Four Hokkaido municipalities sign bottle-to-bottle recycling pact

A new agreement involving the municipalities of Nakafurano, Furano, Minamifurano, and Shimukappu has formed to promote the horizontal recycling of PET bottles in Hokkaido. This collaboration brings together Asahi Soft Drinks, Japantech and PET Refine Technology together to implement circular system for a “Bottle-to-Bottle” recycling system.

Under the terms of the agreement, used PET bottles collected from households in the four participating municipalities will be processed into raw materials for new bottles. The project utilises a dual approach by combining mechanical and chemical recycling methods. Japantech provides mechanical recycling, which involves sorting, crushing, and washing bottles to remove impurities under high temperatures. PET Refine Technology provides chemical recycling, a process that breaks down PET to the molecular level to ensure the resulting resin is of the same quality as petroleum-derived materials.

The combination of these two technologies allows for a higher recycling rate than using mechanical recycling alone. Asahi Soft Drinks will use the recycled PET resin produced through these methods to manufacture and sell beverage products. This closed-loop system ensures that plastic remains within the economy and does not become waste.

According to data calculated by Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting, this recycling method reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 63% compared to the production of PET bottles from virgin petroleum-derived materials.

This regional partnership in Hokkaido demonstrates a scalable model for sustainable plastic management in Japan.