In order to expand the usage of recycled plastic, Canon developed technologies that restore the diminished mechanical properties and flame retardance of recycled material. For example, the company has identified additives that increase impact strength and flame retardance and combines them at an optimized ratio to instill recycled material with the same levels of performance for these properties as those offered by virgin plastic. Recycled plastic produced by this original technology is used in the production of internal components for copying machines while the external housings of the copying machines are produced using thin-walled multi-layer injection molding technology also developed by Canon. These efforts have made possible the increased use of recycled plastic.

Recycling and reuse of plastic