On June 23, Kaneka Corporation of Japan announced that its biodegradable polymer, Green Planet™, has been adopted by Shimano Corporation for the manufacture of artificial lures.
Artificial lures are typically made of general-purpose plastics. Therefore, lures lost in marine or freshwater environments can exacerbate plastic pollution and place an additional burden on the environment. Green Planet is a 100% biomass-derived biodegradable polymer developed by Kaneka to provide an environmentally friendly solution that does not rely on petroleum resources. Because it can be broken down into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms in soil and seawater, it helps address marine plastic pollution.
Kaneka and Shimano successfully combined Shimano's advanced design and manufacturing technologies with the material properties of Green Planet, meeting the stringent quality requirements of artificial lure products, including maneuverability and durability required for repeated use, thus facilitating the development of this product.
Shimano is committed to resource recycling and reducing environmental impact. Through promoting the 3R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), it has taken numerous initiatives, such as reducing the use of single-use resources in bicycle replacement parts and fishing rod plastic packaging materials, and reusing and recycling logistics-related materials.
Adhering to KANEKA's "Health First" philosophy, as a solutions provider, KANEKA creates value globally. Utilizing its unique polymer and biotechnology technologies, KANEKA is dedicated to promoting Green Planet™ globally to build a sustainable society. As this case study demonstrates, Green Planet™ solutions are not only applied to single-use plastic products such as straws and cutlery but have also expanded into durable consumer goods.
