News
Kyoto–Tokyo consortium launches first-of-its-kind zirconia recycling project for dental waste
Under the new initiative, each company takes on a defined role across the recycling chain
- By IPP Bureau
| May 28, 2026
Shofu, Tosoh Corporation, Mitsui Chemicals, and Orbray have announced a joint verification project aimed at recycling zirconia waste generated in dental prosthetic production, with practical application targeted for fiscal 2028.
Zirconia—widely used in dental crowns and bridges for its strength and aesthetic quality—is typically milled from disc-shaped blanks in dental laboratories. While demand for zirconia prosthetics continues to rise, the production process generates significant waste as large portions of the material are cut away and discarded.
Under the new initiative, each company takes on a defined role across the recycling chain. Shofu will collect waste zirconia from products it has supplied.
Tosoh will regenerate the material into usable raw inputs using its proprietary Zirconia Refine Technology. Orbray will then form regenerated material into new zirconia blocks and commercialize them. Mitsui Chemicals will provide operational and strategic support to the project.
Together with dental laboratories—the primary users of zirconia prosthetics—the four companies aim to establish what they describe as the world’s first recycling system for zirconia dental waste. The goal is to build a circular model within the dental industry and reduce material waste from prosthetic manufacturing.
