Biomass Evolue™ using the mass balance method, adopted for Japan Airlines (JAL) cargo handling materials

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Osamu Hashimoto) is expanding the development of biomass naphtha-derived products (biomass chemicals, biomass plastics) under the BePLAYER™ brand, as part of efforts to promote the biomass conversion of society to address global warming issues. Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Mitsuko Tottori, hereinafter "JAL") has adopted Biomass Evolue™ with mass balance system, manufactured and sold by Prime Polymer Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Fumio Yoshizumi), for stretch films used as cargo handling materials at domestic airports in Japan.

JAL will gradually introduce this biomass-derived stretch film from October 2025 onwards, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions by about 50 tons per year. (For reference: Press release from JAL)

It refers to a method in which, during the processing and distribution stages from raw materials to finished products, when raw materials with certain characteristics (e.g., biomass-derived materials) are mixed with those without such characteristics (e.g., petroleum-derived materials), the allocation of those characteristics is assigned to part of the product according to the amount of the raw material with the characteristics introduced (Ministry of the Environment Biomass Plastic Introduction Roadmap).

It is an important approach to enhancing the overall biomass content of society in order to achieve a carbon-neutral society, as the physical properties of petroleum-derived plastics and chemicals remain completely unchanged, and biomass conversion becomes possible even for materials that were previously difficult to convert. As of June 2025, the Mitsui Chemicals Group has already achieved biomass incorporation through the mass balance method in more than 40 product groups. Additionally, the mass balance plays an important role in chemical recycling, which is being developed as a recycling solution towards a circular economy.

BePLAYER™ is an initiative to promote the use of biomass in society to address global warming issues.

We are advancing this effort. We are promoting the development of biomass products using the mass balance method, biomass products using the segregation method, and other products and technologies that contribute to carbon neutrality, greatly contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions in society. We will continue to make significant contributions.