Activity Report of fiscal 2014

Recycling status of retailers

Storefront collection boxes such as
those at supermarkets collect a large
volume of paper cartons.

Collection status at welfare organizations

We are working on recycling!!

Welfare organizations produce a
range of products using collected
paper cartons.

Social welfare corporation Yume Kobo
Welfare Society Work Space Yume Kobo

Seicomart Co., Ltd.
(Head office: Sapporo City, Hokkaido)
Storefront collection boxes such as those atsupermarkets collect more than 50% of papercartons collected from homes.
Store collection figures are based on information
provided by the Japan Chain Stores Association(JCSA), the Japanese Consumers' CooperativeUnion (JCCU), and our independent survey. Thecollection volume of cartons from stores in 2014 was
31.9 thousand tons. This was a dip of 0.4 thousand
tons from the previous year.
In keeping with changes in the types of retail stores,
the survey also covers a percentage of drug stores.
Household paper cartons collection volumeby collection center (Estimated value)

Total

12.8

thousand tons
（21.2%）

15.7

thousand tons
（26.1%）

31.9

thousand tons
（52.8%）

60.4

thousand tons
Store collection
Group collection and othersMunicipality collection

Seicomart Co., Ltd. is the chain officeof "Seicomar t" stores that run
business in all parts of Hokkaido andsome areas of Ibaraki and Saitama Prefecture. They
have a net work consisted of 1,178 stores (as ofOctober 2015).
They started paper carton collection at storefronts in2005. They efficiently collect paper cartons using theirown distribution network and produce original boxed
tissue papers from this material. Customers canreceive a box of tissue papers in exchange for "20 PB(private brand) paper packaging" or "30 PB egg
containers".
The collection rate has been increasing year on year
from 33% in 2005 thanks to this "par ticipator yrecycling". They have maintained a high collection rateof about 60% from 2007, and they continue to carry out
ongoing consistent efforts to increase awareness of
paper carton recycling activities.
In addition to paper packaging and egg packages, they
recycle old newspapers and magazines as well as
cardboard boxes collected as paper materials atstorefronts.
They also utilize used vegetable oils from food cooking
p l a n t s a s t h e f u e l to h e a t gre e n h o u s e s w h e revegetables are grown. Because of these and othervar ious environmental activities, they obtained"Sapporo Mayor Prize of Recycling-Oriented Society
Promotion Category in 4th Sapporo Environmental
Prize" in 2012.
Activity
examplesA Seicomart store

18

Report of 2015 activity●Recycling status of retailers

Original tissue papers recycled frompaper cartons

We are working on recycling!!

(Location: Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture)
Welfare organizations collect paper cartons fromvarious sources including home, elementary schools,
supermarkets, administrative bodies and daycare
centers. They also produce a range of products
utilizing collected cartons.
Among 274 facilities that are carrying out collections
or product making, 42% are devoted to productmaking and 34% are doing both. This figure accounts
for three quarters of the total. They produce a wide
range of products including postcards, businesscards and calendars.
More than half of the facilities engage in thecollection. Sources are home, daycare centers andretailers in the region.
Breakdown of welfare organizations by collection
and product making

24％
42％

Collection only
Collection and product making
Product making only

34％

Social welfare corporation Work Space
Yume Kobo was opened in 1999 as awork place for people with disabilities. Itis currently operated as a multi-functional welfare facilityfor people with disabilities (30 target people of support ofcontinued working Type B, and six target people ofr e h a b i l i t a t i o n t r a i n i n g ) . To s u p p o r t t h e s o c i a l
independence of people with disabilities, it provides themwith opportunities to work along with leisurely daytime
activities at the facility.
In this facility, they collect paper cartons, and production
and sales of original hand-woven fabric goods and bakedgoods. Other than that, this facility focuses on orderbased processing of souvenirs and cardboard boxes aswell as out-of-facility work.
This facility has continued collecting paper cartons fromwhen they opened because they think it contributes toimproving the regional environmental and recycling
issues. They currently collect about eight tons of paper
cartons a year (three times a week) via well maintainedcollection centers mainly set up in supermarkets inSuzaka City and Nagano City. This facility recycles paper
cartons through the network of Nagano Help Center
Association, a specified non-profit corporation.
They plan to continue collecting paper cartons because it
not only provides disabled citizens with opportunities toget outdoors and have contact with people outside thesociety, but it also provides a type of relaxation that isdifficult to experience from indoor work alone.
Activity
examplesCollection work

Paper cartons stored in a warehouse

Report of 2015 activity●Collection status at welfare organizations

19Activity Report of fiscal 2014

Status of municipality and group collection

Among the 1,741 municipalities in the country, we have sent
questionnaires to 1,734 local governments in 2014 excluding sevenareas that have been affected by the nuclear accident related to theFukushima nuclear plants. We received responses from 1,247
municipalities. The total population of municipalities that responded tothe survey made up 87.6% of the total population.
Used paper carton collection by municipalities and unions is classified
as "municipality collection", and collection carried out by citizen's groups(registered to respective municipalities) is classified as "group collection".
The implementation rates of municipality collection and group collection
were about the same as those of the previous year. The municipality
collection rate was 82%, and the group collection rate - excluding cases
where no answers were received - was 51%. Either municipality
collection or group collection was executed in 89% of the municipality.
This means that almost 90% of local governments are collecting paper
cartons.

Municipality collection of paper
cartons is promoted by the separate
collection approach and the basecollection approach.

21.2 thousand tons of paper cartonsare collected through the municipalityand group collection.

Co l l e c t i o n o f p a p e r c a r to n s i scarried out by about 90% of local
governments.

The survey estimated the municipality collection volume and groupcollection volume after grouping the target municipalities into fourtypes: "General cities", "Government-ordinance-designated cities","Tokyo special wards" and "Towns and villages". In fiscal 2014, themunicipality collection volume was 12.8 thousand tons, and thegroup collection volume was 8.4 thousand tons. Total collection
volume was 21.2 thousand tons.
Per capita collection volume (basic unit) both in the municipality
and group collection is decreasing because of the decrease in thegeneral cities that share more than 60% of the national population.
In Tokyo’s special wards, the volume by group collection is flatteringout and that by municipality collection is decreasing. In theGovernment-ordinance-designated cities, the share of groupcollection is increasing compared to municipality collection. We
must study and develop measures unique to the given region tosecure a better collection rate.

Implementation rate of municipality collection
and group collection

7.5％

1,247（93）（77）（538）

32.2％
（401）

Total

Both municipality collection and groupcollection are implemented
Municipality collection alone is implemented
Municipality collection is implemented
and no answer to group collection
Group collection alone is implemented
Municipality collection is not executedand no answer to group collection
Neither are implemented

Municipality collection Group collection

43.2％

6.2％

GovernmentOrdinancedesignated cities

Total

GovernmentGeneral ordinance- Tokyo special Towns andcities designatedwards
villagescities

12.8

9.1

1.3

0.7

1.6

Estimated collection ratio by city type 100%

71%

11%

5%

13%

Collection volume per person (grams per person)

100

113

5078139

Estimated volume (1,000 tons)

Estimated volume (1,000 tons)

8.4

5.5

2.1

0.2

0.6

Estimated collection ratio by city type 100%

65%

25%

2%

7%

Collection volume per person (grams per person)

65

68

78

2354

Population by city type (millions)

128

81

27

911

64.1%

General cities

Towns andvillages

Estimated municipality and group collection
volumes by city type

Number of local governments responded

9.1％
（114）

Ratio of paper carton collection types by city type

Tokyo specialwards

1.8％

（23）

Used paper cartons are collected in two ways in each municipality.
One is the separate collection approach, and the other is the basecollection approach. Strict separate collection refers to collection
from homes and stations, and the base collection approach refers
to collection from collection boxes at community halls and similar
locations.
By city type, the separate collection is more widely employed bygeneral cities, towns and villages, and the base collection approachis used more in the ordinance-designated cities and Tokyo special
wards.

23.5%

20.4%

35.3%

45.5%

41.2%
18.2%

77.0%
68.5%

15.5%

36.4%
12.0% 11.1%
17.0%

14.5%

Strict separate collection only
Both strict separate collection and base collection
Base collection only

We are working on recycling!
Kitakyushu City,Fukuoka Prefecture
Under the slogan of Kitakyushu City itaims at "Nurturing of human resources
and culture, preservation of environmentand development of technology to deepen its global
relationships", this city works hard to provide support forparents, to upgrade the educational environment and to
improve welfare and medical care in addition to its dreamfor the future of achieving growth as a future-focused,environment-conscious city. Taking a cue from the fullscale enforcement of the Containers and Packaging
Recycling Law in April 2000, Kitakyushu City started
collection and recycling of paper cartons in July of thatyear. The city collected 152 tons in 2014 via 264 collection
bases installed at the Citizen Center, supermarkets andother locations. The base collection approach helps
maintain paper cartons in good condition as materials
suitable for recycling.
The city is promoting wide use of toilet rolls "Eco-per"made from used papers and milk car tons that arecollected in the city and recycled into new products forconsumers. From April 2015, they start building a regional
circulatory zone of milk cartons and used papers aiming
to help create a low carbon society with the cooperationof citizens. To achieve this goal, they promote wide use of"Eco-per" featuring the friendly environmental mascot
characters "Teitan & black Teitan" in the city and at
facilities of neighboring cities. They say it will help people
to visualize and gain a better idea of their recycling
activities. At the same time, the city star ted
comprehensive collection and recycling of milk cartons forschool meals at elementary schools.
Activity
examplesToilet roll "Eco-per" and promotional seal

20

Report of 2015 activity●Status of municipalities and group collection

Report of 2015 activity●Status of municipalities and group collection

21

Activity Report of fiscal 2014

Recycling status at schools

Recycling of paper milk cartons usedin school lunches is also increasing.

Recycling status of recycled paper manufacturers

We are working on recycling!

Collected paper cartons are recycled
as high-quality pulp fiber.

Shimizu Cho Nishi Elementary School andMinami Elementary School

Kitakyushu Plant,
KYUSHU PAPER PRODUCTS Co., LTD.

(Suntogun, Shizuoka Prefecture)
Approximately 11.7 thousand tons of paper milk cartons weresupplied for school lunches in 2014, which was roughly the sameamount as in the previous year. Out of the total supply, 8.8 thousand
tons (75.1%) are collected for recycling. The figure remains high.
In addition to recycling of paper milk cartons for schools, reuse ofpaper cartons used in science and mathematics classes as well as
collection of paper cartons from children's homes are being
implemented at elementary schools.

Material flow of milk cartons for schools(Estimated value)

11.7 100%
11.8 100%Volume processed byschools using own methods

Discardedvolume2.4 20.5%
2.1 18.0%

Unit: 1,000 tons

Volume accepted bydairy product manufacturers

6.9 58.9%
7.1 60.1%

Collection
volume4.5 38.4%
5.0 42.1%

Upper line 2014
Lower line 2013

Schools

Dairy productmanufacturers

4.8 41.1%
4.7 39.9%

Discardedvolume0.5 4.4%
0.4 3.5%

Collection
volume4.3 36.8%

4.3 36.4%

We are working on recycling!

(Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture)

Shimizu Cho, where Nishi Elementary
School and Minami Elementary School
are located, is an area with a wonderfulnatural environment commanding a panoramic view of Mt.
Fuji with the clear water of the Kakita River and Kano
River flowing through the town. In addition to the above
two elementary schools, Shimizu Elementary school isalso situated in the town, and children attending thesethree schools are working on recycling of milk cartons
used in school lunches.
At Nishi Elementary School, sixth graders teach new
pupils how to disassemble milk cartons by hand. Afterlunches, all children open milk cartons used for meals byhand, stack cartons in plastic cases, and then children on
duty rinse cartons and dry them in the sun. Collected milk
cartons are recycled into home-use papers at Corelex
Shin-ei Mfg. Co., Ltd. with the help of Kannami Tobu
Agricultural Cooperative. Recycled tissue papers are
distributed to each class once a year to help students
visualize their achievement and to educate themregarding the importance of valuing resources.
In addition to recycling of milk cartons used for school
lunches, as part of the activity of the Welfare Committee,
children of both schools collect paper cartons, aluminum
cans, caps of pet bottles and products featuring theBellmar k at home and take them to school ever y
Wednesday morning. Participating children get a seal for
their reward card. The funds raised through this activity
are donated to welfare organizations and used for PTA
expenses.
Activity
examplesAmong the 14 recycled paper manufacturers who answered thequestionnaire, 12 manufacturers accept paper waste (industrial
paper waste) of paper cartons, used papers, and used paper
cartons generated in Japan.
The total volume accepted by the manufacturers was 123.0 tons
in 2014 after the collection volume of domestic paper cartonsand import volumes of used paper cartons are combined. About
80% (95.4 thousand tons) of them are recycled into toilet rolls
and tissue papers. Paper cartons are used for these products
as precious high-quality pulp fiber material.

Use for recycled products
4.9

1.7thousand tons

thousand tons
（5.2%）（1.8%）

Total

95.4

31.3

thousand tons
（32.8%）

57.5

thousand tons
（60.3%）

thousand tons
Toilet rolls
Tissue papers
Cardboards
OtherKitakyushu Plant of KYUSHU PAPER
PRODUCTS Co., LTD. began businessin 2006 at Yawata Plant of the former
Nippon Steel Corporation Co., Ltd. as a cutting-edge plantthat utilizes the comprehensive technology of Oita Paper
Products Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1918. Under thecompany credo "Growing with regional development",
staff at this company work hard, in addition to carryingout their business activities, to build a regional recycling
society, preserve the environmental, and contribute tosociety through paper making.
For the purpose of environmental preservation, theyutilize surplus electricity, gas, steam and water to recycle
various types of used papers into high-quality toilet rolls.
They accept about 3,000 tons of paper cartons a year
mainly from the western par t of Japan as precious
resources to enhance the quality of their toilet rolls. They
also recycle wastes by, for instance, processing polluted
sludge from drainage treatment processes into foaming
inhibitor, which is required in the iron-making process toeliminate impurities.
They also work hard to provide environmental education,
including educating people to enhance their awareness ofrecycling. The plant accepts about 2,500 visitors a year,and positively participates in recycling of school lunch
milk cartons and providing onsite lessons, both of which
are to be started this year at every elementary school in
Kitakyushu. They participate in an environmental event" E c o - L i fe S ta g e " h o s te d by t h e c i t y to i n c re a s e
consumers' awareness of paper carton recycling.
Activity
examplesTotal discarded volume

2.9 24.9%
2.5 21.5%

Collection rate byschools using own methods

65.2%70.1%

Total collection volume

8.8 75.1%
9.3 78.5%※Some figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.

22

Report of 2015 activity●Recycling status at schools

Collection rate based on
acceptance by
dairy product manufacturers

89.4%
91.2%

Enjoying opening milk cartons by hand
(Nishi Elementary School)

Welfare Committee activity(Collection of paper cartons)(Minami Elementary School)

Onsite lessons

Eco-Life Stage

Report of 2015 activity●Recycling status at recycled paper manufacturer

23