Bottle-to-Bottle Closed Loop Recycling Projects in 2021

[Company / organization] Japan Soft Drink Association

Target Date and Target Content

In 2020, we implemented tests and educative activities with various stakeholders in Tokyo to promote bottle-to-bottle recycling, which means Closed Loop Recycling of PET Bottles.

cf:https://j4ce.env.go.jp/en/casestudy/086

In 2021, we expanded target areas, and implemented various tests and educative activities in approaching to many different tasks, e.g. marine litter, zero emission, foreign matter reduction etc.

Technology and/or Business Model explanation

①　Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Bottle-to-Bottle Tokyo Project

・　Katsusika City　– Educative activities for bottle-to-bottle recycling promotion and the test of the equipment to collect -

In March 2021, Katsusika City and Japan Soft Drink Association (JSDA) signed the agreement on bottle-to-bottle recycling promotion. This agreement is the “first” collaboration between the soft drink industry and a municipality in Japan. Specifically, we implemented a test on a recycling station to educate about segregated collection and educative activities (questionnaire, dispatch of information by posters and SNS, lecture).

・ Senko Heiwajima PD Center (Distribution Center) – The test of the poster and the equipment to educate about segregated collection as garbage scattering prevention in the green belt zone -

As a garbage scattering prevention policy in the seaside area, we implemented a test of the equipment for segregated collection and new design recycle boxes.

・　Harajuku Omotesando Keyakikai (Shopping Street Promotion Association in Shibuya City) – A new model for collecting and education on public roads -

To educate more consumers, JSDA poted educative ads on IoT recycling stations “SmaGo,” which Harajuku Omotesando Keyakikai administered.

②　Hiroshima Prefecture – Participation in GREEN SEA Setouchi Hiroshima Platform (GSHIP) -

・　For the purpose of stopping the outflow of marine litter, as a garbage scattering prevention policy in the town, near coasts, rivers and so on, we examined the effectiveness of new design vending side recycle boxes which can avoid full by throwing foreign particles into.

③ Kanagawa Prefecture - Participation in Kanagawa PET bottle model business promotion consortium which promotes bottle-to-bottle recycling (horizontal recycling)-

・　We implemented tests on “Business related route collection” in the train station (Odakyu Electric Railway, Hon Atsugi sta.) and the factory (KASAI KOGYO, HQ area). We used the equipment to collect PET bottles which can contribute to bottle-to-bottle recycling (horizontal recycling).

④　Other

・　In the largest beverage and liquor industry exhibition in Japan, “Drink Japan,” we held a panel discussion about resource circulation including bottle-to-bottle recycling (horizontal recycling) with Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Katsusika City, Kanagawa Prefecture and Hiroshima Prefecture, which were advanced working on it.

Specific achievements and/or Target

①　Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Bottle-to-Bottle Tokyo Project

・　Katsusika City: We could confirm that residents cooperated with us if we delivered correct educative messages, provided appropriate opportunity and equipment to collect, and also, their awareness about recycling was high. We want to expand it to the other municipalities as a successful practice of education from now on.

・ Senko Heiwajima PD Center: Almost all scatters of drink container in the green belt zone around the center had disappeared, and we could confirm the effectiveness as a garbage scattering prevention policy in the seaside area. We would like to aim for expansion at other offices from now on.

・　Harajuku Omotesando Keyakikai (Shopping Street Promotion Association in Shibuya City): We posted educative ads in the new year holiday season, a lot of visitors (consumers) saw them, therefore, we could confirm the effectiveness as a model for collecting and education.

②　Hiroshima Prefecture: GREEN SEA Setouchi Hiroshima Platform (GSHIP)

・　In the test on new design vending side recycle boxes, we could confirm the effectiveness of reduction foreign particles. This improved the current situation where foreign substances pressed the recycling boxes and empty beverage containers were scattered. It connects reduction of the risk, scattering drink containers around recycle boxes, and controlling river/marine litter, which can cause ocean outflow. Prefectures around Seto Inland Sea pay attention to the successful project, we expect that the practice is spread to neighboring areas.

③ Kanagawa Prefecture: Kanagawa PET bottle model business promotion consortium

・　Odakyu Electric Railway: About segregated collection (bottles, caps, and labels), we evaluated that the equipment and the education reformed consumer awareness.

・　KASAI KOGYO: The employees’ awareness about recycling was high originally, and, in addition, we acquired full support of the company. Therefore, the rate of separation of bottles, caps, and labels for three-part recycling reached very high.

④　Other

・　The panel discussion about resource circulation between local governments recorded high satisfaction rate by

many audiences (Satisfaction rate of the questionnaire after the session: 81%).