Zeon Completes ‘Highly Efficient’ Bio-Butadiene Demo Plant in Japan

Zeon Corp. has completed the construction of a bench-scale facility in Japan to demonstrate technology for producing butadiene from ethanol derived from plant-based and sustainable materials. The facility, set to begin operating in January 2027, is part of a joint project with Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC) and supported by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The goal is to achieve ‘social implementation’ of the technology for highly efficient production of bio-based butadiene and isoprene by mid-2030. Zeon will develop a prototype polybutadiene rubber using butadiene made at the facility, while YRC will develop prototype tires using the butadiene rubber and conduct driving tests. The partners expect to commercialize the technology by 2034. Additionally, Zeon and YRC are working on a second NEDO project to develop biotechnology for direct production of butadiene and isoprene from plant-based materials, also scheduled for commercialization by 2034.