The Kanagawa Up Cycle Consortium

The Kanagawa Up Cycle Consortium is established in collaboration with Kanagawa Prefecture and TBM Co., Ltd. that develops, manufactures and sells a new material “LIMEX,” which is mainly composed of limestone as a substitute for paper and plastic. The aim is to promote a circular economy through up-cycling that utilizes LIMEX and to realize a circular town development.

As of January 2020, the Kanagawa Upcycle Consortium has 50 partners, including local governments, companies, organizations, and universities in the prefecture, and conducte various upcycle demonstration projects utilizing LIMEX. They also work on constructing an up-cycle scheme that includes a collection model for LIMEX products. As of March of the same year, “LIMEX product collection boxes” for collecting LIMEX products have been installed at 24 locations in the prefecture.

1. A public-private collaboration consortium with diverse stakeholders

A wide variety of stakeholders participate in the Kanagawa Upcycle Consortium, including companies such as a major printing company and manufacturers, local businesses and NPOs, local governments and universities. It works as a collaborative platform for realizing a circular economy.

2. “LIMEX” derived from limestone, a substitute for plastic

LIMEX, a new material developed by TBM, uses limestone as its main raw material. It does not use water or wood pulp in the manufacturing process, and has a higher recycling performance than plastics. They can promote a circular manufacturing process while reducing an environmental impact.

3. Construct a scheme including product collection

The Kanagawa Up Cycle Consortium has worked with Kanagawa Prefecture and Japan Post Co., Ltd. to install LIMEX product collection boxes for collecting LIMEX products. As of January 2020, products can be collected at 23 locations such as post offices, libraries and elementary schools in the prefecture. They have worked on building a recycling scheme in collaboration with product users.