Shofu, Tosoh, Mitsui Chemicals, and Orbray Launch Joint Project to Recycle Zirconia Dental Waste

Shofu Inc. (headquartered in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture; Tetsuo Takami, Representative Director, President & COO); Tosoh Corporation (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Mamoru Kuwada, president and representative director); Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Satoshi Ichimura, President and CEO); and Orbray Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Adachi-ku, Tokyo; Riyako Namiki, President and CEO) today are announcing the launch of a joint verification project to recycle zirconia waste from dental prosthetic production.* Practical application is targeted for fiscal 2028.

Zirconia is a principal material for dental prosthetics and is milled at dental laboratories to produce products such as crowns and bridges. Demand for zirconia dental prosthetics continues to grow because of zirconia’s aesthetic appeal and durability. However, the milling process is wasteful because it leaves much discarded zirconia from the disc-shaped blanks employed.

The four companies behind this project each have a distinct role in recycling that unused zirconia. Shofu will collect waste from the zirconia products it has sold. Tosoh will regenerate that waste into raw material using its proprietary Zirconia Refine Technology. Orbray will mold blocks from this regenerated raw material and commercialize them as products. And Mitsui Chemicals will provide operational support and other assistance.

All four companies will work in cooperation with the dental laboratories that are zirconia’s principal end users to realize the world’s first recycling scheme for zirconia dental waste. This will create a circular economy in the dental industry and contribute to environmental sustainability.

*Dental prosthetics are artificial parts used to restore or reconstruct teeth lost or damaged by cavities, periodontal disease, or other conditions.