Japan’s 2025 Expo introduces reuse platform to circulate materials

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition has launched a reuse matching platform as part of its “Green Expo” initiative. The platform, called “Expo Circular Market: Myakuichi!,” went live on August 6 and is designed to facilitate the reuse and relocation of facilities, building materials, equipment, and furnishings from the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which is set to take place next year.

The goal of this initiative is to ensure that the infrastructure and resources used for the Expo are repurposed rather than discarded. This focus on reducing waste and maximizing the lifecycle of materials aligns with the association’s broader action plan to host a sustainable Expo that prioritizes resource conservation both during and after the event.

“Myakuichi!” serves as a marketplace where suppliers can list major Expo facilities, such as pavilions and large roof structures, for potential relocation or reuse. Interested parties can browse listings, make inquiries, and submit bids directly through the platform. The site is divided into three key categories: “Relocation of Facilities,” “Reuse of Building Materials and Equipment,” and “Reuse of Furnishings and Fixtures.” The first phase of the site, focusing on the relocation of facilities, is currently operational, while the remaining sections are scheduled to launch in early 2025.

The Japan Association’s platform’s operations will be carried out in a few phases. The first phase, which focuses on the relocation of Expo facilities, will run through the end of December 2024. Following that, the reuse of building materials and equipment will begin in January 2025 and continue until October of that year. The final phase, addressing the reuse of furnishings and fixtures, will start in October 2025 and conclude in March 2026.