Meiji and TOPPAN begin paper yogurt cup recycling trial in Yokohama

Japanese food manufacturer Meiji Co., Ltd. and packaging specialist TOPPAN Inc. launched a joint recycling initiative last week across 13 supermarket locations in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. The scheme invites consumers to return cleaned paper containers from the Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt LB81 (400g) series to dedicated store collection boxes.

In partnership with Aeon Retail and Aeon Food Style, the partnership seeks to establish a workable recycling pathway for paper packaging that has historically been excluded from standard paper recycling streams. The project will run until 30 November.

Paper food containers is a challenge for circular systems. Although paper milk cartons have long-established recycling channels in Japan, yogurt containers require waterproof coatings to hold liquid contents. Combined with residual dairy product, this specialised coating prevents conventional paper recycling, resulting in most yogurt cups being incinerated or sent to landfill. To address this barrier, Meiji and TOPPAN designed a dedicated collection and processing system that relies on consumer participation to ensure materials are washed before collection.

The Yokohama trial marks the expansion of the initiative into Japan’s Kanto region. Meiji and TOPPAN previously initiated internal collection tests across three company sites in May 2025, followed by a store-based pilot in October 2025 with supermarket chain Mandai across nine branches in the Kinki region. The current trial involves 13 “Aeon”, “Aeon Style”, and “Aeon Food Style” stores in Yokohama. In this operational arrangement, TOPPAN coordinates the logistics and manufactures the collection equipment, supermarket operators provide store space and consumer information, and waste management provider Kaneko handles transport.

Collected containers will undergo processing and re-manufacturing into official merchandise. The produced items will be sold at the International Horticultural Exhibition 2027 (GREEN×EXPO 2027), scheduled next year from 19 March to 26 September 2027 in Yokohama. The items will feature at the Meiji Group pavilion, titled “ORAGA VILLAGE – Hometown of the Future”, closing the loop between consumer collection and public exhibition.