Sumitomo Chemical to Begin Selling Chemically-Recycled Acrylic Resin Product to Major Electronics and Automotive Companies
Leading the Industry in the Manufacturing and Sale of Mass Produced Chemically-Recycled Acrylic Polymer Material

Mar. 6, 2025

Sumitomo Chemical will begin selling its polymer material polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) made from methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer produced through chemical recycling. LG Display Co., Ltd. of South Korea and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. of Japan have decided to use this chemically-recycled material for their products. Sumitomo Chemical will accelerate the implementation of chemical recycling in the MMA supply chain as an industry leader.

In 2022, Sumitomo Chemical constructed a new pilot facility for the chemical recycling of PMMA at its Ehime Works located in Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It has also implemented such initiatives as a joint project with Niihama City to recycle PMMA protective partition panels, which are used for reducing the spread of droplets, in the area, as well as providing its chemically-recycled PMMA as raw material for the acrylic jewelry sold by Star Jewelry Co., Ltd.

In addition, Sumitomo Chemical has received third-party certifications, such as the ISCC PLUS^* certification, and is making efforts to globally implementing practical recycling systems using the mass balance approach.

Sumitomo Chemical will provide its chemically recycled PMMA produced in mass production facilities for applications that require high quality, such as electronics and automotives. The Company will start selling the product to LG Display as raw material for light guide plates used in backlight units for liquid crystal displays and to Nissan Motor as raw material for lenses used in vehicle headlights.

Sumitomo Chemical is making a significant shift in its petrochemicals-related business to create value through technologies that reduce environmental impact. The value of recycled materials and products is being increasingly recognized. Staying in step with this progress, Sumitomo Chemical will scale up its chemically recycled MMA materials business, while also making the products widely available across society through technology licensing, to contribute to achieving a sustainable society.

*An international certification system to ensure that sustainable raw materials, such as recycled raw materials and biomass-derived raw materials, are properly managed in the supply chain, including in product manufacturing.

Contact

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
Corporate Communications Dept.
https://www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp/english/contact/public/