### 2. The Commendation for Contributors to Promote the Establishment of a Sound Material-Cycle Society by the Minister of the Environment

The Commendation for Contributors to Promote the Establishment of a Sound Material-Cycle Society has been given to individuals, enterprises and organizations who have contributed remarkable achievements to the proper promotion of Reduction, Reuse and Recycling of waste generation since fiscal 2006 in order to contribute to the promotion of establishing a sound material-cycle society.

In fiscal 2009, five individuals, 12 organizations and 21 enterprises were given the commendation, and the commendation ceremony was conducted in the “4th National Convention for 3Rs Promotion” held in Chiba City in October 2009. Several efforts awarded are as follows:

(1) Promoter to establish a sound material-cycle society/Promoter of 3Rs Activities in fiscal 2009 (Organization)

Shimokawa Town Forest Cooperative (Shimokawa Town, Kamikawa County, Hokkaido)

The Shimokawa Town Forest Cooperative has promoted efforts to thoroughly use wooden biomass, e.g., a soil improvement agent made of carbonized wood offcuts generated from wood processing facilities and carbonized forest thinnings generated in the forestry, production of snow melting agent, development of aromatherapy products using remained fir offcuts and use of steam from wood offcuts generated by a laminated wood factory for heating of the factory.

(2) Promoter to establish a sound material-cycle society/Good-standing enterprise concerning 3Rs Activities in fiscal 2009 (Enterprise) Tosu Kankyo Kaihatsu Ltd. (Tosu City, Saga Prefecture)

Tosu Kankyo Kaihatsu Ltd. has carried out multiple and chained utilization of resources such as methane fermentation power generation and composting of food resources generated from school lunch centers and offices in the city and drying of sludge in household wastewater treatment facilities.

### 3. The Prize of the Minister of the Environment for 3Rs Promotion for Waste Containers and Packages

The Prize of the Minister of the Environment for 3Rs Promotion for Waste Containers and Packages was established in fiscal 2006 to encourage and spread activities for 3Rs promotion for waste containers and packages, and exceptional efforts and products contributing to 3Rs promotion for waste containers and packages have been awarded every year in the following three categories: “regional collaboration and cooperation,” “retail shop” and “products.” In fiscal 2009, there were one winner of the highest award, one winner of outstanding award and two winners of incentive award in the “regional collaboration and cooperation”, two winners of incentive award in the “retail shop” and one winner of the highest award and two winners of incentive award in the “products.”

(1) Winner of the highest award in the “regional collaboration and cooperation”

Subject name: Establishment of a Collection System for R300ml Bottles (Miyagi System)

Group name: Miyagi Brewers Association (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

In order to reuse returnable bottles, dedicated collection boxes are required, but there were problems regarding inventory control and cost of the boxes. In this Miyagi System, such problems are all solved by making "R 300ml bottle-dedicated collection boxes" which are used only in the venous logistic area (flow from consumers to manufacturers) in the prefecture, and a system to promote the reuse of low-capacity bottles within the region has been established. In the first year (fiscal 2008), 220,000 R300ml bottles were collected and reused.

(2) Winner of the highest award in the “products” Product name: “I LOHAS” (natural water) 520ml, the nation’s lightest plastic bottle (12g)

Company name: Coca-Cola Japan Co., Ltd. (Minato Ward, Tokyo)

The company has succeeded in drastically lightening a plastic bottle by 40% compared to the conventional in-house product and developed the nation's lightest one (12g) by devising the bottle shape. The company has also succeeded in lightening a cap and label and achieved a substantial reduction of used amount of raw materials as a whole product. Since it is possible to reduce the volume substantially by squeezing and crushing the bottle after drinking, this can also contribute to the improved transport efficiency of collected resources.

### 4. The Prize of the Minister of the Environment for Food Recycling Promotion

By commending and introducing outstanding efforts made by food-related businesses, etc. concerning reuse and heat recovery of food resources and control of and reduction of food wastes to the whole country, the Ministry of the Environment has promoted, spread and enlightened further efforts to establish a sound material-