esa Inc., a startup specializing in the plastic recycling business, has raised capital from four institutions: Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd., Energy and Environment Investment, Inc., and SG Wonder zone, Inc. With the participation of these new investors and additional investment from existing shareholders, the company's total funding to date has reached 1.15 billion yen. The newly acquired funds will be used to strengthen the production and supply infrastructure for recycled composite plastic pellets and to develop new applications primarily within the manufacturing sector.
Founded in March 2022, esa Inc. (Environmental Solutions Architect) is an environmental startup that provides material recycling technology utilizing its proprietary "esa method" for composite plastics, which have traditionally been difficult to recycle. By leveraging specialized compounding mechanisms and advanced temperature and pressure control technologies, the company enables stable recycling processing even when disparate materials are mixed, producing recycled plastic pellets known as "Repla." The company aims to achieve both carbon neutrality and a circular economy.
The company operates under the philosophy of "Living with Plastic, Not Rejecting It." This approach advocates for continuing to use necessary plastics while circulating them as resources rather than ending their lifecycle with single-use disposal. Moving forward, esa aims to build a new social infrastructure where composite plastics are continuously utilized by strengthening its production and supply systems for recycled materials and expanding partnerships with client companies. Furthermore, as part of its future business development, the company plans to engage in product commercialization in collaboration with partner companies, plastic credits, and the licensing of its technology and know-how.