SDG12|LIMEX - An alternative material for plastics and paper
Description
TBM Co., Ltd. conducts R&D, production and sales of an innovative material ‘LIMEX’. This is to lower environmental impacts and develop circular models. The main raw material of LIMEX is limestone, an almost inexhaustibly abundant resource worldwide. LIMEX sheets can serve as paper alternatives. Unlike pulp-based paper, LIMEX sheets require no trees and almost no water for production, minimizing its environmental impact. Another application of LIMEX is as plastic alternatives. Compared to conventional plastics, LIMEX can reduce oil consumption. Furthermore, LIMEX sheets can be upcycled for use as plastic alternatives. There is also a biodegradable version of LIMEX.
To promote responsible consumption and production:<br />
Due to its unique feature of our new material, LIMEX sheets used as paper alternatives can be upcycled into plastic alternatives. This upcyclability incentivise people to collect the post-use sheets for the second life. In line with SDG12.2 promoting efficient use of precious raw materials, LIMEX can minimise the impact on material availability, unlike pulp-based paper and petrochemicals, with the abundance of limestone on the earth. Furthermore, as SDG12.5 aims, LIMEX can promote highly efficient material recycling even in countries like Japan where combustion is widely used as final treatment. <br />
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To minimise the use of water and minimise the risk of deforestation:<br />
LIMEX requires almost no water and no trees to produce, which is contrary to conventional pulp-based paper. With this feature, LIMEX sheets used as alternatives to paper can contribute to SDG6.4 and SDG15.1. We quantify the extent of contribution through our website “LIMEX Action”(https://tb-m.com/limexaction/).<br />
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To minimise the risk of plastic pollution:<br />
Plastic alternative products made of LIMEX can reduce the amount of plastics. By containing limestone, a natural material harmless to the planet, more than 50%, we believe LIMEX could be a solution to plastic pollution. Biodegradable LIMEX is also under a commercialization process to contribute to SDG14.1.<br />
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To minimise the impact on climate change:<br />
LIMEX can also reduce the amount of lifecycle GHG emissions because of its simple production process. TBM conducts lifecycle assessment to verify and improve the performance of the material in alignment with SDG9.4 and SDG13.1.<br />
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To revitalize the affected/vulnerable areas:<br />
TBM has established its first manufacturing plant in Miyagi prefecture in Japan, a part that was affected by the earthquakes and tsunami in 2015. This is upon a strong desire of the CEO to create jobs and an industry in the area. Additionally, TBM made an agreement with the Saudi Arabian Government for its LIMEX’s feasibility study in order to contribute to the country where little water and trees are available.<br />
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To maximise the positive impacts on people and the planet:<br />
- Collaboration with local governments: Ministry of Economy, Technology, and Industry of Japan has been supportive to our activities with generous subsidies. Local governments with SDGs at the core of their policy such as Kanagawa prefecture and Sabae City in Fukui Prefecture are the partners for TBM in the expansion of its positive impacts via business.<br />
- ESG Information disclosure: Even though TBM is not a publicly-listed company, ESG disclosure has been a part of its business activities. Voluntary response to CDP questionnaire is a mere example of the company’s attitude.<br />
- Validation of activities: Not just appealing its contribution to SDGs, TBM conducts joint research with scientific experts to assess LIMEX’s environmental impacts. A lab at a Japanese leading university, University of Tokyo, and a Japanese leading environmental consultancy, JEMAI, have been partners in the process.
Implementers: B2B businesses, Industrial Groups, Consumers, Local Governments
Many businesses, Industrial Groups and Local Governments have introduced our new material LIMEX to contribute to SDGs.
For instance, Kanagawa Prefecture, which is one of the biggest local governments in Japan, agreed to establish a Public-Private consortium for upcycling of LIMEX as a part of their attempt to contribute to SDGs.
Furthermore, we have strategic partnerships with Japan's leading businesses such as Toppan Printing, Dainippon Printing, Itochu etc. with regards to R&D, production, and sales expansion.
Our business activity initiated on August 30th, 2011 and LIMEX has been our core product. To expand the positive impact of LIMEX, there has been a restless attempt to expand our business, resulting in an existing manufacturing plant in Japan with the production capacity of 6,000t. Furthermore, another plant with the production capacity of 30,000t is under development and expected to initiate its operation in 2020. We are seeking to expand our business globally in partnership with a leading trading company, Itochu as well.
The primary method of monitoring is Lifecycle Assessment, which allows us to quantify the environmental impact that our products have.
Innovation | LIMEX technology is patented in 35 countries worldwide, with applications submitted in more countries.
The concept of LIMEX is to minimize the environmental and social impacts by minimising precious resource use while keeping its cost competitiveness by utilizing an inexpensive abundant material, limestone.
The technological breakthrough is our know-how to raise the quality of the product while containing limestone more than 50%, and it does not require a special facility for production. We believe that this results in high replicability.
LIMEX is a revolutionary new material made of limestone, a natural resource abundant around the world. It is a unique material developed and patented by TBM, a Japanese startup. LIMEX can substitute paper and plastic, while minimizing the environmental impacts. Limestone is abundant worldwide and inexpensive, raising LIMEX’s cost competitiveness. With its accessibility and recyclability, LIMEX becomes a driving force for a local circular economy. We believe LIMEX contributes to a wide range of Sustainable Development Goals.
- TBM Corporate Website
https://tb-m.com/en/limex/
Reports
- Brussels SDG Summit [P34-35]
https://www.csreurope.org/sites/default/files/uploads/CSR-Europe-White%…
- Climate Change - The New Economy - COP24 [P86-87]
http://publications.climatechange-theneweconomy.com/cop24/86-1
- BASF magazine Creating Chemistry Issue 7 [P26]
https://www.basf.com/global/documents/en/news-and-media/publications/re…
Events
- COP24: Japan Pavillion: LIMEX - Limestone paves the road to a de-carbonised circular economy
http://copjapan.env.go.jp/cop/cop24/en/events/2018-12-12/03/
News
- Bloomberg "Goldman Sachs Investing in Startup That Makes Paper From Stones"
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-15/goldman-sachs-invest…
- CNN "On Japan"
http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2017/11/12/cnn-on-japan-explores-the-…
- TBM Press Release "TBM and CDP have agreed on a service partnership"
https://tb-m.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/171025en_pressrelease.pdf
- Bloomberg "This Startup Is Making Paper Out of Stone, Not Trees"
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-15/the-former-used-car-…
Awards
(TBM Website)
https://tb-m.com/en/company/award/
- 2016 | Plug and Play | Social Impact Award
https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/new-materials/startups/
- 2017 | Japan US Innovation Awards
http://www.usjinnovate.org/prior-events/2017-symposium/
- 2017 | Asia Pacific Stevie Award | Excellence in Innovation in Manufacturing Industries and the Award for Innovation in Energy & Sustainability
http://asia.stevieawards.com/2017-stevie-winners
SDGS & Targets
Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
Name | Description |
---|---|
14.1 | By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution |
Feedback
Action Network
![SDG Good Practices First Call](/sites/default/files/2021-12/goodp1.jpg)
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Timeline
Entity
Region
- Asia and Pacific
Geographical coverage
Website/More information
Countries
![Japan Japan](/sites/default/files/stakeholders/flagbig6_30.jpg)
Contact Information
Tokuro Hatori, Mr