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Kao and Lion, with Welcia Yakkyoku and Hamakyorex, Begin Field Testing for Recycling of Used Refill Film Packaging
Kao Corporation, Lion Corporation, Welcia Yakkyoku Co., Ltd. and Hamakyorex Co., Ltd. are collaborating on a RecyCreation* activity to help realize the resource circulation of plastic packaging in society. Field testing for the recycling of used household product refill film packaging began on October 30, 2021.
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* RecyCreation combines the concepts of recycle and creation, and aims to create new value by recycling used refill packs into more enjoyable and better items, using technologies, knowledge and ideas. The concept of this initiative is "Throwing it away after use. We want to change this common practice."
Welcia Yakkyoku Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese drugstore chain that handles large quantities of household product refill packs, has installed collection boxes in 28 locations, including the company's Tokyo head office, 20 stores in Tokyo, and 7 stores in Saitama. By providing consumers with the opportunity to participate in recycling, Welcia Yakkyoku is collecting used refill packs for products such as washing detergent and shampoo. Logistics service provider Hamakyorex then collects these used refill packs in its delivery trucks on the way back from delivering products to Welcia Yakkyoku stores, exploring ways to develop an efficient, environmentally-friendly logistics process. Kao and Lion recycle the collected used refill packs to create blocks that can be utilized in their stores and in the local community, with the goal of raising consumers' awareness, while also aiming to explore technology for horizontal recycling of film packaging and develop more recycling-friendly packaging designs.
Welcia Yakkyoku stores have close links with the local community, and the multiple stores that are participating in this field-testing project are aiming to raise consumers' awareness regarding the importance of recycling and secure their collaboration in recycling efforts, while also exploring ways of making the collection and transportation of used refill packs more cost-effective and more environmentally-friendly, seeking to build an effective recycling system. Consideration will be given to expanding the application of the recycling model developed through this initiative to other regions, to help realize the resource circulation of plastic packaging in society.
Field-testing Overview
Purpose
To explore separated collection and recycling of used refill packs in collaboration with consumers and retailers.
Content
- Enhancing consumers' enthusiasm for recycling through RecyCreation
- Collecting used refill packs for detergent and shampoo products, etc., at multiple Welcia Yakkyoku stores
- Conducting surveys into the quality and quantity of collected used refill packs
- Building a collection and transportation model whereby collected used refill packs are transported by delivery trucks on the way back from delivering products to stores
- Recycling used refill packs to make blocks etc. that can be used at stores and in the local community
- Using used refill packs for experimental samples for horizontal recycling whereby used film packaging is used to make new film packaging
Collected items
Used refill packs for household products (film packaging):
- Empty packs that have been washed and dried
- Regardless of manufacturer
- Regular (non-refill) bottles are excluded
Implementation period
Starting from October 30, 2021
Locations of collection boxes for used refill packs
| Welcia Yakkyoku's Tokyo head office, 20 stores in Tokyo and 7 stores in Saitama, for a total of 28 locations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Adachi-ku: | Welcia Adachi Shinden Store | Welcia Adachi Nishiarai Store |
| Welcia Adachi Aoi Store | Welcia Adachi Minami-Hanahata Store | ||
| Welcia Adachi Kaga Store | Welcia Adachi Kohoku Store | ||
| Welcia Adachi Shimane Store | Welcia Adachi Kodo Store | ||
| Welcia Adachi Takenotsuka Store | Welcia Adachi Takenotsuka 1-chome Store | ||
| Edogawa-ku: | Welcia Yakkyoku Edogawa Ichinoe Store | Welcia Edogawa Matsumoto Store | |
| Welcia Edogawa Naka-Kasai Store | Welcia Edogawa Shishibone Store | ||
| Welcia Edogawa Hon-Isshiki Store | Welcia Edogawa Shinozaki Store | ||
| Welcia Edogawa Mizue-ekimae Store | Welcia Edogawa Higashi-Mizue Store | ||
| Sumida-ku: | Welcia Sumida Yahiro Store | ||
| Chiyoda-ku: | Welcia Chiyoda Ochanomizu Store | Welcia Yakkyoku Head Office | |
| Saitama Prefecture | Kasukabe City: | Welcia Kasukabe Midori-cho Store | Welcia Kasukabe Ichinowari Store |
| Welcia Kasukabe Toyoharu Store | Welcia Kasukabe Fujitsuka Store | ||
| Welcia Kasukabe Hatchome Store | Welcia Kasukabe Yahara Store | ||
| Welcia Kasukabe Takesato Store | |||
Company Profiles
Kao Corporation
Representative:
Yoshihiro Hasebe, Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Address:
1-14-10 Nihonbashi Kayabacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Established:
May 21, 1940 (founded June 19, 1887)
Net Sales (consolidated):
1,382 billion yen (term ended December 2020)
No. of employees (consolidated):
33,409 (as of December 31, 2020)
Business description:
Consumer products businesses, including Hygiene & Living Care, Health & Beauty Care, Life Care, and Cosmetics, and the Chemical business to meet the needs of industry.
Lion Corporation
Representative:
Masazumi Kikukawa, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer
Address:
1-3-7 Honjo, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Established:
September 1918 (founded October 30, 1891)
Net Sales (consolidated):
355.3 billion yen (term ended December 2020)
No. of employees (consolidated):
7,452 (as of December 31, 2020)
Business description:
The manufacture and sale of toothpastes, toothbrushes, soaps, detergents, hair- and skin-care products, cooking-related products and pharmaceuticals. Exports to overseas affiliates.
Welcia Yakkyoku Co., Ltd.
Representative:
Tadahisa Matsumoto, President and Representative Director
Address:
2-2-15 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Established:
April 1974
Net Sales (consolidated):
866.4 billion yen (term ended February 2021)
No. of employees (consolidated):
31,208 (term ended February, 2021; for part-time employees, 8 hours of working time was calculated as being equivalent to one full-time employee)
Business description:
Operation of drugstores with in-store pharmacies
Hamakyorex Co., Ltd.
Representatives:
Masataka Osuka, Chief Executive Officer
Hidenori Osuka, Chief Operating Officer
Address:
1701-1 Terawaki-cho, Minami-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
Established:
February 1971
Net Sales (consolidated):
118.876 billion yen (term ended March 2021)
No. of employees (consolidated):
5,080 (as of March 31, 2021)
Business description:
Logistics center operation
Environmental Initiatives
Kao Corporation
Lion Corporation
Welcia Yakkyoku Co., Ltd.
Hamakyorex Co., Ltd.
Media inquiries should be directed to:
Corporate Strategy
Kao Corporation