Sojitz Corporation (“Sojitz”) has partnered with Enevo Japan KK (“Enevo”), Kao Corporation (“Kao”), Toppan Inc. (“Toppan”), and Recotech Inc. (“Recotech”) to begin “Pool Project Kawasaki,” a verification test project for realizing efficient collection and horizontal recycling*¹of used plastic containers collected as household waste from condominiums in Kawasaki.

In June 2021, the Japanese government announced its “Bill for the Act on Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics,” which is planned to go into effect from April 2022. Based on this law, Japan’s plastic manufacturers, retailers, and other business providers (“plastic manufacturers”) are expected to accelerate efforts for separated collection and recycling of used plastic containers generated as household waste.

However, the following issues remain a problem for the separation, collection, and recycling of used plastic containers generated as household waste.

1.  High costs to achieve separated collection and recycling
2.  Insufficient collection volumes due to difficulties increasing collection rates

In order to accelerate separated collection and recycling of plastics moving forward, Japan urgently needs to build a separated collection and recycling system at a sustainable cost that can ensure a stable volume of plastics for remanufacturing.

The purpose of this project is to create this type of highly advanced resource recycling system in which plastic containers disposed of as household waste can then be remanufactured. Looking towards further expansion of these recycling initiatives after FY2022, Sojitz and its partners will perform verification tests in the following areas.

1．Verify effectiveness of collection proximal to sources of waste production
For this project, plastic waste from households will be collected by installing collection boxes for three separate types of plastics (refill packs, plastic packaging from snack foods and vegetables, and plastic bottles) at multiple condominiums to monitor collection rates and collection status.

2．Verify feasibility of horizontal recycling for each type of collected plastic
Verification of horizontal recycling for refill packs of household and personal care products will be handled by Kao, snack and vegetable plastic packaging by Toppan, and plastic bottles by Sojitz. All partners will work to identify horizontal recycling-related issues and solutions.

3．Verify use of IoT devices and delivery logistics to improve efficiency of plastic transportation and collection
Recotech’s circular renewables platform “POOL”*²and Enevo’s sensor device*³ will be utilized to visualize the amount of plastic collected in the project’s recycling boxes in real time. Sojitz and partners will investigate the feasibility of efficient collection and transport using delivery logistics.

●Period: November 22, 2021 – March 18, 2022 (planned) 
　Phase 1: Collection and survey
　Phase 2: Transport, sorting, and recycling of each type of collected plastic
●Location: Mayfair Parks Mizonokuchi (Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki), Sojitz Musashi-Kosugi Employee Housing (Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki), Sojitz Yurigaoka Employee Housing (Asao-ku, Kawasaki)

 

[Collection boxes for plastic waste at Mayfair Parks Mizonokuchi]

Based on the results of this verification project after FY2022, Sojitz and its project partners will expand the scale of the project together with Kawasaki City and other local governments. Sojitz and partners aim to create a separated collection and recycling platform accessible to many manufacturers, which will further expedite progress towards realizing a system that ensures sufficient quantities of plastic for remanufacturing at a sustainable cost.

Through this project and other recycling business, Sojitz will build on and expand its low-carbon and decarbonized businesses to contribute to a decarbonized and sustainable society.

*1: Horizontal recycling: Used products are collected and recycled back to create the same original product.
*2: Circular renewables platform “POOL”: A digital platform developed by Recotech to visualize and centralize management of information such as quality, cost, procurement volumes, and traceability necessary for recycling plastics and other renewable resources.
*3: Enevo sensor device: Collection boxes will be equipped with an ultrasonic sensor that will allow collected volumes to be visualized and confirmed remotely, making it possible to optimize the timing of collection.


[Related Information]

Company Overview – Enevo Japan KK

Established	January 2015
Location	3-2-16 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Tamachi East Building 7F
Representative Director	Takuya Takazawa
Main Business	Sensor sales business
Capitalization	JPY 15 million
Website	https://www.enevo.co.jp/ (Japanese)

　

Company Overview – Kao Corporation

Established	May 1940
Location	1-14-10 Kayabacho Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director	President and Chief Executive Officer Yoshihiro Hasebe
Main Business	Consumer products businesses, including Hygiene & Living Care, Health & Beauty Care, Life Care, and Cosmetics, and the Chemical business to meet the needs of industry.
Capitalization	JPY 85.4 billion
Website	https://www.kao.com/global/en/

　

Company Overview – Toppan Inc.

Established	January 1900
Location	1-3-3, Suido, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director	President & Representative Director Hideharu Maro
Main Business	Information & Communication, Living & Industry, and Electronics segments
Capitalization	JPY 105 billion
Website	https://www.toppan.com/en/

　

Company Overview – Recotech Inc.

Established	May 2007
Location	1-5-6 Kudan-Minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative Director	Ei Nozaki
Main Business	Platform service, circular supply chain design and consultation
Capitalization	JPY 31 million
Website	https://recotech.co.jp/en/

[Related News Release] 
“Sojitz Invests in Recotech, the Developer of a Circular Renewables Platform which Enables a Circular Economy.” Sojitz Corp. Press release, 25 January 2021.
“Launching ‘POOL’: a resource circulating platform to accelerate the use of recycled plastic resources” Recotech Inc. November 9th, 2021

[For questions regarding this press release, contact:]
Sojitz Corporation Public Relations Dept.　+81－3－6871－3404

[For business inquiries, contact:]
Sojitz Corporation Metals, Mineral Resources & Recycling Division Resources Recycling Business Dept., Resources Circulation Business Section　ce-0@sojitz.com