Kaneka Biodegradable Polymer Green Planet™ selected by Kobelco Kobe Steelers Rugby Team

Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Minoru Tanaka) has announced that Kaneka Biodegradable Polymer Green Planet™ (referred to below as “Green Planet”) was selected by the Kobelco Kobe Steelers (Headquarters: Kobe City, Hyogo; Director: Koichi Mizukami), a JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE rugby team, for its straws, spoons, and forks. These Green Planet straws, spoons, and forks will be provided by stadium food stalls beginning with the team's opening host game of the 2022-23 season, its match against the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners Rugby Team, on Saturday, December 24.

Led by the team vision of "SMILE TOGETHER - Creating a Future Full of Smiles," the Kobelco Kobe Steelers concluded a business collaboration agreement with its host area, the city of Kobe, in 2021. Through this agreement, they are engaging in community-based activities that contribute to the vitalization of the community to spread happiness from Kobe to Japan and to the rest of the world. These efforts include holding sports workshops, visiting schools, and providing support to members of the medical community. As part of these activities, the Kobelco Kobe Steelers have selected straws, spoons, and forks made with environmentally friendly Green Planet.

Green Planet is a 100% plant-derived biodegradable polymer developed by Kaneka with a desire to provide environmentally friendly solutions that are not dependent on petroleum resources. It is exceptionally biodegradable in a wide range of environments and breaks down easily into CO2 and water in both soil and seawater, helping to solve the problem of plastic pollution.

Based on our mission of "KANEKA thinks 'Wellness First'.", Kaneka will continue to provide solutions for global issues.
Kaneka will continue to strengthen its collaboration with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers and bring about a sustainable society by promoting the use of Green Planet.