The latest news and stories about the circular economy in Yokohama
*This article is a translated and edited version of a story originally published in January 2026 on “Green Hub in Asia,” a platform managed by the City of Yokohama’s International Affairs Bureau. It was produced by Harch Inc., the operator of Circular Yokohama, based on interviews with Yokohama City officials. In Vol.3, we explored the…
*This article is a translated and edited version of a story originally published in January 2026 on “Green Hub in Asia,” a platform managed by the City of Yokohama’s International Affairs Bureau. It was produced by Harch Inc., the operator of Circular Yokohama, based on interviews with Yokohama City officials. Located in the center of…
*This article is a translated and edited version of a story originally published in January 2026 on “Green Hub in Asia,” a platform managed by the City of Yokohama’s International Affairs Bureau. It was produced by Harch Inc., the operator of Circular Yokohama, based on interviews with Yokohama City officials. What enables some cities to…
*This article is a translated and edited version of a story originally published in January 2026 on “Green Hub in Asia,” a platform managed by the City of Yokohama’s International Affairs Bureau. It was produced by Harch Inc., the operator of Circular Yokohama, based on interviews with Yokohama City officials. Reducing household waste by 43%…
Circular Yokohama received the Dissemination and Promotion Division award at the Kanagawa Decarbonization Award in2026 organized by Kanagawa Prefecture. What is the Kanagawa Decarbonization Award In order to achieve a decarbonized society by 2050, this award system honors individuals, businesses, schools, and other entities that have implemented outstanding initiatives related to decarbonization. It is jointly…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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,…
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…
