#Japan #Tokyo #Vaccination #JCV #CapAction

Join the #CapAction Campaign for Vaccinations

In celebration of Environmental Month, recognized by the Ministry of the Environment in June, a vital campaign is urging communities to engage in recycling plastic bottle caps. This initiative, spearheaded by the Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCV), encourages participation in the 'Bottle Cap Collection Month' dedicated to supporting vaccination efforts for children in developing nations.

Last year, the #CapAction campaign garnered over 11,000 posts on social media, highlighting a commitment toward environmental conservation and child vaccination support. This year, the campaign aims to replicate and expand its success from June 1 to June 30, inviting more participants to share their efforts online. By posting photos of bottle caps on platforms like Instagram, X, and Threads with the hashtag #CapAction, participants will trigger the donation of vaccinations for children in need—one post equates to one vaccine!

How to Participate

To join the #CapAction campaign:

• - Period: June 1 - June 30, 2025
• - Method: Post photos or videos featuring bottle caps on Instagram, X, or Threads with the hashtag #CapAction. Each post will contribute to the vaccination efforts for children in countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Bhutan, and Vanuatu.
• - Supporting Companies: Several businesses, including Supermate Co., Hashimoto Co., and Royal Hotel, among others, support this initiative, ensuring that the campaign reaches a wider audience.

The beauty of the #CapAction campaign is its simplicity; whether it's a bottle cap art display or images taken while collecting caps, any form of creative expression is welcome as long as it features the bottle cap theme. Note that private accounts and limited visibility posts do not qualify for the campaign.

The Impact of Bottle Cap Recycling

The recycling scheme not only benefits environmental initiatives but also serves as a critical lifeline for children battling preventable diseases in lower-income countries. Since its inception in 2005, this project has expanded to include 86 participating recycling firms across 107 locations in Japan (as of May 30, 2025). Schools and local facilities are also actively involved, providing collection boxes to encourage community participation as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In the past year, approximately 1.5 billion caps were collected, translating to over 1.5 million vaccine doses supplied to protect against poliovirus through JCV’s international support aimed at ensuring health equity.

The Importance of Vaccination

With the grim statistic of 4,000 children losing their lives every day due to preventable infectious diseases, such as polio and tuberculosis, the demand for affordable vaccines has never been higher. The cost for most vaccines is just a few dollars, making it feasible for organizations like JCV to deliver vital immunizations. Since its establishment in 1994, JCV has successfully provided vaccines to over 133 million children through partnerships with UNICEF and various ministries worldwide. In 2024 alone, JCV delivered vaccination resources worth over 123 million yen to four nations.

Conclusion: Make a Difference

We invite everyone to take part in the #CapAction campaign. By recycling bottle caps, you not only contribute to a cleaner environment but also help save lives by providing essential vaccinations to vulnerable children. Together, let’s amplify our social contributions and make a positive impact both locally and globally. Let’s cap off the month with a campaign that saves lives!

For further details, you can visit the dedicated campaign page here.