#Japan #Osaka #Tetra Pak #Kagome #Life Corporation

Promoting Sustainability Through Innovative Collaboration

In June 2025, three leaders in the food packaging industry—Life Corporation, Kagome, and Tetra Pak—teamed up to host the first-ever recycling awareness event in Osaka, Japan. This initiative aimed to boost the recycling of aluminum-lined paper containers, a product used for beverages like vegetable juice and soy milk. Despite their recyclability, the current recycling rate for these containers remains low, as they often end up being incinerated due to insufficient collection points.

To address this challenge, Life Corporation announced that starting May 2024, approximately 160 stores in the Kansai region will begin collecting these containers. The event provided an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and encourage customer participation in recycling efforts. The collaboration highlighted the crucial role each company plays in the recycling process: Kagome, known for its environmental-friendly products; Life, which sells a wide range of paper container products and actively participates in resource recovery; and Tetra Pak, which focuses on promoting the recovery and recycling of its packaging.

Event Overview

The recycling event, titled “What about Paper Packs?!”, welcomed community members who brought aluminum-lined paper containers. Attendees were invited to learn about recycling processes and participate in a raffle featuring prizes from Kagome and Tetra Pak. Over 200 people took part in the event, demonstrating a strong interest in improving recycling practices in their local area.

Date and Time: June 6, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Location: Life Central Square Nishinoyama Store Event Space, Osaka
Access: About a 10-minute walk from Shinosaka Station via the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line
Entry Fee: Free
Organizers: Life Corporation, Kagome Co., Ltd., and Tetra Pak

Participants' Feedback

Feedback from attendees reflected a positive shift in attitude towards recycling efforts:

• - A woman in her 40s mentioned, “I used to throw away aluminum-lined paper packs because I thought they couldn’t be recycled. Now I can just bring them here!”
• - A woman in her 50s added, “I always bring these to Life. The openers are really convenient!”
• - A man in his 60s remarked, “I learned that paper fibers can be separated cleanly from other materials during the recycling process.”

Statements from Organizers

Daisei Munenaga, Director of Secretarial, Public Relations, and Sustainability Promotion Division, Life Corporation: “After a year of aluminum-lined paper container collection in the Kansai area, it's crucial we create opportunities to engage directly with our customers, encouraging recycling behaviors in our community. We are considering expanding this type of event to other stores.”

Kaoru Fujiwara, Sales Manager of Kagome, Osaka Branch: “We are thrilled to work alongside Tetra Pak and Life to make recycling feel more accessible and familiar for consumers.”

Yuko Omori, Sustainability Director at Tetra Pak: “The collection and recycling of paper containers starts with the actions of our customers. Our collaboration today has clarified the process of recycling aluminum-lined paper containers, making it easy for customers to participate.”

About the Organizing Companies

Life Corporation
Founded in 1910, Life Corporation opened its first store in 1961, introducing the supermarket format to Japan. With a commitment to creating a sustainable and rich society through trustworthy management, Life currently operates 318 stores in the Kinki and Tokyo metropolitan areas.

Kagome Co., Ltd.
Established in 1899, this food manufacturer specializes in tomato-based products, beverages, seasonings, frozen foods, and food materials, working towards promoting vegetable consumption and sustainable food practices.

Tetra Pak
Founded in Sweden in 1951, Tetra Pak is a leading company in food processing and paper-based packaging, committed to providing safe, nutritious food globally while protecting natural resources.

The event highlights the need for collaborative initiatives aimed at increasing recycling awareness and participation. It marks an important step towards fostering a sustainable future through responsible consumer behavior.