The history of Styrofoam recycling is our history.
J-EPS RECYCLING STORY
The beginning
In 1976, the founder, Shigehira Inukai, founded Pana Chemical Co., Ltd. in a corner near a station in the suburbs of Suginami-ku, Tokyo, as an agency that handles all plastic materials sold by Matsushita Electric Works. 3 employees. At that time, the wind of the oil crisis * 1 blew all over Japan,
Even though I didn't have any plastic raw materials to purchase * 2, I kept thinking about "how can I cover the shortage of raw materials?"
* 1 The oil crisis started in 1973 and peaked in 1980.
* 2 Plastic is made from crude oil.
The fateful sight led to the recycling business
Meanwhile, Mr.Shigehira.inukai witnesses a fateful sight at the Tsukiji Market, which happened to pass by on his way home from business.It was black smoke rising from the market.In an era when there was no word for "recycling," the Tsukiji market burned styrofoam, which is discarded in large quantities every day.
The history of Styrofoam recycling begins here
The Tsukiji market is the place where the amount of Styrofoam used is the highest in Japan. Styrofoam that is discarded and burned in large quantities. On the other hand, the shortage of plastic raw materials in Japan has become more serious every day. can I solve this problem?" Shigehira continued to think about the business plan, but the market participants did not listen to it, and the days when he was not dealt with, let alone business talks, continued.
Recycling business model
After thinking, Mr.Shigehira.Inukai devised a business model to process Styrofoam into recycled plastic and recycle it.He persuaded the machine maker to develop the first processing machine.He succeeded in turning Styrofoam into a resin mass (A lump *) suitable for Pana Chemical procured plastic raw materials by purchasing processed A lumps in the market, and proposed to Tsukiji market officials a business model of producing recycled resources from waste.
* A lamp is an ingot whose volume is reduced by heating styrofoam for recycling.
Still not trusted.
Days of preparedness and action
"Is it just an excuse to market the machine, or is it a credible story?" Even after the processing machine is delivered, it is difficult for people to understand the recycling mechanism. The reaction of market participants was still chilly. prepared to fulfill your promise. "Be sure to buy the recycled A lump." Shigehira signed a pledge with the market manager and went to the market every day to explain the operation of the processing machine and buy the recycled A lump. the trust of market participants. Finally, the Styrofoam Valuable Purchase System (J-EPS recycling) was born.
A recycling system that gets going.Recycled resources crossed the sea
This recycling system got off to a good start and began to penetrate the country. Shigehira had a reliance in Japan to recycle the purchased A lump. However, as this system became famous, the amount of goods purchased from the market increased, and it was finally necessary to expand the sales channel overseas. Shigehira sought export destinations for renewable resources in Taiwan, South Korea, China, and India, and finally arrived in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, the demand for purchasing recycled resources has increased, and the recycling of plastics has risen.
To create a global recycling ring
A big leap in the system
This recycling system, which has spread to central wholesale markets and local markets nationwide, continued to expand with the help of strong overseas demand. When I noticed, the market share reached 80% of the whole country, and the monthly collection amount increased steadily from 2,000 tons to 3,000 tons. A videocassette tape was also developed, and the A lump was used as the raw material for the plastic case. The performance of the recycling machine has improved significantly, the machine sales have been favorable, and it has been widely covered by the media.
Difficulties overcame with customers
In 1994, the import of waste was banned in Hong Kong. Pana Chemical kept its promise to market participants and continued to buy a lumps for half a year. Warehouses nationwide were full and were driven to the brink of bankruptcy. that "continuation is our mission" and continued to recycle with our customers to the limit. As the business expanded, in addition to Styrofoam recycling, it began to handle plastic raw materials that could be called "Resource Plastic ®". Even when the import ban on waste plastics was banned in China in 2004, Panachemical supported the purchase of A lumps, and even when the raw material price fell to 1/3 during the Lehman shock in 2008, it was domestic.I had 14,000 tons in stock and It was Shigehira, who created this mechanism, and Pana Chemical's determination that he was able to do that.
Resource plastic
7, 0 0 0 tons per month
Currently, Pana Chemical is one of the largest plastic recycling companies in Japan, with the resource plastic recycling business on track and handling 7,000 tons of resource plastic and A lumps per month. Rising from the Tsukiji market. It has grown and is now being installed by 2,000 customers nationwide. This system, which sells recycling machines and purchases the finished resource plastics, continues to grow through cooperative and trusting relationships with customers.
Aiming to be a small and strong company
Pana Chemical is by no means a big company. However, he believed that "there is something that can be done because it is a small company." The reason why we have built a relationship of trust with our current 2,000 customers is because we are a "small company" that is dedicated to one thing, and we do not ask for much, only the plastic recycling business.
"We will continue to be a small company with pride. We will expand the circle of plastic recycling that connects people, resources, and the future to Japan and the world. Pana Chemical Co., Ltd. "
