Compared with conventional petroleum-based plastics, plant-derived bioplastic exhibits reduced flame resistance, shock resistance, heat resistance, and moldability, among other shortcomings. The use of bio-based plastic in office multifunction printers was limited to only a small proportion of interior components. Using innovative material design and fabrication technologies, Canon and Toray Industries, Inc., developed a high-performance bio-based plastic with significantly improved material properties. In terms of flame resistance in particular, this plastic includes more than 25% (by weight) a plant-derived component was the industry's first to satisfy the 5V level of UL 94. It has been adopted for some of the exterior components for some models of the imageRUNNER ADVANCE series. The manufacturing process for this plastic emits about 20% less CO2 than does the conventional process.
Industry's largest exterior parts
Exterior parts
