Nissan and Takayama Recycle Paint Process Waste for Construction Materials

Nissan and the Takayama Group have introduced two new construction materials made from recycled byproducts of the automotive painting process, an initiative through which both companies aim to reduce industrial waste and promote the circular economy.

These are the TS-12 and TS-20 acoustic insulation panels, developed with calcium carbonate recovered from Nissan’s painting workshops. The automotive manufacturer supplies the recycled material, and Takayama is responsible for manufacturing and marketing the products for use in the construction industry.

During the vehicle painting process, some of the sprayed paint does not adhere to the car body and remains suspended in the air. Traditionally, this waste was directed to a water tank to be subsequently treated as industrial waste.

To utilize this material, Nissan implemented a dry booth system in its

According to the company, this system “employs filters filled with calcium carbonate to capture paint mist, allowing the material to be recovered in a solid, dry form,” which facilitates its reuse as raw material.

The new panels incorporate this recycled material and, according to Nissan and Takayama, “can reduce CO₂ emissions by over 30%” compared to conventional alternatives used in construction.

With this project, Nissan estimates it will reduce approximately 1,200 tons of industrial waste annually, in addition to decreasing waste disposal costs by 25 million yen.

The company also reported that it is exploring new applications for the recovered calcium carbonate, including “its potential use in automotive components starting in 2030.”

The collaboration between Nissan and Takayama is part of both companies’ strategy to transform industrial waste into new materials and advance towards manufacturing processes with a lower environmental impact.