#Japan #Tokyo #recycling #FPCO #Tokiwa Industry

FPCO and Tokiwa Industry Enhance Eco-Friendly Recycling

FPCO Co., Ltd., based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and Tokiwa Industry Co., Ltd., based in Oita, have partnered to bolster their Store-to-Store recycling initiative. This program transforms used food trays and PET bottles collected at Tokiwa Industry’s 23 stores into new eco-friendly food trays and transparent containers, enabling these materials to be reused within the same stores.

Overview of the Initiative

The main goal of this collaboration is for each participating store to become an eco-leader within its community. Customers are encouraged to return used food trays and PET bottles at designated collection boxes located outside Tokiwa Industry stores. Once collected, these materials are sent back to FPCO, which treats them as valuable resources. These materials are then transformed into environmentally-friendly products, such as eco-trays, which are reused in Tokiwa Industry’s stores. The Store-to-Store approach emphasizes a circular resource system where the store acts as a hub for recycling.

The Flow of Store-to-Store Recycling

The collection process starts at the customer level, where they bring in their used materials. These items are collected, cleaned, and processed by FPCO. The newly created eco-friendly products are then returned to Tokiwa Industry, where they complete the cycle by serving as new, sustainable merchandise for customers.

Environmental Contributions Through Reduced CO2 Emissions

As part of its goals, Tokiwa Industry aims to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. By using eco-products manufactured from recycled resources in stores, they’ve achieved an impressive reduction of 91.6 tons of CO2 emissions for the fiscal year ending February 2025. For the 2026 fiscal year, Tokiwa Industry plans to collaborate further with FPCO to expand the range of products that utilize eco-trays and improve collection volumes. They will install promotional posters for 'eco-trays' and 'ecoAPET' items throughout their stores. Through these efforts, they aim for an annual CO2 reduction goal of 93 tons for the fiscal year ending February 2026.

Understanding Horizontal Recycling

Horizontal recycling is defined as a method of recycling where resources are cycled without changing their original use. This process helps maintain the integrity of the material while still offering an effective recycling solution. The eco-products from this initiative include:
- Eco-trays: Recycled trays made from recovered styrofoam trays collected from stores.
- EcoAPET: Transparent containers made from recycled PET sheets, formed from collected containers and bottles.
- EcoOPET: Similar to EcoAPET, these recycled PET sheets are stretched to maintain their unique properties such as oil resistance and transparency while also achieving heat resistance up to 80°C.

About FPCO Co., Ltd.

FPCO is Japan’s leading manufacturer of food containers used in supermarkets and convenience stores. The company focuses on creating a sustainable society through its innovative recycling methods like 'tray-to-tray' and 'bottle-to-transparent containers.' FPCO is committed to reducing CO2 emissions and developing low-environmental-impact containers that promote resource conservation.

• - Location: Shinjuku Oak Tower, 36th Floor, 6-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo 163-6036
• - Leaders: Chairman Masamasa Sato / President Kazuhiro Yasuda
• - Established: July 1962
• - Website: FPCO Official Site

About Tokiwa Industry Co., Ltd.

Tokiwa Industry is a community-oriented supermarket chain with 23 locations across Oita prefecture. They aim to provide customers with safe, healthy, and fresh products from Oita while promoting a well-rounded lifestyle.

• - Location: 1-1-1 Akeno Higashi, Oita City, Oita Prefecture
• - Leader: President Naoshi Hadenoko
• - Established: March 1970
• - Website: Tokiwa Industry Official Site

Through initiatives like Store-to-Store recycling, FPCO and Tokiwa Industry demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and community engagement, setting an example for other businesses to follow.