Konica Minolta partners with NEC Platforms for recycled plastics
May 21, 2024
Konica Minolta, Inc. announced a partnership with NEC Platforms, Ltd. to supply recycled plastics for the exterior parts of NEC’s Aterm home Wi-Fi routers.
Konica Minolta aims to reduce the use of native resources by 90% from 2019 levels by 2050. This ambitious target is being pursued through the incorporation of recyclable materials and the external deployment of its advanced recycling technologies.
The collaboration with NEC Platforms exemplifies Konica Minolta’s commitment to these goals. The Aterm WX5400T6, a new home Wi-Fi router, features exterior parts made from recycled polycarbonate (PC) derived from used water bottles. Approximately 40% of the router’s exterior plastics are composed of this recycled material. This development required the creation of a high-functionality recycling material that meets the stringent flame resistance and strength requirements for router exteriors.
Konica Minolta’s efforts are not limited to Wi-Fi routers. The company has been innovating in the recycling of various plastics for multiple applications. For instance, it recycles used PET bottles and PC water bottles for the exterior materials of its multifunction printers (MFPs). By enhancing the strength, flame resistance, and molding usability of these recycled materials, Konica Minolta has increased the recycled content in its MFP products launched in FY2019 to 70% for exterior materials and over 95% for inner casing materials made from recycled ABS resin.
Furthermore, the company has pioneered the recycling of polyethylene milk containers into toner bottles for MFPs. This process involves advanced washing technology to remove odours and impurities, ensuring the quality of the recycled material. As a result, the percentage of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in toner containers has reached 40%, with some products achieving 100%.
Categories : World Focus
Tags : Konica Minolta Partnership Recycled Plastics Recycling
