Download: J4CE Noteworthy Cases/Initiatives 2022
Download: J4CE Noteworthy Cases/Initiatives 2021
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Proof of Concept Promoting Reuse in Local Communities With Mercari, Yakult Sanyo, Akitakata City, and Miyoshi City
Mercari, Inc. Yakult Sanyo Inc. Akitakada City, Hiroshima Prefecture Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
This is a collaborative project between Mercari, Inc., Yakult Sanyo Corporation, and Akitakata City and Miyoshi City of Hiroshima Prefecture. Together, we started a proof of concept where we collect usable items that people no longer need from Akitakata City and Miyoshi City and sell them on Mercari’s e-commerce platform Mercari Shops. So far, Mercari has partnered up with a total of 38 local governments across Japan (as of July 8, 2024) to sell their unwanted items on Mercari Shops.
" Paper Cup to Paper Cup" - Recycling of beverage paper cups
Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
This is the first project in Japan to recycle used beverage paper cups back into beverage paper cups. In order to reduce waste and increase recycling of paper resources, three companies in the supply chain collaborated to endeavor the horizontal recycling from paper cups to paper cups.
Promoting elimination of waste (release paper), improvement of production efficiency at customers’ factories, and resource recycling support after use with the “Heat Labeling System,” which is a thermal bonding method that does not require release paper!
KOTOBUKI SEIHAN PRINTING CO.,LTD
Tack labels, to which a glue agent is applied in advance, are utilized by removing the labels from the label release paper during the process of attaching the labels to the products, and the release paper portion is no longer needed. The amount of release paper used by the entire domestic manufacturing industry is said to amount to 116 million m2 per month, most of which is disposed of or incinerated without being recovered or reused as a resource. We have developed a heat label that uses a heat-sensitive adhesive method that does not require release paper, even though it is pre-applied with a glue, thereby eliminating the need for release paper itself, which accounts for about 40% of the entire label. By proposing solutions to reduce the use of product resources from the design stage and solve the issues faced by stakeholders at each stage, we are working with our customers to reduce waste and costs incurred during the production of release paper, eliminate waste (label release paper) generated after label application, improve work efficiency during production, and support resource recycling after use.
“Resource recycling of waste materials” <Printed materials that cannot be used as finished products (waste paper)>
KOTOBUKI SEIHAN PRINTING CO.,LTD
In the printing process, registration, color adjustments, and other steps generate printed materials that cannot be used as finished products (waste paper). Waste paper generated at our company is separated according to the type of material used, shredded to prevent customer information from being leaked, and then collected by recycling companies. After being recycled into raw materials at each recycling company, the waste paper is delivered to paper manufacturers, where it is regenerated as new products or as refuse derived fuel (RPF) for making products.
Recycling of used backing paper (release paper) for sticker and label products
Japan-Earth Conscious Labeling
The following members of the supply chain in this resource recycling project are the constituent members. (1) Companies using stickers and labels: Proper separation of release paper and proper shipping Intermediate treatment companies: Proper collection and transportation (3) Recyclers: Utilization of release paper as a resource (4) Base material manufacturing companies: Development and manufacture of base materials that are easy to recycle (5) Printing and processing companies: Adopt easy-to-recycle base materials, print, process, sell, and promote recycling.
Eco-products Database
Green Purchasing Network (GPN)
The Eco-products Database is the largest database that discloses environmental information about products and services along the Green Purchasing Guidelines.
Used Diaper Recycling Project
ZUIKO CORPORATION
We started activities regarding used diaper recycling systems in 2021 out of concern that diaper usage was continuouly growing and that incinerating or using landfills only create CO2 or harmful greenhouse gases such as methane.
Initiatives to Reduce Packaging Materials
TOTO. LTD
Development of crush-proof cushioning technique achieved in one single cardboard for products of different sizes Sanitary ware is hard and less prone to scratching and dents; on the other hand, such products are heavy and can be fragile.
Complete Material Recycling System for Disposable Diapers
TOPPAN INC. TOTAL CARE SYSTEM Co. Sumitomo Heavy Industries Environment Co.,Ltd.
Until now, disposable diapers composed of composite materials, such as plastic and pulp, have been regarded as unsuitable for recycling, and thus, after use, have been positioned as waste plastic and incinerated. Currently, pulp is recycled as a raw material for building materials,
Development and Practical Implementation of Used Plastic Recycling Technology by R Plus Japan, a Cross-Industry Joint Venture Company
R Plus Japan Suntory Holdings Limited
In accordance with the Suntory Group's Plastic Policy, Suntory MONOZUKURI Expert has been working with Anellotech, a US biochemical venture company, on the joint development of PET bottles made from 100% plant-derived materials.
Used paper food package recycling project "Let's Recycle Paper Cups"
Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. Hamamatsu Green Wave Co.,Ltd. 特定非営利活動法人 エコライフはままつ Hamamatsu City
Paper food packages (paper beverage cups and various types of paper food packages) have often been deemed unsuitable for recycling because they are paper-plastic composite materials, or because they are dirty or wet from food residues,
Closed Loop Recycling of Waste Newspaper
Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. procures waste newspaper as a raw material to produce and sell newsprint. Newspaper companies purchase newsprint from Nippon Paper Industries and publish newspapers, as well as collecting waste newspaper from newspaper printing factories and subscribers’, in order to sell as a raw material to Nippon Paper Industries.