Sharp has successfully developed a new recycling technique that will enable it to use 1,000 tons of recycled plastic in its appliances in 2008. This new technique has allowed the company to recover high-quality polypropylene from waste plastic components collected from four appliances – TVs, Air Conditioners, Refrigerators and Washing Machines.
This first in the industry technology handles waste plastic in which metal parts and resins still remain attached to other waste and the valuable plastic filters out. This PP (Polypropylene) can then be recycled and used as the exterior of various appliances developed by the company.
The company has set a goal of using 1,000 tons of this recycled plastic in various appliances in fiscal 2008. Sharp has also set up a High-Efficiency Metal Removal Line at Kansai Recycling Systems Co. Ltd. and has also developed a new High-Purity PP Separation and Recovery Technology to recycle these plastic components. This technique is then coupled with a technology from Ube Industries Ltd, to incorporate colored pigments to the recovered PP. This way the company is able to achieve a closed-loop recycling system.
Sharp will initially use this recycled plastic in the exterior components of refrigerators in September 2007 and will then move to its goal of using 1,000 tons of recycled plastic in new products.
Via: Far East Gizmos
