Daikin collaborates on AC recycling
11th July 2026
JAPAN: Daikin has entered into an agreement with Itochu Corporation to improve the recycling of commercial air conditioners and expanding the use of recycled materials.
As the transition to a circular economy progresses, horizontal recycling – reusing resources contained in used equipment in new products – is becoming increasingly important in the commercial air conditioning sector.
The Tokyo-based Itochu Corporation has been driving sustainable resource circulation through a number of key initiatives and operates a nationwide recycling network for non-ferrous products and industrial waste.
The two companies maintain that in order to stably apply recycled materials to products, management across the entire supply chain, including quality evaluation and traceability, is essential.
They plan to consistently manage the entire resource recycling process, from collection, dismantling, sorting, refrigerant recovery, quality evaluation, recycling, and product manufacturing of commercial air conditioners.
The recycled materials will include metals, plastics, electronic components and fluorocarbons. Daikin says it is promoting horizontal recycling of materials such as copper, aluminium, and rare earth magnets as key initiatives to realise a circular economy, including the recovery and recycling of refrigerants.
