微細藻類ユーグレナ成分を配合したバイオマス含有度50%のユーグレナ・プラスチックを開発
バイオ燃料生産の副産物をバイオプラスチックとして活用できる可能性

Euglena Co., Ltd.

　Euglena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo, hereinafter "Euglena") is jointly with Biopoly Joetsu Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, President: Toyoki Takeda, hereinafter "Biopoly Joetsu") , Development of biomass plastic * 1 Euglena lipid extraction residue") generated in the process of extracting lipids, which are raw materials for biofuels, from the Euglena (Japanese name: Euglena Was successful.
* 1 Plastic containing a predetermined amount or more of substances derived from renewable organic resources such as plants as plastic constituents

　In order to deal with social problems such as marine plastic waste, the Ministry of the Environment has formulated a "Plastic Resource Recycling Strategy" in May 2019 to reduce the amount of plastic used and promote recycling, as well as to use renewable resources such as plants. We are promoting the use of the used biomass plastic. Euglena has been developing businesses aimed at solving social problems such as food problems and environmental problems, and while the demand for bioplastics is increasing, Euglena was used as one of its efforts. We are conducting research on biomass plastics.

　This time, paramylon * 2 Euglena-polypropylene composite with 50% biomass content, which is obtained by kneading and uniformly dispersing polypropylene, which is a kind of general-purpose plastic, and Euglena 1) was developed.
　Euglena-polypropylene composite developed in this study are the bending test compared to 100% petroleum-derived polypropylene. * 3 The maximum bending stress and flexural modulus were improved, and strength and hardness were added (Fig. 3). The result is that polypropylene is filled with Euglena lipid extraction residue, which is an organic solid. * 4 It shows that the mechanical characteristics were improved by adding as. Furthermore, using the developed Euglena-polypropylene composite, samples such as forks were prepared by injection molding, and it was confirmed that molding with a general injection molding machine is possible (Fig. 2). In the future, it is expected to be used in various applications such as food containers and molding materials.
* 2 A polysaccharide consisting of β-1,3 glucan, which is a unique component of the Euglena
* 3 The test method is based on JIS k7171, a test standard for determining the bending characteristics of plastics.
* 4 Filling added for the purpose of modifying plastic

　We aim to transform society more sustainably through businesses that utilize microalgae such as Euglena As one of the measures to reduce the amount of petroleum-derived plastics, we will develop functional plastics * 5 using paramylon, which is a unique component of Euglena, and study the possibility of biomass plastics.
* 5 Released on April 2, 2020 https://www.euglena.jp/news/20200402/

<About Euglena Co., Ltd.>
In 2005, we succeeded in establishing the world's first edible outdoor mass culture technology for the Euglena In addition to developing and selling functional foods and cosmetics that utilize the Euglena and Chlorella produced on Ishigaki Island, we are also conducting research toward the production of biofuels. Listed on TSE Mothers in December 2012. TSE First Section market change in December 2014. https://euglena.jp

<About Biopoly Joetsu Co., Ltd.>
Founded in 2011, a manufacturer and seller of biomass plastic resins. From the production of resin to the production of final plastic products, we carry out consistently at our own factory. We possess advanced kneading technology to create plastic resins from various natural materials by accumulating highly difficult biomass compounding technologies.

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Euglena Co., Ltd. Corporate Communication Division