Business Environment
Food Container Industry in Japan
Plastic food containers come in a variety of types, depending on the raw material and material properties of the resin. Polystyrene materials include PSP (extruded polystyrene foam) containers, OPS (biaxially oriented polystyrene), containers, and HIPS (impact resistant polystyrene) containers. Other materials include polypropylene containers, foamed polypropylene containers, and PET containers. Nowadays, containers made from plant-derived biomass raw materials and containers made from recycled raw materials are also used.
JSP mainly handles styrene paper (PSP, extruded polystyrene foam) containers, which are mainly white and used at room temperature. JSP is striving to expand market share by introducing heat-resistant grades of PSP that can exhibit physical properties similar to those of heat-resistant polypropylene containers that can be used in microwave ovens.
The recycling of plastic food containers has become a major issue for the industry, and each company is working to reduce its environmental impact by collecting products or using recycled materials.
JSP is a member of the JASFA, JAPAN POLYSTYRENE FOAMED SHEET INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, https://www.jasfa.jp/ (Japanese only).
JASFA was established in 1991 under the guidance of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) in line with the legislation of the Act for Promotion of Use of Recycled Resources with the main purpose of collecting and recycling trays.
Housing and Building Insulation Industry in Japan
Insulation materials for housing and building mainly include glass wool, rock wool, extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), beaded polystyrene foam (EPS), rigid polyurethane foam, cellulose fiber, and phenolic foam. Depending on the physical properties of each material they are used as heat insulators in various areas such as walls, floors, and ceilings.
JSP produces and sells MIRAFOAM (extruded polystyrene foam) and STYRODIA (beaded polystyrene foam). Extruded polystyrene foam manufacturers, including JSP are focusing on expanding sales of high-insulation grade products and pre-cut products to increase their competitiveness against other materials. NEDAFOAM is widely used for insulation of floor joists in houses.
Information on Energy Conservation
JSP is a member of the EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, https://www.epfa.jp/ (Japanese only).
The EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION is working to promote the use of extruded polystyrene foam insulation material (XPS) in order to realize comfortable energy-saving lifestyles while ensuring safety and reducing environmental impact.
EPS (Expanded polystyrene) Industry in Japan
EPS, expanded polystyrene, is used in various aspects of our lives, including various containers, cushioning materials and components, and construction and civil engineering materials. As a container it can be used by fisheries and for agricultural applications.
Fisheries use the highest percentage but are affected by the amount of fish caught. Cushioning materials for industrial applications such as electronics are affected by the demand trend for electronic components. As mentioned above, for insulation material applications the demand for energy-saving housing is increasing. Other new applications such as bead cushion are also expanding.
JSP is a member of the JAPAN EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE ASSOCIATION, https://www.jepsa.jp/ (Japanese only).
The JAPAN EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE RECYCLING ASSOCIATION, the predecessor of the JEPSA, was established in cooperation with an organization of EPS raw material manufacturers and an organization of EPS molding manufacturers to address the growing waste problem in 1991.
Automotive Component Industry
Numerous types of resins are used for the automobile market. General-purpose resins are mainly used for exterior panels and interior materials, while general-purpose engineering plastics are used for electrical components and in engine compartments. The market for automotive resins is linked to the global production volume of automobiles.
JSP's polypropylene foam, ARPRO/P-BLOCK is not only used in exterior applications such as bumper cores and side impact pads, but also in interior applications such as rear seat cores, toolboxes in trunk compartments, sun visors, headrests, floor spacers, and tibia pads (passenger protection materials). The various properties of foamed plastics such as lightweight, shock absorption, sound absorption, heat insulation, and recyclability are highly commended by automobile manufacturers, and these products are able to respond to major changes in the industry such as the electrification of automobiles, the spread of autonomous driving technology and recycling.
Our lineup also includes STYRODIA foamed polystyrene and ELEMPOR NEO foamed polyethylene/polystyrene composite beads. JSP responds to a wide range of applications depending on performance and price.
The switchover from other materials to foamed plastic products is underway in terms of recyclability and lightweight and as the amount of foamed plastic products used per vehicle increases, the production volume of foamed plastic products is growing faster than the production volume of automobiles in the world.
Industrial Cushioning and Packaging Materials Industry in Japan
The packaging and wrapping material industry has numerous applications and types, ranging from wooden boxes to corrugated cardboard, plastic bags, and paper. Typical packaging materials include corrugated cardboard, bags, wooden boxes, films, plastic containers, and pallets.
Typical cushioning materials include bubble wrap, foam cushioning materials, paper cushioning materials, air cushioning materials, urethane, sponge, and styrofoam. They are used in a wide range of applications related to logistics.
JSP handles foamed polyethylene sheet: MIRAMAT, bubble cushioning material: CAPLON, and foamed polypropylene board: P-BOARD. JSP has a wide range of applications from general-purpose to high-value-added products. These include packaging for automotive parts, packaging materials for medical equipment and precision equipment and surface protection for flat panel displays.
About the Plastics Industry as a Whole
In recent years, a "low-carbon society" has been highlighted as a CO2 reduction measure to prevent global warming. The realization of a "sustainable society" that consists of a "recycling-oriented society" and a "low-carbon society" has become a major global challenge.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has presented a roadmap to achieve net zero energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050 in its "Net Zero by 2050," released on May 18, 2021. It calls for the immediate cancellation of investments in new fossil fuel supply projects and no investment decisions in coal-related plants that do not take measures to reduce carbon emissions. In the scenario presented, "They (fossil fuels) fall from almost four‐fifths of total energy supply today to slightly over one‐fifth by 2050. Fossil fuels that remain in 2050 are used in goods where the carbon is embodied in the product such as plastics, in facilities fitted with CCUS (Carbon dioxide Capture, Utilization and Storage), and in sectors where low‐emissions technology options are scarce" and “in some places there has been a shift away from the use of single‐use plastics in recent years, a trend that accelerates in the NZE (Net Zero Emissions).” The plastics industry is under pressure to respond to various issues relating to recycling, bio-derived products, and biodegradability on a global scale.
In Japan, the Plastic Resource Circulation Act came into effect in April 2022, with the aim of promoting resource recycling of plastic products from manufacturing to disposal and reducing the amount of waste. The background of the enactment of the law is environmental issues such as ocean plastic pollution and climate change caused by carbon dioxide emitted from the manufacturing process of plastic products and from the incineration of discarded products.
JSP strives to grow as a company by responding to social needs and contributing to the reduction of environmental burdens through our products.
JSP is a member of the Japan Plastics Industry Federation (JPIF) http://www.jpif.gr.jp/index.html (Japanese only).
As a representative organization of the plastics industry in Japan, the JPIF is actively involved in a wide range of issues related to raw material resins, molding and processing and end-of-life disposal, not only within the industry but also outside the industry.
JSP is a member of CLOMA https://cloma.net/english.
CLOMA (Clean Ocean Materials Alliance) is working to solve the global problem of marine plastic litter in cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders across industries.
By joining associations and federations in each industry, JSP will contribute as an industry organization beyond the boundaries of companies and work to solve social issues, in addition to what JSP can do on its own.