[Report] The 1st-3rd ICETT Resource Circulation Seminars in FY2025 were held.

　The International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer (ICETT) has been holding the "ICETT Resource Circulation Seminar" since 2024 to contribute to the promotion of resource recycling and businesses that contribute to it in Japan and overseas, including ASEAN countries, by sharing information with companies and organizations, as efforts toward the Circular Economy have been flourishing worldwide in recent years. In FY2025, we held three seminars under the themes of "e-waste," "Product Design for Improved Recycling," and "Chemical Recycling of Plastics," with a total of 428 participants (48 at the venue and 380 online).

The 1st ICETT Resource Recycling Seminar: Toward a New Stage of e-waste Resource Recycling

Background and Objectives

　For Japan, which is dependent on imports of metals, petroleum, and other resources, e-waste is referred to as an "urban mine," and legislation and technological development have been undertaken to utilize it as a valuable resource. Under the Home Appliance Recycling Law, manufacturers and importers are obligated to recycle four types of home appliances (air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines), many of which are collected and have achieved high recycling rates.
　On the other hand, although there is a recycling law for small home appliances, the recovery rate is still low, and the ratio of heat recovery in waste plastic recycling is high, and further promotion and advancement of resource recycling is required. In addition, from the perspective of resource constraints, such as increasing global demand for resources and heightened geopolitical risks, there is an urgent need to recover metals such as rare metals and base metals.
　ICETT held the seminar to share with companies and organizations the current status and policy direction of e-waste recycling, which is undergoing a period of change, as well as examples of new resource recycling in recent years.

Date

　Friday, September 5, 2025

Number of participants

　115 (on-site: 12, online: 103)

Program

　[Policy Introduction]
　　"Efforts of the Ministry of the Environment for e-waste resource recycling"
　　　Mr. Yoji Tanaka, Assistant Director, Office for Promotion of Sound Material-Cycle Society, Environmental Regeneration and Material Cycle Bureau, Ministry of the Environment
　　　(On-line speaker (rescheduled due to inclement weather))

　[Case Study]
　　"Introduction of SURE Consortium's Technical Philosophy and Activities"
　　　National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
　　　Mr. Tatsuya Oki, Chief Researcher and Chairman, SURE Consortium (online presentation)

　[Case Study of Company]
　　"Recovery of Rare Metals from Waste Electronic Substrates Using AI"
　　　Mr. Keiji Uesugi, President and CEO, UESUGI Co., Ltd.

　　"Introduction of Plastic Smart Sorting DX Solution"
　　　Mr. Tomohiko Kitsukawa, Technical Sales Manager, Recycling Co-Creation Center, Sustainability Business Promotion Department,
　　　Stainability Innovation Division, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (online presentation)

　First, the Ministry of the Environment shared the current status of resource recycling in Japan and the latest policies and trends. Then, Mr. Oki, Chairman of the SURE Consortium, AIST, introduced the technical concept and activities of the SURE Consortium.
　UESUGI Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation made presentations on their advanced approaches to recover valuable resources from e-waste.

Seminar

The 2nd ICETT Resource Recycling Seminar: "Product Design for Improved Recyclability: Now and Beyond"

Background and Objectives

　Eco-design that is aware of resource recycling at the product planning and design stage has been considered as a key factor to improve the recyclability of products. In recent years, various industries have been promoting the use of recycled materials and designs based on the premise of disassembly and reuse. This trend is expected to accelerate further with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation that came into effect in 2024 in the EU and the revised Law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources, which came into effect in 2026 in Japan.
　To this end, ICETT held the seminar to share cross-industry knowledge on the theme of product design that contributes to resource recycling, and to provide a forum for companies and others to use this knowledge as a reference for their future efforts and to explore the possibility of applying this it to other fields.

Date

　Friday, December 19, 2025

Number of participants

　164 (on-site: 24, online: 140)

Program Contents

[Keynote Speech]
"Economics of Design for Environment"
　　Dr. Masashi Yamamoto, Professor, Faculty of Economics, Kanagawa University

[Policy Introduction]
　"Efforts to Establish a Resource Recycling Economy as a Growth Strategy"
　　Mr. Mao Niinomi, Assistant Director, GX Group, Resource Efficiency adn Circular Economy Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
　　(online presentation)

[Case Study]
　Mr. Akio Tajima, Circular Economy Expert, MI Division, Panasonic Holdings Co.
　Representative of the Resource Recycling Project
　　Mr. Kodai Motoike, Representative of Resource Recycling Project; General Manager, Resource Recycling Division, NEION Film Coatings Corp.
　Mr. Koichi Yanagita, Deputy Secretary General, Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA)

[Panel Discussion]
　"Key Points for Product Design Promotion that Contribute to Improved Circulation"
　　Moderator:
　　　Prof. Masashi Yamamoto, Faculty of Economics, Kanagawa University
　　Panelists:
　　　Mr. Akio Tajima, Circular Economy Expert, MI Division, Panasonic Holdings Co.
　　　Mr. Kodai Motoike, Representative of Resource Recycling Project;
　　　　General Manager, Resource Recycling Division, NEION Film Coatings Corp.
　　　Mr. Koichi Yanagita, Deputy Secretary General, Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA)

　First, Professor Yamamoto of Kanagawa University shared the past to present situation and future direction of resource recycling based on economics, followed by an explanation of the latest policies from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
　This was followed by presentations on advanced initiatives by a total of three businesses: Panasonic Holdings Corporation, Nichiei Shinka Corporation, and Clean Ocean Materials Alliance (CLOMA).
　The event concluded with a panel discussion with Prof. Yamamoto as moderator and case study presenters as panelists.

Seminar

The 3rd ICETT Resource Recycling Seminar: Considering the Road to Community-Based Plastic and Chemical Recycling

Background and Objectives

　While plastic is an indispensable material in our daily lives, the importance of resource recycling is increasing in response to marine debris and climate change. Chemical recycling, one of the recycling methods, is being researched, commercialized, and put into practical use as a highly recyclable technology to return used plastics to raw materials, and it is hoped that initiatives will be promoted in the Hokusei (Northern) region and other areas of Mie Prefecture.
　In light of this, ICETT held a seminar to build momentum for the implementation of chemical recycling in the region by introducing advanced chemical recycling initiatives and the status of initiatives in Mie Prefecture.

Date

　Thursday, March 19, 2026

Number of participants

　149 (on-site: 12, online: 137)

Program Contents

[Keynote Speech]
　"Overview of Chemical Recycling Technology for Plastics and PET Chemical Recycling Technology at AIST"
　　Dr. Shinji Tanaka, Senior Researcher, Circular Technology Implementation Research Center,
　　National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

[Case Study]
　"DIC's Vision for Realizing a Fully Recycling-oriented Society for Polystyrene"
　　Mr. Keiichi Uchida, Manager, Packaging Materials Division, DIC Corporation

　"Consortium's Efforts for Social Implementation of Chemical Recycling Technology"
　　Mr. Atsushi Ohtake, President and Representative Director, R Plus Japan Inc.

　"Toward Domestic Recycling of Plastics."
　　Mr. Hironao Anzai, General Manager, Public Relations and Learning Support Department, General Affairs and Public Relations Division, Plastic Waste Management Institute

　First, Dr. Tanaka, Chief Researcher of the AIST, gave an overview of chemical recycling and shared the latest chemical recycling technologies at the AIST.
　Then, DIC Corporation and R Plus Japan Inc. shared examples of their initiatives using chemical recycling technologies, and Plastic Waste Management Institute shared the current status of plastic resource recycling.

Seminar

Results and Prospects

　Each seminar was held in a hybrid format of on-site and online, with a total of 428 participants (on-site: 48, online: 380) from companies, governments, and research institutions, mainly in Mie and Aichi Prefectures.
　Participants asked many questions after the lecture, and a business card exchange with the lecturer, held at the venue after the seminar, provided an opportunity for participants and the lecturer to deepen exchanges through a lively exchange of opinions.
　 We hope that these seminars will help promote various initiatives related to resource recycling.
　ICETT will continue to plan and implement seminars and other opportunities to disseminate information with the aim of promoting resource recycling initiatives in Japan and abroad and developing local economies.

[Related Websites]

[Report] 1st-3rd ICETT Resource Circulation Seminar (Overseas Transfer Project of Various Resource Recycling-Related Technologies)