Loft Japan sets up 7 recycling spots for your old stationery

Japan’s leading commodity store, Loft, has launched a recycling program for stationeries. This recycling program is based on a trial previously conducted by Pilot Corporation, which encouraged their customers to recycle their unwanted Pilot pens. Subsequently, the recycling program developed and is currently extending its reach to consumers at Loft, collecting plastic stationeries regardless of brand.

From July 1 to September 30, recycling boxes will be set up at 7 Loft outlets (mainly in Tokyo). Some examples of accepted stationaries include pens, markers, mechanical pencils, correction tape, etc. Stationeries collected are recycled, by partner recyclers, into materials resources.

One of Loft’s partners in this recycling program is TerraCycle Japan. The latter is a social enterprise with a goal to eliminate the idea of waste. They have 21 offices globally dedicated to developing methodologies and programs for recycling – a sustainable practice to manage the world’s landfill problem.

The main contributor to waste in Japan is single-use plastics. More often than not, waste is sent to incinerators. Burning might be a useful method to eliminate waste. However, it is not sustainable. Incinerators release toxins and pollutants that not only pollute the air but also poses a threat to the health of people. Hence, it is important that recycling is re-prioritized for waste management in Japan.

Furthermore, recycling protects our resources for the future. Recycling converts waste into reusable materials. An increase in the supply of reusable materials lowers the demand and our need to tap on natural resources. This allows for better conservation of materials that are scarce for future generations.

The rise in businesses incorporating sustainability into their practices will spread awareness about the importance of sustainability within the community. The increased exposure provides the appropriate environment for consumers to adopt environmentally-friendly habits into their everyday lives – a change that could transform the landscape of recycling.