LIMEX - Limestone paves the road to a de-carbonised circular economy
Organiser
- TBM Co., Ltd.
Event Overview
The event is held by TBM Co., Ltd. (TBM), a company that develops, manufactures and sells paper and plastic alternative products made from a limestone-based material known as 'LIMEX'. Limestone is self-sufficient in Japan and abundant around the world. LIMEX sheets as paper alternative can be upcycled to LIMEX plastic alternative products. Upcycling is the process of converting discarded materials into the products of higher quality or value than the original.
Part 1. Talk - The Future with LIMEX
Resource efficiency driven by circular economy plays an important role to reduce GHG emissions. TBM introduces how it can develop a de-carbonised circular economy. Specifically, TBM shares the experiences in upcycling, sustainability-oriented R&D, international business expansion, and a holistic approach to societal changes by partnering with local governments, academics, partner companies, etc.
Part 2. Panel Discussion - What do we need for a de-carbonised circular economy?
Welcoming a panelist, Stefan Crets from CSR Europe, the discussion will cover business-driven approaches for a de-carbonised circular economy. The panelists will touch upon the different contexts that regions have behind the issues, with reference to TBM’s strategic and customized approaches to each region. The roles of businesses and the necessary partnerships to solve complicatedly intertwined grand challenges will be explored.
Speaker
- Nobuyoshi Yamasaki, Founder and CEO, TBM Co., Ltd.
- Tomoya Nakamura, Global Business Producer, TBM Co., Ltd. Presentation (PDF, 4.5MB)
- Wakana Honda, Global Strategy Leader, TBM Co., Ltd.
- Tokuro Hatori, Sustainability Accelerator, TBM Co., Ltd.
- Stefan Crets, Executive Director, CSR Europe
Event Materials
Event Summary
Part 1. Talk - The Future with LIMEX: Tomoya Nakamura of TBM Co., Ltd. made a presentation on the 3 topics below.
1. What is LIMEX? | Limestone-based new material "LIMEX" as plasic and paper alternatives, Grand challenges that TBM tackles through LIMEX
2. Decarbonisation with LIMEX | Decarbonisation through upcycling, local production and consumption, and the use of biomass-based resin
3. LIMEX in Life | Introduction of LIMEX bags and containers
Part 2. Panel Discussion - What do we need for a de-carbonised circular economy?: Panellists discussed 3 points below.
1. Where are we? | Relationship between Circular Economy and de-carbonisation, Leading companies
2. Where do we want to go? | Long-term vision of LIMEX, Expectations to LIMEX in Europe
3. How do we get there? | Partnerships with corporates/local governments/academia etc., Expansion of the LIMEX ecosystem
Keyword: Circular Economy / SDGs / Sustainability / SDG12 / Responsible Consumption and Production / Upcycling / SDG17 / Partnership
Message
The two points were emphasized as below:
- The needs for alternative materials of plastic is worldwide and backed by regulations. TBM aims to provide the solution that not only fulfills the product quality and price needs, but also avoids tradeoffs with other environmental and social issues such as climate change and food security.
- TBM sees LIMEX not only as alternatives to plastic and paper but also as a solution to develop a circular ecosystem to produce, use, and recycle at local level.
After the event, many organisations have shown interests to LIMEX and discussions for collaboration have started.
