Target area expanded for Seven Café straws made from Kaneka Biodegradable Polymer PHBH™

―The straws will be introduced at around 10,000 Seven-Eleven stores across Japan―

Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Mamoru Kadokura) has been working with Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd. to extend the use of products that use Kaneka Biodegradable Polymer PHBH™ (referred to below as PHBH™). From November 5th, straws made from PHBH™ will start being implemented for use with Seven Café ice coffees and ice café lattes area by area. Around 10,000 stores that implement the use of this new straws spread across the regions of Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Kansai, Chubu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa.

Since August this year, there has been a trial-introduction of straws made from PHBH™ in Seven-Eleven stores only in Kochi Prefecture. It has now been decided to expand the area in order to advance further environmental measures.

While plastic products are very convenient and essential in our daily lives, they are often not disposed properly. There has been increasing concern that marine microplastics may affect our biological systems and human health. PHBH™ is a 100% plant-based biopolymer developed by Kaneka and has an excellent biodegradability under different environmental conditions. Particularly in recent years, marine pollution by microplastic has become a global social issue due to the rising concern of its negative impact on biological system. With “OK Biodegradable MARINE*” certification that guarantees biodegradability in seawater, PHBH™ would be able to contribute to the reduction of marine pollutions.

Kaneka will continue to develop different kinds of products that use PHBH™ together with Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd. in order to offer solutions to the problem of environmental pollution.

*Biodegrades at least 90% in seawater (30℃) within 6 months. The“OK Biodegradable MARINE”certificate was issued to PHBH™ in September 2017 by Vincotte, an international certifying body headquartered in Belgium. TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium NV took over the certification work from Vincotte in December 2017.

Seven Café straws made from PHBH™