Biomass plastics from Mitsui Chemicals adopted in transformer components
Last update on Jun 3, 2026
Balancing carbon reduction objectives with demanding performance requirements remains a key challenge for electrical equipment applications. Mitsui Chemicals reports that its bio-based hydrocarbon derivatives, including biomass chemicals and biomass plastics marketed under the BePLAYER™ brand, are being adopted in transformer components designed to support both sustainability and performance targets.
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Performance equivalent to petroleum-derived products
According to the company, its biomass plastics based on the mass balance approach have now been adopted for various plastic parts used in molded transformers compliant with 2026 Top Runner standards manufactured and sold by Toshiba Industrial Products and Systems Corporation, as well as for coils in extra-high-voltage molded transformers. Mitsui Chemicals states that it contributes to this initiative through the provision of raw materials as part of the supply chain*.
The company indicates that this initiative represents a practical example of efforts aimed at achieving carbon neutrality across the entire value chain, in line with Toshiba Group’s Environmental Future Vision 2050. In addition to addressing environmental considerations from a functional perspective by complying with the third phase of Japan’s Top Runner standards, the new energy efficiency standards for transformers that came into effect in April 2026, the initiative also promotes the use of biomass plastics in products.
Transformers require extremely high performance in terms of long-term durability, safety and efficiency. In this context, biomass plastics based on the mass balance approach play an important role in making products greener while maintaining high performance, as their physical properties are equivalent to those of conventional petroleum-derived products.
According to the company, as of June 2025, around 50 product groups across the Mitsui Chemicals Group have already switched to the use of biomass resources based on the mass balance approach. Mass balance also has a crucial role to play in chemical recycling, which is being rolled out as a recycling solution that will pave the way for a circular economy. Here, too, the Mitsui Chemicals Group offers plastics and chemical products derived from chemical recycling in around 50 product groups.
*Mitsui Chemicals’ contribution involves switching to biomass-based raw materials in its production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate resins.
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