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 with public facilities such as stations, office buildings, and shopping areas, creating new points of access beyond standard opening hours.

The system allows bakeries, for example, and other food businesses to place unsold or off-spec products into lockers, where they can be purchased by local residents at affordable prices. Facility hosts benefit from added services and rental income without additional staffing, while citizens gain convenient access to food early in the morning or late at night.

By embedding food waste reduction into everyday urban settings, SDGs Locker offers a clear and tangible way for people in Yokohama to participate in circular practices through daily choices.

SDGs Locker

Explore the project here

https://circular.yokohama/en/projects/sdgs-locker/

Asia, Circular economy, food waste, Japan, resource circulation, SDGs, SDGs locker, waste reduction, Yokohama, Yokohama city, Yokohama SDGs design center

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室井梨那（Rina Muroi）

Rina was born and raised in Yokohama, and brings a ENG/JP bilingual edge to the Circular Yokohama team. With a background in second language acquisition and international education, she leads collaborative initiatives and storytelling projects that connect local efforts with global audiences, building friendships through circularity.