SDGs Locker: Extending the Life of Food Through Shared Urban Infrastructure

On 2026/1/29

We have added a new circular project “SDGs Locker” in our database. SDGs Locker is an unmanned, locker-type vending system designed to reduce food waste by selling items that are still safe and within their best-before date, but would otherwise be discarded. Introduced in Yokohama in January 2024, the project connects food producers and retailers […]

Reusable Toner Cartridges: Building a practical pathway from disposable printing to reuse

On 2026/1/28

We have added a new circular project “Reusable Toner Cartridges” in our database. The Reusable Toner Cartridges is a long-running initiative by Hara Trading Co., Ltd., based in Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama, that offers a concrete alternative to disposable office printing supplies. Since 1994, the company has been collecting spent genuine toner cartridges, carefully inspecting and […]

YOKOHAMA CIRCULAR DESIGN MUSEUM: A Moving Exhibition of Circular Ideas and Encounters

On 2026/1/27

We have added a new circular project “YOKOHAMA CIRCULAR DESIGN MUSEUM” in our database. The YOKOHAMA CIRCULAR DESIGN MUSEUM is a travelling exhibition that introduces the circular economy through tangible experiences, thoughtful design, and local stories from Yokohama. Operated by Circular Yokohama, the museum invites visitors to engage with circular living not as a concept, […]

Yokohama tests PP folder circularity from stationery to car parts

On 2026/1/26

Yokohama City has launched a pilot project to establish a resource circulation model for used plastic clear folders within the Minato Mirai 21 district. This is a collaboration between the municipal government, the Yokohama SDGs Design Center, Mitsubishi Estate, and Mitsubishi Estate Property Management, and they seek to turn common office waste into high-value industrial […]

Beer the First: Where Food Waste Meets Circular Brewing

On 2026/1/8

Bread that didn’t sell. Rice left behind. Grape skins after wine pressing. At Beer the First, these everyday “almost-wasted” ingredients find a second life in a glass of craft beer. Launched in 2021, the project began with RE:BREAD an eco-friendly beer brewed from unsold bakery bread in Yokohama. It has since grown into a playful […]

Upcycled Stationery Crafted from Discontinued Nautical Charts: From retired sea maps to everyday treasures

On 2026/1/6

Old sea maps still have stories to tell. This “Discontinued Nautical Chart Stationery” project by X-Port Co., Ltd. gives discontinued nautical charts a second life as beautifully crafted stationery and sundries. Once essential for safe navigation, these charts are regularly retired as coastlines and sea conditions change. Instead of becoming waste, they’re transformed into envelopes, […]

Sustainable Seafood Project: Japan’s First University Cafeteria Bringing Ocean-Friendly Meals to Students

On 2026/1/5

A lunch tray can be a gateway to ocean sustainability. The Sus-Sea Project is Japan’s first initiative to bring sustainable seafood into a university cafeteria led by Yokohama City University. Launched in 2022 by TEHs, an official student group focused on the Sustainable Development Goals, the project turns everyday meals into meaningful action. By serving […]