January 20, 2026
Resonac Corporation (President and CEO: Hidehito Takahashi, hereinafter referred to as “Resonac”) has received the “LCA Society of Japan President’s Award” at the 22nd LCA Society of Japan* organized by the LCA Society of Japan. This award recognizes Resonac’s initiative titled “Life Cycle Thinking and the Challenge of Building a Circular Business Model in Plastic Gasification Chemical Recycling,” which includes an ammonia production process that reduces GHG emissions by more than 80%, the circular business model “CirculaC”, and the broad communication of these results.
Key Comments from the Selection Committee:
-The ammonia production process using hydrogen derived from used plastics achieves a reduction of more than 80% in GHG emissions compared to conventional fossil resource–based methods, offering significant environmental benefits. The circular business model “CirculaC” effectively utilizes used plastic products and contributes to reducing dependence on imported fossil resources. Further progress is expected.
-The verification of GHG emission reduction effects from the gasification chemical recycling business using waste plastics—and active use of those results in communication—is commendable.。
Since 2003, Resonac has continued manufacturing and selling basic chemical products (including hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon dioxide) using gasification chemical recycling of used plastics at its Kawasaki Plant (Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture). Resonac is the only company in the world that has operated a gasification chemical recycling plant stably for more than 20 years.
Regarding the ammonia production process using hydrogen obtained from gasification chemical recycling of used plastics, Resonac’s internal project team conducted a detailed calculation of GHG reduction effects. The results confirmed that emissions are reduced by more than 80% compared to conventional methods using fossil fuels, as verified by a third-party evaluation conducted in 2022 by Janan Life Cycle Assessment Facilitation Centre (LCAF).
In 2023, Resonac became the first company in Japan to obtain ISCC PLUS certification for three products—hydrogen, ammonia, and acrylonitrile—within a supply chain using used plastics as feedstock. Since 2025, the company has also launched the circular business model “CirculaC” for used plastics and textiles, promoting co-creation inside and outside the company.
In 2025, Resonac decided to shift its hydrogen feedstock for ammonia production to 100% used-plastic-derived hydrogen, transitioning away from the previous combination of city-gas-derived and used-plastic-derived hydrogen. The new facilities are planned to begin operation in April 2030. This initiative was certified on September 30, 2025, as an eligible project under the “Support Focusing on the Price Gap” program based on the Act on Promotion of Supply and Utilization of Low-Carbon Hydrogen.
Resonac actively utilizes quantitative LCA evaluation results for decision-making and process improvement, including the development of its low-carbon ammonia production process and the “CirculaC” business model. These achievements align with the Resonac Group’s purpose—“Change society through the power of chemistry”—and were recognized as the first certified products/services under the “Resonac Pride Products and Services” program. Resonac transparently communicates its environmental initiatives via integrated reports, technical publications, presentations, and other channels.
Through plant tours, review sessions, surveys, and various reports, Resonac engages in dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders—customers, investors, government agencies, local communities, students, and others—and incorporates their feedback into future business development and process improvement. By doing so, the company strives to create environmental value and fulfill its social responsibility.
Resonac will continue providing quantitative information based on life cycle thinking and will contribute to building a sustainable society by expanding its business, licensing technologies domestically and internationally, and advancing resource circulation and decarbonization initiatives.
* The LCA Society of Japan (JLCA) Award was established in FY2004 to recognize outstanding initiatives related to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The award aims to support organizations and researchers working to reduce environmental impact throughout the product life cycle.
(Source: LCA Society of Japan , Japanese page only)