JFE Steel Corporation announced today that, in an effort to expand its use of waste plastic in steelmaking processes, it is partnering with the JFE group to construct a facility at its East Japan Works (Keihin District) that will process 60,000 tons of waste plastic annually, making it one of the largest recycling facilities of its kind in Japan. The facility, which will cost 6.75 billion yen (roughly 46 million USD), is scheduled to go into operation in October 2024 and is expected to reduce JFE Steel’s CO₂ emissions by approximately 160,000 tons per year in FY2030.

Under a plan to steadily expand its use of waste plastic, JFE Steel has set a goal to double its current processing capacity by fiscal 2030. The Japan Iron and Steel Federation’s voluntary action plan for reducing CO₂ emissions is encouraging the industry to use one million tons of waste plastic per year, but collecting enough waste material to achieve this target will be a challenge. In response, JFE Steel will expand its recycling of commercial waste plastic, a resource that has yet to be fully tapped. In particular, the company is looking beyond discarded plastic containers and packaging as sources of industrial waste plastic.

In steelmaking, waste plastic is used primarily as a substitute for raw materials such as coking coal in blast furnaces, and coke ovens. Waste plastic can be treated chemically for conversion into reusable substances and the amounts of gas and oil saved by using this resource can be deducted from steelmakers’ total CO₂ emissions, thereby reducing their carbon footprints. In addition, companies that use the original plastic in their own commercial operations can reduce the burden of final disposal. As a result, the use of waste plastic, especially consumer containers and packaging, is increasing in the manufacturing sector.

The JFE Group Environmental Vision for 2050 has identified climate change as a top priority, based on which JFE Steel is making concerted efforts to address needs and opportunities in this field. Under a multi-track approach to discover ultra-innovative technologies that are both promising and practical, JFE Steel aims to continue contributing to the realization of a more sustainable world.

About JFE Steel Corporation

JFE Steel Corporation, one of the world’s leading integrated steel producers, was established through the consolidation of NKK Corporation and Kawasaki Steel Corporation in 2003. The company operates several steelworks in Japan and numerous branch offices and affiliates throughout the world. JFE Steel leverages world-class technologies and know-how to produce a wide range of products based on its “Only One, Number One” strategy of focusing on unique and best-in-class products. The company reported consolidated sales of 2,255 billion yen and consolidated crude steel output of 23.96 million tons in the fiscal year ended March 2021.

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