NeCycle, cellulose-based bioplastic for injection moulding applications

NEC Corporation announced today, 29 June, that NEC Platforms, a wholly owned subsidiary, has begun global sales of NeCycle, a cellulosic, highly functional bioplastic that contains approximately 50% non-edible plant ingredients and biodegrades in natural environments in approximately four years. NeCycle is derived from cellulose, a non-edible plant resource obtained from woods, rice straw, etc., and safe ingredients. Injection mouldable, It features environmentally friendly properties, such as long-term degradability in the ocean, but at the same time is suitable for durable applications. Over the course of the past 10 years, NEC researched and developed this material and is now beginning mass production and sales of this material through NEC Platforms.

Plastic is a material with excellent moldability, durability, ability to be mass produced, and is an indispensable material for society, as it is utilized in all aspects of industry and life. However, since plastics are produced by consuming fossil resources, and there are concerns about their impact on the ecosystem by remaining as refuse without decomposing in natural environments, their lack of environmental friendliness has become a major issue. NEC was among the first organizations to begin addressing these problems with plastics, and has been developing alternative materials since the early 2000s.

Recently, NEC Platforms succeeded in mass production of NeCycle by making improvements to its properties such as durability and establishing a manufacturing and quality assurance system. NEC Platforms will now propose optimal component shapes, molding conditions, and mold designs for NeCycle, while expanding sales of pellets and molded components for interior products, automotive products, and office automation equipment that emphasize environmental and decorative properties. NeCycle has a deep and warm black color that is similar to traditional lacquerware, without going through the coating process. Since the coating process is no longer necessary, the degree of flexibility of product shape and mass productivity are improved.

NEC Platforms will first target products that require a high level of added value and environmental friendliness, while planning expansion of business scale and aiming for annual sales of 5 billion JPY (approximately 42 million EUR) in FY2025.

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