Industry forum to promote paper container recycling sponsored by Business Sweden and the Embassy of Sweden in Japan, co-sponsored by Tetra Pak Japan Japan Tetra Pak Co., Ltd. Press release: November 8, 2024 Industry forum to promote paper container recycling sponsored by Business Sweden and the Embassy of Sweden in Japan, co-sponsored by Tetra Pak Japan ~Welcoming the Director of the Ministry of the Environment to discuss public-private collaboration to promote circularity~
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/108706/33/108706-33-eee95edd16657e1dbefb38e59a0c0e21-3900×2082.jpg (From left) Mr. Shinya Nagura, Mr. Koji Fujita, Mr. Takeshi Kunihiro, Mr. Yusuke Inoue, Mr. Victoria Li, Mr. Nils Hougo, Mr. Kashten Gromblad
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/108706/33/108706-33-b4ac69932222f5625c867b0d77ee7ed8-3900×2600.jpg Industry forum
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/108706/33/108706-33-fc69ad2d59c2abe66d5822b873565ad3-3900×2600.jpg ■About the background and purpose of the event Based on the “Fifth Basic Plan for Establishing a Recycling-based Society” announced by the Ministry of the Environment this year, the switch from products derived from fossil resources to paper products and the advancement of sorting, recovery, and recycling of composite material products will be promoted. It happened. The recovery rate for paper containers and packaging in Japan in 2022 is only 22.9% (*1), and even lower for aluminum paper containers at 3.4% (*2). While many used paper containers are disposed of as combustible garbage and are lost without being reused, public-private collaboration efforts are underway across Japan to recycle this valuable, unused resource. This forum will bring together stakeholders involved in the collection and recycling of paper containers and packaging to share and discuss issues and initiatives related to collection and recycling. The event was held with the aim of promoting container recycling and realizing a recycling-oriented society. ■About opening remarks and lectures Victoria Lee, Ambassador of Sweden to Japan In his opening remarks, he emphasized that circularity is a concrete initiative to realize a sustainable future. There are three main objectives: reducing waste, keeping products and materials in use, and using renewable resources. He stated that “Pioneer the Possible”, which appeals to people’s work styles and consumption patterns and leads to change, is needed across national, regional, and organizational frameworks. Next, he took the stage Nils Hougo, President and Representative Director of Tetra Pak Japan said the Tetra Pak Group aims to protect food, people and the planet, and make food safe and available everywhere, with the motto “We wrap what matters”. In order to reduce the environmental impact of the entire group, we invest 100 million euros each year in developing the world’s most sustainable containers, and 40 million euros each year in promoting paper container recycling in partnership with 200 recycling companies around the world. Mention. Regarding the recycling rate of paper containers for beverages, Germany has achieved a recycling rate of 75% and Spain has achieved a recycling rate of 60%, while the recycling rate for aluminum paper containers in Japan is only 3.4%. In order to achieve the Japanese government’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, the company wants to expand resource recycling through cooperation between Sweden and Japan, as well as public-private partnerships. Mr. Yusuke Inoue, Director, Containers, Packaging and Plastic Resource Recycling Office, General Affairs Division, Environmental Recycling and Resource Recycling Bureau, Ministry of the Environment spoke about the transition to a circular economy as a national strategy and the recycling of paper packaging. The government is promoting legislation aimed at realizing a recycling-oriented society where manufacturing and recycling industries work together. Among them, there are particular challenges in recycling paper containers with aluminum, and everyone emphasized the need for discussion and the construction of a new recycling system. To that end, he said he would like to learn from Sweden, which is ahead in this field, and encourage collaboration between Japan and Sweden, public-private collaboration, and arteriovenous collaboration. Mr. Takeshi Kunihiro, Chairman of the Composite Product Recycling Promotion Working Group, Paper Containers and Packaging Recycling Promotion Council (Senior Expert, Life Design Division, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.) estimates that the recycling rate for paper containers and packaging made from composite materials is 12.7%, about half of the recycling rate for all paper containers and packaging. Composite products have a high content of high-quality pulp, so it is important to promote their collection because they have the potential to help alleviate the shortage of used paper. However, there are issues to be addressed, such as “utilization of residue with aluminum,” “cleaning of dirty composite products,” and “recycling awareness among consumers,” and collaboration with used paper wholesalers is also important. Furthermore, as a measure, he stated that he would like to approach the government through the
above-mentioned working group activities, raise awareness of the relaxation of prohibited items from waste paper recycling, and disseminate success stories of companies and governments. Mr. Koji Fujita, Executive Officer, Production Headquarters Procurement Manager, Gold Pack Co., Ltd. gave a lecture on corporate
sustainability activities from the perspective of a manufacturer of packaged beverages. Introducing how paper containers with aluminum can be recycled into cardboard through a factory waste paper recycling and cardboard recycling project with Oji Holdings. He stated that it is necessary to change consumer awareness by promoting this more and increasing the number of collection points. Mr. Shinya Nagura, Deputy Manager, Resource Recycling Promotion Division, Environmentally Advanced City Promotion Department, Kameoka City introduces that the city has made the “Kameoka Zero Plastic Waste Declaration” and is working on resource recycling of plastic waste. In September of last year, we began collecting aluminum paper containers, which were considered combustible waste because they were difficult to recycle. While the industry as a whole has been slow to improve the collection rate of aluminum paper containers, the city says it has collected 40 kg. In the future, Kameoka City will continue to carry out
demonstration experiments on the collection of disposable diapers, environmental education, etc., in order to enhance its brand power as an environmentally advanced city. ■About the panel discussion The panel discussion in the second half of the event was moderated by Nobuyasu Tanaka (President and CEO of Sinc Co., Ltd.), and featured speakers from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tobe Shoji Co., Ltd., NPO Genki Net, and Tetra Pak Japan. . There was a lively discussion on the challenges of increasing collection and recycling rates in Japan and the roles of each stakeholder in this regard, and each speaker made the following comments. Mr. Takanobu Iwasaki, Deputy Manager (in charge of resource loss countermeasures), Planning Division, Resource Recycling Promotion Department, Environment Bureau, Tokyo Metropolitan Government “Local governments are taking various measures to increase the recycling rate in order to reduce the amount of final disposal.As we move forward with the circular economy, there is a ‘push’ in which local governments collect resources and deliver them to the next person for recycling. In order to fulfill this role, it is important to have a system that allows businesses to “pull” resources in order to use them properly as raw materials for products. If you can pull it, you can confidently send information to citizens saying, “We will collect it for recycling.” We would like to deepen communication with business operators in order to realize a circular economy. ” Tobe Shoji Co., Ltd. Representative Director and President Satoshi Tobe “Hotels and convenience stores in European countries are increasingly using paper for beverage containers.A similar movement is emerging in Japan.Paper containers are expanding due to sustainability, but the current situation is that they cannot be recycled. Yes, we need to create new recycling routes and systems.We are currently conducting a new recycling experiment through public-private collaboration.Creating a system will help spread awareness of paper container recycling from businesses to households. ” NPO Genki Net Chairman Ryoko Onizawa “Few citizens understand that paper containers with aluminum can be recycled.And in environments where there are no collection centers nearby, even if you educate people that they can be recycled, the collection rate will not increase unless you first create a center.” Steady activities alone can dramatically improve collection rates. I think it is ideal for citizens to see that the products they pick up are already part of the recycling cycle.Every entity involved in recycling should make an honest effort to promote resource
circulation. It is important to discuss and cooperate.” Tetra Pak Japan Sustainability Director Yuko Omori “Currently, with the cooperation of supermarkets, we are expanding the collection bases for aluminum paper containers.Although this is a private company initiative, we hope that local governments will also inform citizens about this initiative and increase awareness.Furthermore, we are expanding collection points for aluminum paper containers. How can paper, which accounts for 30 to 40% of An industry association working group is promoting the collection of aluminum-lined paper containers by the government.There are several local governments that are implementing collection of aluminum paper containers, so the public and private sectors are working together to share examples of these and how to make this a reality. I want to think about it.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/108706/33/108706-33-b570e359e6dcf0336b1968a047abb34c-3900×2600.jpg (From left) MC: Nobuyasu Tanaka, Yuko Omori, Ryoko Onizawa, Satoshi Tobe, Takanobu Iwasaki ■About the significance of holding the forum and future prospects Commenting on the significance of this forum, Kašten Grömblad, Commercial Counselor at the Embassy of Sweden in Japan, said: “At this forum, we were able to bring together important stakeholders from across the packaging value chain and have a concrete discussion on promoting paper container recycling in Japan. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone involved for participating in this forum. We believe that the involvement of local governments is absolutely key to expanding the collection and recycling of paper containers, and we join all other stakeholders who participated in this forum. We would like to accelerate this initiative.” Regarding the future prospects of this forum, Yuko Omori, Sustainability Director of Tetra Pak Japan, stated as follows: “This forum was held for the second time following last year in order to further deepen discussions on resource recycling for paper containers and packaging.The forum was held for the second time following last year.The forum was held for the second time, following last year. It was a venue for a wide range of stakeholders, including industry groups, private companies involved in the manufacture, use and recovery of paper containers, and citizen groups, to gather and exchange opinions. By sharing examples and issues from various places, we will explore how we can recycle paper containers and packaging, including aluminum-lined paper containers, many of which are currently incinerated, under the theme of “Pioneer the Possible.” It was a valuable opportunity to consider a cross-stakeholder approach. Utilizing the knowledge and networks gained from this forum, we will continue to promote resource circulation towards a sustainable society through related parties and public-private partnerships. Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Embassy of Sweden and Business Sweden for their cooperation in hosting this forum. ” ■About Pioneer the possible The Pioneer the Possible platform was launched in 2022 by the Swedish Embassy and Business Sweden. This platform is a sustainability collaboration platform that brings together stakeholders from sectors such as Swedish and Japanese companies, government agencies, and research institutions to jointly address social issues. The platform focuses on three key themes: circularity, energy and mobility. Each theme defines a specific challenge and calls on partners to come together and co-create impactful solutions and initiatives. *1: “2022 Paper Containers and Packaging Collection Rate” (Paper Containers and Packaging Recycling Promotion Council) *2: “Recycling flow survey report for aluminum beverage cartons (actual status in 2022)” (Printing Industry Association Liquid Carton Subcommittee/Dynax Urban Environment Research Institute Co., Ltd.) ■About Business Sweden The mission of the Swedish Embassy’s Commercial Department/Business Sweden is to support the internationalization of Swedish companies, build partnerships between Japanese and Swedish companies, and promote business development. ■About the Swedish Embassy in Japan The Embassy of Sweden in Japan represents Sweden and the Swedish Government in Japan. ■About Tetra Pak Tetra Pak, founded in Sweden in 1951, is the world’s leading company in food processing and paper container filling and packaging systems. We provide safe and nutritious food to meet the needs of customers in more than 160 countries around the world. With more than 24,000 employees around the world, Tetra Pak is committed to making food safe and available everywhere, and our motto is “PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD” (TM). protect food, people, and the earth. Tetra Pak is a registered trademark of the Tetra Pak Group. For more information, please see below. Website: https://www.tetrapak.com/ja-jp
