ニュース
Launch of the “Resource Recycling Council (General Incorporated Association)”
A New Organization Aiming to Achieve a Sustainable, Circular Coexisting Society and a Decarbonized Society, Leading Japan to Be a Global Top Runner in the Circular Economy
We are pleased to announce the founding of the Resource Recycling Council (General Incorporated Association) (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Board of Directors Member: Nobuyoshi Yamasaki; Abbreviated as RRC).
Established on August 30, 2023, the Resource Recycling Council serves as a platform to cooperate with startups promoting the circular economy (CE) and climate change measures, leading companies both small and large, as well as local governments, experts, government agencies, and related organizations.
Across industries and companies, our goals include establishing “resource recycling that links upstream and downstream supply chains with high environmental value and global competitiveness,” “creating green innovation value through leveraging DX (digital transformation) technologies,” and “developing decarbonized, low-environmental-impact local circular models by forming local circular coexisting spheres,” ultimately guiding Japan to become a global top runner in the circular economy.
For governance, we have assembled as board members key figures from the front lines of environmental administration and resource recycling rulemaking, top executives of major companies leading both upstream and downstream industries, as well as professionals engaged in fostering new industries, startups, and sustainability management. They actively contribute in the CE, sustainability, and startup fields, broadly proposing policy and regulatory reforms necessary for establishing CE and working to implement effective resource recycling models in society.
Additionally, starting today, we are accepting membership applications via the council’s website.
[Background of Establishment]
—Creating “Resource Recycling” as an Opportunity for Economic Growth and Strengthening Industrial Competitiveness—
In the global pursuit of carbon neutrality—which aims to balance greenhouse gas emissions with absorption to achieve net zero—there is increasing demand for transitioning to a CE that curbs natural resource consumption and reduces environmental impact. In Japan, the Basic Act on Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society, enacted in 2000, has long promoted the development of such a society.
Furthermore, resource recycling has become a crucial keyword not only in terms of environmental policies—such as addressing waste issues and climate change—but also in ensuring international competitiveness. With global resource demand rising and geopolitical risks constraining resource supply, the significance of stable and efficient resource utilization and regeneration within one’s own country or nearby regions through CE has become increasingly apparent.
When using resources and energy, the focus should shift to so-called above-ground resources, advancing resource recycling to reduce reliance on underground resources such as fossil fuels and minerals, and minimizing the input of new resources. Realizing such an “economy and society grounded in recycling” is becoming essential.
Conversely, for Japan—a “resource-poor” nation that relies on imports for many resources—the transition to a circular economy that uses resources sustainably can lead to economic growth and strengthened industrial competitiveness, offering an opportunity for a virtuous cycle between the environment and economic development.
Our council views CE as a means to overcome business environment challenges such as decarbonization and resource constraint risks, aiming to build a resource recycling market with global competitiveness.
[Membership Types]
In principle, the secretariat selects the working group members by considering the theme and the number of participants.
In addition, Approval Members, Supporting Members, sponsors, and Observers may be requested by the board of directors or the secretariat to cooperate with surveys related to the council’s activities or to optionally participate in working groups.
[Activities]
We work in collaboration with all key entities overseeing upstream and downstream aspects of resource recycling—including manufacturers, distributors, waste generators, collectors and transporters, recycling businesses, local governments, experts, etc.—to pursue the following activities.
１．Policy Making：Through discussions among council members and social implementation/demonstration projects, we will broadly propose the measures and legal frameworks necessary to establish a globally competitive CE.
２．Social Implementation：Through working groups comprising Regular Members, Special Members (local governments, experts, or specialists related to the particular theme), and the secretariat, we will introduce effective resource recycling models to society.
３．Communications：In addition to regularly holding seminars that share domestic and international CE case studies and events that facilitate business matching among members, we will also use newsletters (for members) and owned media to provide council activity reports, various CE-related information, introductions of Regular Member and Supporting Member initiatives, and educational content for the wider public on an ongoing basis.
[Governance Structure]
Our board of directors is composed of key figures working extensively in the CE realm, including frontline practitioners in environmental administration and resource recycling rulemaking, top executives of major upstream and downstream industries, and professionals engaged in supporting new industries, startups, and sustainability management.
Click here for the biographies of each board member.
◉Board of Directors（in Japanese alphabetical order）
Fumio Kaneko (President and Representative Director, Daiei Kankyo Co., Ltd.)
Tokuya Takizawa (Managing Partner / Markets and Chief Sustainability Officer,
EY Japan Co., Ltd.)
Yoshiteru Takemoto (CEO, Tobimushi Co., Ltd.)
Yasukuni Tanaka (Representative Director, Recycle-Tech Holdings Co., Ltd.; Representative Director, Japan Zero Carbon
Smart City Foundation)
Sumika Tabara (ESG / Purpose-Driven Management Strategy Consultant)
Tokutaro Nakai (Former Vice Minister, Ministry of the Environment)
Ayumi Fujimoto (Executive Officer & CMO, Plug and Play Japan; Representative Director, Startup Ecosystem Association)
Kenji Fuma (CEO of Neural Inc., Editor-in-Chief of “Sustainable Japan”)
Minoru Moriya (New Business Entrepreneur)
Nobuyoshi Yamasaki (CEO, TBM Co., Ltd.)
◉Supervisor
Yugo Tsukuda (Representative, FRONTLINE Tax Corporation)
◉Sponsors（in Japanese alphabetical order）
CIC Institute
Japan Zero Carbon Smart City Foundation (General Incorporated Association)
Plug and Play Japan Co., Ltd.
◉Observers（in Japanese alphabetical order)
Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
[Future Plans and Outlook]
Under the “Basic Policy on Green Transformation (GX),” approved by Japan’s Cabinet in February 2023, the government aims to realize over 150 trillion yen of public-private investments in GX over the next 10 years to achieve international commitments such as carbon neutrality by 2050, along with strengthening industrial competitiveness and economic growth. Of that total, 2 trillion yen is earmarked for accelerating resource recycling. The domestic CE market, estimated at approximately 50 trillion yen as of 2023, is projected to grow to about 80 trillion yen by 2030 and 120 trillion yen by 2050.
In this rapidly growing CE market, innovations arising among existing upstream and downstream players and the emergence of numerous CE-focused startups are drawing increased interest from financial institutions involved in sustainable finance. Our council will offer members opportunities for networking and business creation, thereby contributing to the expansion of the CE market.
[How to Join]
You can apply for membership via our website（http://rrc.or.jp/membership/membership/）Please use the forms below.
*Membership is subject to review.
Regular Member（https://bit.ly/seikaiin）
Approval Member (https://bit.ly/sandoukaiin）
Supporting Member（https://bit.ly/sanjokaiin）
Special Member（https://bit.ly/tokubetsukaiin）
[Overview of the Council]
Name: Resource Recycling Council (General Incorporated Association)
Location: Toho Hibiya Building 15F, 1-2-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006