JFE Steel Corporation announced today that it has finalized a framework under which it will partner with J Circular System Co. Ltd. to establish a plastic-recycling system in support of JFE Steel’s plan to increase its use of waste plastic in steelmaking.

J Circular System was established in Kawasaki in July 2023 to operate a waste plastic recycling business. It is jointly owned by J&T Recycling, a JFE group company that recycles plastics and other waste materials; East Japan Railway Company (“JR East”), which manages not only railways but also buildings, retail facilities and hotels at railway stations; and JR East Environment Access Co., Ltd., which handles resource recycling for JR East. Under Article 33 of Japan’s Plastic Resource Circulation Act, J Circular System is working with Kawasaki and neighboring municipalities to gain national certification for an integrated plastic-recycling business that is expected to benefit from officially approved access to stable supplies of waste plastic.

Although using waste plastic in steelmaking offers advantages including reduced carbon footprints, collecting the plastic can be a challenge. By partnering with J Circular System, which will handle collection and processing, JFE Steel will gain ready access to stocks of waste plastic derived from not only used containers and packaging but also industrial waste.

JFE Steel is making concerted efforts to address climate-change issues in accordance with the JFE Group Environmental Vision for 2050. In addition to reducing its own direct CO₂ emissions, JFE Steel is working to lower CO₂ emissions throughout its supply chain to contribute to a more sustainable world.

Overview of J Circular System Co. Ltd.

• Address: 5-1 Mizue-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
• President: Sazo Nakamura
• Business: Waste processing
• Capital: 90 million yen
• Established: July 14, 2023
• Ownership: J&T Recycling 66%, JR East 29%, JR East Environment Access 5%

Business framework

Related link

・JFE Steel to Expand Use of Waste Plastic by Building Major Recycling Facility (November 2, 2023)

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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