*This article is a translated and edited version of a story originally published in January 2026 on “Green Hub in Asia,” a platform managed by the City of Yokohama’s International Affairs Bureau. It was produced by Harch Inc., the...
Dining and accommodation facility “song” in Nagano has launched a new range of upcycled products. It is reaching beyond its restaurant by transforming food by-products into retail goods, following the region’s tradition...
East Japan Railway Company, known as JR East, has begun upcycling waste cooking oil from its facilities into biodiesel fuel. The project initially focuses on the Tohoku region, specifically Miyagi Prefecture, to power maintenance and service...
JR Kyoto Isetan, a department store directly connected to Kyoto Station, will host the “think good” sustainability event from 8 to 12 April. The exhibition highlights sustainable initiatives rooted in local culture and harmony with nature. The aim...
Quagga LLC, operator of the bread mail-order and waste reduction platform rebake, announced that its network of supporter bakeries for the “Rosupan no Kyokasho” (The Textbook of Surplus Bread) has expanded to 47 establishments across...
The Ethical Spirits will soon launch its new signature gin, LAST EN, on 7 April. The Tokyo-based distillery produced the spirit using 14 different types of surplus materials, marking the highest number of upcycled ingredients in the company’s...
Keidanren, the Japan Business Federation, issued a comprehensive proposal on 17 March, calling for the Japanese government to integrate a circular economy transition into its national growth strategy. The proposal advocates for a National Urban...
ART 4 HOMETOWN is a project that connects regional artists with donors through the Furusato Choice hometown tax platform. This is a collaboration initiated by Culture Convenience Club (CCC), and it aims to transform the nature of hometown tax...
Rokumei Coffee has developed a new packaging material made from spent coffee grounds, in partnership with local paper wholesaler Pepal Co., Ltd. The material is called Coffee Usuzumi Craft, and uses bio-carbonisation technology to transform coffee...
Cosmetics manufacturer DMA Co., Ltd., who has a focus on Hokkaido-orign ingredients, and long-established sake brewery Michisakari has launched a new skincare brand named HADAYOI. It upcycles sake lees and rice bran, which are by-products of the...