#Japan #recycling #Tetra Pak #Higashiyamato

Tetra Pak and Higashiyamato City: A New Era of Recycling Collaboration

In a groundbreaking initiative, Tetra Pak Japan, a leading supplier of food processing machinery and paper container filling systems, has signed a partnership agreement with Higashiyamato City, Tokyo. This collaboration, finalized on August 28, 2025, focuses on the collection and recycling of aluminum-coated paper containers, a material previously regarded as challenging to recycle.

The signing ceremony was graced by Koji Ueda, Vice President of Tetra Pak, and Hitomi Wachi, Mayor of Higashiyamato City. Mayor Wachi expressed her gratitude for the alliance, stating, "Thanks to the understanding and cooperation of Tetra Pak, this agreement to promote the recycling of paper packs has been established. Higashiyamato City has actively engaged with private enterprises on various recycling projects, including PET bottle recycling. This agreement significantly contributes to establishing a resource circulation system and is a meaningful step towards realizing a circular society. We will continue to promote efforts towards achieving a circular economy."

During the ceremony, Ueda highlighted the achievement of this initial collaboration with a municipality as a significant honor. He noted, "The partnership with Higashiyamato City is a pivotal step in promoting resource circulation through community engagement, which I believe will greatly contribute to the realization of a sustainable society. We will keep advancing resource circulation in collaboration with local communities."

As part of the agreement, Higashiyamato City and Tetra Pak will install specialized collection boxes for aluminum-coated paper containers within the city hall, facilitating proper separation and collection by residents. The collected containers will be sent to recycling companies where they will be transformed into products like toilet paper. This initiative is rooted in the city’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, which includes previous collaborations with various businesses for the collection of PET bottles and shampoo bottles.

Currently, the recycling rate of aluminum-coated paper containers in Japan stands disappointingly low at just 3.6%. In response to this, Tetra Pak has focused on expanding collection points, having established 284 new locations since January 2025, with the Higashiyamato City Hall becoming the 285th.

The collaboration exemplifies Tetra Pak's ambition to create a new model of a circular society, engaging citizens, businesses, and government in a united effort. Ueda emphasized the importance of this initiative in driving the recycling of aluminum-coated paper containers, steering clear from their disposal as waste, which often ends up incinerated instead of being recycled.

Understanding Aluminum-Coated Paper Containers

Aluminum-coated paper containers consist of six layers, including paper, polyethylene, and aluminum foil, effectively blocking light and oxygen to preserve the quality of the contents within. These containers are widely used for storing and transporting beverages and food due to their capability for long-term storage at room temperature. Despite being recyclable, the current recycling practices for aluminum-coated containers are inadequate, with a significant proportion being incinerated as general waste.

The increasing emphasis on sustainability highlights the potential of recycling these containers, as they possess superior resource efficiency and can greatly mitigate environmental impact. This partnership with Higashiyamato City marks a significant step towards improving the recycling rates of these containers in Japan.

About Tetra Pak

Founded in Sweden in 1951, Tetra Pak has become a global leader in food processing and paper container filling systems. With a commitment to providing safe and nutritious food to customers in over 160 countries, Tetra Pak employs more than 24,000 people worldwide. The company’s motto, "PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD ™", encapsulates its mission to safeguard food, people, and the planet. Tetra Pak has also been appointed the Platinum Sponsor for the Nordic Pavilion at the 2025 Osaka Kansai World Expo, where it will showcase its initiatives aimed at reducing food waste and enhancing food safety through sustainable packaging.

For more information about Tetra Pak's recycling initiatives, visit Tetra Pak Japan.