Overview
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. is a major Japanese petroleum and chemical company headquartered in Tokyo, with over 80 years of history. Founded in 1940, Idemitsu operates globally and is actively transitioning from fossil fuel dependency to renewable and bio-based solutions, including significant investments in bioplastics and chemical recycling technologies.
The company produces a diverse portfolio of basic chemicals and is pioneering biomass-based alternatives to conventional petrochemical feedstocks, positioning itself as a leader in Japan’s bioplastics transition.
Core Business: Bioplastics & Bio-Based Chemicals
Bio-Based Chemical Production:
- Biomass-derived chemical feedstocks
- Plant-based hydrocarbon alternatives
- Renewable raw materials for plastics synthesis
- Carbon-neutral and bio-based polymer precursors
Chemical Recycling:
- Advanced plastic-to-oil conversion technology
- Post-consumer and post-industrial plastic processing
- Refined oil production equivalent to crude oil quality
- Circular economy resource circulation
Basic Chemicals Division:
- Conventional chemical products (petroleum-based baseline)
- Transition portfolio spanning fossil and renewable sources
- Supply to chemical and polymer industries globally
Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships
Chemical Recycling Japan Joint Venture (2023-present):
- JV with Environmental Energy Co., Ltd.
- Ichihara facility (Chiba Prefecture, Japan)
- Capacity: 20,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year
- Commercial operations: April 2026 target
- Technology: Chemical depolymerization and oilification
- Impact: Recovers refined oil equivalent from plastic waste
Global Bio-Based Supply Chain Alliance (2022+):
- Partnership with Neste (Finland), CHIMEI (Taiwan), Mitsubishi Corporation
- Focus: Renewable styrene monomer (SM) and derivative plastics
- Goal: Build Asian supply chain for bio-based polymers
- Applications: High-performance bioplastics across industries
DIC Collaboration:
- Joint study with DIC (Japan) on biomass polystyrene supply chains
- Development of bio-based polystyrene alternatives
- Market expansion for sustainable polymers
Products & Applications
Biomass Plastics:
- Bio-based polystyrene (under development)
- Renewable polymer derivatives
- Carbon-reduced plastic alternatives
- Performance-matched conventional plastics
Recycled Polymers:
- Chemical recycling outputs (oilified plastics)
- Recirculated plastic polymers
- Food-grade recycled materials
- Certified sustainable sourcing
Market Applications:
- Automotive components and housings
- Food and beverage packaging
- Textile and apparel applications
- Electronics and consumer goods
- Industrial chemical feedstocks
Sustainability Strategy
Idemitsu is committed to:
- Resource Circulation: Building closed-loop plastic recycling systems
- Carbon Reduction: Shifting to low-carbon and bio-based alternatives
- Renewable Sourcing: Transitioning from fossil fuels to biomass feedstocks
- Circular Economy: Enabling plastic waste valorization
- Global Leadership: Positioning Japan as a bioplastics innovator
Institutional Scale
Company Profile:
- Public company (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 5019)
- 7,000+ employees globally
- Major petrochemical producer with diversified portfolio
- Expanding renewable energy and bioplastics divisions
Market Position:
- Japanese industry leader in chemical recycling
- Strategic position in Asian bioplastics development
- Key partner in global renewable plastic supply chains
- Pioneering biomass-to-polymer technology integration
Geographic Presence
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Operations: Japan, Asia-Pacific, Americas, Europe
- Recycling Facilities: Ichihara (Chiba, Japan)
- R&D: Multiple centers in Japan
Last updated: February 27, 2026