Teijin Limited has unveiled a solvent-based recycling process that produces high-quality polycarbonate (PC) resin with properties comparable to virgin material.
This development marks a major milestone in sustainable materials innovation and could dramatically boost the use of recycled PC in demanding applications.
The TEIJIN solvent-based recycling process yields cost-effective, transparent, and structurally sound recycled PC ready for use in sectors like automotive and electronics. Teijin solvent-based recycling process yields virgin-grade PC
Why Solvent-Based Recycling Matters
Traditional mechanical recycling of polycarbonate often fails to deliver the quality and clarity needed for high-performance applications. Impurities, coatings, and degradation impair the final material. Teijin solvent-based recycling process yields virgin-grade PC
Teijin’s approach circumvents these limitations by dissolving waste PC in solvents. Using this method, the company separates and purifies the polymer from contaminants — restoring its molecular integrity without breaking it down chemically.
This process enables the production of recycled PC with transparency, impact resistance, and surface quality comparable to that of virgin polycarbonate.
Industrial Relevance and Regulatory Drivers
Teijin is focusing on post-consumer polycarbonate, especially from automotive headlamps and other sources difficult to recycle through mechanical means. By applying solvent-based recycling to such materials, the company can generate ELV-compliant (End-of-Life Vehicle) grades suitable even for transparent automotive components.
This work comes at a critical moment: regulations in Europe — including draft ELV directives — are pushing automakers to use more recycled plastics in their vehicles. Teijin’s recycled PC, delivered via this advanced process, positions the company to help manufacturers comply with tightening sustainability requirements. Teijin solvent-based recycling process yields virgin-grade PC
Environmental and Economic Advantages
Compared to chemical recycling, Teijin’s solvent-based method offers lower costs, fewer process steps, and reduced CO₂ emissions. Because the polymer isn’t broken down into monomers, the process is more energy-efficient, and the regenerated PC retains excellent performance for reuse. Teijin solvent-based recycling process yields virgin-grade PC
By enabling closed-loop recycling — for example, turning used headlamp materials back into new transparent components — Teijin helps close the material loop, contributing to a truly circular economy.
Commercialization Timeline and Future Use Cases
Teijin aims to bring solvent-based recycled PC to the market by fiscal year 2026. Target uses include automotive applications, electronics, and other areas where transparent or impact-resistant plastics are essential.
In parallel, Teijin is advancing traceability for its recycled PC products. It recently launched a proof-of-concept using Digital Product Passports (DPPs) through a collaboration with Circularise B.V. These passports help users trace the origin, composition, and environmental credentials of recycled PC resin, which supports compliance with evolving sustainability regulations.
Integration With Other Sustainability Strategies
Solvent-based recycling complements Teijin’s broader environmental strategy, which already includes biomass-derived polycarbonate (PC) resin. Earlier in 2025, Teijin announced that Sigma — a Japanese camera and lens manufacturer — adopted its biomass PC resin for use in camera lens barrels. This confirms Teijin’s commitment to supplying sustainable alternatives without compromising performance. Teijin solvent-based recycling process yields virgin-grade PC
On its website, Teijin describes its solvent-based recycling as part of its “Circular Materials (CM) Series” — a portfolio designed to drive resource circulation without sacrificing quality.
Implications for the Circular Plastics Economy
The success of Teijin’s solvent-based recycling could reshape how polycarbonate is reused. By offering recycled PC that rivals virgin material in clarity and strength, Teijin enables wider adoption of high-value recycled plastics. This could dramatically reduce reliance on fossil-based raw materials, lower carbon footprints, and accelerate regulatory adoption of circular materials.
As global industries intensify their focus on sustainability, Teijin’s innovation may become a blueprint — not just for recycling polycarbonate, but for redefining how high-performance plastics are recovered, traced, and reused in a modern circular economy.
News Courtesy : Polyestertime