In this series of articles, we are focusing on the Japanese startups that recently got in the spotlight, discussing their concepts, goals and activities. Today’s company is TBM.
TBM
Overview
TBM is a Japan-based company producing “LIMEX”, a new material mainly made from limestone that can become an alternative to plastic and paper.
Product
LIMEX
Limestone is a sustainable raw material, with abundant reserves all over the world. It is 100% self-sufficient even in Japan and said to be almost inexhaustible. We believe that this sustainable material can save the world.
1. What is Limestone?
Limestone, which is the raw material of LIMEX, is a resource that can be self-sufficient even in Japan, where resources are scarce. The estimated recoverable years of limestone continue to grow, with 24 billion tons of resources reserved in Japan alone, and limestone is said to be a resource with a very low risk of depletion compared to oil, water, and forest resources. Since paper alternative products can be manufactured with almost no use of water or forest, it could be manufactured in many places. Also, by promoting local production for local consumption, a compact supply chain can be constructed, which could reduce impact on the environment. Because it is a resource that is abundant everywhere, we believe it can save the world.
2. Superiority
In the raw material procurement process, petroleum-based resins are manufactured by fractional distillation of crude oil and naphtha and polymerizing the extracted monomers. The impact of climate change is caused by the consumption of energy through the heating process. However, calcium carbonate, the main raw material of LIMEX, is produced by crushing limestone. Due to this difference in process, Limestone can reduce CO2 emissions by about 50 times compared to petroleum-based resins.
Mining and processing of limestone is easier than petroleum and metal. Because it is abundant all over the world, it has excellent supply stability and is inexpensive. Products such as plastics and rubber deteriorate due to environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight, but the physical characteristics of limestone are more stable. It is a resource that is not easily affected by environmental factors.
3. Manufacturing process
LIMEX is an advanced material produced from calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which is derived from limestone, and a small amount of polymeric resin added as a binder. These materials are heated and kneaded in a twin screw extruder, creating a molten, homogeneous composite containing over 50% calcium carbonate by body weight. Next, the composite is heated and pressurized under LIMEX’s proprietary manufacturing process, resulting in material properties ideal for post-processing.
LIMEX pellet is manufactured by pelletizing, the process of molding the molten composite into the shape of a pellet. LIMEX pellet is also manufactured by pelletizing edge waste produced through manufacturing and printing process or used LIMEX sheets collected from consumers. Since the amount of petroleum-based resin contained in conventional plastic products can be reduced, LIMEX is used as a material to "reduce plastic".
LIMEX pellet is manufactured by pelletizing, the process of molding the molten composite into the shape of a pellet. LIMEX pellet is also manufactured by pelletizing edge waste produced through manufacturing and printing process or used LIMEX sheets collected from consumers. Since the amount of petroleum-based resin contained in conventional plastic products can be reduced, LIMEX is used as a material to "reduce plastic".
4. Use cases
LIMEX is suitable for diverse molding methods including injection molding, extrusion molding, vacuum molding, and blow molding. Though LIMEX is a composite material, it does not require custom equipment and can be processed using traditional methods and machinery. LIMEX is used by more than 6,000 companies and municipalities for a variety of purposes. (As of June 2021)
The details of use cases are as follows:
・Shopping bag
・Food container
・Illuminations sheet
・Reuse bag (nonwoven fabric)
・Stationery
・Mask case
5. The Future of LIMEX
In recent years, the international treaty "Basel Convention", which regulates the definition of hazardous waste and import / export, has increased the need for local resource recycling. In Europe, the European Commission has set a goal of eliminating disposable plastic packaging in the region by 2030. In Japan, the "Plastic Resource Recycling Strategy" was announced based on the “Basic Act on Establishing a Recycling Society”. The goal is to double the recycling of plastics by 2030, make 100% effective use of used plastics by 2035, and new resource recycling models are being created through partnerships between local governments, companies, and universities.
TBM sees these changes as an opportunity. To meet the growing needs for recycled materials and plastic alternative materials throughout the world, TBM will promote LIMEX and CirculeX, a material made from used LIMEX and plastics.
Total Funding Amount
About $309M
(Source: StartupDB)
Investors (featured)
Japan: UBS Japan, ITOCHU Corporation, Toppan Printing, Dentsu Group, QUANTUM
US: Goldman Sachs
(Source: StartupDB)
