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Teijin to Produce Carbon Fiber from Sustainable Raw Materials

Waste and biomass residue earmarked for production of precursor acrylonitrile.

Stephen Moore

January 23, 2024

1 Min Read
Tenax carbon fiber
Image courtesy of Teijin

At a Glance

  • ISCC Plus–certified carbon fiber is produced at the company’s Mishima plant in Japan
  • Properties, performance, and processing are on a par with petroleum-derived carbon fiber
  • Drop-in replacements reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Japan’s Teijin Ltd. will commence production and sale of Tenax carbon fiber made with sustainable acrylonitrile (AN) based on waste and residue from biomass-derived products or recycled raw materials that have received ISCC Plus certification from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification system. The Tenax carbon fiber under ISCC Plus certification will be produced at Teijin’s Mishima plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, using the mass balance approach.

In June 2023, the company obtained ISCC Plus certification for Tenax carbon fiber and the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor fiber produced at its Mishima plant. The sustainable AN has the same physical properties as petroleum-derived AN, while Tenax carbon fiber based on this material delivers the same performance and processing attributes as equivalent fossil-based Tenax products. This similarity allows customers to easily drop in Tenax carbon fiber made with bio-based or circular materials, helping to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the product's lifecycle.

Teijin aims to expand its lineup of sustainable products. To this end, the company is pursuing ISCC Plus certification not only for carbon fiber, including its precursor, but also for intermediate products such as prepregs and short fibers that use sustainable raw materials. Further, Teijin is working toward obtaining ISCC Plus certification at overseas locations. Teijin’s European facilities are expected to obtain certification in early fiscal 2024, which commences this coming April, while US facilities should obtain certification during fiscal 2024.

Related:Teijin Markets Biomass-Derived Polycarbonate

Carbon fiber is used as a reinforcement material in a range of markets, including aerospace, automotive, and sporting goods.

About the Author

Stephen Moore

Stephen has been with PlasticsToday and its preceding publications Modern Plastics and Injection Molding since 1992, throughout this time based in the Asia Pacific region, including stints in Japan, Australia, and his current location Singapore. His current beat focuses on automotive. Stephen is an avid folding bicycle rider, often taking his bike on overseas business trips, and a proud dachshund owner.

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