Progress of Kao, Lion and Ito-Yokado's Recycling Collaboration

- The film packages are intended to be collected in a state where the contents are empty, washed and dried. Six months after the start of collection, about 70 percent of the film packaging was collected in this way, and one year later it exceeded 80 percent. This is believed to be due to deepening customer understanding. Communication will be considered to help collect packaging in even better condition in the future.
- Review how to cut/wash/rinse/dry the film packaging and notify the information in-store in an easy-to-understand manner.

■Recycling technology
- Kao is proceeding with the development of batch processing technology for film packaging at the pilot plant of the Wakayama Research Laboratories.
- Lion is taking the lead in developing technology for separating laminated films from film packaging.

■Pouch materials and structure suitable for recycling
- In November 2021, Kao and Lion submitted a proposal to the Japan Soap and Detergent Association about easy-to-recycle film packaging materials and structure. Kao and Lion will continue to strive for the creation of an easy-to-recycle packaging design guideline that can be widely and freely used between companies or across industry boundaries for effective recycling.

■In-store film packaging collection
In addition to Kao, Lion and Ito-Yokado, businesses involved, customers visiting the Ito-Yokado Hikifune Store and Sumida-ku are each playing a role in the initiatives becoming a community activity for the realization of a sustainable society. In the future, the Ito-Yokado Hikifune Store initiative will be the model for other stores.

■From the Ito-Yokado Hikifune Store
With the cooperation and understanding of customers and local residents, the store staff have been able to work together to continue the in-store film packaging collection over the past year.
We are continuing our efforts with displays of artworks made with Okaeri-blocks and information about collection amounts at the entrance of the store to increase customer recognition, daily maintenance on the collection box, the creation of videos, disseminating information through SNS, and installing recycled plastic pots and mini foliage plants in the food court, and so on.
We are continuing to work with store associates on in-store collection challenges, making improvements and adjustments.

Representative:
Tetsuya Yamamoto, Representative Director and President

Address:
8-8 Nibancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Established:
1920

Net Sales (consolidated):
1,053,284 million yen (term ended February 2021)

No. of employees (consolidated):
28,796 (as of February 2021)

Business description:
Retail business

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):
1,418.8 billion yen (term ended December 2021)

No. of employees (consolidated):
33,507 (as of December 31, 2021)

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.

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):
366.2 billion yen (term ended December 2021)

No. of employees (consolidated):
7,584 (as of December 31, 2021)

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.