October 2000
Terumo is first medical equipment manufacturer
to recycle of waste plastics in Blast furnace System
In 1998, Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation, in cooperation with NKK Corp., became the first medical equipment manufacturer to recycle waste plastic produced during the manufacture of medical equipment as reducing agent for the manufacture of iron. During the current year, Terumo will recycle 1,300 tons of plastic in blast furnace system, almost double the fiscal 1999 volume of 720 tons.
Less carbon dioxide is produced when waste plastic, rather than coke, is used as a reduction agent in blast furnaces. Thus, the use of environmentally friendly waste plastic can be expected to contribute to the prevention of global warming.
Approximately 3,600 tons of waste plastic are produced at all Terumo factories each year. Plans are to increase the amount of plastic suitable for use as blast furnace fuel, while plastic which is unsuitable will be used in items such as container pallets and plastic hosing. The objective is to be recycling all waste plastic by fiscal 2005.
As a leader in the medical equipment industry, Terumo aims to continue its development of responsible environmental preservation activities as part of ongoing efforts to be a trusted member of the community.
Appendix
Waste plastic currently produced by Terumo, and how it is recycled
- Recycle in Blast furnace System
Sheet plastic waste left over from punching out infusion bags Waste off-cuts from hollow fiber for dialyzers
- Recycled material (waste plastic melted down to be reshaped for re-use)
From the manufacture of polypropylene disposable syringes container pallets, polypropylene buckets
From the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride infusion sets plastic hosing
- Thermal recycling (waste plastic burned as fuel)
Waste produced during the manufacture of vacuum tubes for blood collection is thermally recycled as fuel for manufacturing cement. Because high temperatures of 1400 C or higher are used for manufacturing cement, there are no concerns about production of dioxins.
