This week in Circular Economy in Japan (28 May)

Tiger Thermos to circulate stainless steel material in Koganei City

Tiger Thermos has partnered with Koganei City, Tokyo, to promote the use of personal bottles and the recycling of used stainless steel bottles. This collaboration aligns with Koganei City’s vision of becoming a “Zero Waste Town” through the promotion of the 3R initiative (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). This is the third such agreement for Tiger Thermos, following partnerships with Kameoka City in Kyoto Prefecture and Kadoma City in Osaka Prefecture.

The recycling model involves collecting unwanted stainless steel bottles from local schools, companies, and city halls, and sending them to recycling specialists. The collected materials are then used to produce regenerated stainless steel and resin products. This initiative is part of a broader effort to realize a circular economy, reducing environmental impact while promoting sustainable economic growth. As part of the agreement, Koganei City will also sell original stainless steel bottles, further promoting the use of personal bottles.

Shishinome Lab turns pests into resources

Chiba Prefecture has unveiled the Shishinome Lab, a novel initiative aimed at transforming regional pests into economic assets by exploiting their skins as leather resources. This local SDGs co-creation platform is an alliance of three regional leather craftsmen, helmed by Eiryo Tsuji, formerly of the Chiba Leather Council. Their vision is to convert the pest-induced damage into local wealth, thereby redirecting the life cycle of these creatures into a positive economic loop and adding allure to the region’s profile.

In fiscal year Reiwa 3, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported that animal-induced crop damages amounted to nearly 15.5 billion yen nationwide, with Chiba Prefecture accounting for 300 million yen. Shishinome Lab aims to tackle this issue head-on. Future plans include registering Chiba Leather as a trademark, and engaging in more outreach and advocacy activities for further sustainable utilization of animal skins.

Repurposing unused dishware for hotel use

The Keihan Group’s flagship property, “THE THOUSAND KYOTO,” has launched an innovative “recoloring” project, repurposing unused dishware from its sister hotel, the Kyoto Century Hotel. Around 50 pieces, dating back 13 years, have been revitalized with new color and are now in use at SCALAE, the in-house restaurant. This initiative addresses the wastage of functional but aesthetically worn dishware often discarded prematurely. As part of THE THOUSAND KYOTO’s commitment to being a “Sustainable Comfort Hotel,” this effort encapsulates both the sustainability of the food served and the dishware used. The project was made possible through collaboration with Nikko Co., Ltd., a western dishware manufacturer dedicated to promoting a circular production model. This endeavor marks Nikko’s first involvement in a hotel dishware recoloring initiative.